PLAINFIELD – The Indiana High School Athletic Association Board of Directors will meet Monday to vote on several proposed ordinances. I attended a meeting Wednesday morning at Plainfield High School where IHSAA President Paul Neidig spoke about the proposal along with Central Indiana athletic directors.
Bylaw proposals are submitted by principals, board members, commissioners, and sometimes on behalf of the coaches association. This year is the year of proposals for team sports (next year will be the year of proposals for rules for individual sports). I've marked the straw voting results for the conference in Plainfield below, but note that he has six conferences across the state.
Here are some highlights of the proposal that will be presented to the board on Monday.
Vote to recognize women's wrestling and men's volleyball as sports.
Women's wrestling and men's volleyball were unanimously approved as emerging sports two years ago, paving the way for them to become fully “recognized” sports by the IHSAA.
Neidig reported “amazing” growth in women's wrestling. Five years ago, less than 300 girls participated in club wrestling, but this season it has grown to 1,444 girls representing 177 high schools in the state. As of October, 44 states have sanctioned women's wrestling.
“The growth in women's wrestling has been incredible,” Neidig said.
A year ago, the IHSAA changed its rules to require 50% of its membership to participate in a sport to be recognized as a sanctioned sport (this bylaw change will also be formally voted on Monday). Currently, the minimum requirement is 100 schools across her three school districts in the state. Once a sport reaches that threshold, the board can consider adopting it as a sanctioned sport.
Neidig said 105 schools will participate in boys volleyball this spring.
The straw vote in Plainfield was overwhelmingly in favor (62-4).
The potential of women's lacrosse as an emerging sport
Neidig said both the men's and women's lacrosse coaches associations have expressed interest in developing the sport as an emerging sport, but women's lacrosse is likely the only sport that will be voted on Monday.
Last spring, Wisconsin ranked No. 25.th State to sanction high school lacrosse. Most states have lacrosse in the spring. Neidig noted athletic directors' concerns about adding another sport to an already busy schedule, but added that the opportunity to participate should be a reason to consider adding lacrosse.
“Not every school in Indiana participates in every program the association offers,” Neidig said, noting that about 75 percent of schools participate in men's soccer and about 20 percent in women's soccer. He added that there are few schools. He added that its status as an “emerging sport” could last for two years or more if necessary.
A straw vote in Plainfield resulted in a vote of 34 in favor and 27 against.
Criteria for classifying schools
Under the current rules, 95% of member schools will need to play sports to move up to class four. A proposal submitted by Franklin Schools Principal Steve Arhaus calls for lowering that number to 75%.
The proposal calls for team sports (excluding football) to be classified into up to four classes according to the following criteria:
∎ If 25% of member schools sponsor a team (over 100), there are two classes in the sport.
∎ If 50% of member schools sponsor a team (200+), there are three classes in the sport.
∎ If 75% of member schools sponsor a team (300+), there are four classes in the sport.
For example, men's volleyball starts with 2 classes. Neidig said youth soccer is just above the 75% threshold and would be split into four classes under his proposal.
“Another thing the board has to consider is whether it's okay for men's soccer to remain in four classes and women's in three classes,” Neidig said.
Because the IHSAA just went through a realignment process (sectoral adjustments will be announced Tuesday), the proposal would not go into effect for two years even if it passes the ballot.
A straw vote in Plainfield resulted in 61 in favor and 11 against.
Changes to tournament success factors
Stacey Brewer, president of Yorktown College, submitted a proposal that addresses changes made to the one-game regional and two-game regionals and how they relate to tournament success factors. did.
Currently, if a school moves up a class due to tournament success factors, it must earn three points (a regional championship is worth two points and a sectional championship is worth one point) over two years to survive. Must (changed). 2 points last year). Brewer's proposal would add more points, meaning schools would need to accumulate four points over two years to remain in the top tier.
A straw poll in Plainfield showed just 15 people were in favor of the change and 52 were against it.
