One day after unveiling the ballot and wording for the April 8 vote on the high school football playoff system, there was confusion not only on the wording but also on the process that led to it.

According to the ballot, if you vote no, “the football regular season will end on Thanksgiving with a new football format to be authored and administered by the Football Committee.’’

On the surface, a “no’’ vote appears to end the current system. But does it?

Currently, the regular season already ends on Thanksgiving, so a “no’’ vote doesn’t change anything.

And what does “new’’ mean?

If the Football Committee tweaks the format as it has since the inception, is that new? If that is the case, those voting “no’’ to get rid of the current system will be disappointed when it returns practically intact in 2017.

A “yes’’ majority vote simply would result in no change to the current system.

On Feb. 29, the April 8 vote was discussed at the Football Committee meeting. Members were concerned about the wording of the ballot and talked of attending the March 10 board meeting. But at the board meeting, the ballot wording was never discussed because it already had been finalized and printed. This surprised at least one board member.

“To be honest, I thought there would be far more discussion on the language at the meeting,’’ said one board member.

The presence of the printed ballot also meant the board subcommittee had finalized the ballot wording but never told the Football Committee. The subcommittee, which was comprised of Chicopee principal Roland Joyal, Athol athletic director Dave King, Duxbury athletic director Thom Holdgate, and MIAA executive director Bill Gaine, was formed in January to work on the agenda for the annual meeting April 8, including the wording for the football ballot. The subcommittee met via teleconference before the February school vacation with the goal of creating language the board would discuss at its next meeting (last Thursday).

The wording also raised a question. “Are you as dumbfounded as I am regarding the language of the vote for April 8?’’ asked one athletic director.

Bob Holmes can be reached at rholmes@globe.com