October 15, 2002
Roxana High School Principal Patrick Sullivan was elected president of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors at its regular October meeting Tuesday (Oct. 15) at the IHSA Office. Sullivan, a 19-year veteran high school principal in Illinois, becomes the 30th person in the 102-year history of the Association to be its president.
Sullivan has been a member of the Board since 1995. He served as vice president of the Board for the past year. He represents Division No. 7.
Elected vice president was Geneseo (Darnall) Principal Emmett Aubry, representing Division No. 4. Aubry was re-elected to the Board this fall and began service on the Board in 2000. Catherine Finch, an at-large Board member from Winnebago, was elected secretary. Finch has been a member of the Board since 2001.
Election of officers came after the canvass of ballots in this year's Board elections. Membership of the Board of Directors was expanded from seven to nine members with the election of 2000. Aubry was re-elected to a three-year term representing Division No. 4. Ron McGraw, principal at Knoxville, also was re-elected to a three-year term representing Division No. 6. Elected to a three-year term was Joseph Schlender of Hoffman Estates (Conant) representing Division No. 2. Dr. Jerry Crabtree, principal of Normal (Community West) was elected to a one-year term representing Division No. 5. Mt. Zion Principal Greg Bradley is the treasurer.
The Board also accepted the resignation of former Board President Linda Layne, principal of Chicago (Brooks College Prep) effective Nov. 30, 2002. Mrs. Layne is retiring from the Chicago Public Schools system. She first was elected to the Board representing Division 1 and was principal of Chicago (Fenger). She served from 1991-96 and was vice president of the Board from 1992-94. From 1994-96 she was president of the Board. She took a position in the Chicago superintendent's office in 1996 but returned to being a principal in the system shortly thereafter. In 2000 she was elected At-Large to the Board.
Action Items
Wrestling Weight Control Program: The Board approved the final draft of the IHSA Wrestling Weight Control Program, which will be implemented with the 2003-04 school year. All wrestlers will be required to participate in the plan next school term. The complete plan will be provided to the member schools in the upcoming annual wrestling mailing in November.
Boys Bowling Site: The Board approved St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Hts. as the site for the inaugural IHSA Boys State Final Bowling Tournament scheduled the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2003. O'Fallon High School will serve as host school.
IHSA Staff Personnel Policy: The Board adopted several revisions to the policy relating to Maternity/Paternal Leave.
Official Association Grants: The Board approved grants to 19 Officials Associations. The grants will be used for recruitment of new officials and officials training. The monetary grants are part of a joint program involving IHSA and the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA).
Board Acts on Terms and Conditions Recommendations
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors acted on recommendations for Terms and Conditions and administrative procedures from eight advisory committees at its regular October meeting Tuesday in the IHSA Office.
"Our advisory committees meet on an annual basis, usually soon after the completion of the state series in that sport or activity," noted IHSA Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. "Each advisory committee assesses the terms and conditions for its state tournament series, and all other facets of the sport or activity which may apply to the site of its state final event, and which may apply during the regular season."
Following is a recap of the Board action Tuesday:
Athletic Administrators
1. Received the report of its meeting and approved several recommendations the committee made regarding proposals from the sport/activity advisory committees. The recommendations are reflected in Board action regarding the sports/activity advisory committees.
Track and Field
1. Approved changes in 2003 qualifying standards in Girls Track:
Class A -- Pole Vault from 7-9 to 8-0. Shot put from 34-6 ½ to 35-6, 3200 Run from 12:25.5 MT and 12:25.74 FAT to 12:17 MT and 12:17.24 FAT.
Class AA - Pole Vault from 8-9 to 9-6; 4 x 800 Relay from 9:46.5 MT and 9:46.74 FAT to 9:45.0 MT and 9:45.24 FAT; 4 x 100 Relay from :50.2 MT and :50.44 FAT to :50.0 MT and :50.24 FAT; 100 Dash from :12.3 MT and :12.54 FAT to :12.2 MT and :12.44 FAT; 4 x 200 Relay from 1:47.5 MT and 1:47.74 FAT to 1:47.0 MT and 1:47.24 FAT.
2. Approved changes in 2003 qualifying standards in Boys Track:
Class A - 3200 Run from 10:10.0 MT and 10:10.24 FAT to 10:05.0 MT and 10:05.24 FAT.
Class AA - 110 High Hurdles from :14.6 MT and :14.84 FAT to :14.5 MT and :14.74 FAT.
3. Boys/Girls: Approved the following procedure for qualifying from the preliminaries to the finals at the state final: "In the preliminaries of all running events, the winner of each heat/section advances to the finals, and the remaining qualifying positions will be filled on the basis of time."
