IHSA Announcements

March 6, 2004

Board Approves Task Force on Classification

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors Saturday (March 6) authorized formation of a task force to address the challenge of how and where to classify non-public member schools, and public member schools without boundaries, in all state series.

After voting to table a proposal from the Football Advisory Committee that would double the enrollment on non-public schools for purposes of classification in that sport only, the Board participated in a lengthy discussion regarding the issues surrounding school classification. Included in the discussion, but not limited to it, was the concept of a multiplier for enrollments, the impact of club teams on school attendance, authenticating requirements for member schools allowing them to participate in the respective state series, and conference realignment for purposes of the football playoffs.

Board member Joseph Schlender, principal of Hoffman Estates (Conant) will chair the task force. The Board voted to meet Saturday, March 20 to determine the form and focus of the task force.

In addition, the Board took action on several policies, and tied up many loose ends Saturday, including action on recommendations from nine advisory committees.

Action Items

School Dues -- The Board voted to continue its policy not to assess membership dues for the 2004-05 school term.

Annual 3-Day Meeting -- Because of scheduling conflicts and reorganization within the Board, it voted not to conduct the annual three-day policy and procedures review meeting this summer.

School Redistricting -- The Board approved geographic redistricting of member schools in the seven Board Divisions and 21 Legislative Commission Districts. Member schools will vote for Board members and Commission members in their new divisions and districts beginning with the 2004-05 (next) school term. A complete listing of the new Board Divisions and Legislative Commission Districts is posted on this page.

State Final Site Contracts -- The Board approved Policies and Procedures for Contracting State Final Tournament Sites. The Board also approved a standard Site Proposal Specifications Form and a standard Site Proposal Analysis Form. (The text of the Policies and Procedures follows this article.)

Competitive Cheerleading Advisory Committee -- The Board authorized the IHSA staff to establish a Competitive Cheerleading Advisory Committee to begin functioning with the 2004-05 (next) school term.

Music Organization Dates -- At the January, 2004, meeting, the Board approved dates for the annual Music Organization Contest for the next five years. Dates proposed for 2006 and 2007 were incorrect. The Board approved these corrected dates: March 31-April 1 for 2006 and April 20-21 for 2007.

Drama/Group Interpretation Dates -- The Board approved these dates for the 2004-05 (next) school term for Drama/Group Interpretation. Sectionals will be March 11-12, 2005. State Final will be March 18-19, 2005.

Dual Team Wrestling Site -- The Board approved a three-year contract with the Convocation Center at Northern Illinois University to host the Dual Team Wrestling State Final Tournament for the next three years. Dates will be Feb. 26 in 2005, Feb. 25 in 2006 and Feb. 24 in 2007.

Foreign Exchange Program Evaluation -- The Board approved a plan for approving foreign programs. (Text of the plan follows this article.)

Interpretations -- The Board approved interpretations related to competitive cheerleading and the transfer rule. (Text of the cheerleader interpretations follows this article.) In addition, the Board voted to interpret that in Transfer By-law 3.042, the impact of the by-law applies to transfers involving just IHSA member schools. The Executive Director may rule students eligible in a sport who transfer from a non-member school where a sport season is conducted at a different time than the IHSA sport season.

Terms and Conditions Recommendations

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors acted on recommendations for Terms and Conditions and administrative procedures from seven advisory committees at its meeting Saturday (March 6) 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 Saturday:

Cross Country

  1. Approved a recommendation for the state final races that if the computer chip for scoring is in the bib, the torso will determine place, and that if the computer chip is on the shoe(s), use the feet for scoring, pending video review to break ties.
  2. Approved a recommended procedure to post results of the individual races for coaches only in a designated area immediately following the conclusion of the race. Coaches will have 30 minutes to appeal or for correction of an error. Final results will be posted for everyone following the 30-minute period allowed for appeal or correction of an error.
  3. Approved eliminating the rotation of the time of the races between Class A and Class AA. The schedule of races will remain Class A Girls, Class A Boys, Class AA Girls, and Class AA Boys.
  4. Approved a recommendation to set 4:15 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the regional as the deadline for entering the school roster on the IHSA Web Site. If a school does not enter by the deadline, it becomes ineligible to compete in the state series.
  5. Approved a recommendation to alter the time schedule for the state final races. The races will be run as follows: Class A Girls at 9:30 a.m., Class A Boys at 10:30 a.m., Class AA Girls at 12:15 p.m. and Class AA Boys at 1:15 p.m. The Class A Awards Ceremony will begin at 11:45 a.m. The Class AA Awards Ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. The Awards Ceremonies will be conducted at Detweiller Park.
  6. Approved a recommended procedure for presenting the individual and team awards at the state final.

