April 2005 Board Meeting Summary

Board Adopts Rally Scoring In Volleyball

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the volleyball advisory committee to adopt Rally Scoring beginning with the 2005-06 (next) school term at its regular quarterly meeting April 8 in the IESA Office. Competition next year in the regular season and the IESA state series will be best two of three games to 21 points with the let serve.

The Board acted on advisory committee recommendations in volleyball, basketball, volleyball and wrestling at its April 8 meeting.

Advisory committees are composed on one Board of Directors member and coaches, administrators and/or officials with expertise in the respective sport or activity. Each sport/activity has an advisory committee and it meets once a school year. The advisory committee reviews the Terms and Conditions, administrative procedures and all other aspects of the sport/activity and makes recommendation to the Board of Directors.

The Board took the following action regarding recommendations of these advisory committees:

Volleyball

The Board adopted the Rally Scoring Format, two out of three games to 21 points with the let serve for the 2005-06 (next) school term. (In IHSA volleyball rally scoring, teams play best two of three games to 25 points.)

The Board approved an experimental state final tournament schedule that will use a split site format of play for the first round and quarterfinal round matches at each of two sites on Day 1. The semifinals will be played the evening of Day 2. Third place and championship matches will be played the evening of Day 3. The plan approved will have this time schedule, and is scheduled to be used only in the Class 7AA series in 2005-06. The 7AA tournament will be held on Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The state final tournaments in Class 7A, Class 8A and Class AA in 2005-06 will follow the traditional single-site format and time schedule. The approved experimental format will be:

The Board approved a plan to have participating schools rate the officials and the sportsmanship of their opponents in all state series matches, and for the officials to rate the sportsmanship of the teams. This procedure was used in basketball during the 2004-05 school term.

The Board approved a recommendation to prohibit any team from being on the floor for practice or ball handling throughout the IESA state series in the tournament host school facilities from one hour prior to the start of the match until after the coin toss.

The Board accepted the blind draw pairings, and the split site bracketing, made by the advisory committee for the 2005-06 state final tournaments.

Basketball

The Board tabled a recommendation to conduct an on-line survey of basketball schools regarding the length and the starting and ending dates of the girls and boys sport seasons. The Board referred the recommendation to the state series structure and administration Strategic Planning action team. The Board did not approve a recommendation to use three officials in the boys and girls sectional games.

The Board is recommending that schools hosting games in the state series provide a safe area the length of each baseline. The safe area would be clear of any cheerleaders, media, chairs or other obstructions. The Board did not approve a procedure for member schools to implement the "mercy rule" in regular season games if the coaches of the two participating teams agree in advance of the game to use the procedure.

The Board approved a recommendation to set the regular season game limit at 22 games, exclusive of the IESA state series, in girls and boys basketball, effective with the 2006-07 school term. The state series includes all games in the IESA regional, sectional and state final tournament. IESA by-laws provide that schools which violate the game limit rule are subject to disqualification from the state series.

The Board moved the initial entry deadline for boys basketball to Monday of Week 49 in the Standardized Calendar beginning with the 2006-07 school term. The move will make the initial entry deadline the same for girls and boys basketball. For next school term (2005-06) the girls initial entry deadline will be Monday of Week 49 (June 6) and the boys initial entry deadline will be Oct. 3.

The Board approved continued use of the two-site tournament structure when applicable. The two-site structure was implemented on an experimental basis in the 2004-05 school term.

The Board tabled a plan to distribute Sportsmanship Cards to all teams prior to the start of the respective girls and boys state series. The Board referred the recommendation to the sportsmanship action team in Strategic Planning.

The Board authorized these topics to be included in the Points of Emphasis for the 2005-06 (next) school term:

The Board approved a minimum standard playing floor of 80 feet x 46 feet as a requirement to host state series competition. In the event there is no volunteer host with a court that meets the requirement, the host site for the competition will be determined by polling the assigned schools.

The Board authorized IESA staff to prepare and distribute a Host Site Information Form to all member schools expressing an interest in hosting in the girls and boys state basketball series.

The Board approved that assignments of officials to games in the girls and boys state series be based on IESA performance assessment, promotional level (C,R,X) and IESA availability.

The Board accepted the blind draw pairings, and the split site bracketing, made by the advisory committee for the 2005-06 girls and boys state final tournaments.

Wrestling

The Board approved criteria to determine place finishers at the regionals and sectionals in case replacement wrestlers are needed. The criteria are: Regional: The first alternate shall be the wrestler who won the most matches in the championship bracket but failed to qualify as a place winner. Should more than one (1) meet the alternate criterion then the one who was defeated by the highest place winner shall qualify as the alternate and advance to the sectional.

Sectional: The first alternate shall be the wrestler defeated in the third place match. The second alternate shall be the wrestler who won the most matches in championship bracket competition but failed to qualify as a third place winner or as the first alternate. Should more than one (1) wrestler meet second alternate criterion then the one winning the most matches in both the championship and consolation brackets shall be the second alternate. However, if two (2) wrestlers remain tied for the second alternate position, the one defeated by the highest placing wrestler shall advance.

Note: Alternates substituting for any sectional or state final qualifiers may be entered up to the weigh-in time deadline. It shall be the responsibility of the principal or coach of the wrestler who is scratching to notify the IESA Office that an alternate may be necessary. The IESA Office will then contact the alternate's principal or coach that he will replace the regular qualifier.

