Athletic Directors Advisory Committee

Minutes
April 14, 2008 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida


Andy Chiles, standing chairperson, called the meeting to order at 10:12 a.m. The following committee members were in attendance: Andy Chiles, Varela HS (Miami); Ken Seybold, Matanzas HS (Palm Coast); Maria Siegfriedt, Coral Reef HS (Miami); Buddy Tomaini, Wakulla HS (Crawfordville); Russell Wambles, Apopka HS; Ed McPadden, Vanguard HS (Ocala); Robert Repp, Lake Weir HS (Ocala) and Jerry Welch, All Saints' (Winter Haven). FHSAA staff members present were Dr. John Stewart, Executive Director; Denarvise Thornton, Associate Executive Director; Jamie Rohrer, Director of Athletics; Paul McLaughlin, Associate Executive Director; Gary Pigott, Senior Director of Athletics; Shanell Young, Director of Athletics; Tamara Forrester, Director of Athletics; David Sweeney, FHSAA Intern and Travis Kwok, FHSAA Intern. Also in attendance was Michael Colby, Hialeah-Miami Lakes A.D., FHSAA Staff and FIAAA Representative.

1. Mr. Thornton welcomed the committee members to the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building. He briefly explained the procedures for the meeting and the expense vouchers.

2. Mr. Thornton gave a brief statement regarding the purpose of the meeting and had those in attendance introduce themselves.

3. The committee reviewed the meeting minutes from Jan. 9, 2008. The minutes were approved 8-0. [Motion: Seybold, Second: Welch]

Mr. Thornton briefly discussed the following items with Committee Members:

• 2008-2009 Meeting Dates: 9/10/08, 1/7/09 and 4/13/09
• FHSAA Executive Director application process remains open until May 9, 2008
• Fundamentals of Coaching Program implemented for unsporting coaches beginning in 08-09
• District Planning Meetings previously having a specified meeting date will move to a 3-day window in 08-09
• Conference Calls for State Final Qualifiers in Soccer will continue
• Committee Members were surveyed re: Physical Form Requirements for Open Facilities
• Streamlining the ADAC Recommendations by allowing submission at only one meeting per year
• Steroid Bill may possibly not be renewed due to lack of funding

Dr. Stewart briefly updated the Committee on House Bill 1481 and advised Committee Members to contact their legislative representatives regarding this bill. Dr. Stewart asked Committee Members and their colleagues to notify their legislators of the negative impact the bill could pose on schools and student-athletes.

4. The Committee briefly reviewed the minutes from the Mar. 14, 2007 meeting. No questions or comments were raised.

5. Winter sports advisory committee minutes and recommendations in addition to the officials and sport medicine were reviewed and the following action was taken:

BASKETBALL
Shanell Young

Recommendation #1: Allow student-athletes to play 6 quarters in one day
Allow student-athletes to play six (6) quarters in one day regardless of level. The recommendation was not endorsed 7-1. [Motion: McPadden, Second: Welch] The Committee felt the endorsement of this recommendation could possibly affect all other sports with similar rules.

Recommendation #2: Shift Sport Season Dates one week
To shift all Girls and Boys Basketball dates one (1) week:
Girls Basketball – Date of First Practice = Week 19
Boys Basketball – Date of First Practice = Week 20
The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Seybold, Second: Welch] The impact on the current contract with the State Championship host and overlap with FCAT’s and Spring Sports is not conducive of this change.

SOCCER
Tamara Forrester

Recommendation #1: Uniform Color for Home Teams and Visiting Teams
The home team shall wear colored uniforms and the visiting team shall wear white. The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Seybold, Second: McPadden] The Committee felt that this is something that can be taken care of at the local level.

Recommendation #2: Two 5 minute sudden victory overtime periods
In case of a tie, there shall be two 5 minute sudden-victory overtime periods in Varsity contests. If the game is still tied, the game shall end in a tie. The recommendation was endorsed 7-1. [Motion: Welch, Second: Wambles]

Recommendation #3: Bracket Structure
Revise the brackets so that a district runner-up can only play its district winner in the region final game. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: McPadden, Second: Welch]

Recommendation #4: Re-Hydration Timeouts
Allow the “Timeout” for water breaks in each half to be optional. At the meeting with the officials, captains and coaches prior to the start of a game, permit the coaches to decide whether the water break/timeout should be used. Disagreement between the coaches will require the use of a timeout. The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Wambles, Second: Siegfriedt] The Re-Hydration Timeout was implemented for safety purposes and the Committee felt that it was important to continue with this safety precaution for student-athletes.

