IHSA Announcements

April 22, 2008

Board Establishes Classification cutoffs for 2008-09

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors, at its monthly meeting on April 22, approved a recommendation to establish classification cutoffs for the 2008-09 school term.  The classification cutoffs will affect the two-, three-, and four-class systems and will provide consistent cutoffs across all sports and activities.

“Establishing classification cutoffs is an important function of the board,” said IHSA Executive Director Dr. Marty Hickman.  “While the new cutoffs are generally the same as this year's, they will provide a more consistent framework of classes in which teams compete.  As the membership continues its journey down the road of class expansion, having consistent classes will aid schools in scheduling common opponents in a number of sports and activities."

The classification cutoffs, based on Sept. 30, 2007 enrollments, will be as follows:

TWO-CLASS SYSTEM

THREE-CLASS SYSTEM

FOUR-CLASS SYSTEM

In 2008-09, wrestling, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and boys’ and girls’ track and field will move into a three-class system, joining boys’ and girls’ cross country and boys’ golf.  All other sports and activities will remain in the same class system as this year.

A complete list of enrollments for the 2008-09 school term will be posted in the coming days.

Other Action

1. The Board approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to adopt the Playing Up in Classification Policy for 2008-09.  The most significant change to the policy for next year is that schools can petition to play up in selected sports and/or activities.  In previous years, the policy only allowed schools to petition with the understanding that the school’s entire athletic/activity programs would be required to play up.  Information regarding the revised policy will be made available to member schools later this spring.

2. The Board approved a proposal from the Executive Director to experiment with an online rule interpretation meeting for football.  There are few changes to the football rules for the 2008-09 school term.   As a result, the IHSA Office will prepare a video presentation that will be accessed through the Schools and Officials Centers on the IHSA website.  Questions arising from the presentation will be addressed on the boys’ football page at www.ihsa.org.

3. The Board approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to reemploy the Assistant Executive Directors for the 2008-09 school term.

4. The Board approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to establish a budget of $150,000 for the association’s new performance-enhancing drug testing program next year.  This program will be funded by reallocating those dollars previously distributed to member schools for travel reimbursement in boys’ and girls’ basketball at the sectional and super-sectional levels and dual team wrestling sectionals.  Schools will continue to receive travel reimbursement for advancing to the state finals in bracketed team sports.  Member schools currently pay no membership dues or entry fees to either belong to the association or enter any of its state series competition.

5. The Board approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to develop an online presentation explaining the new performance-enhancing drug testing program.   The presentation will be available on the IHSA website later this spring.

Eligibility Rulings

No appeals regarding eligibility rulings were considered by the board.

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 April 22, 2008, agenda:

1. The Board heard a report from Assistant Executive Director Kurt Gibson concerning discussion that the association’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) had regarding By-law 5.062.  Specifically, the Board had asked for the SMAC’s position on the application of the by-law for those students who miss some portion of their school’s pre-season football practice as a result of military service or training.  While the SMAC appreciates the service of those students to our country during the summer, they continue to believe that the current rule requiring a minimum of 1-1/2 hours of actual field practice on twelve (12) different days, excluding Sunday and any day on which the student actually plays in an interscholastic football contest, is appropriate to allow for the proper acclimatization for student-athletes and should not allow for any exceptions.

2. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director on plans for the IHSA Office to conduct numerous workshops next year.  Workshop topics will include season limitations, summer participation guidelines and related issues, transfer and residence, and www.ihsa.org.  Information on the workshops will be made available to member schools prior to the 2008-09 school term.

3. The Board heard a report from the Executive Director that reviewed the new by-laws approved by the membership for the 2008-09 school term.

4. The Board recognized Jerilyn Scardina of Hinsdale (Central) High School, who was selected as the 2007 NFHS Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in girls’ tennis. Ms. Scardina is the Assistant Athletic Director at Hinsdale Central High School and also serves as the Head Girls’ Tennis Coach.  Scardina has over thirty years of accomplishments at the IHSA Girls’ State Tennis Tournament.  Earlier this school year, Hinsdale Central secured its second straight team championship and 10th in program history.  During her tenure, her teams have earned 10 first place state tennis finishes, seven (7) second place state finishes, six (6) 3rd place IHSA state finishes, 32 top 10 appearances in the IHSA state finals, 25 IHSA sectional titles and 9 IHSA district titles.