IHSA

IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2005-06

Competitive Cheerleading Advisory Committee

May 4 , 2006

The IHSA Competitive Cheerleading Advisory Committee met at the IHSA office in Bloomington, Illinois, on Thursday, May 4, 2006. Committee members present were: Neva Corn, Pinckneyville; Carla Taylor, Colfax (Ridgeview); Mike Bruce, Orland Park (Sandburg); Terry Aebischer, Highland; Pam Marcoline-Griffith, Washington; Mickey Klement, Joliet; and John Martin, Athletic Director, Lincolnshire (Stevenson). Rich Wherley, Eureka; Dennis Murphy-Stroud, Chicago Public Schools; and Jon Powers, Lake Zurich; were unable to attend.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATION

1.         Item I-C - School Classification

            Recommendation: It is recommended that schools be allowed up to 20 participants on the competition floor with up to 4 alternates in all divisions.

            Rationale: By creating a common number that teams can put on the competition floor, competitive cheer has a team number like other IHSA sports. 20 participants in all divisions also allow school the ability not to cut participants.

Died for Lack of Motion

            Item I – C – School Classification

            Recommendation: Member schools shall be categorized for participation in competitive cheerleading on the basis of three divisions of school enrollment. The three divisions shall be 1/3 of the total number of entries for the 2005-06 seasons.

            Rationale: There was an inequitable balance of entries between the three divisions and this would make the number of teams balanced.

Died for Lack of Motion

2.         Item II-A-B - Dates and Sites

            Recommendation: It is recommended that the Sectional tournaments will be held on week 30 of the IHSA standardized calendar and the state tournament will be held on week 31 of the IHSA standardized calendar.

            Rationale: By moving the state series up by 4 weeks teams can focus on cheering their post season games. Consideration of moving the season start date up by four weeks would also be favorable to this earlier state series time.

Approved Item 2

3. Item VIII-A-2- Tournament Rules

Recommendation: It is recommended that the competitive cheering surface shall be a matted area of 54 feet wide x 42 feet deep (9 strips).

Rationale: The extra 2 strips will provide added safety for teams especially if the number of participants on the floor increases to 20. With a floor maximum of 20 participants the additional space will safely accommodate and minimize risk for all the athletes.

Died for Lack of Motion

4.         Item VIII-D-1- Coaching

            Recommendation: It is recommended that a maximum of three (3) competitive cheerleading coaches shall be allowed on the competition floor.

            Rationale: The addition of one more coach at the state series (from 2 to 3) will accommodate teams that have a head coach and two assistants.

Died for Lack of Motion

5. Item XI-C - Officials

Recommendation: It is recommended that no squad member or fan/parent may talk to the officials directly before, during or after competition. The head coach may meet with the head official and sectional manager briefly at the conclusion of the contest during packet pick up.

Rationale: The brief time that score sheets are being picked up by coaches they could ask questions to the head official regarding the competition. This would be the only contact and conversation thatcoaches could have regarding an explanation of routines and rules.

Died for Lack of Motion

ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

1.         The IHSA will continue to work with Head Clinician Mickey Klement in the officials training curriculum. Two more clinicians will also be trained in the process. Mickey gave a report on the clinician meeting held at the IHSA office in May. The July officials’ clinic will focus on the train the trainer session.

2.         The IHSA shall open up venue bids for the 2006-07 state series. ISU was a one year contract.

3.         Feedback on the state tournament was reviewed. Such items discussed included, lighting, sound, logistics, warm-up space, security, housing, hospitality, press, passes, score sheets, technical deductions and officials.

4.         Coed division was reviewed. Coed will remain defined as one male on the competition floor with focus on the officials training. Only 25 coed teams shall advance to the state series for 2006-07.