FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2007
Board approves calendar adjustments to fall sports seasons, endorses "Super Six" concept
GAINESVILLE – The FHSAA Board of Directors today approved the Commissioner's recommendation to adjust the fall sports seasons effective with the 2007-08 school year to more closely align with the later starting date of the school year.
All fall sports seasons will begin and end one week later than the current calendar with the exception of bowling, which will begin and end two weeks earlier. The action ensures that no regular season interscholastic contests of any kind will be played prior to the first permissible day of classes in public schools.
"The adoption of this recommendation is important with scheduling meetings pending," said Commissioner John A. Stewart. "It addresses the later starting date of school with the least amount of damage to our fall sports seasons. We can evaluate how it goes this fall to see if any additional adjustments need to be made."
In other action, the Board endorsed the concept of a “Super Six” tournament of champions involving the six state champions in both girls and boys basketball. Final approval for the pilot program will be sought at the Board's June meeting in Orlando.
In other action, the Board of Directors:
• Approved an increase in membership dues by 10 percent effective with 2007-08 school year.
• Approved an increase in FHSAA Finals ticket prices by $1 in the sports of cross country, girls soccer, boys soccer, softball, swimming & diving, girls & boys volleyball, girls weightlifting, boys weightlifting and wrestling effective with 2007-08 school year.
• Approved discontinuing the requirement that host schools of district tournaments and FHSAA Finals first-round play-in contests in the recognized sports of bowling, flag football, fall soccer, boys volleyball and water polo file financial reports with and make payment of revenue shares to FHSAA.
• Approved an increase in fees paid to FHSAA Tennis Finals referees and umpires effective with the upcoming 2007 events.
• Approved an increase in the fee charged to contest officials who file registrations using the paper form rather than online from $10 to $20 effective with the 2007-08 school year.
• Approved the establishment of a $150 non-refundable application fee for schools applying for first-time membership or approved nonmember school status. For newly joining schools, the fee will be applied toward the school's first-year membership dues upon acceptance into membership.
• Appointed Gulf Coast (Naples) athletic director Jose Arias to fill the vacant Division 25 public school seat on the Representative Assembly.
• Approved a 3-year rotation for implementing mandatory attendance of member schools at the annual compliance seminar and a 5-year rotation for implementing mandatory self-studies of member school athletic programs.
• Approved a recommendation that all new member schools, including those schools that are exempt from the provisional membership period, be required to attend the annual compliance seminar in their first year of membership and to conduct a self-study of their athletic programs in the second year of membership.
• Approved the creation of a new provision in soccer, permitting coaches to substitute players during hydration timeouts.
• Approved a recommendation of the Officials Advisory Committee to initiate a review and study of contest officials fees and mileage rates.
• Approved a recommendation of the Officials Advisory Committee to establish the requirement that individuals assigning officials to officiate regular season events who are not members of a local officials association must be licensed by the FHSAA to make such assignments; and to establish $100 licensing fee.
• Approved a proposal to require use of the double-dual system of control for all soccer contests in which three officials are used; and to restructure the fee structure for soccer contests in which three officials are used.
• Approved a proposal that state series terms & conditions in girls and boys basketball be amended to require that district tournament semifinal games be played on Friday night.
• Endorsed a proposal that a minimum percentage of contests played by member school teams in all sports must be against other member school teams to be eligible for participation in the state series. Final action on this proposal will be taken at the June meeting.
• Endorsed a proposal that member school teams in all sports be limited to one trip per school year beyond the bordering states of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi to participate in interscholastic competition. Final action on this proposal will be taken at the June meeting.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 750 middle, junior and senior high schools.
The FHSAA Board of Directors is the executive authority of the Association, establishing guidelines, regulations, policies and procedures within the framework of the Association’s bylaws. The Board of Directors also has the sole authority over all terms and conditions of participation and competition in the FHSAA state championship series. The Board of Directors meets five times annually. Its next meeting is May 31-June 1, 2007 at the Orlando Airport Marriott.
Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
