INDIANAPOLIS – Unanimous passage of a two‐part proposal to the Tournament Success Factor rule affecting schools playing in a higher classification highlighted a list of 21 proposals during Monday’s annual review of the IHSAA By‐Laws.

In all, seven items were passed, 12 failed and two were tabled. All proposals are considered in the order that the affected rule appears within the current by‐laws. The Board of Directors has four options on each proposal: affirm, deny, table or amend. A simple majority is necessary to act on any measure. A copy of the current by‐laws is available here. All approved measures become effective immediately unless otherwise noted.

The first adjustments to the Tournament Success Factor (Rule 2‐5), first enacted in June 2012, were approved by a unanimous 19‐0 vote today. For schools already playing up in a higher classification that do not achieve the same level of success, those schools will now go down only one classification whereas the previous rule calls for schools to return to the classification set by their enrollment.

A second part of the rule that was approved is the point values needed to stay in a higher classification. Currently, schools need to accumulate four or five points (four points for a state championship, three for a semi‐state, two for a regional, or one for a sectional) over a two‐year cycle to maintain their current classification. The Board adjusted that rule to now read three, four or five points to maintain their place in their current class.

Two proposals were tabled by the Board for further study and clarification will be sought from the leadership of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and Indiana Football Coaches Association who were involved in both.

The first was a proposal related to Rule 20‐2 (Past Link) which states that an incoming freshman from a non‐feeding school who has a link at his/her new school will be ineligible for 365 days following their enrollment. That link would also have to have occurred in the 12 months previous to their enrollment or within 90 days after enrollment.

The second tabled proposal involved allowing an individual on a member school coaching staff in basketball to coach and instruct students during Open Facilities but only take part in “Summer Basketball Team Activities” under specific circumstances.

The following are additional highlights of Monday’s Board meeting. Complete minutes will be posted at IHSAA.org.

•   Approved a proposal outlining conditions that the Board of Directors may remove any member of the Board and setting basic director standards. This rule was passed by the Executive Committee in February and was formally ratified today by the Board.
•   The Past Link rule (Rule 20‐2) was clarified that a link is established where a transfer student is in a non‐school athletic program in which the past linked person was involved as a coach, manager, trainer, volunteer or employee.
•   A proposal from the Indiana Football Coaches Association was approved unanimously that restricts contact drills. After Friday of week 7, a football team/player may participate in a maximum of two practices per IHSAA Corresponding Week involving contact equal to the “Thud” level drill or the “Live” level drill.
•   Five amendments proposed on behalf of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference were each rejected. A detailed budget, including line item income, accounts payable and employment contracts would be distributed to member schools failed to gain any support as was an amendment that would have the Association send an electronic survey to member schools to gauge support of lack thereof, and the results of the survey shall be made available to schools. A third item offered that when a school or team is suspended from further interschool contests or state tournament by the IHSAA, that an explanation of charges will be issued, an opportunity to answer those charges and the opportunity to appeal the decision to a panel of school administrators. A fourth item would have allowed a state tournament series contest to be played on Sunday. The final rule proposal would have stricken language from Rule 19‐5.1 (Transfer Options When Transfer with Change of Residence by Parent/Guardian).

•   Two proposals authored by Switzerland County principal Gregg Goewert were voted down. The first would have amended portions of Rule 2 (Classification of School) to allow for the individual sports of cross country and swimming and diving to be contested in a multiple class format. The second would have changed boys and girls basketball rules to permit a JV player to participate in six quarters instead of five, in a given session.
•   An amendment to Rule 15‐3.2 (Camps and Clinics) was approved to correct the ending date from week 4 to week 5.
•   Rule 15‐3.4 (Moratorium) was amended to eliminate “Week 52 or Week 1” which created confusion when the Fourth of July falls during a non‐designated corresponding calendar week.
•   Two proposals from South Dearborn principal Brad Stoneking did not win any support. The first was a request for a Summer Try‐Out Week with the second item seeking to clarify that for a half to count in boys and girls soccer, a minimum of 20 minutes of playing time must be played.
•   An amendment to Rule 19‐6.1 (Eligibility when Transfer without Changes of Residence by Parent/Guardian) did not garner any support that would have permitted a transfer with full eligibility prior to a student’s enrollment as a sophomore.
•   A pair of proposals from Floyd Central principal Janie Whaley were turned down. The first would permit a member school soccer team to participate in a controlled scrimmage with a non‐member school. The second requested permission for a school’s junior varsity soccer team to play a Jamboree in addition to a school’s varsity team.

  Board of Directors and Executive Committee Elections

  The elections for next year’s leadership of the Board and Executive Committee also were held. Jennings County athletic director Mike Broughton was voted president of the 2016‐17 Board of Directors and Tim Grove, superintendent of South Knox School Corporation, was elected vice president. Debb Stevens, Caston athletic director, was named chairwoman of the 2016‐17 Executive Committee and Jim Brown, Fishers co‐athletic director, was confirmed as vice chair.

  In a separate session, the IHSAA Executive Committee voted unanimously to retain the sport of gymnastics. Because the sport falls below the minimum participation numbers required by the Association, the status of girls gymnastics is annually reviewed.