The MSHSAA Board of Directors has approved Area Meetings at which current issues facing the MSHSAA shall be addressed.

It is very important for superintendents, principals and athletic administrators to participate in these meetings.  Issues which are of a critical nature to the MSHSAA membership have been identified by your Board of Directors based upon input from member schools.  As you can see from the list below, several items may have staffing and financial implications for our schools.  Background information will be handed out at the meeting site.

Key issues to be addressed at Area Meetings shall include:

     
Topic 1:  Preseason Scrimmages in Team Sports:  Should the by-laws be amended to allow one preseason scrimmage in team sports?

Background:  For the last four years, various sports advisory committees have brought forward proposals to allow for a preseason scrimmage in their respective team sport.  The proposed rationale for allowing such an event varies by sport, and differs among different areas of the state, but basically it is believed that such a scrimmage would allow coaches to better prepare for actual competition and to evaluate their team against another team(s), without the result counting toward their contest limits or on their record or statistics.  Further, such events could be used as a teaching tool for officials.  Coaches indicate that it is difficult to fairly evaluate their players and prepare them for competition when they can only compare them to their subs or junior varsity.

Participating in such a scrimmage would be optional, but adding a scrimmage to the schedule would require an additional night out and additional travel expense.  Currently, football is the only sport that is allowed to conduct a preseason scrimmage.  The addition several years ago was due to football’s schedule limitation of ten contests, its inability to conduct tournaments, and the stronger safety argument toward allowing some preparatory competition against like-sized, like-skilled players.

For discussion purposes, the proposal is being considered only for traditional team sports – not sports that may have a team aspect but are essentially individual sports.  Team Sports:  Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, and Water Polo.



Topic 2:  Summertime Dead Period:  Should modifications be made in regard to the Summertime Dead Period, which goes into effect for the first time this upcoming summer?

Background:  This item comes from schools that are having difficulty finding a 9-day dead period on which both athletics and non-athletic activities can agree.  The time that makes sense for athletics, conflicts with the non-athletic activities, and vice versa.  Further, another concern that has been raised is in regard to summer school and school facilities.  During the dead period, school facilities are not to be used in conjunction with MSHSAA activities.  Some schools are concerned that this will affect their summer school physical education courses.   While alternative scheduling during the five school days of the dead period could solve this dilemma, the Board would like to have input from the schools regarding these issues and your specific desires.  Specifically…

•    Should activities be allowed to select a different week than athletics for their dead period?
•    Should activities be removed from participation in the dead period?
•    Should credit-bearing summer school courses (physical education, music, speech) be exempt from the ‘use of school facilities’ restriction?



Topic 3:  Rule Compliance by Coaches/Sponsors:  Should a by-law be developed to require member schools to place wording in their coaches’/sponsors’ contracts/letters of agreement that violating MSHSAA rules is grounds for dismissal and/or sanctions by both the school and MSHSAA?

Background:  When coaches or sponsors violate MSHSAA rules it affects the school, the team, the players and the reputation of the whole program.  Many times the adult that has done wrong and caused harm to many receives little to no penalty.  Even if the school dismisses the individual, another school may hire him/her.  The Board is considering an amendment to the MSHSAA by-laws that could allow sanctions for violations or wrong-doing in MSHSAA activities to follow an individual and prevent an escape from consequences.   Such an amendment would provide schools and MSHSAA with greater leverage in dealing with coaches/sponsors who have violated the rules put in place by the schools across the state.



Topic 4:  Definition of Public High School:  Should a definition of a public school be added to the MSHSAA by-laws to better differentiate between a traditional public school and schools (although publicly funded in some cases) that select students based on criteria and can control their enrollment by rejecting students who do not meet the established criteria (e.g. Charter Schools)?