WRESTLING
Gary Pigott

Recommendation #1: Dual Team Tournament
Establish a dual team wrestling tournament. The FHSAA staff will establish a dual team ad hoc committee to determine logistical details along with input from the Wrestling Committee. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Wambles, Second: Siegfriedt]

Recommendation #2: JV Pre-Season Classics
Allow JV wrestlers to compete in Pre-Season Classics. The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0, due to its effect on all other sports. [Motion: McPadden, Second: Welch]

Recommendation #3: 2-Day State Tournament on 12 Mats
Encourage the State Tournament organizers to use 12 mats instead of 10 to host the State Final Tournament so it could be held in 2 days rather than 3 days. The recommendation was endorsed, pending approval from FHSAA and current host, 8-0. [Motion: McPadden, Second: Tomaini]

Recommendation #4: Extension of FHSAA State Final Wrestling Contract
Encourage the FHSAA staff to not extend the current contract beyond the 2011 season without making the FHSAA Wrestling Finals available for proposals to possible hosts. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Welch, Second: Tomaini]

Recommendation #5: Disinfecting of Wrestling Shoes
Require Home Team management to provide a bottle of disinfecting spray or a towel soaked in bleach so that wrestlers and referee’s spray the bottom of their shoes wipe them off with a towel and then step onto the mat. This action alone would further eliminate the contamination of wrestling mats. Disinfecting spray or bleach towel will be located at the Scorer’s Table. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Wambles, Second: Welch]


OFFICIALS
Tamara Forrester

Recommendation #1: Officials Uniform Colors
Allow Umpires to wear different color shirts in Baseball as long as they all wear the same color and style and display the FHSAA patch appropriately. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Wambles, Second: McPadden]

Recommendation #2: Submit Rule Change Proposal to NFHS for Baseball/ Softball
Submit a proposal to the NFHS to require schools to bear responsibility for the equipment and eliminate all equipment inspections by umpires. The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Welch, Second: Siegfriedt] The Committee felt officials’ inspecting all equipment is important and the second set of eyes could potentially catch something the coaches may have overlooked.

Recommendation #3: Authorize 2 cars for officials mileage reimbursement
Authorize official’s mileage reimbursement of 2 vehicles during regular season football. Crews generally do not fit into one vehicle. The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0. [Motion: McPadden, Second: Welch] The Committee did not feel that this recommendation was asking too much. However, the Committee felt that this should not be required by the FHSAA as Local Officials Associations and Member Schools can address the option within their own contracts.

Recommendation #4: CCA 7-Man Mechanics
Require each Football Officials Association to purchase and train with the current CCA 7-man mechanics manual. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Welch, Second: Wambles]

Recommendation #5: 25 Second Clock Operator
Each Football Association brings their own 25 second operator to playoff games that required such. Individual must be registered and capable of running the 25 second clock. Does not have to be playoff eligible, but of course can be. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Wambles, Second: Seybold]

Recommendation #6: Length of Halves for JV Soccer
Change Soccer Manual: “…the length of halves for JV soccer may be 30 minutes...” to “…the length of halves for JV soccer will be 30 minutes. The recommendation was not endorsed 6-2. [Motion: Wambles, Second: McPadden] The Committee felt that this should be included in the game contract between schools if there is confusion.

Recommendation #7: 4th Official for Soccer
Increase FHSAA Finals Crews to include a fourth official. A game fee of $35 is to be paid to this official at the FHSAA Finals and a document with their duties is to be developed. The recommendation was endorsed, pending FHSAA staff approval for official’s duties and selection, 8-0. [Motion: Wambles, Second: Welch]

Recommendation #8: Associations not represented at Officials Leadership Conference
Associations not represented at the leadership meetings forfeit representation for State Tournaments the following year. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Seybold, Second: Welch]

Recommendation #9: Game Fees & Travel Fees for cancelled contests
Crews who travel to a regional/FHSAA Finals assignment and then sometime after their arrival the game is cancelled should be paid the full game fee and travel fee. The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Welch, Second: Siegfriedt] The Committee feels that all stake holders take a financial risk when agreeing to participate in or work an interscholastic contest.