Football

  1. Tabled a recommendation to classify public schools by their actual enrollment and non-public schools by a multiplier of two (2) times the actual enrollment.
  2. Did not approve a recommendation to rotate the starting times of the four championship games on Friday (1A-4A) and to rotate the starting times of the four championship games on Saturday (5A-8A).
  3. Approved a recommendation with modifications from the Athletic Administrator Advisory Committee that each home team shall provide the visiting school with an equal number of spotter positions that it has for itself.

Boys/Girls Golf

  1. Approved a recommendation with modifications in boys/girls golf to allow sectional sites to host the event on Saturday of Week 14 or Monday or Tuesday of Week 15 (Oct. 9,11 or 12 in 2004). Preference will be given to schools which can host on a non-school day.
  2. Did not approve a recommendation to utilize the 50-50 split option of the Classification Policy for boys golf.
  3. Did not approve a recommendation in boys golf to utilize a shotgun start on Friday and Saturday of the State Final.
  4. Did not approve a recommendation in boys golf to start both rounds of the State Final at 9:30 a.m.
  5. Approved a recommendation with modifications to use the traditional tee time starting system in boys/girls golf. The original recommendation was for girls golf only.
  6. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls golf to provide that the rules committee will recommend to the tournament manager whether to suspend or cancel the round at all levels in the state series.
  7. Tabled a recommendation in boys/girls golf to prohibit spectators from using motorized golf carts on the course at all levels in the state series.

Boys/Girls Tennis

  1. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls tennis to move the day of the sectional seed meeting from Wednesday to Tuesday of sectional week and that entries must be made online through the IHSA Web Site by the deadline. If a school does not submit the online entries by the deadline, it will be ineligible to participate in the state series.
  2. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls tennis that rules interpretation meetings be conducted prior to the respective seasons beginning in the 2004-05 school term.

Boys/Girls Volleyball

  1. Approved a recommendation in girls volleyball to begin competition in the first session each day at the state final at 9:30 a.m. The second session each day is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. There are four matches in each session.
  2. Did not approve a recommendation in boys volleyball to change the starting time of the first match in the quarterfinal session to 1:00 p.m. with matches scheduled for 1:00, 2:00, 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.
  3. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls volleyball that in three-match sessions at the boys and girls regionals the matches be scheduled to start at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
  4. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls volleyball to increase the number of team passes issued at the state final from 20 to 22 per team.
  5. Did not approve a recommendation in boys volleyball to allow in the regionals for Monday to be used if a quarterfinal/pigtail game is required prior to the semifinal round. Under the plan, the match would be played at the site of the highest seeded school.
  6. Did not approve a recommendation in boys/girls volleyball that in the final two minutes of warm-ups both teams be required to remain on the court for serving.

Boys/Girls Water Polo

  1. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls water polo that any manufacturer's logo on the ear guards must be the same color as the ear guard, and may not exceed 2 ¼ square inches.
  2. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls water polo addressing what is permissible to be imprinted on a competitor's suit and cap. Only the following may be imprinted: the school name, mascot, polo ball, and player's name and/or number. In addition, only one visible manufacturer's logo/trade name may appear not exceeding 2 ¼ square inches, and an American Flag not to exceed 2 x 3 inches may be imprinted on the suit or cap.
  3. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls water polo that competitors shall not wear jewelry, except a medical medal that must be taped to the body.
  4. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls water polo that prohibits musical instruments and bands from the natatorium.
  5. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls water polo to conduct the state final over three days. Quarterfinals will be played Thursday with four games beginning at 4:30 p.m. Four more quarterfinal games will be played Friday beginning at 4:30 p.m. Four semifinal games will be played Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. The third place and championship games for girls and boys (total of 4 games) will be played Saturday beginning at 4:00 p.m. Previously, the state final was a four-day event.
  6. Approved a recommendation in boys/girls water polo that the ticket price at the state final be $8.00 per session.