Background:  Some schools have much in common with non-public schools in regard to selectivity of students and enrollment control, but are not subject to the 1.35% enrollment multiplier.  The Board is interested in your thoughts regarding this.  The Public/Non-Public Advisory Committee has recommended that the membership consider amending the by-laws to include a definition of a “public school” to clarify this area.  For discussion purposes, the Committee has proposed this starting point:  “A public high school is a high school that has a defined attendance area, cannot limit its enrollment, and has the ability to pass an operating tax levy or debt service levy to build buildings.  Any school that does not meet this definition would not be considered a public high school.”



Topic 5:  Cooperative Sponsorships and Affiliate Registered Schools:  Should a junior high cooperative sponsorship be allowed a) between a member school and an affiliate registered school and/or b) between two or more affiliate registered schools?

Background:  The membership is in the final stage this year of the Affiliate Registered School (ARS) trial.  The membership will vote on this year’s Annual Ballot whether or not to retain the ARS option at either the junior high or high school level.  During the ARS trial, and since the addition of the Cooperative Sponsorship by-law (By-Laws 106 and 107), several AR schools have asked to cooperatively sponsor a sport/activity with either a member school or with another AR school at the junior high level.  The high school level is not being considered at this time due to AR schools not being eligible for the districts/state series.  Currently, two or more junior high member schools are allowed to cooperatively sponsor a sport or activity.  The AR schools are interested in the cooperative sponsorship option for many of the same reasons that member schools wanted it – not being able to support a team on their own.  Some of the AR schools would qualify for membership but want to play non-member schools.  Others do not qualify for membership due to lack of accreditation.  Should there be a restriction on the number of AR schools that are allowed to co-op?  Should there be a requirement that a school in the co-op be a member school of MSHSAA?  Should member schools only co-op with member schools and AR schools only co-op with AR schools?  The Board is seeking your feedback.



Topic 6:  Summertime Football Activity and Instruction:  Should there be restrictions on the type and manner of school-directed football activity that takes place in the summer to increase player safety and attempt to reduce school exposure to injury claims?

•    Should school-sponsored football contact during the summer be limited to half-shell?
•    Is the current exception that allows teams to take school-owned football equipment to non-school sponsored full-contact camps when accompanied by school coaches still desired and appropriate?
•    Should member schools be allowed to host full-contact camps and/or competition during the summer on their fields or in their facilities?

Background:  The MSHSAA-sponsored catastrophic insurance coverage is not in place during the summer.  Therefore, unless schools are funding their own coverage, schools (and school personnel) are exposed to claims due to injuries that may be sustained during the 25 days of summer sport contact.  The new summertime coaching “contact” limits do not specifically restrict football activities to non-contact.  Should they?  The membership is being asked to consider what limits, if any are appropriate in regard to school-directed football activities and contact and school equipment.  Some schools and/or coaches are advocating that member schools sponsor full-contact camps, leagues, and/or competition in the summer.  Is this appropriate and/or desired by the membership?   Is this safe in the heat of the summer?  Do the member schools want to accept this exposure?



Topic 7:  Additional Transfer Exception:  Should there be another exception to By-Law 238 to allow students from families of “Mission Essential” military personnel to have a one-time transfer away from their school of residency and to any neighboring school when first arriving on base?

Background:  This situation currently affects Whiteman Air Force Base only.  There are currently 19 mission essential personnel that must live on base and are placed there by the military.  Due to their positions, they do not have the option to live elsewhere and commute to Whiteman.  These specific positions are set by military regulations.  The officers that are designated as mission essential would have to make a decision when arriving on base to determine which school their child would attend, once a child attends a school, their eligibility is tied to that school.



