IHSA Announcements
August 30, 1999
Coming This Fall: Major Additions to IHSA Web Site
If you're already a frequent visitor to the IHSA Web site, you're going to notice some big changes this fall. And if you haven't been using the Web site regularly, there's no better time to start than right now. This fall the IHSA will introduce the most innovative services ever provided by a state association. Whether you're a student participant, a coach or school administrator, a licensed official, a member of the media, or just a fan, now is the time to make a visit to the IHSA Web site part of your daily routine.
There are two major changes involved, each playing an important role in providing these new services.
Later this fall, we will introduce several interactive forms on the IHSA.org Web site. These will allow designated school personnel and licensed officials to communicate directly with the databases in the IHSA Office. Athletic directors and coaches, for example, will be able to submit new information (such as forms, reports, or rosters), correct and update current information (such as the school directory entry), or view information (such as special reports received by coaches). Licensed officials will be able to view their records, take the part 1 test online, and view their ratings. And there are many other new functions already in the works.
But even before this promising new feature appears, you'll notice a new outpost on the Internet frontier: iHigh.com. This new Web site, built in collaboration with Host Communications and Universal Sports America, will become the official Internet home of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
What is iHigh.com?
iHigh.com will be a national site focusing on national high school sports issues. Under its umbrella, you'll find individual sites for every state association that chooses to participate, including ours: Illinois.iHigh.com.
Illinois.iHigh.com will start with the extensive library of information already available on IHSA.org and build from there, with an open-ended vision that includes articles, forums, chat rooms, RealAudio broadcasts, and much more -- all designed for participants in high school interscholastics and their fans.
More than this, the project creates new opportunities for our schools. Each member school will have the opportunity, at no cost, to stake out its own personalized section on Illinois.iHigh.com, and use it to post schedules, scores, results, and articles. And what's more, Illinois.iHigh.com will help member schools build their own programs by allowing them to sell local advertising on the site and keep the revenue.
What about good old IHSA.org?
IHSA.org isn't going away. It's just going to concentrate on providing even better services to our constituents, especially our member schools and licensed officials.
The scheduled deployment of the new features has been delayed somewhat by problems with our local telephone company, GTE, which has repeatedly pushed back the installation of a high-speed telephone line to the IHSA Office. Because of this problem, we can't make any promises regarding availability. Rest assured we are working to ready IHSA.org for its grand reopening as soon as it is feasible.
What do I need to do?
Please keep an eye on the IHSA Web site's main menu for further announcements regarding Illinois.iHigh.com and the availability of the new interactive forms on IHSA.org.
If you are a school adminsitrator and are interested in developing your school's section of the new Illinois.iHigh.com Web site, please log in to iHigh.com or call (606) 225-2299.