Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 30, 2009 • 9 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida


Cristina Alvarez called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. The following committee members were in attendance: Carolyn Allen, Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto); Steven Brabham, Jay HS; Lisa Donna, Carrollton (Miami); Justin Dougherty, Holy Trinity (Melbourne); Erick Figueroa, Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville); Raneisha Lamar, Pompano Beach HS; Gideon Levy, Dunedin HS; Shelby Loveless, Frostproof HS; Adrienne Morris, Edgewater HS (Orlando); Carol Ann O'Shea, Providence (Jacksonville); Jonathan Riguad, Pembroke Pines Charter; Evan Turner, Forest HS (Ocala); Daniel Washburn, Edgewater HS (Orlando); Taylor Whaley, Lakewood HS (St. Petersburg). The following committee members were in not attendance: Zach McCulley, Tate HS (Cantonment); Drew Russo, Pope John Paul II (Boca Raton). Cristina Alvarez, Director of Media Relations & Marketing; Justin Harrison, Director of Athletics; Seth Polansky, Director of Membership Services; Shanell Young, Director of Athletics, also attended the meeting.

1. Ms. Alvarez welcomed the committee members to the FHSAA Office. Ms. Alvarez also inquired as to who played fall and winter sports, and how the student-athletes did in the tournaments. She also made sure current juniors on the committee filled out their nominations forms for the next school year to stay on the committee.

2. Travel vouchers were filled out. The committee reviewed the agenda. Mr. Brabham made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Levy. (14-0 to approve)

3. The committee reviewed the meeting minutes from Oct. 9, 2008, meeting. The minutes were approved as written 14-0. [Motion: Brabham, Second: Levy]

4. A motion to elect Mr. Brabham as committee chair was made, seconded by Mr. Levy. (13-1 to approve) A motion was then made to elect Ms. Loveless as committee vice chair, seconded by Mr. Dougherty. (14-0 to approve)

5. Mr. Harrison spoke to the group about the function of the FHSAA Operations department. He also provided information on what each advisory committee does and how policies are passed.

Ms. Alvarez spoke about the possible reduction in the maximum number of contests schools are allowed to schedule. Ms. Morris liked the idea of counting tournaments as one game in the schedule. Ms. Allen asked how the one-game tournament counted in the school's overall record. This item is to be brought up at the next FHSAA staff meeting. Mr. Figueroa then mentioned that a reduction in the number of games could result in the reduction or elimination of salaries for coaches.

There was an open discussion about the reduction of games and what each county is doing, money going back to school from the FHSAA, and playing state championship games on Sunday to allow for more fan travel and less school missed by student-athletes.

6. Concerns from student-athletes
1) Percentage of student-athletes that play college sports
With an informal poll, it was discovered that most of the members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee were planning on playing varsity athletes at the collegiate level. This was welcomed as it was talked about that most high schoolers do not get this opportunity. The different levels of college competition were all viewed positively. Mr. Levy believes the students themselves think they will succeed more and that everyone should go to college, no matter what the level of competition is. There was talk of creating a public service announcement to be placed on the FHSAA website from students for students regarding this matter, a "for students" section regarding college possibilities, and a link for the NCAA Clearinghouse. It should also mention incentives to first attending a junior college.

2) Incorporating community service with athletics
Ms. Donna brought up community service as it might matter to high schools and colleges. Ms. Whaley talked about student-athletes setting examples for kids in the community by having mandated community service for student-athletes. It was explained that the FHSAA cannot do that and that each school has its own rules regarding community service. There was mention of adding links to the FHSAA website about organizations in different communities that student-athletes can get involved with.

3) Review of grade point average requirements
In review from the October of 2008 meeting, it is noted that if feasible, it would take a while to change a Florida regarding GPA requirements for student-athletes to be eligible to participate. Ms. Alvarez said it is up to the committee members to go into the community to help the other student-athletes raise their grades. Mr. Levy mentioned that mentoring programs at schools can work. There was discussion about reducing practice time to introduce team-wide study halls. The committee members favored it, but felt their coaches might not.

4) Review of FHSAA website
  a. Have schools link to the FHSAA site from theirs, and vice versa. It was noted that it would not be feasible to link to every school's site from the FHSAA's site.
  b. Place financial aid instructions and links on the "other useful links" or "for students" page.

Open discussion
Mr. Levy asked about the best way in getting things changed within the school system about the ideas put forth in the SAAC meetings. Ms. Alvarez said that the student-athletes should set up meetings with their principals and athletic directors. Then those administrators would then go to the county athletic directors and superintendents.

Mr. Dougherty asked about tiebreaking procedures for some sports. Mr. Harrison and Ms. Young spoke about how each sport's manuals break down the procedure, and that coin flips are usually the last resort in determining district seeding. They said the FHSAA was also against scheduling an extra game to decide district seeding.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.