Sports Medicine

The Board received the minutes of the December 2003 meeting. There were no recommendations.

Athletic Administrators Advisory Committee

The Board received the report of the January 2004 meeting and acted upon recommendations made by the committee in conjunction with the recommendations of the specific advisory committee.

Eligibility Decisions

  1. Modified the Executive Director's decision and ruled Joseph Esolato eligible immediately at Wilmington. Esolato is a senior residing with court appointed guardians in Naperville. Guardianship was assigned in 2002 and he and the family moved from Wilmington to Naperville in 2002. He was ruled eligible at Wilmington through the 2002-03 school term and was notified he would not be eligible at Wilmington for the 2003-04 school term.

Discussion Items

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain agenda items the Board discusses, but upon which it takes no action. Following is a report of those other discussion items on the March 2004, agenda:

Spring Basketball Tournaments -- The Board heard a report of IHSA staff efforts to reinforce the parameters of member school compliance with the IHSA Basketball Season Limitation By-laws. Spring tournaments and leagues. Member schools cannot organize and/or sponsor teams is these non-school events. Upcoming events like the Centurion Classic, Chicago Foreman High School/Illinois Youth Basketball Association Tournament and Wheatland Athletic Association Girls League are examples of prohibited events for school-sponsored teams.

Legislative Liaisons -- The Board heard a report that Governor Rod Blagojevich has re-appointed Sen. George Shadid (D-Peoria) as Illinois Senate liaison to the IHSA Board of Directors and that Sen. William Brady (R-Bloomington) has been appointed alternate Senate liaison. Sen. Brady attended Saturday's meeting. The governor is still to appoint an Illinois House liaison and alternate.

Wheelchair Basketball Update -- The Board heard a report of the upcoming three Wheelchair Basketball Tournaments to be conducted in the Exhibit Hall of the Peoria Civic Center and the River Plex in Peoria on the weekend of 2004 Class A Boys State Final Basketball Tournament (March 11-13). The tournaments are the first ever Illinois High School State Championship Tournament, the Jayvee National Tournament and the Prep National Tournament. The Jayvee tournament will include eight teams from across the United States, while the Prep tournament will include 16 teams. There will be 8 teams in the Illinois tournament. The three wheelchair championship games will be played on the center courts of the March Madness Experience Saturday afternoon, March 13. The Jayvee and Prep games will begin at 2:00 p.m. The Illinois title game begins at 4:00 p.m. Teams scheduled to compete in the first ever Illinois High School State Championship Tournament by seed are: N0.1 Windy City Warriors, No. 2 Rockford Chariots, No. 3 GLASA Wave, No. 4 Peoria Wildcats, No. 5 Confluence Center Coast, No. 6 Chicago. All games in the Illinois state tournament will be played on the center courts in the March Madness Experience.

Schutt Sports Agreement -- The Board reviewed terms of an agreement with Litchfield-based Schutt Sports to manufacture the "Official Rim of IHSA Basketball". (See separate article at www.ihsa.org announcing the agreement.)

"Sports is Education, Too" Symposium -- The Board heard a report of a symposium targeting high school administrators and coaches, as well as personnel from small colleges, to be hosted by Loyola University on Oct. 19, 2004. The IHSA staff will be involved with the symposium. The Board endorsed the symposium, which will focus on emerging sports issues on the court, off the court and in court. It will be held at the Loyola University Downtown Campus, 25 East Pearson, Chicago. More information regarding the symposium will be available at a later date.

"Challenge Yourself" Campaign -- The Board heard a report regarding the creation of television and radio Public Service Announcements regarding the "Challenge Yourself" campaign launched earlier this school year. The television and radio spots began airing with the state basketball tournaments. Radio stations originating the games are required by IHSA Broadcast Policy to include the public service announcements in their broadcasts.

