IHSA Girls Volleyball State Final Contract at Redbird Arena Extended; Field Events Move to Metric as Spring T&Cs Reviewed

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IHSA Girls Volleyball State Final Contract at Redbird Arena Extended; Field Events Move to Metric as Spring T&Cs Reviewed

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The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met at its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, where the Board voted to extend the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Final hosting contract at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena.

The hosting proposal was a joint effort between Illinois State University (ISU), the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Bloomington-Normal Sports Commission.

“We enjoy a tremendous partnership with Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal area,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We have worked together for many years to run first-class events at Redbird Arena, and believe the arena renovations should only enhance the experience for the student-athletes, coaches and fans.”

Redbird Arena recently underwent a $6.2 million dollar renovation that includes new seating in the arena’s lower bowl. Redbird will host the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals for the 30th time in November. ISU hosted the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals at Horton Fieldhouse from 1976-1980, before the event returned indefinitely to ISU in 1990.

“We are extremely excited to continue as the host for the IHSA Volleyball State Championships,” said ISU Senior Associate Athletics Director/Internal Operations Peyton Deterding. “Illinois State University and Illinois State Athletics values greatly the outstanding partnership with the IHSA, and there is no greater example than hosting Championships. We take great pride in hosting the athletes and spectators and feel this continues to be an opportunity to showcase the campus, the community of Bloomington/Normal and the newly renovated Redbird Arena for years to come.”

The contract extension will span five years, lasting through the 2024 state tournament. Redbird Arena has also served as the host of the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals since 1992. The city of Peoria also submitted a bid to host state volleyball at the Civic Center.

“We obviously enjoy a strong partnership with Peoria and the Civic Center and appreciate their interest,” said Anderson. “While we enjoy hosting a number of IHSA events in Peoria, we felt like state volleyball has found a home at ISU, and thus, there was no reason to make a change.”


ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board conducted its annual election of officers, with the following results:
President: Tim McConnell, Erie High School
Vice-President: Katy Hasson, Rockridge High School
Secretary: Robert Nolting, Andrew High School

2. The Board approved a recommendation to update the IHSA Media Rights Policy to increase the State Series streaming rights fee application in Swimming & Diving, Track & Field, and Wrestling. The increased fee would be allocated to the host school.

3. The Board approved a recommendation to dissolve a cooperative agreement between LaMoille High School and Ohio High School in Baseball and Softball, allowing both to seek other cooperative agreements.

4. The Board approved a recommendation to appoint the following individual to fill a vacancy on the Legislative Commission:
District 2: Karen Calloway, Chicago (Kenwood)


APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Petersburg (PORTA). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030. The student will have non-varsity eligibility immediately.

2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling that Moline (H.S.) forfeit its football victory over Rock Island (H.S.) on September 13, 2019 over the use of an ineligible player, and that the ineligible player be required to sit out the team’s next varsity contest. Representatives from Moline High School appeared before the Board to appeal that decision.


ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Minutes from all Advisory Committees can be viewed by clicking here.

1. The Board approved the consent items from the Advisory Committees in the following sports & activities: Girls Badminton, Boys & Girls Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Water Polo, Bass Fishing, Athletic Administrators, Athletes with Disabilities and News Media.

Consent items are recommendations that received approval from the sport/activity advisory committee, the Athletic Administrators Advisory Committee and the IHSA staff. Consent items can be viewed by clicking here.

Non-consent items are recommendations from sport or activity committees that did not receive a majority vote from the Athletic Advisory Committee or IHSA staff.

One Non-consent items was approved:
Track & Field
1. Field events will move to the metric measuring system.

Some consent items of note include:
Baseball
1. Regional hosts can move Championship games to Friday from Saturday when the weather forecast dictates.

Boys & Girls Lacrosse
1. State Final schedule will move to a continuous format, eliminating the session break.
2. Three officials will now be assigned to games beginning at the Sectional Semifinal level.

Boys & Girls Water Polo
1. The mercy rule will be applied to Sectional contests.


DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the October 16, 2019, agenda:

1. The staff and Board of Directors welcomed new Board member Jon Baffico, the principal of St. Patrick High School in Chicago.

2. The Board heard an update on the IHSA's plans to release the 2019 Football Playoff Pairings on Saturday, October 26. The pairings will be unveiled via Quincy Media Inc's statewide TV network at 8:00 PM. The IHSA will host a pre and post analysis show, presented by the Chicago Bears on the NFHS Network (7:30-8 PM & 9:00-10:00). For stations and more info, click here.

3. The Board heard a report on the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) summit.

4. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on the by-law proposals that have been submitted for the upcoming legislative process. The deadline to submit by-law amendment proposals was midnight on October 15, 2019. The proposals will be posted and sent to member schools soon.

5. The Board heard the upcoming Town Hall Meeting schedule. The Town Hall Meeting schedule can be found by clicking here.

6. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on the upcoming IADA Division Meetings. The IHSA will have a staff member at each meeting, which are scheduled on the following dates:
Division 5- Oct 23- 9:00 a.m.- BSN, Rantoul
Division 2- Oct 24- 9:00 a.m.- Forest View Educational Center
Division 3- Oct 24- 1:00 p.m.- Plainfield North High School
Division 7- Oct 28 - 9:00 a.m.- Governor’s Run in Carlyle
Division 6- Oct 29- 9:00 a.m.- Wanless Elementary, Springfield
Division 1- Oct 29 - 10:00 a.m.- De LaSalle High School
Division 4- Oct 30- 9:00 a.m.- Sterling High School

7. The Board heard a report on Champaign (Judah Christian) and its status in IHSA State Series tournaments based upon its status with the Illinois State Board Education (ISBE).

8. The Board heard a presentation from a representative from Johnsburg High School seeking a change in its classification in cheerleading. The Board did not act on the request.

9. The Board heard a report on the New Administrators Workshop held at the IHSA office on October 2, 2019 that was attended by over 40 high school principals and athletic directors in the state.

10. The Board recognized IHSA Assistant Executive Director Scott Johnson on his final Board meeting. Scott will retire on November 1, 2019.


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