4. Boys/Girls: Approved for the State Final that the seeding procedure for the preliminaries in all running events at the state final to place the top sectional qualifier in the last heat, the other top qualifiers in the heats in front of the last heat and arrange the runners accordingly.
5. Boys/Girls: Approved creating a new section in VII State Meet Series Rules regarding the Pole Vault as follows:
Pole Vault Weigh-In
1) Each competitor in the pole vault shall be weighed in advance of the competition in the event each day. Competitors shall weigh in wearing their school issued uniform, any clothing in addition to the school issued uniform that will be worn while vaulting, shoes and helmet. The combined weight of the person, all clothing, shoes and helmet will be the "competitor's weight" used to determine compliance with NFHS Rule 7-4-3.
2) The "competitor's weight" shall be listed on the flight card for pole vault. Judges shall check the manufacturer's pole rating with the "competitor's weight" prior to each vault.
6. Boys/Girls: Did not approve a recommendation that the following adoption to NFHS Track and Field Rules be in effect: "In all interscholastic pole vault competition participated in and/or hosted by IHSA member schools, each contestant shall wear a helmet."
7. Approved changes to the State Final Time Schedules as follow:
Boys: Change the Saturday (finals) starting time for the discus to 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m., respectively. Move the Opening Ceremony Saturday to 11:45 a.m. (following the conclusion of the two sections of the 3200-meter run) from 10:30. The Opening Ceremony will include the National Anthem, presentation of the Honorary Referee(s), the NFHS required Sportsmanship meeting conducted by the Meet Referee, and the Special Announcements by the IHSA Administrator. This should take approximately 15 minutes.
Girls: Move the Saturday Parade of Competitors from 10:15 to 10:00 a.m. and conclude it with the Competitor Oath. Change the starting times for the Saturday (finals) field events to these schedules. Class No. 1 at 11:00 a.m. - Triple Jump, Pole Vault and Discus; 12:45 p.m. - High Jump, Shot Put and Long Jump. Class No. 2 at 11:00 a.m. - Pole Vault, High Jump, Shot Put and Long Jump; 12:45 p.m. - Triple Jump and Discus. Move the Opening Ceremony Saturday to 11:45 a.m. (following the conclusion of the two sections of the 3200-meter run) from 10:30 a.m.
8. Boys/Girls: Approved that place winners are to appear at the awards stand and receive their medallions only in their school issued uniform or school issued warm-up suit.
9. Boys/Girls: Approved that the following interpretation to NFHS Track and Field Rules be in effect in the state series and in all interscholastic meets hosted by an IHSA member school:
NFHS Rule 4-3-1: "Once a running event or a field event has begun, there can be no disqualification for improper uniform. Competitors must compete in a school issued uniform that complies with NFHS Rule 4-3-1. It is the responsibility of the meet referee/starter, clerk of the course, and/or the respective field event head judge to inspect competitor uniforms prior to the start of the race or field event. They are not to allow a competitor in an illegal uniform to participate in the race or field event. If a field event judge or clerk of the course is uncertain whether a uniform complies with NFHS Rule 4-3-1, the clerk of the course or judge shall obtain a ruling from the meet referee/starter before starting the event. Referee/Starters, Clerks of the Course, and field event judges must be aware that schools may have multiple uniforms that they issue to their athletes. Athletes from the same school may participate in the same event in different school issued uniforms."
NFHS Rule 4-3-5: "In relay races, the clerk of the course and/or referee/starter shall not disqualify a team if the uniform worn by all runners is not identical. The color of the shorts for all relay runners and the color of the track jersey (singlet) for all relay runners must be the same. Same means there can be varying shades of the one color. The printing, design and/or lettering on the track jersey (singlet) must be such that each relay runner's school can be easily identified, and that as a person views the four track jerseys (singlets) together they appear similar and the relay runner's school is easily identified."
10. Boys/Girls: Approved that all competitors in each running event shall report to the Clerk Tent at the same time. Hip numbers for the electronic timing system will be given to all competitors when they report. Race instructions shall be given to competitors in all heats at the same time after they have received their hip numbers.
11. Boys/Girls: To comply with NFHS Rule 3-2-4-f approved that sectional managers shall designate an area for pole vault coaches in close proximity to the event. At the State Final, an area for coaches of pole vaulters competing in the respective flight/finals shall be designated at the retaining fence on the east side of the O'Brien Stadium near the respective landing pit(s).
12. Boys/Girls: Approved that if a non-Fully Automatic Timing (non-FAT) system is used, the person starting the non-FAT timing device must be an IHSA licensed track and field official.
News Media
1. Approved adding the following to Policy No. 31 "Policy Regarding News Media/Spectator Photography and incorporating the Equipment Storage and Photographer Shooting Zones sections below into policies No. 33 "Policies Regarding News Media Credentials and Working Assignments for IHSA State Series"; No. 34 "Broadcast Policy"; and No. 35 "Television Policy":
Equipment Storage: No equipment other than that which is hand carried by the photographer is allowed on the playing surface or adjacent to it. All carrying cases, computer equipment, photography equipment and/or other not being carried by the media representative is not to be on the playing surface or adjacent to it.
