2009 Annual Questionnaire

(Full PDF Version)



 

 

 

 

ROUTING COPY FOR SCHOOL STAFF

 

 

 

Activities director/coach - please review items affecting your      _________      _________      _________      _________      _________

program & express your opinion to your school administrator.      _________      _________      _________      _________      _________

 

The purpose of the MSHSAA Questionnaire is to obtain a consensus from member schools which will aid the MSHSAA Board of Directors in determining changes in desired interscholastic regulations and in planning the type of program the majority desires.  When reviewing these items one must consider how any change will affect not only a particular classification and/or activity but the total interscholastic program.

 

Please review the items listed below and provide your opinion to your school administrator.

 

 

2009 MSHSAA ANNUAL QUESTIONNAIRE

 

 

QUESTION 1:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        Interest in New MSHSAA Activities:  The MSHSAA Office receives contacts from time to time regarding the public’s interest in activities that are not currently under the jurisdiction of MSHSAA.  In some cases, these activities are sponsored by schools and competition takes place interscholastically on a “club” basis – in other cases, competition is not currently interscholastic.  The Board would like to receive feedback from the membership regarding your current interscholastic participation in any of the following activities, so that feedback can be provided to the inquiring parties.

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to these questions.

 

        Does your school currently participate interscholastically in any of the following activities?

                a.     Bowling                           YES _____   NO _____

                b.     Chess                              YES _____   NO _____

                c.     Cycling/Biking                  YES _____   NO _____

                d.     Fishing                             YES _____   NO _____

                e.     Ice Hockey                      YES _____   NO _____

                f.      Rodeo                              YES _____   NO _____

 

        If the listed activity were to become an INTERSCHOLASTIC activity under the jurisdiction of MSHSAA (through a vote of the membership), WOULD YOUR SCHOOL PLAN TO REGISTER AND PARTICIPATE interscholastically in this activity? 

                g.     Bowling                           YES _____   NO _____

                h.     Chess                              YES _____   NO _____

                i.      Cycling/Biking                  YES _____   NO _____

                j.      Fishing                             YES _____   NO _____

                k.     Ice Hockey                      YES _____   NO _____

                l.      Rodeo                              YES _____   NO _____

 

 

QUESTION 2:

Submitted by the Volleyball Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors

 

        Volleyball - Three-out-of-Five Game Match Format:  The Volleyball Advisory Committee has recommended that the Board of Directors monitor, via the Annual Questionnaire, the support for eliminating the state association adoption of using the two-out-of-three game match format for high school varsity volleyball dual competition and follow the National Federation rule of utilizing a three-out-of-five game match format.   Currently, schools are allowed to play either the three-out-of-five format or the two-out-of-three format at the varsity level during the regular season in dual competition only (not in triangulars, quads or tournaments).  The MSHSAA districts and state series will utilize the two-out-of-three game match format until the majority of volleyball schools indicate they are interested in moving to the three-out-of-five game match format. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN BOYS OR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL may respond to these questions.

 

        a.     Is your volleyball team (girls or boys) planning to play any three-out-of-five game matches during the 2009-10 school year?

 

        b.     Would you favor utilizing the national high school volleyball match format of three-out-of-five games at the varsity level statewide during the regular season and for the MSHSAA Girls Volleyball District and State Series?

 

 

QUESTION 3:

Submitted by the Track and Field Advisory Committee

 

        Track and Field:  Method for Conducting the 800 Meter Run at the State Championships:  The MSHSAA Track and Field Committee has recommended that the 800 meter run at the state championships be conducted as two preliminary heats on Friday, with a final race of eight runners on Saturday.  At the present time, the 800 meter run is conducted as a final race only, with all 16 entries on the track at the same time.  While the current method provides head-to-head competition between all of the participants, the races tend to be congested, often resulting in times that are slower than expected for state championship competition.  The committee was supportive of changing to the preliminary/final method in order to improve the quality of the 800 meter run performances at the state championships, regardless if an 800 meter runner is entered in any other event in the meet. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN BOYS OR GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor conducting the 800 meter run at the state championships as two preliminary heats on Friday with a final race of eight runners on Saturday beginning with the 2010 season?

