IHSA

IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2006-07

track & field Advisory Committee

September 5 , 2007

The IHSA Track & Field Advisory Committee met in the IHSA Office in Bloomington, Illinois, on Wednesday, September 5, 2007. The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. and concluded at approximately 2:00 p.m. Voting Committee members present were: Joe Skowronski, Athletic Director, Flossmoor (Homewood-F.); Jeff Butler, Boys Track Coach at Monticello; Toby Vallas, Boys Track Coach at Knoxville; David Grim, Boys/Girls Track Coach at Chicago (Luther North); Bruce Paisley, Athletic Director at Virden; Mike Schmidt, Boys Track Coach at Burlington (Central); Greg Jones, Principal at Sparta, John Polka, Meet Manager; Geza Ehrentreu, Coordinator of Officials. Other guests and non-voting members present were: Owen Fuller, Head Clerk, Metamora; Glenn Cothern, State Final Head Pole Vault Official; Jerry Parsons, Illinois Track Coaches Association; Nicole Schaefbauer, IESA Asst. Executive Director, Don Helberg, President Elect for the Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Association; Bob Geiger, Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Association; Cheryl Mitchell, Assistant to Ron McGraw; IHSA Asst. Executive Director Ron McGraw.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Item IX J: Entry Fees
Require all schools entering the State Series to pay a fee which will help increase the fees paid to IHSA Officials at Sectional Meets.

Rationale:
This will help increase the current fees paid to IHSA Track & Field Officials. It is the feeling of the committee that this may help provide a larger list of officials willing to work the T&F Sectional Meets. There is currently a shortage of available officials and the shortage is expected to increase in the coming years.

Rejected

2. Item VII-C: State Qualifying Standards
Class A Girls:
Long Jump               16’ 4”
Pole Vault                8’ 9”
High Jump                5’ 1”
4 X 400 Relay           4:16.5 MT

Class AA Girls:
Long Jump               17’ 3”
Pole Vault                10’ 0”
High Jump                5’ 3”
300 M Low Hurdles    :46.7 MT
100 M High Hurdles    :15.2 MT
4 X 400 Relay           4:06.5 MT
4 X 200 Relay           1:46.5 MT

Class A Boys: No change

Class AA Boys:
Long Jump               22’ 3”
High Jump                6’ 4”
3200 M Run             9:33.0 MT
1600 M Run             4:23.5 MT
4 X 800 Relay           8:03.0 MT
4 X 200 M Relay       1:29.7 MT

Rationale:
The list of State qualifiers from the last five years was reviewed. By reviewing the number of extra State qualifiers and the qualifying standards from the past, it was determined that these standards should be adjusted.

Approved

3. Item VIII-D-4: Timing Devices
Add this section under the uniform section. Watches will not be allowed to be worn during competition in track & field and cross country.

Rationale:
There used to be a 10-minute limit to get from one event to the next event in Track & Field. They allowed watches so competitors could get to their event on time. This is no longer necessary. Equally important is the technology currently available in a watch. Today’s sports watches can be used for many things including use as a pacing device. When used in this manner it is an unfair advantage that competitor would have over others in that competition.

Approved

ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS:

Clarify in the T&C the issue of changing seed times at the seeding meeting in individual and relay events.
Provide a list of general rules for all field events that would be available for use at sectional meets by volunteer officials.
Rotate the classes annually at the state finals. When we initiate 3 classes this will be done.
Add a No Entry Box to the List of Participants
Adjust the language in the T&C relative to the number of athletes that may be taken to the finals on Saturday.
The advisory committee unanimously supported the concept of a three day track and field final when the IHSA moves to 3 classes in 2008-2009.

This change falls under the NFHS category of “administrative rule.” It is therefore possible for State Associations to modify as they deem appropriate.

The IHSA Office received recommendations for the Advisory Committee to consider. Mr. McGraw collected all written comments and recommendations and sent them to the Advisory Committee members for their review prior to the meeting. During the meeting, the Advisory Committee again reviewed the documentation. The Advisory Committee was given the opportunity to act on any or all of the recommendations.

In order for a recommendation to appear in this document it required a motion, a second, and a majority vote of the Advisory Committee members.