The Board authorized that wrestlers may be switched after seeding if it is necessary to balance the brackets when a seeded wrestler scratches.

The Board tabled a recommendation to change in the adult ticket for the state final to $10 per session. The tournament is conducted in two sessions. The Board authorized the IESA staff to create an ad hoc committee to study wrestling state final site and finances.

The Board approved conducting the championship matches on two high school size mats. In previous years, one college size mat was used and the bouts were wrestled on the one mat. Next year championship matches will be conducted simultaneously on two mats.

The Board approved discontinuing use of the state final facility's video equipment during the championship matches. With matches being conducted simultaneously, showing video on the facility scoreboard becomes impractical.

The Board approved issuing a fourth coaching pass at the state final.

The Board tabled a recommendation to add a trainer expense line to the regional and sectional financial report.

Other Business

State Final Sites - The Board approved the proposed sites for 2005-06 IESA State Final Tournaments and Meets, and authorized the staff to contact the approved sites with a request to host. Sites will be announced in each sport once the proposed hosts have accepted.

Scholastic Bowl - The Board approved Bloomington Junior High School as site for the 2005 Class AA State Final, which will be conducted May 6. The Board also approved moving the date of the final entry deadline later in the Standardized Calendar to Monday of Week 35. In 2006, it will be Feb. 27.

Officials - The Board approved distribution of a commemorative patch to all IESA state final officials for them to wear on their uniforms when they officiate in the respective IESA State Final event. The Board authorized that the IESA staff provide officials working the state final events with an appreciation item that would recognize their importance in the conduct of state series or state final events. The Board approved use of two starters in the IESA State Final Track and Field Meets, one starter for the girls events and the second starter for the boys events.

Annual Golf Outing - The Board heard a report that the annual IESA Appreciation Golf Outing will be held Monday, June 13, at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington. Registration information is posted on the IESA Web Site www.iesa.org.

Cheerleading Grant - The Board heard a report that the Peoria Tourism Reserve Fund Committee has awarded IESA grants for years 2005 through 2010 to help offset the cost of conducting the Cheerleading State Final at the Peoria Civic Center.

Scholar Attitude Winners - The Board heard a report regarding the 2005 Scholar Attitude Luncheon honoring the 14 winners. The luncheon will be Thursday, May 5, at the Chateau Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington, beginning at 11:00 a.m. A new format for the luncheon involving video and narrative will be launched this year. Complete information regarding the 2005 award winners and the event is on the IESA Web Site at www.iesa.org.

Request For Two Teams - The Board reviewed a request from Chatham Glenwood Middle School to be allowed to enter two teams from the same attendance center in the state series in, girls basketball, boys basketball and volleyball. IESA by-laws do not address the issue. After lengthy discussion the Board voted not to allow a member school to enter more than one team in the state series. The Board directed its By-law Committee to develop a rule that provides member schools may enter only one team in a respective IESA state series.

Request For Bridge Tournament - The Board reviewed a request from the Central Illinois Bridge Association to sanction the card game bridge for interscholastic competition by IESA member school. The Board supported the Executive Director's decision not to sanction bridge as an interscholastic activity.

Financial Reports - The Board received financial reports for the recently concluded state series in boys basketball and wrestling.

Staff Relations Committee - The Board received the report of the Staff Relations Committee meeting held April 6. In executive session, the Board approved three-year contracts for the administrative staff and salaries for the clerical staff for 2005-06.

Board Elections - The Board received a report showing the preliminary results of the annual Board elections.

Committee Meetings - Advisory committee meetings, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the IESA Office unless otherwise noted, were also confirmed as follows: Sportsmanship April 27, Music May 31, Scholastic Bowl June 3, Track and Field June 8, Wrestling March 23, 2006 and Volleyball April 6, 2006. The By-laws Committee meeting is scheduled for June 9 at 10:00 a.m. and the Finance Committee meeting is schedule for June 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Special Projects - The Board heard a status report of sponsorship and membership enhancement programs currently under way.

Late Music Entry Appeals - The Board rejected a appeal from Dunlap Middle School and an appeal from Oblong Grade School that they be allowed to enter and participate in IESA Music Organization competition. The two schools did not enter the state series by the final deadline.

Ball Charter Co-Op Request - The Board rejected a request from Springfield Ball Charter School to enter the Scholastic Bowl state series on its own. The school has entered a cooperative team agreement with Springfield Lincoln Magnet School.

Division Reports

At each meeting of the Board of Directors time is devoted for each board member to report on communication with and requests from the member schools in the member's division. In addition, Board members also may make observations regarding the operation of the Association. Following is a report of those from the April 8 meeting:

Division C - Mr. Spiezio shared with the Board communication he has had from the Division regarding the scheduling overlap of girls volleyball and wrestling.

Division D - Mr. Vaughan reported that a school in his division contacted him regarding the use of line judges at volleyball regionals.

Division F - Mrs. Isackson reported to the Board her discussion with wrestling parents regarding the cost of attending the state final tournament.

Division M - Mr. Carr brought to the Board's attention the concern continuing to be expressed by a Class A school in the division regarding hosting responsibilities in track and field. In some instances, Class A schools without track and field facilities are requested to host the sectional, and finding a facility becomes difficult, if not impossible.

Division N - Mr. Graham reported to the Board concern expressed by a superintendent in the Division regarding the move of the girls softball season earlier in the calendar.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve Endsley
IESA Executive Director

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