IHSA

IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2006-07

Boys/girls golf Advisory Committee

November 28 , 2006

The Boys and Girls Golf Advisory Committee met at the IHSA office on Tuesday, November 28, 2006, beginning at 10:00. Members of the committee in attendance were: John Halpin, Arlington Heights (St. Viator); Steve Cheesman, Galesburg (H.S.); Steve Smith, Marion (H.S); J. David Hughes, Chicago Sports Administration; Bill Gamble, Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais); Robert Lockart, Mattoon; Chris Hogge, Quincy (Notre Dame); and Sarah Haas, Carterville. Also in attendance were Al Cornish, Boys State Final Manager, Diane Daugherty, Girls State Final Manager, Chris Neville, Chairman ICA, Susan Hinrichsen and Kurt Gibson, IHSA Assistant Executive Directors.

TERMS AND CONDITION RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Item V B. -- Tournament Assignments – Girls Class 1A/2A:

Recommendation: All schools entered in the Girls’ Class A tournament will be assigned by the IHSA to one of 15 regionals and one of 5 sectionals. All schools assigned to the Class 2A tournament will be assigned to one 16 regionals and one of 4 sectionals.

Rationale: The difference in structures is done to accommodate the disparity in girls’ team entries (Class A girls – 97 teams, Class AA girls 168 teams).

Rejected

2. Item VII C. -- Advancement of Winners (Regional to Sectional):

Recommendation: Girls’ teams and individuals advancing to the sectionals will advance members of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. In addition, the 8 best individuals that are not a part of a qualifying team shall also advance along with any ties for the last individual qualifying spot.

Rationale: At face value there is no change from last years advancement from regionals to sectionals, but the number of teams and individuals advancing will change. The number of Class 1A schools advancing to sectionals will be 45 teams/120 individuals. The number of Class 2A teams advancing to sectionals will be 48 teams/128 individuals.

Rejected

3. Item VII D,E. – Advancement of Winners (Sectional to State Finals):

Recommendation: Girls’ Class 1 A teams and individuals advancing to the state tournament shall advance members of the 1st and 2nd place teams in addition to the 8 best individuals that are not a part of an advancing team. Ties for the last qualifying spot shall also advance. Girls’ Class 2A teams and individuals advancing to the state tournament shall advance members of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams in addition to the 10 best individuals that are not a part of an advancing team. Ties for the last qualifying spot shall also advance.

Rationale: Since there is one more sectional for 1A Girls, the Class 1A structure will overall advance 10 teams and 40 individuals (plus ties) to their state tournament and the . Girls’ Class 2A structure will advance 12 teams and 40 individuals (plus ties) to their tournament.

Rejected

4. Item V B. -- Tournament Assignments – Boys’ 1A/2A/3A

Recommendation: All schools assigned to either the 1A/2A/3A tournaments will be assigned to one of 16 regionals and one of 4 sectionals.

Rationale: Because of the additional class for boys, there will be fewer numbers of teams in each tournament. By reducing the number of sectionals by one, more teams can ultimately advance to the state tournament from each sectional.

Rejected

5. Item VII C. -- Advancement of Winners (Regional to Sectional)

Recommendation: Class 1A/2A3A boys’ teams and individuals will advance members of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. In addition, the 8 best individuals that are not a part of a qualifying team shall also advance along with any ties for the last individual qualifying spot.

Rationale: At face value there is no change from last year’s advancement from regionals to sectionals, but with the increase from 3 regionals in a sectional to 4 regionals in a sectional, more participants will advance to each sectional. (From 45 teams/120 individuals to 48 teams/128 individuals.)

Rejected

6. Item VII D,E. – Advancement of Winners (Sectional to State Finals)

Recommendation: Boys’ Class 1A/2A/3A teams and individuals advancing to the state tournament shall advance members of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams in addition to the 10 best individuals that are not a part of an advancing team.