Photographer Shooting Zones: The local manager will determine photographer-shooting zones for events hosted by the manager's school. It is the responsibility of the local manager to insure the safety of participants in the event(s) hosted by the manager's school. The local manager has the responsibility to coordinate the working location(s) for photographers and other media representatives covering the event.
2. Did not approve a recommendation that IHSA resume production and distribution of the IHSA Sports Report weekly series of radio shows.
3. Approved that the IHSA Board of Directors re-examine the philosophy of rights fees for radio, television and/or other media to determine if the underlying philosophy is to be service oriented or to generate revenue.
4. Approved that IHSA re-institute teleconferences involving the media and the coaches of the teams scheduled to participate in the state finals in boys football, girls volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, and any other sport where applicable, provided such teleconferences are self-funded. Media outlets participating in the teleconferences shall cover the costs of producing them. The IHSA staff will determine procedures and fees.
5. Approved that IHSA explore the potential for and feasibility of developing a statewide series in journalism.
Boys Baseball
1. Approved that all regional preliminary and quarterfinal games be played at the site of the highest seeded team. All regional semifinal and final games will continue to be played at the predetermined Regional site, designated by the IHSA.
2. Approved dates for the state series in Class A and Class AA.
Class A games are scheduled as follows: Tuesday Week 46 Regional Prelims; Wednesday Week 46 Regional Quarterfinals; Saturday-Monday Week 46-47 Regional Semifinals and Final; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday Week 47 Sectionals; Monday Week 48 Super-Sectional; Friday-Saturday Week 48 State Final.
Class AA games are scheduled as follows: Tuesday Week 47 Regional Prelims; Wednesday Week 47 Regional Quarterfinals; Saturday-Monday Week 47-48 Regional Semifinals and Final; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday Week 48 Sectionals; Monday Week 49 Super-Sectional; Friday-Saturday Week 49 State Final.
3. Approved to change the recommended start time for weekday games to 4:30 p.m.
4. Approved host school financial guarantees.
5. Approved that the higher seeded team in all Regional and Sectional games be designated as the home team. A coin flip will be used to determine home team in Sectionals that have Sub-Sectionals as well as the Super-Sectional and State Final.
6. Did not approve a recommendation to appoint a third official for the Regional Semifinal and Final games and subtract the cost of the third official from the Host guarantee.
7. Approved these changes to the Hitting Derby:
a. Only the Sectional winner will advance to the state final.
b. Live pitching will be used and each hitter is required to bring his own pitcher at the Sectional and State Final.
c. Score will be determined by using the combined best 12 swings from hitting in the preliminaries and finals at the Sectional and State Final.
d. Top four (4) hitters advance from the preliminaries to the finals at the Sectional and State Final.
e. Tiebreaker is a pitch-by-pitch hit off.
f. Pitching distance will move in from 60 feet to 45 feet.
Girls Softball
1. Approved that all regional preliminary and quarterfinal games be played at the site of the highest seeded team. All regional semifinal and final games will continue to be played at the predetermined Regional site, designated by the IHSA.
2 Approved dates for the state series in Class A and Class AA.
Class A games are scheduled as follows: Tuesday Week 46 Regional Prelims; Wednesday Week 46 Regional Quarterfinals; Saturday-Monday Week 46-47 Regional Semifinals and Final; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday Week 47 Sectionals; Monday Week 48 Super-Sectional; Friday-Saturday Week 48 State Final.
Class AA games are scheduled as follows: Tuesday Week 47 Regional Prelims; Wednesday Week 47 Regional Quarterfinals; Saturday-Monday Week 47-48 Regional Semifinals and Final; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday Week 48 Sectionals; Monday Week 49 Super-Sectional; Friday-Saturday Week 49 State Final.
3. Approved that the higher seed in all Regional and Sectional games be designated as the home team. Flip of the coin is used to determine home team in Sectionals that have sub- sectionals and the super-sectional and state finals.
4. Approved that in Regional and Sectional tournaments that do not finish prior to the start of the next level of tournament play, the higher seed would advance to the next round. In Sub-Sectionals and higher rounds of the tournament, a flip of the coin would determine which team advances if the designated tournament could not be completed.
5. Approved that the starting times for a tournament will be announced by the tournament manager, but Regional and Sectional tournament games should not be played during school hours. Recommended game times are 4:30 p.m. for afternoon games; 7:00 p.m. for night games; and 10:00 a.m. for Saturday games. Managers may not deviate from this schedule unless permission is given from the IHSA softball administrator.