 

 

QUESTION 4:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        Baseball – Class 4 Baseball experiment to provide for a pitching staff:  This topic was brought forward by the Baseball Advisory Committee and the Baseball Coaches Association to expand the baseball district and state tournament series in Class 4 only on a trial basis.  This trial in Class 4 would divide the current 120 schools into 32 districts (24 four-team districts and 8 three-team districts) in double-elimination competition.  The 32 district winners would then compete in eight four-team sectionals in double-elimination competition.  The 8 sectional winners would then compete in 4 two-team quarterfinal best two-out-of-three series with the four quarterfinal winners advancing to a single elimination final four. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN BOYS BASEBALL may respond to these questions.

 

        a.     Would you favor such an adjustment in the state baseball tournament format?

 

        b.     If such an adjustment is made on a trial basis, based on membership support, which type of trial would you prefer?

                1)     A trial in Class 4 only to monitor costs, travel, loss of school time, etc. prior to expanding to all classes.

                2)     The trial should include all classes.


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QUESTION 5:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        Golf - Reduction of the number of qualifiers for the State Golf Tournament from 120 to 96:  The Golf Advisory Committee has recommended reducing the number of players qualifying for the Boys and Girls State Tournaments due to the excessively long rounds.  A contributing factor to the slow play is the high number of golfers on the course at one time.  Long rounds of golf are not conducive to championship caliber play.  The recommendation is to reduce the number from 120 to 96 participants at the state final site in both boys and girls golf.  There are several different proposals regarding how to accomplish this task.  MSHSAA would like input from member schools about their views on this topic.

 

        If the golf schools favor such as reduction, the qualifying procedures will need to be altered in order to qualify 96 to state rather than the current 120 golfers.  There are a variety of ways to cause this reduction.  The Golf Advisory Committee recommends the following solution:  At the District Level each school may enter a maximum of four players in team competition and all four scores would count for the team total.  State Qualifiers would be the first place team and the top eight individuals who are not on the qualifying team. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN BOYS OR GIRLS GOLF may respond to these questions.

 

        a.     Would you favor the described reduction in State Golf Qualifiers: 

 

        b.     Would you favor the entry method of “play four and count four” and take the top 8 individuals from each District to the State Tournaments?     

 

        c.     Would you favor the entry method of “play five and count four” and take the top 7 individuals from each District to the State Tournaments?   

 

 

QUESTION 6:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        MSHSAA Constitution, Article III (Membership) - Affiliate Registered Schools: Definition of a School:  This item comes from the MSHSAA Board of Directors in order to clarify the definition of a school for the purposes of the Affiliate Registered School (ARS) Category.  Currently, the ARS category does not allow for home school associations, home schools, or other non-traditional schools such as on-line schools, virtual schools, etc. to register with MSHSAA for competition with full member schools.  MSHSAA has received a request by an association of home schools to become an affiliate school.  Home school associations generally have a standard curriculum and maintain records on student progress, however, students do not attend school at a school building and the association may not track attendance in the same manner as MSHSAA member schools.  The current requirements for the ARS category as listed in the MSHSAA Constitution are listed below. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        Should the definition of a school be expanded to allow an association of home schools to become an affiliate registered member?

 

 

QUESTION 7:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        MSHSAA Constitution, Article III (Membership) - Affiliate Registered School: Category for Junior Highs:  This topic has been discussed in the past at area meetings.  The Board of Directors would like input from member schools on interest to expand the Affiliate Registered School (ARS) category to the junior high level.  Currently, the ARS category is only an option for high schools, and for a two-year trial period.  The membership will vote on the 2010 Annual Ballot whether or not to keep this temporary high school category.   Adding the category into the Constitution for the junior high school level would require a 2/3 majority vote of the membership on the Annual Ballot.  Listed below is the wording for the high school category, as the junior high proposal would likely be similar in structure.   