Rationale: This structure will advance 12 teams and 40 individuals plus ties. (112 players plus ties) That is up 12 players or 3 more groups from the most current structure approved by the membership (but is a compromise from the 15 teams and 40 individuals of the past structure). Overall, this structure provides for 1 more team to advance from each sectional and 2 more individuals to advance out of the sectionals. It addresses the entries in Girls’ Class 1A while using the same qualifying structure for Girls’ Class 2A as the 1A/2A/3A boy’s structure. This proposal is submitted and supported by the Golf Coaches Association.

Rejected

7. Item VI F. – Tournament Structure and Time Schedules -- Provisions to Suspend Play

Recommendation: Play can be suspended when it does not impact the equity of the tournament. Darkness and lightning that cause the holds not to be completed in the round are reasons to suspend play. Play can resume from the point at which it was suspended on either day of the competition or the next possible day, except on the final day of the state finals. If on the second day of the state finals play can not be completed because of darkness, the state championship will be determined on the basis of the scores posted on Friday.

Rationale: This is an editorial change made for clarification.

Approved

8. Item IX. B. Tournament Policies -- State Final Completion:

Recommendation: If State Final play begins on Friday, but the opening round (delete cannot be completed) is cancelled (not suspended) that day because of weather, scores made on Friday will not be counted and Saturday’s round will be the first and final round for the state tournament. If on the other hand, the opening round is completed on Friday and play cannot (delete be resumed) occur or is cancelled on Saturday, the state championship will be determined on the basis of the scores posted on Friday.

Rationale: This is an editorial change made for clarification.

Approved

9. Item VIII F. 3 -- Tournament Rules -- Observers
Recommendation: It was recommended to allow managers to use not only coaches or school personnel as observers but also non school volunteers.

Rationale: Golf associations and community volunteers can be used as observers and are more accessible than school personnel. It should be noted that parents can also be observers but can not be put in a group with his/her child.

Approved

10. Recommendation: It was recommended that IHSA conduct mandatory rules meeting for boys and girls golf coaches.

Rationale: This recommendation is in line with IHSA by-laws involving other NFHS sports. Golf coaches need to be educated about rules and IHSA by-laws. Recently tennis added rules meeting.

Approved

ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

1. At the boys’ state final tournaments investigate offering internet connection for the press, increasing the number of shuttles for the coaches along with working with the community to consider providing observes for the boys’ tournament and increasing the number of rooms by one for the boys’ teams.

2. IHSA was also asked to consider forwarding its state final results to NJGS, which is a national recruiting service used by college coaches.

3. There is a consensus that the pace of play at all the state tournaments is a continued concern. Excessive rulings, particularly at the Class 1A girls’ state tournament, along with slow pre-shot routines directly impact the pace of play. Subsequently a recommendation has been made for the IHSA to conduct mandatory coaches’ meetings and monitor the new USGA rule pace of play rule which sets a time per hole to achieve and checks the pace on the 4th, 9th, 13th, and 18th hole. Penalties are assessed to the group if they do not meet the pace. Currently the AJGA is using this rule and apparently has seen results in the pace.

4. The committee discussed the content of the rules meeting recommending that if required, the rules meeting should have an educational component emphasizing USGA rule 23-26. Additionally any educational material or basic rule exams would be available after the rules meeting preferably through the IHSA School Center or DVD and to make available a bag tag with basic rules printed on it. It was also recommended that student-athletes be able to attend the rules meetings and that those meetings should be conducted at a time that schools are not competing.

5. The Circle 10 Rule, which allows a player to pick up after 10 strokes, was discussed but was not passed. There were favorable reviews but details regarding how it would be used in the state series were not resolved.

6. There was a concern about play not be stopped at one sectional when lightning was present. It was noted that IHSA does have a lightning policy that managers, players and coaches must follow during the state series. That policy is included in the school manual.

7. A tournament structure proposal was presented by John Halpin and subsequently withdrawn because of a more favorable proposal by the IGCA.

8. It was reaffirmed that the sectional sites will be selected with preference given to those schools that can host on a non-school day. It was noted that the quality of the course is also important.

9. The committee reviewed the 3 and 4 class breakdowns and tournament structures approved by the membership. There was discussion regarding the Girls’ Class A team entries and noted that this issue also faces soccer and wrestling. IHSA have presented some options at the Principals’ meetings asking for feedback.