Volleyball Advisory Committee
Minutes
November 28, 2006 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida
Paul McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. The following committee members were in attendance: Elise Bush, Bolles (Jacksonville); Joy Becker, Leon HS (Tallahassee); Heidi Castelamare, River Ridge HS (New Port Richey); Chad Long, Oviedo HS; Joya Teter, Lake Gibson HS (Lakeland); Rob Brashear, Sickles HS (Tampa); Louise Crocco, Cardinal Gibbons HS (Fort Lauderdale); Greg Shanower, Ferguson HS (Miami); and Cindy Boulware, Gainesville HS. FHSAA staff members in attendance were John Stewart, Commissioner; M. Denarvise Thornton, Sr. Director of Operations and Officials; Paul McLaughlin, Director of Athletics; Tamara Forrester, Associate Director of Athletics; Laurel Ring, Communications Coordinator; Robert Hernberger, Assistant Director of Communications; Justin Johns, UF Intern; and Alex Bouldrick, UF Intern.
1. Mr. McLaughlin welcomed the committee members to the FHSAA Office. He explained the procedure for completing the expense vouchers. Each committee member introduced himself or herself.
2. Mr. McLaughlin gave the committee members an overview of the purpose of the meeting and explained the process that recommendations follow.
3. Joy Becker, Leon High School, was selected chairperson by unanimous vote. It was moved by Ms. Castelamare seconded by Ms. Boulware.
4. Laurel Ring and Robert Hernberger described the FHSAA Academic Team Champion Program which will recognize the volleyball team with the highest team GPA in each classification as well as the overall volleyball team with the highest GPA.
5. The minutes from the December 2005 meeting were reviewed and approved.
6. General comments regarding the 2006 FHSAA Volleyball Manual include:
a) Warm-up time clarification—The FHSAA will work with the various officials associations to better inform the officials as to the correct procedure to be followed when there are consecutive matches at the same site. Methods to be utilized include: FHSAA Officials Leadership Conference, the online video rules presentation, and written communication to those in leadership positions in the local volleyball officials associations.
b) Ad for inside cover—Paul McLaughlin asked the committee if they could recommend any volleyball related businesses to purchase the inside cover ad space.
c) Proposed bracket change—Paul McLaughlin informed the group regarding the proposed change in brackets to have the potential match between a district champion and its runner-up in the region semifinal round instead of the region championship match. This would cut down significantly on team travel.
7. The 2006 state volleyball tournament was discussed. The coaches who attended the tournament either as participants or spectators endorse the continued use of The Lakeland Center. The Lakeland Center staff was more accommodating in 2006 than in previous years to the coaches and players. The coaches suggested that the warm-up area be separated rather than one large room. The AmeriSuites hotel reservations policy is a concern for teams.
8. The National Federation volleyball rules were discussed. There was unanimous agreement not to change any of the “by state association adoption” rules at this time. Having teams stay on one side of the net for all games in a match was discussed and will be considered at the 2007 meeting for change. It was moved by Mr. Long, seconded by Ms. Teter and carried unanimously to deny the recommendation to change from the best 3 out of 5 games for dual matches to the best 2 out of 3 matches.
9. “Old Business”
Detailed information regarding the following recommendation can be found in the attachments to these minutes.
A. 2006 Recommendation #1: It was moved by Ms. Crocco, seconded by Ms. Bush and carried unanimously to have the FHSAA Office ask for an NFHS Experiment to allow the libero to serve (same request as for the 2006 season).
10. “New Business”
Detailed information regarding the following recommendations can be found in the attachments to these minutes.
A. 2006 Recommendation #2: It was moved by Mr. Shanower seconded by Ms. Teter and carried unanimously to change the Regional Quarterfinal Round to Class 1A/3A/5A on Tuesday October 23, 2007 and Class 2A/4A/6A on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. The classifications will alternate each year with the published FHSAA Volleyball Finals brackets.
B. 2006 Recommendation #3: It was moved by Mr. Brashear, seconded by Mr. Shanower and carried unanimously to deny the request to use students for umpires during regular season contests instead of registered officials.
C 2006 Recommendation #4: It was moved by Mr. Long, seconded by Ms. Crocco and carried unanimously to submit a rules change proposal to the NFHS to modify existing rule 12-2-6 to read “…A head coach may stand in the libero replacement zone during a dead ball to coach his or her players.…”
11. Denarvise Thornton informed the committee members that there were more ejections in the sport of volleyball this past season than in the past several years. If a school has co-head coaches, one of the coaches must be declared as “the” head coach for the match and for NFHS rule purposes (pre-match conference, permitted to stand, etc.).
12. Discussion was also held on the following items:
a) Officials—The committee is concerned about the lack of professionalism and consistency with many of our officials. The coaches were asked to assist the FHSAA in the recruitment of officials by encouraging their former players who graduate and do not possess the ability to play at the next level to go into officiating.
13. Joya Teter announced that she will no longer be the head volleyball coach at Lake Gibson High School. In conclusion, Paul McLaughlin thanked all the committee members for their expertise.
14. Ms. Becker adjourned the meeting at 12:50 p.m.