Proposal for limited contact program
The proposal, submitted by Neidig on behalf of the Participation Review Committee, deals with an off-season limited contact program. Currently, out-of-season athletes are allowed to participate in limited contact sessions twice a week for two hours each. This change allows for her two-hour sessions at a time three times a week, but does not change the total number of contact days allowed or the duration of the limited contact program.
“Let's say you take fall break and go away for a week,” Neidig says. “Instead of him losing two limited contact days, he can bank those days and go three times a week and take advantage of other days when they are open. ”
This proposal is for team and individual sports. In a straw vote in Plainfield, 45 people were in favor and 23 were against.
Volleyball players on teams other than school
The Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association has submitted a proposal to increase the maximum number of players on non-school teams from the same school from three to four (five for baseball, three for basketball, six for football, and seven for soccer). people, 5 people for softball).
In a straw vote in Plainfield, 44 people were in favor and 27 were against.
Additional moratorium week
There is currently a moratorium week in place that begins every Monday, July 4th, during which contact with coaches, athletic activities and conditioning are prohibited.
Under the proposal, contact between players and coaches, athletic activity and conditioning would be prohibited for an additional five weeks. During these five days, the school can choose and distribute freely.
“There's always been talk about a second moratorium week and schools designating that week, and some schools are doing that now,” Neidig said. “I think this proposal has some merit.”
In Plainfield, a majority (49 votes) voted in favor.
Right to review committee schedules
Under the current bylaw, affected parties have seven days to request that the IHSAA reconsider an adverse decision. This proposal would change that to 30 days.
Neidig said the IHSAA has been flexible with this rule in the past, often extending it beyond 30 days. “We're trying to chip away at this problem,” he said. “We think he deserves 30 days. We're going to hold to the standard that once the 30 days are up, the sentence is final.”
The result of the straw vote was 60 people in favor and 7 people against.
Decision regarding transfer investigation
This proposal deals with the relocation process. In addition to the regular eligibility provisions, this limited eligibility exemption provision requires discussions between sending and receiving school principals.
Part of the proposal reads as follows: “The principals of the sending and receiving member schools each affirm in writing that the principals have consulted, that the transfer is in the best interests of the student, and that there is no sports-related motive for the transfer. Written confirmation by the principals of both accepting member schools is an absolute prerequisite.
Neidig believes the proposal will help make the process more transparent. “You can't do it blindly anymore,” he said.
This proposal received strong support with 57 people in favor and 8 people against.
Past link rules
Neidig said the “past links” rule, which falls under undue influence, receives more discussion in the IHSAA office than any other rule.
“The number of cases[in the past links]has increased tenfold,” Neidig said.
The proposal is expected to be voted on on Monday for rules regarding historical linking. Students with past links will be ineligible to compete in the sport for 365 days. Students will be fully eligible in all other sports.
In the straw vote, there were 61 votes in favor and 9 votes against.
Move the baseball season forward by one week
The proposal from the Baseball Coaches Association would move practices (not games) forward by a week. In a straw vote in Plainfield, 38 people were in favor and 31 were against.
Beach volleyball/volleyball information
Roncalli Kevin Banich submitted a proposal to distinguish the indoor high school volleyball season as a different sport from beach volleyball. The issue came up last year when Roncalli volleyball players were not allowed to play beach volleyball during the high school season, but that decision was later overturned by a review board.
Under the proposed ordinance, beach volleyball would be considered a different sport than indoor volleyball. Neidig said the IHSAA's original decision was based on player health and overuse issues, as well as potential conflicts with high school teams.
“The question ultimately comes down to, 'Is beach volleyball a different sport than indoor volleyball?'” Neidig said, adding that travel baseball could be played at the same time as high school baseball and AAU basketball. He added that he believed he was one step closer. Same time as high school basketball. “Will a coach be okay with an athlete walking away from that commitment? This change brings these two things relatively close together.”
In the straw vote in Plainfield, 16 people were in favor and 51 were against.
Colestar reporter Kyle Neddenlieb (317) 444-6649.
