IHSA

IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2007-08

boys baseball Advisory Committee

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Baseball Advisory Committee met at the IHSA office in Bloomington, IL. on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Committee members in attendance were: Jeff Collis, McHenry – Official; Kenny Fullman, Chicago (Harlan); Marilyn Book (Fairfield); John Randich, Joliet Twp.; Nicholas Kearfott, Bethany (Okaw Valley); Mike Riley, Glenbard South; Dan Wieczorek, Minonk Fieldcrest; Jeff Bonebrake and Jim Hall from the Baseball Coaches Association. Anthony Holman served as staff liaison.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1: Item VI. – C. State Final Time Schedule

Current Language:                 Friday                                      Saturday
                                    Game 1:            9:00 a.m.         Game 5:              9:00 a.m.
                                    Game 2:            11:30 a.m.         Game 6:            11:30 a.m.
                                    Game 3:            4:00 p.m.         Game 7:            3:00 p.m.
                                    Game 4:            7:00 p.m.         Game 8:            7:00 p.m.

Recommendation A:   Friday                                      Saturday
                                    Game 1:            10:00 a.m.        Game 5:              9:00 a.m.
                                    Game 2:               1:00 p.m.        Game 6:            12:00 p.m.
                                    Game 3:               4:00 p.m.        Game 7:            4:00 p.m.
                                    Game 4:               7:00 p.m.        Game 8:            7:00 p.m.
Rationale A:      There is more flexibility in the time schedule on Friday with the elimination of the hitting derby, there only being one session and no need to clear the stadium. This will also allow for more travel time for those attending the first game. There is not as much flexibility with the schedule on Saturday, there will be awards presented following each game. Also, there are two sessions on Saturday so the stadium will have to be cleared and cleaned after game 6.

Approved

Recommendation B:   Play the consolation games on Saturday in Session II and the Championship games in Session III.

Rationale B:      Make the championship games the culmination of the tournament, the casual fan will be more likely to come out to catch the championship games. Will minimize the risk of raining out one of the championship games. Having both championship games in the same session would allow for the cancellation of both consolation games, then focus on preparing the field for both championship games.

Rejected

Recommendation 2: Item IX. – Tournament Policies B & C

Current Language:
      B. Players in Team Uniform
            In each of the tournaments, no school shall have in uniform more than twenty-two (22) players. Only those eligible player(s) or coach(es) in uniform may serve as coaches at first and third base

            C. Players Bench:
            A maximum of twenty-seven (27) individuals officially connected with the school shall be permitted to occupy the players’ bench.

Recommendation:

            B. Players in Team Uniform
            In each of the tournaments, no school shall have in uniform more than twenty-five (25) players. Only those eligible player(s) or coach(es) in uniform may serve as coaches at first and third base

C. Players Bench:
A maximum of thirty (30) individuals officially connected with the school shall be permitted to occupy the players’ bench.

Rationale:

Of the sixteen teams in Class AA that advanced to the state finals over the past two years nine of them had to cut players once the State Series Started because they had carried more than the twenty-two (22) players during the regular season. The remaining seven teams would have kept more than twenty-two (22) during the regular season but did not want to have to make another cut once the State Series began.
There is more specialization in baseball now than ever before, there are many more cases of players being pitchers only or DH’s only, thus the need for additional roster spots.
The requested number of twenty-five (25) and thirty (30) are not unmanageable; the dugout can handle the additional numbers.
The roster at the college level is twenty-five (25).
The substitution rule in baseball is another reason to consider allowing additional players. Only starters may re-enter the game in baseball, for non-starters if they are taken out, their playing opportunity is over. Unlike other teams sports like basketball, football. (See attachment)

Tabled

Recommendation 3: Item X. – Awards 4.

Current Language:
4) Team Awards and twenty-seven (27) medallions will be presented to the first, second, third, and forth place teams at the state final.

Recommendation:

4) Team Awards and thirty (30) medallions will be presented to the first, second, third, and forth place teams at the state final

Rationale: All team personnel that are allowed in the dugout should be recognized with a medallion. The additional cost is minimal and it will be cherished for a lifetime by the recipients.

NOTE: This would be an increased expense of $164.40 to add forty-eight (48) total additional medallions.

Tabled

ITEMS OF GENERAL DISCUSSION

Wood Bat Study Update. The data from the 48 teams and 5 conferences that participated in the study has been turned over to the researchers at Illinois State University. The final report should be available in 4 – 6 weeks, at which time the baseball advisory committee will review the finds of the study.
Assignment of officials for State Finals. There was some discussion of assigning 8 officials to the state finals and working 4-person crews. There was also discussion on how to rotate if 6 officials continued to be assigned to the state final.
Baseball Administrator Anthony Holman reported on the New Grouping and Seeding Policy, and reviewed the enrollments and projected maps for the four class system.