 

        MSHSAA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP (Current High School Provisions for consideration of Junior High School addition)

                Section 6: Affiliate Registered School

                        A school, which is not a member of the MSHSAA (…), may register as an Affiliate Registered School (ARS).  Affiliate Registered Schools are not eligible for participation in the MSHSAA district and state series. Once registered, such schools are eligible to compete with member schools, at the discretion of each MSHSAA member school, during the regular season under the following conditions:

                        a.     When participating with an MSHSAA member school, the essential requirements of age apply as provided in By-Law 232.

                        b.     When participating with an MSHSAA member school, only bona fide students, as defined in By-Laws 210, 211-b and 213, may participate.

                        c.     When participating with an MSHSAA member school, all game officials must be registered by MSHSAA and hired in accordance with By-Laws 160-163.

                        d.     When participating with an MSHSAA member school, National Federation of State High School Association game rules shall be utilized or game rule codes specified by MSHSAA for member school competition (i.e. USTA for tennis, USGA for golf, etc.)

 

        ALL MEMBER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS may respond to these questions.

 

        a.     Would you support amending the MSHSAA Constitution to allow for Affiliate Registered Schools at the junior high school level?

 

        b.     Would you support a 2009 Ballot item being presented as a one-year trial, to allow the membership to finalize both the high school category and the junior high school category on the 2010 Annual Ballot? 

 

 

QUESTION 8:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 107 (Junior High School Cooperative Sponsorships) - Junior High Co-ops with Multiple Schools:  The Middle Level Advisory Committee has recommended that By-Law 107, Junior High Cooperative Sponsorships, be amended to allow more than two junior high schools to cooperatively sponsor activity programs.  Currently, the maximum number of schools that may come together to cooperatively sponsor a sport or activity is two.  This proposal is based on requests received from areas that have multiple K-8 districts bordering a high school district, and from school districts which already cooperatively sponsor a program, but have a parochial elementary that sends students to the member high school that they would like to include as well. 

 

        ALL MEMBER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        Should a Junior High School be allowed to cooperatively sponsor sports and activities with two or more neighboring junior high schools, as long as the cooperative sponsorship meets the requirements set forth in By-Law 107?

 

 

QUESTION 9:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 212 (Citizenship) – Possible revisions to By-Law 212 (Citizenship Requirements):  This is a by-law that was edited last year to simplify and clarify the citizenship requirements.  Some member schools have suggested that the word “accident” be eliminated from the law enforcement section of the by-law, due to “fender-bender” type situations jeopardizing a student’s eligibility.  The MSHSAA staff has interpreted the word “minor” this year to include tickets and traffic offenses that do not rise to the level of a “Careless and Imprudent” (C&I) driving offense, and do not include these four categories.  The Board would like feedback from the membership regarding the changes shown in the by-law wording below.  The proposed change would remove the words “minor” and “accident” and would add the words “to others” in regard to injury situations.  Moving traffic offenses including or above the level of a C&I have been interpreted to affect a student’s eligibility for activities. 

 

        “212.0  CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS

                212.0-a  Law Enforcement:  (…) Minor m Moving traffic offenses shall not affect eligibility, unless they involve drugs, alcohol, accidents or injuries to others.

 


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(Question 9 Continued)

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to these questions.

 

        Would you favor the removal of the words “minor” and “accident” from the wording describing “moving traffic offenses” that are held to the provisions of the Citizenship Standard?

 

        Would you favor the addition of the words “to others” in regard to traffic offenses that cause injuries, thereby excluding from by-law coverage those traffic offenses that do not include drugs or alcohol, and where only the student in question is injured? 

 

 

QUESTION 10:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 213 (Academic Requirements) - Academic Credit: What defines credit for academic eligibility?  This item comes from the Board of Directors to gather input from member schools to determine what types of credit should be counted toward academic eligibility.  Currently, there is language that disallows correspondence courses to count toward academic eligibility.  Further, as new opportunities for credit and credit recovery arise, the Board would like the membership’s feedback regarding these options and how they should be considered in regard to academic eligibility for activities. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to these questions.

