IHSA Announcements

February 11, 2008

Board Adopts 3-Class Tournaments in Soccer, Track and Field, and Wrestling;
Approves Bass Fishing Tournament for 2009

The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Executive Director at its regularly scheduled meeting today to implement a three class state series in Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer, Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field, and Boys’ Wrestling (team and individual), starting with the 2008-09 school term.  Member schools supported the expansion models in the membership survey conducted in December and January. 

"The Board’s action today to expand to three classes in Boys and Girls Track, Boys and Girls Soccer, and Boys Wrestling was based on the feedback from 28 Town Meetings held in November and the survey conducted afterwards,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “Generally speaking, the feedback from our member schools has been positive regarding the class expansion that went into effect this school year.  The additional classes approved today address the remaining class expansion concerns expressed by our member schools.”

Additionally, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to add a bass fishing tournament as an IHSA activity beginning in the spring of 2009, provided that adequate sponsorships are secured in advance for the tournament.

“The level of support for a bass fishing tournament, from both our membership and from other non-school groups, has demonstrated clearly to our Board that this event is one with potential tremendous value to our schools,” said Dr. Hickman. “Implementing such an activity will enable our schools to provide another opportunity for students that will enrich their educational experience and keep with the Association’s mission.”

Other Action

  1. The Board approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to not assess membership dues for the 2008-09 school term.  The 2008-09 school term marks the tenth consecutive year member schools will not have paid dues to belong to the IHSA.
  2. The Board approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to finalize the scope of the drug testing plan scheduled for implementation for the 2008-09 school term. The Board expects to act on final items related to the drug testing plan in March. To facilitate the new plan, the IHSA plans to conduct regional workshops for schools in the spring.

Board Acts on Terms and Conditions Recommendations

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors acted on recommendations for Terms and Conditions and administrative procedures from six advisory committees at its regular February meeting Tuesday in the IHSA Office.
"Our advisory committees meet on an annual basis, usually soon after the completion of the state series in that sport or activity," noted IHSA Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. "Each advisory committee assesses the terms and conditions for its state tournament series, and all other facets of the sport or activity which may apply to the site of its state final event, and which may apply during the regular season."
Following is a recap of the Board action Tuesday:

BOYS/GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

1. Approved a recommendation to add an additional sectional in Class 3A only, increasing the number from four to five.
2. Approved a recommendation to prohibit competitors from using (wearing) watches of any type during IHSA cross country competitions.
3. Revised the current language to indicate that meet management will determine if any sign or banner is a safety hazard, making any such sign or banner unable to be displayed.

BOYS FOOTBALL

1. Changed the current language to reflect that, when circumstances warrant, either school may request a site other than the designated host school’s field.  A new site might be then used subject to the determination of the IHSA staff, after consultation with the host school.

BOYS/GIRLS GOLF

1.  Changed the current language to clarify that players disqualified from the first round of the state finals for a non-Player Code of Conduct violation will be allowed to play on the final day of the state finals.

BOYS/GIRLS TENNIS

1.  Approved a recommendation that at Sectional Tournaments beginning with the 2008-09 school term, the #3 and #4 seeds shall be placed randomly on lines 9 and 24 for a 17 or more entry draw and lines 5 and 12 for a 16 or less entry draw.  The #5 and #6 seeds shall be placed randomly on lines 13 and 20 for a 17 or more entry draw and lines 7 and 10 for a 16 or less entry draw.
2. Approved a recommendation that no points shall be scored in the singles and doubles feed in bracket matches at the sectional tournaments.

BOYS/GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

1.  Approved a recommendation that all Class 1A-4A regional preliminary and semifinal matches be held at the regional site on Wednesday and Thursday of week 17.  In those regional tournaments, the upper bracket will be played on Wednesday, and the lower bracket will be played on Thursday.  The regional championships will be played on Saturday of week 17.
2.  Approved a recommendation that all Class 1A-4A sectional semifinal matches will be held on Tuesday of week 18.  The sectional finals shall be held on Thursday of week 18 at the designated sectional site. In exceptional circumstances, both rounds may be held on the same day.
3.  Approved a recommendation that all Class 1A-4A super-sectional matches shall be held on Saturday of week 18.
4.  Approved a recommendation setting the following start times for state series matches shall be as follows:
             Regional that has 3 matches played on one night:            5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm
             Regional that has 2 matches played on one night:            6:00 pm, 7:00 pm
             Saturday regional final:                                                  between 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm
             Sectional semifinal matches:                                         6:00 pm, 7:00 pm
             Sectional final matches:                                                 7:00 pm
             Super-sectional matches:                                              between 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm
5. Approved a recommendation that in regional tournaments where 4-5 schools have been assigned and travel is determined to be excessive, regional managers may use fax or e-mail to gather seeds and conduct seed meetings.  All the involved schools in such regionals must mutually agree to the use of this format for the seed meeting.

SPORTS MEDICINE

1. Approved a recommendation that the Position Statement developed concerning return to activity be incorporated in all IHSA sport-specific manuals for member schools.                  

Discussion Items

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items that the Board discusses, but upon which it takes no action.  Following is a report of those items on this month’s agenda:

  1. The Board heard a report from representatives of its pension administrator concerning the performance of the pension portfolio.
  2. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director concerning plans for this year’s IHSA Distinguished Service Award Banquet, which is scheduled for June 9, 2008.
  3. The Board heard a report from IHSA Assistant Executive Director Anthony Holman regarding the current status of IHSA sponsorships.
  4. The Board heard a report from the executive director concerning an additional Principals’ Rules Meeting that was held at the IHSA Office on January 25, 2008. Chicago (Juarez) High School had a representative at the meeting, leaving only Villa Park (Islamic Foundation) High School suspended for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 2.130.
  5. The Board heard a report from the executive director concerning plans for the IHSA’s Strategic Planning process, which is scheduled for April 30, 2008.
  6. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on the newly formed partnership with Special Olympics for the March Madness Experience.  As a result of the partnership, teams will play four exhibition games at the Experience this March.
  7. The Board discussed a concern expressed by Jim Boyd, principal at Port Byron (Riverdale) High School concerning the starting times for seed meetings.