Topic 8:  Possible New MSHSAA Activities:  Should an amendment be offered on the Annual Ballot to add any of the following activities to the by-laws as MSHSAA sanctioned activities?
•    Bowling (Sport)
•    Chess (Activity)
•    Bass Fishing (Activity)

Background:  On last’s year’s Annual Questionnaire, the membership was asked about their interest in adding various activities to the MSHSAA activity offerings.  Of the activities included in the question, the three listed above received the highest number of positive responses.  Bowling: 48 schools responded that if bowling was a MSHSAA activity, they would register; there are currently some interscholastic club bowling teams throughout the state; the specific number is unknown.  Chess: 69 schools responded that if chess was a MSHSAA activity, they would register.  There are currently some interscholastic club chess teams throughout the state; the specific number is unknown.  Fishing: 36 schools responded that if fishing was a MSHSAA activity, they would register.  This is an activity that has tremendous support outside of the schools with the bass clubs throughout the state.  Due to the current financial situation for schools, this may be a poor time to look at adding activities, but the Board wants feedback from the schools regarding whether or not you would like to see these activities proposed on the Annual Ballot as an addition to the MSHSAA offerings.  Registration for activities is always optional, and these activities would tend to reach a student population that may not be reached by other MSHSAA offerings.



Topic 9:  Qualification out of Districts and to the State Site:  Should two teams qualify out of districts for team sports?  Also, should more than 4 teams qualify for state in team sports?

Background:  This is an item that has repeatedly been discussed the various sports advisory committees.  The Board attempts to keep sports as consistent as possible, but different sports have different nuances that have to be addressed in different ways.  Many times we hear from advisory committees that they want their sport to be treated like football and bring two teams out of districts, but they don’t want to be treated like football in regard to state – football only brings two teams to the final site – they want 8 instead.  There are pros and cons to bringing one team out of districts; there are pros and cons of bringing two teams out of districts; there are pros and cons of bringing 4 or 8 teams to state.  We are currently hearing about some of the “cons” with the football structure and bringing two teams out of each district (not cross-bracketing due to huge travel issues, but without cross-bracketing we play the same school again quickly and it was hard enough to beat them the first time).  The MSHSAA Board of Directors would like to know what the member schools think about expanding the number of schools coming out of districts and coming to the final site.

 
As members of this voluntary association it is important that our school administrators take part in these area meetings.  Your Board of Directors needs to hear from the membership on these issues to know how to proceed with the development of the Questionnaire, the Annual Ballot, and other action by the Board.

 

SCHEDULE FOR MSHSAA CURRENT ISSUES

 AREA MEETINGS - 2010

(9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted)

Date	Time	Site	Contact
Will be rescheduled	9:00 a.m.	Moberly High School	Kenny Seifert
Northeast District		(Auditorium)	Athletic Director
		1625 Gratz Brown St.
		Moberly, MO
January 8, Friday	9:00 a.m.	Smith-Cotton High School	Rob Davis
Central District		(Cafeteria)	Athletic Director
		312 East Broadway
		Sedalia, MO
January 11, Monday	9:00 a.m.	Blue Springs South High School	Mark Bubalo
Kansas City District		(Performing Arts Center)	Athletic Director
		1200 Adams Dairy Pkwy  (access from I-70)
		Blue Springs, MO  (Note: parking at premium--front/North of bldg.)
January 12, Tuesday	9:00 a.m.	Waynesville High School	Joshua Scott
South Central District		(Auditorium)	Athletic Director
		200 G.W. Lane
		Waynesville, MO
January 13, Wednesday	9:00 a.m.	Plattsburg High School	Greg Stahl
Northwest District		(Auditorium)	Athletic Director
		800 Frost Street
		Plattsburg, MO
January 14, Thursday	9:00 a.m.	McCluer South-Berkeley H.S.	Keith Rhodes
St. Louis District		(Auditorium)	Athletic Director
		201 Brotherton Lane
		St. Louis, MO
January 15, Friday	9:00 a.m.	Republic High School (New H.S.)	Greg Garton
Southwest District		(Auditorium)	Athletic Director
		4370 S. Repmo Dr.
		Republic, MO
January 19, Tuesday	9:00 a.m.	Dexter High School	Bryce Matthews
Southeast District		(Auditorium)	Principal
		1101 West Grant
		Dexter, MO