IHSA Announcements

Board Approves Distinguished Service Award

The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors announced at its regularly scheduled meeting the development of a new award aimed at recognizing the contributions made by individuals to IHSA programs and services.  The “IHSA Distinguished Service Award” will be awarded annually to a maximum of 12 individuals who have displayed exemplary service to the association for a minimum of 10 years.

“Our Board of Directors approved an exciting program today,” said IHSA Executive Director Dr. Marty Hickman.  “Over the years our association has been fortunate to have countless numbers of individuals who have willingly given of their time, talents, and resources for students in Illinois, and to now have a vehicle through which we can recognize those efforts is exciting.”

This year’s recipients will be honored at a banquet in Bloomington in June.  Honorees will receive a commemorative plaque in honor of their service and have their names prominently displayed at the IHSA Office in the Ola Bundy Conference Room.

Other Action

  1. The Board approved Illinois State University to serve as one of the state final sites in boys’ golf through the 2010-11 school term.  A full release on this announcement can be found on this page .
  2. The Board approved a series of interpretations regarding summer football participation.  The interpretations provide member schools with more descriptions of acceptable and unacceptable practices during the summer contact period.  IHSA Assistant Executive Director Dave Gannaway reviewed with the Board a brochure that will be distributed as a part of the February issue of the Interpreter and sent to member schools in a separate mailing this spring.
  3. The Board approved a recommendation from the executive director to not assess membership dues for the 2007-08 school term.
  4. The Board clarified its position on which teams can compete in the Prep Bowl.

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:

Boys/Girls Cross Country

1.  Approved a time schedule for the three-class meet:

9:00 a.m. - Class A Girls Race
10:00 a.m. – Class A Boys Race
11:00 a.m. – Class A Awards Ceremony
11:00 a.m. – Class AA Girls Race
12:00 p.m. – Class AA Boys Race
1:00 p.m. – Class AA Awards Ceremony
1:00 p.m. – Class AAA Girls Race
2:00 p.m. – Class AAA Boys Race
3:00 p.m. – Class AAA Awards Ceremony

2. Approved a change that prohibits no changes to the lineup after the chips are issued at the starting line.
3. Approved a change that states that the sleeve length and printing on undergarments does not need to be identical, but does need to be similar in color.
4. Approved a change that eliminated the 30-minute time period to protest the  misapplication of a rule.

Boys Football

1. Approved a change that requires that all football fields that host a playoff game must meet the NFHS football requirement that there is no barrier within five (5) yards of the endline or sideline.
2. Approved a change that to the sideline pass policy that restricts the number of sideline passes given to schools participating in the state final.

Boys/Girls Golf

1. Approved a change that provides that play can be suspended when it does not impact the equity of the tournament.  Darkness and lightning that cause the holds not to be completed in the round are reasons to suspend play.  Play can resume from the point at which it was suspended on either day of the competition or the next possible day, except on the final day of the state finals.  If on the second day of the state finals play can not be completed because of darkness, the state championship will be determined on the basis of the scores posted on Friday.
2. Approved a change that provides that if State Final play begins on Friday, but the opening round (delete cannot be completed) is cancelled (not suspended) that day because of weather, scores made on Friday will not be counted and Saturday’s round will be the first and final round for the state tournament.  If on the other hand, the opening round is completed on Friday and play cannot (delete be resumed) occur or is cancelled on Saturday, the state championship will be determined on the basis of the scores posted on Friday.
3. Approved a change that allows managers to use as observers not only coaches or school personnel but also non-school volunteers. 
4. Approved a change requiring mandatory rules meeting for boys and girls golf coaches.

Boys/Girls Tennis

1. Approved a recommendation requiring that the “no-ad” scoring method be used in the 1st and 2nd championship and all consolation feed-in rounds at the Girls State Tournament.  If the tournament is taken indoors, “no-ad” scoring will be used, except for quarterfinals, semifinals and final-round matches.

Boys/Girls Volleyball

1. Approved a time schedule for the four-class girls volleyball tournament in 2008.  The classes playing in each session will flip from year to year.

Session 1 (Semifinals)
Match 1 -- Class 1A
Match 2  -- Class 1A
Match 3  -- Class 2A
Match 4  -- Class 2A

Session 2 (Semifinals)
Match 5  -- Class 3A
Match 6 --  Class 3A
Match 7 --  Class 4A
Match 8  -- Class 4A

Session 3 (Consolation and Championships)
Match 9 -- 1A Consolation
Match 10 -- 1A Championship
                   Awards Ceremony
Match 11 -- 2A Consolation
Match 12 -- 2A Championship
                   Awards Ceremony

Session 4 (Consolation and Championships)
Match 13 -- 3A Consolation
Match 14 -- 3A Championship
                   Awards Ceremony
Match 15 -- 4A Consolation
Match 16 -- 4A Championship
                   Awards Ceremony

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 items on this month’s agenda:

  1. The Board heard a report from the executive director detailing areas in the recently amended Constitution and By-laws that will require to Board to enact definitions and/or interpretations.
  2. The Board continued discussion from its January meeting concerning the Prep Bowl football game.
  3. The Board heard a report from the executive director which indicated no member schools were suspended this year from participation in IHSA competitions for failure to attend a Principals' Rules Meeting.
  4. The Board heard a report from the executive updating the Board on the IHSA’s Strategic Planning process.
  5. The Board heard a report from the executive director concerning the introduction of a bill in the Illinois Senate by Senator Chris Lauzen of Aurora.  The bill, which is entitled the “Fair Athletic Competition Act”, would require the association to conduct random testing for steroids and performance-enhancing dietary supplements at selected state finals competitions.
  6. The Board heard a report from the executive director which recognized the following Illinois coaches who have received an award from the NFHS Coaches Association:

    State Award Recipients
    Boys’ Bowling              Jeff Woszczynski, Alton (Sr.)
    Girls’ Bowling               Gregory Troyer, Mt. Prospect (Prospect)
    Boys’ Gymnastics         Skip Adamson, Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)
    Girls’ Gymnastics          Terry Theobald, Palatine (H.S.)
    Girls’ Badminton           John Charters, Darien (Hinsdale South)
    Girls’ Softball               Mark Gerlach, Moline
    Boys’ Track and Field  John Szabo, Bloomington (H.S.)
    Boys’ Water Polo         David Perry, Oak Park (Fenwick)
    Girls’ Water Polo         John Wagner, Oak Park (Fenwick)

    Sectional Award Recipients
    Football                        Ken Leonard, Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin)
    Girls’ Soccer                Scott Steib, Barrington

    National Award Recipient
    Football                        Ken Leonard, Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin)

    Eligibility Hearings

  7. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on two students of Plainfield (Central) High School.  One is a freshman and the other is a junior transfer, and both previously attended Plainfield (North) High School.  They were ruled ineligible for 365 days from their last date of interscholastic participation at Plainfield (Central) High School.
  8. The Board directed the Executive Director to reconsider the ruling on a student of Westchester (St. Joseph) High School based on new information submitted by the school today.  The student is a junior transfer student from Clark High School.  The student had been ruled ineligible for the 2006-07 school term.  Upon review of the materials submitted, the Executive Director modified the original ruling and ruled the student eligible as of today.
  9. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student of Oswego (H.S.). The student is a senior transfer from Plainfield (Central) High School.  The student was ruled ineligible for the 2006-07 school term.
  10. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student of Carterville High School. The student is a sophomore transfer from Marion High School. The student was ruled ineligible for the 2006-07 school term.