6. Approved host school financial guarantees.
7. Approved these changes to the Hitting Derby:
a. Only the Sectional winner will advance to the state final.
b. Live pitching will be used and each hitter is required to bring his own pitcher at the Sectional and State Final.
c. Score will be determined by using the combined best 12 swings from hitting in the preliminaries and finals at the Sectional and State Final.
d. Top four (4) hitters advance from the preliminaries to the finals at the Sectional and State Final.
e. Tiebreaker is a pitch-by-pitch hit off.
8. Approved an administrative recommendation that the state final third place game be played in its entirety on the hitting derby field. If the Championship game start time occurs while the third place game is still going on, the third place game will be stopped until all championship pre-game introductions are finished and the championship game starts. Then the third place game resumes. If the third place game finishes after the start of the championship game, the award presentation for the third place game will be after the conclusion of the championship game prior to presentation of awards for the championship game on the championship field.
Boys/Girls Soccer
1. Boys and Girls Series: Approved that if the State Final facility is available, each of the eight teams in the state final be allowed time to practice on the field on Thursday night prior to the quarterfinal games. The practice order would follow the bracket order of games on Friday.
2. Boys and Girls Series: Approved adding $40 per day to the host allowance.
3. Boys and Girls Series: Approved playing schedules as follows:
a. Non-Lighted field - weekday games -- Begin the first contest no earlier than 3:00 p.m. and no later than 4:00 p.m. Host manager determines if two games will be played on the same day or if one game each will be played on two days.
b. Lighted field - weekday games -- Begin the first contest no earlier than 3:00 p.m. and the second contest no later than 7:00 p.m.
c. Saturday games -- Begin the first contest no earlier than 11:00 a.m. and the second contest no later than 7:00 p.m.
d. Sectional Final games -- Begin at 7:00 p.m.
4. Boys and Girls: Did not approve changes in the roster limitations providing: a. That during the Regional level of competition teams may have an unlimited number of players dressed on the bench. b. That during Sectionals and the State Final there shall be in uniform no more than 22 players on the bench and a total of 27 persons on the bench.
5. Boys and Girls: Approved that a coin toss should occur before: the first Overtime; the first set of 5 penalty kicks and the 2nd set of 5 penalty kicks. The visiting captain shall call the toss.
6. Boys and Girls: Did not approve that all mechanical or artificial noise-making devices be excluded from the stands.
Officials
1. Approved a recommendation that the promotion process be different than the rating process for assignment in the state series. Officials seeking promotion must submit six (6) different rating forms during the sport season in which they have applied for promotion. Three ratings must be from coaches and three from officials.
2. Did not approve a recommendation that the Sportsmanship Committee look at extending the authority of the officials from the time they arrive at the facility to the time they leave the facility.
Badminton
1. Received the report of the annual meeting of the Badminton Advisory Committee. There were no recommendations for changes in the Terms and Conditions. An administrative recommendation to provide sportsmanship banners to teams at the state final was not approved.
Eligibility Decisions
1) Sustained the Executive Director's ruling that a student from Coal City is ineligible to participate in basketball during the 2002-03 school term. The student will turn 20 years old on Saturday of Week 34 (March 1), which is during the basketball sport season, causing him to be in noncompliance with By-law 3.061.
2) The Board heard an appeal of its Sept. 9, 2002, hearing decision that a student is permanently ineligible at Pontiac High School by John Morel, attorney for the student. The student's penalty for ineligibility is mandated in By-law 6.010. Morel sought the Board to reconsider information presented by him and his client at the Sept. 9 Board meeting. After consideration of the appeal Tuesday, the Board sustained its decision of Sept. 9.
Discussion Items
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items that the Board discusses, but upon which it takes no action. Following is a report of those on the October 2002, agenda:
Sportsmanship Summits: The Board heard a report of the 2002 Sportsmanship Summits, which were held recently at DeKalb (NIU), Normal (ISU) and Collinsville. More than 1,200 students and advisors attended the three conferences. This year's trio of conferences was the fifth year where multiple sites were held. Six years ago there was a single conference. Speakers this year included keynote speaker Eddie Slowikowski, Mickey DeHook and Chris Bowers. DeHook was a facilitator in a series of role playing incidents requiring students to react to situations of hazing and blatant poor sportsmanship. Bowers conducted a special program aimed at junior high school students.
2002 Legislative Commission Proposals: The Board reviewed a total of 17 proposals to change the IHSA Constitution and/or By-laws that were submitted by the Oct. 8 deadline for review by the Legislative Commission in the annual referendum process. The Legislative Commission will meet Nov. 4, 2002 for the first time and on Nov. 18 for the second time during this year's referendum process. In between the Commission meetings, there will be the annual Town Meetings at 21 sites throughout the state.