IHSA Announcement

October 9, 2007

Board Reelects Jim Woodward President;
Will Explore Bass Fishing Competition

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors reelected Jim Woodward, principal of Anna-Jonesboro High School, president of the Board at its regular October meeting Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the IHSA Office. Mr. Woodward, who represents Division 7, has served as president since 2005 and has been a member of the Board since 2003.

Reelected vice president was Ron Conner, principal of Clinton High School, representing Division 5. Mr. Conner was first elected to the Board in 2003. Jim Quaid, principal at Oak Park (Fenwick), was reelected secretary. Dr. Quaid is an at-large Board member representing private school principals and has also been a member of the Board since 2003.

Election of officers came after the canvass of ballots in this year's Board elections. Three Board members were reelected to full 3-year terms. Dr. Joyce Kenner of Chicago (Whitney Young) was reelected to represent Division 1, Ross Cucio of Oak Lawn (Richards) was reelected to represent Division 3, and Vicki King of Carbondale was reelected to represent the underrepresented gender.

The Board also authorized the staff to explore the possibility of conducting an interscholastic bass fishing tournament as one way to reach out to students who are not served by traditional IHSA programs. Preliminary investigation has shown that there is interest among high school students and that such a tournament would likely be self-supporting.

Other Action

Legislative Commission Vacancy: The Board of Directors approved the appointment of Dr. Suzan Hebson, principal of Deerfield High School, to fill the Legislative Commission seat from Division 5 (minority or underrepresented gender).

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:

Girls Badminton

Approved a recommendation creating blocks of time for teams to warm up on Friday.
Approved a recommendation adding an additional roving official during at the state final tournament.
Approved a recommendation prohibiting the use of electronic devices while competing.

Boys Baseball

Approved a change in the state final time schedule. Friday's semifinals will start at 10:00 and 1:00 (for Class 1A and 3A) and 4:00 and 7:00 (for Class 2A and 4A). On Saturday, the consolation and championship games will be held at 9:00 and 12:00 (for class 1A and 3A) and 4:00 and 7:00 (for Class 2A and 4A).

Girls Softball

Approved a change in the state final time schedule. Friday's semifinals will start at 9:30 and 12:00 (for Class 1A and 3A) and 4:30 and 7:00 (for Class 2A and 4A). On Saturday, the consolation and championship games will be held at 9:30 and 12:00 (for class 1A and 3A) and 4:30 and 7:00 (for Class 2A and 4A).

Boys/Girls Track and Field

Approved a recommendation to change the following qualifying standards:

Class A Girls
Long Jump: 16’ 4”
Pole Vault: 8’ 9”
High Jump: 5’ 1”
4 x 400m Relay: 4:16.5 MT

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

Class A Boys
No changes

Class AA Boys
Long Jump: 22’ 3”
High Jump: 6’ 4”
3200m Run: 9:33.0 MT
1600m Run: 4:23.5 MT
4 x 800m Relay: 8:03.0 MT
4 x 200m Relay: 1:29.7 MT
Approved a recommendation that prohibits the wearing of watches during competition.

Boys/Girls Cross Country

Approved a recommendation that prohibits the wearing of watches during competition.

Boys/Girls Water Polo

Approved a recommendation clarifying that if an auxiliary pool is available, teams may warm up starting at halftime of the preceding contest.
Approved a recommendation that goal judges be licensed IHSA officials, and if that is not possible, that they be at least 21 years of age.

News Media

Approved a recommendation directing media outlets who wish to use flash photography to coordinate with site administrators in advance, so that they can inform the game officials.
Approved a recommendation adding webcasting to the television policy.

Officials

Approved a recommendation allowing officials to apply for promotion and take the Part II examination online, beginning with the 2008-09 school term. Currently the examination is proctored and, for each sport, is offered only at a few sites on a single date.
Approved a recommendation to allocate grant money to 15 different officials associations in sums ranging from $250 to $500. The grant money is to be used by associations for recruiting, mentoring, education/clinics and sportsmanship programs.
Tabled a recommendation eliminating the mechanics examination for promotion in football..

Hearings and Appeals

The Board modified the Executive Director's decision that a student of Aurora (Central Catholic) is ineligible for the 2007-08 wrestling season under the provisions of By-laws 3.041 and 3.043 and its subsections. The student will be allowed to participate beginning January 2, 2008.
The Board sustained the Executive Director's decision that a student of Paw Paw is ineligible for the 2007-08 school term under the provisions of By-laws 3.041 and 3.045.
The Board sustained the Executive Director's decision that a student of Elmhurst (York) is ineligible for the 2007-08 school term under the provisions of By-laws 3.043 and its subsections.

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, 2007, agenda:

Drug Testing Initiative: The Board heard a presentation from Assistant Executive Director Kurt Gibson regarding the IHSA's Drug Testing Initiative. With the help of the IHSA's Sports Medicine Committee, the framework is being put into place that would conduct random steroid testing during IHSA state series. The details of the proposed plan will be discussed at the Town Meetings in November.

Strategic Planning: The Board heard plans for a new round of the IHSA Strategic Planning process, which is tentatively scheduled for the spring.

Amendment Proposals: The Board received an update on the 11 proposals received so far for consideration by the Legislative Commission during the annual referendum process. The deadline for submission of proposals is Oct. 16. The Legislative Commission will meet twice to consider each proposal. The first meeting is Nov. 5, when the commission members will hear the pros and cons regarding each proposal. The second meeting is Nov. 26, when the Legislative Commission will vote whether to forward the proposals for consideration by all member schools. Between the first and second meetings of the Legislative Commission, the IHSA will conduct 28 Town Meetings/Principals Rules Meetings throughout the state. The principal of each member school (or designee) is required to attend one of these meetings. If the Legislative Commission votes to forward a proposal, the 758 IHSA member schools will have the opportunity to vote for or against it via electronic ballot. Deadline for voting is Dec. 27.

New Principals' Workshop: The New Principals' Workshop was held at the IHSA Office on October 2, with 35 principals in attendance.

Residence and Transfer Workshops: Two workshops on the topic of Residence and Transfer By-laws have been schedule for December 11 and 12.