Recommendation #10: Officials 1-Day Field Clinics & Scrimmages
Allow a one-day clinic for one or multiple associations. Must have clinic scheduled. Allow a minimum of 4 teams to participate. *Must be approved by the FHSAA. The recommendation was not endorsed 7-1. [Motion: McPadden, Second: Siegfriedt] The Committee felt the current format of FHSAA Officials Field Clinics was sufficient and seems to work well.

Recommendation #11: Student-Officials
High school students who are at least 16 years of age may register as a student-official and will be allowed to work any non-varsity level games. The recommendation was not endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Siegfriedt, Second: McPadden] The Committee’s decision was based on the possible vulnerability of the 16 year old official.

Recommendation #12: Game Fees & Mileage for Officials Increases
Implement over a two year period an increase of $5.00 per year. After the 09-10 school year, an automatic $3.00 increase for officials every two years. Mileage reimbursement to be the current IRS rate per mile driven (both ways). The recommendation was tabled, 8-0. [Motion: Wambles, Second: Repp] The Committee felt more up-to-date research may be needed since the current statistics are based on 05-06 and 06-07 school years.

Mr. Welch volunteered to research the possibilities of pay increases for officials further. The ADAC discussed the possible implementation of such increases during the 09-10 school year. It was discussed that Mr. Welch’s findings could go to the FHSAA Board of Directors in June, then back to the ADAC in September for further discussion then to possibly be acted upon in November of 2008 for implementation the following school year (2009-2010).

Sports Medicine
Denarvise Thornton

There were no recommendations from the SMAC for the committee to act upon.

6. General Recommendations:

Maximum Number of Teams Participating in Invitation Tournaments • Thornton
Delete the provision restricting the number of teams participating in invitational tournaments. Edit the sanction fee for volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer and wrestling to read: Add an additional $50 per school above 16 schools participating (32 in wrestling). This recommendation was withdrawn by Mr. Thornton.

ADAC Restructure • Rohrer/Colby
FHSAA Executive Director Stewart and FIAAA have discussed the advantages of restructuring the FHSAA ADAC to include additional representatives of the FIAAA as members of the FHSAA ADAC. The recommendation was endorsed 7-1. [Motion: Welch, Second: Siegfriedt]

Non-Faculty Coaching Guidelines • Thornton
Add to existing policy: “2. All non-faculty coaches must complete the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching Course. This course is accessible through the e-Classroom icon on the FHSAA website. A copy of the coach’s certificate of completion must be kept on file in the school office.” No action was necessary; this recommendation was tabled by the FHSAA Board of Directors.

Policy on Unsportsmanlike Conduct • Thornton
Add to existing policy 1. (e): “2. All non-faculty coaches must complete the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching Course. This course is accessible through the e-Classroom icon on the FHSAA website. This must be completed by the end of the suspension. A copy of the coach’s certificate of completion must be forwarded to the office.” No action was necessary; this recommendation was approved by the FHSAA Board of Directors.

Proposed Amendment to Policy on Unsportsmanlike Conduct • Thornton
Modify current Policy 32 to clarify: Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct may be assessed regardless if they resulted in ejections/disqualification. The recommendation was endorsed 8-0. [Motion: Welch, Second: Repp]

Track & Field Dates • Thornton
Amend the Track and Field Calendar for Class 1A and 2A schools. Ending the season for these classifications prohibits these particular student-athletes from participating in a full season of track. Mr. Thornton briefly discussed this item, no action was taken.

7. Open Agenda (discussion only):

What It’s Like to be Tested for Steroids • Thornton
Mr. Thornton distributed an article discussing steroid testing that was written by a student-athlete. The article can be found by accessing: http://www.star-telegram.com/245/story/536166.html.

Rotating Host Responsibilities of District Tournaments • Thornton
Mr. Thornton discussed concerns that have been raised regarding inequities in hosting district tournaments. The Committee felt that changing the current policy to set rotations would be difficult due to constant changes in District Assignments. Additionally, the Committee felt that sites should be centrally located to be cost effective and a rotation could not guarantee that possibility.

8. With no further business and by unanimous vote, Mr. Chiles adjourned the meeting at 3:10 p.m. (Motion: McPadden, Second: Welch)