IHSA

IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2005-06

Equity Advisory Committee

March 2, 2006

The IHSA Equity Advisory Committee met on Thursday, March 2, 2006, at the IHSA Office beginning at 10:00 a.m. Members of the committee in attendance were: Lynn Gaziano, Arlington Heights (St. Viator); Bill Connell, Quincy (Notre Dame); Matt Hensley, Effingham (St. Anthony); Diane Pettet, Peoria (Richwoods); Larry Sample, Jacksonville (H.S.); and Sally Walker, Urbana (University). Also in attendance was Susan Hinrichsen, Assistant Executive Director, IHSA. Not able to attend: Claudia Geocaris, Darien (Hinsdale South).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS:

No recommendations

ITEMS OF GENERAL DISCUSSION:

1. Two years ago Michigan lost a court battle on the scheduling of athletic seasons and tournaments for six sports – girls’ basketball, golf, swimming and diving, volleyball and soccer. All these sports were scheduled during non-traditional seasons. Since that time, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the Appellate Court and was directed to try the case on the merits of Title IX. The Equity Committee completed its two-year review of the IHSA sports seasons based on the court case and Title IX. It looked at preferred seasons, placement of seasons nationally, length of seasons, number of sports offered per season and comparable sports comparisons. In addition, the committee reviewed the 1976 letter from the OCR indicating IHSA’s compliance. Lastly the committee reviewed the IHSA’s original rationale for the development of sports seasons. The committee concluded that there was a balance of sports offered the boys’ and girls’ per season, that the number of weeks boys and girls participate per year is comparable, that the location of each season during the year allows for boys and girls to participate each season if they choose, and that both boys’ and girls’ programs during the winter season have access to indoor facilities and that no one girls’ or boys’ program was given all non-preferred seasons. In addition, each season location allows for the IHSA to facilitate rules meetings and clinics for all of the licensed officials and coaches.

It was noted however, that while on paper comparable sport seasons were the same, for all practical purposes, the Class A Girls’ Basketball was two weeks shorter than the Class AA Boys’ Basketball season, that the Class AA Girls’ Basketball season was one week shorter than the Class AA Boys’ Basketball season, that the Class A Boys’ Basketball was one week shorter than the Class AA Boys’ Basketball season, that the Class A Boys’ and Class A Girls’ Soccer season was one week shorter than the Class AA Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer season, that the Class A and AA Girls’ Track and Field season was one week shorter than Boys’ Class A and AA Track and Field season. In addition, Boys’ Wrestling season offered two state tournaments while other team and individual programs offered one state tournament.

Conclusion: The committee concluded that there was no significant disparity in the sports seasons. The items noted by the committee were differences that did not cause significant disparity in the seasons but were worth a caution. The committee concluded that the sport season differences could be resolved by flip-flopping the state tournament series on a regular basis such as every two years.

2. IHSA Internship: Ohio has created an ethic minority internship program. The Ohio Association’s Mission was to encourage ethnic diversity. The committee supported IHSA’s idea of an Ola Bundy Internship designed to provide an opportunity for a graduate student who will work in the field of sports administration to intern at the IHSA. In addition, an Ola Bundy Scholarship is posted on the IHSA website which is raising money for college scholarship(s).

3. Hosting Allowance Committee: The IHSA will be reviewing hosting allowances. It was recommended that any athletic director, activity director or principal that has a recommendation for the committee to communicate with the Ad Hoc Committee comprised of members of the Athletic Directors Advisory Committee.

4. Division reports: There were questions raised regarding the advantage of 8th grade cheerleading tryouts creating a disadvantage to other sports, football scheduling, competitive equity and classification/sectional complex survey results.

5. Role of Committee: Has the committee fulfilled its purpose? Should the committee be a standing committee that meets when called upon? If the issues in the past have been resolved and there are no other IHSA concerns out there, has the committee thankfully completed its work?

6. Thanks: The committee thanked Bill Connell, Quincy (Notre Dame), and Matt Hensley, Effingham (St. Anthony) for their service to the IHSA Equity Committee.