2004-05 Competitive Cheerleading Interpretations

1. Q. Are students who try out for cheerleading squads in the spring eligible to compete with outside teams after the tryout date?

A. Yes. By-law 3.106 says that "students must cease non-school practice and competition in that sport no later than five days after the date on which the school team engages in its first practice or tryout." However, this conflicts with the intent of by-law 5.750, which carves out an exception for competitive cheerleading by allowing practice (and try-outs) year-round. By board interpretation, students involved in competitive cheerleading must cease non-school practice and competition after five days of tryouts/practice during the IHSA competitive season.

2. Q. May a school's wrestling cheer squad participate in cheer competitions?

A. Yes. By-law 5.753 says that "no individual shall be permitted to participate on a member school's Competitive Cheerleading team unless he/she is a rostered participant on the member school's winter (basketball) sideline cheerleading team." Since the competitive squad at some schools is the wrestling squad rather than the basketball squad, the parenthetical comment in the by-law is interpreted merely as an example of a winter squad, rather than as a requirement that the competitive squad must perform at basketball games.

3. Q. What is a "rostered participant"?

A. A rostered participant is a student who is both on the roster and who participates on a sideline cheerleading squad. (By-law 5.753)

Criteria for Approval of Foreign Exchange Student Programs

Board of Directors' approval of foreign exchange student programs, for purposes of determining the residence eligibility for athletics of foreign exchange students in member schools, is required by Section 3.034.3 of the By-laws. In compliance with this provision, the Board of Directors has determined that only those exchange programs with "full listing" status in the 2004-05 CSIET Advisory List may be approved for the 2004-05 school term. Qualifying programs must submit the following documentation to the IHSA office for approval by the Executive Director:

  1. An outline of the placement process for students, from initial contact to final placement.
  2. A description of the process local or area representatives must follow in the placement of students.
  3. The names, addresses and telephone numbers of all local or area representatives responsible for student placement.
  4. Copies of any and all training materials provided to local or area representatives and documentation that all required training has been completed.
  5. A description of the process used by the program to identify and secure local or area representatives.
  6. A description of the process used by the program and local or area representatives to identify and secure host schools.
  7. A description of the process used by the program and local or area representatives to identify and secure host families.
  8. The procedures for follow up with local or area representatives to ensure that the program's placement process has been followed.
  9. The procedures for post placement follow up with the local or area representatives and the students placed by the program.

Following submission of the documentation described above and any additional documentation and/or investigation deemed necessary by the Executive Director, the Executive Director shall notify the program whether it has been approved.

Policies and Procedures for Contracting State Final Tournament Sites

  1. The IHSA Board of Directors is responsible for approving all IHSA State Final Tournament Sites.
  2. The Board of Directors will solicit proposals for hosting the following IHSA State Final Tournaments:

          a. Girls Volleyball
          b. Boys Football
          c. Boys Wrestling (Individual)
          d. Girls Basketball
          e. Boys Basketball
          f. Girls Softball
          g. Boys Baseball
          h. Others as approved by the IHSA Board

    Note: If significant interest has been expressed in hosting IHSA State Final Tournaments/Events not listed above, the Board will evaluate the desirability of soliciting proposals.
  3. The Board will approve event specific proposal specifications that will include minimum requirements, essential criteria and a comprehensive timetable prior to distribution to interested parties. Proposal specifications will be available to interested parties no sooner than twelve months and no later than six months prior to the expiration of an existing contract.
  4. The Board will approve event specific site proposal analysis forms to be used by the administrative staff in the evaluation of the proposals.
  5. Contracts approved by the Board to host IHSA State Final Tournaments will be for a period not to exceed five years.
  6. The Board will award contracts for the events outlined in item #2 after no later than two months following the expiration of a current contract. New contracts will be announced from the IHSA office after existing contracts have expired.
  7. For any IHSA State Final Tournament or Activity not included in item #2, the IHSA Board will review the recommendation of the IHSA Executive Director and Administrative Staff prior to approving a contract.