 

        a.     Should internet classes through virtual schools offered by and at the member school and which are completed no later than the close of the semester be allowed to count towards academic eligibility?

 

        b.     Would you favor allowing credits that are pre-arranged and pre-approved to be accepted by a member school and which will be placed on a student’s transcript toward graduation and are completed no later than the close of the semester to count toward academic eligibility for activities? 

 

        c.     Should additional study be done to determine what types of courses/classes/credits should be acceptable for counting toward academic eligibility, in order to be consistent throughout the state?

 

 

QUESTION 11:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 213 (Academic Requirements) - Extra Credits Being Carried During a Normal Semester:  Due to the expansion of credit recovery opportunities for students, as well as virtual classes, correspondence courses, etc. students have the opportunity to carry more credits than the normal or maximum load for the student body.  The “maximum allowable classes in which a student can be enrolled” wording in By-Law 213, Academic Requirements, was originally designed and has been interpreted to be a standard number of classes based on the normal school day and the academic system that the individual member school has selected (7-hour day, block schedule, etc.)  For academic eligibility, a student must have earned credit in 80% of the “maximum allowable classes” during the semester prior and must be currently enrolled and attending 80% of the maximum during the current semester of participation.  However, with more credit opportunities for students beyond the normal school day, this “maximum” may not really be the maximum.  The Board would like feedback from the membership regarding the best way to calculate the 80% for students taking “extra” classes/credits.  Currently, “extra” classes can be used toward academic eligibility if too many classes during the regular school day are failed.  However, this is not equitable when compared to students only taking classes during the regular school day.  For fairness and equity among all students, either all classes being attempted (regular + extra) should be taken into consideration when calculating the 80% or the “extra” classes should be excluded from consideration and the 80% should be based on the regular school day only.  Consider the following example:

 

        EXAMPLE:  Student A is taking 7 hours of credit-bearing classes during the regular school day, plus two credit recovery courses in the evening, each worth a half unit of credit.  At the end of the semester, Student A fails two of the courses being taken during the day, but passes the two credit-recovery courses.

 

                Current Policy:  (See Question 14 on page 34 of the Handbook)  The two credit recovery courses can be used to supplement the two failed courses, and the student would have appeared to have passed 7 out of 7 classes for academic eligibility.  However, when you consider what the student actually attempted – 9 credit bearing classes, the student did not pass 80% (7 of 9 = 78%)

 

                Option 1:  Take all credit-bearing classes into consideration when calculating the 80%.  In the example, 9 classes were attempted, 7 passed; the student did not meet the 80% requirement.  (This option would require the Athletic Director to be aware of all extra classes that student participants are taking to insure a proper calculation of the 80%, but would be an accurate reflection of classes attempted and passed.)

 

                Option 2:  Only take the normal courses taken during the school day into consideration when calculating the 80%.  In the example, 7 regular classes were attempted and 5 were passed; the student did not meet the 80% requirement.  (This option would keep the 80% calculation consistent for the entire student body, but may not as accurately reflect the classes attempted and passed as would Option 1.)

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to these questions.

 

        If a student is taking additional classes beyond a normal load at school (correspondence course(s), virtual course(s), credit recovery course(s), etc.) as described above, how should the calculation of whether or not the student has passed 80% be made?

 

        a.     All classes being attempted should be taken into consideration, and the student should be required to pass 80% of the TOTAL credits attempted.

 

        b.     The student should be required to pass 80% of the classes being taken during the normal school day and the “extra” classes should be excluded from all consideration (i.e. credits achieved in the “extra classes” should not be considered either for or against academic eligibility.)

 

 

QUESTION 12:

Submitted by the Constitution Study Committee

 

        By-Law 213 (Academic Requirements) - Dual Enrollment With Credit Being Placed on High School Transcript: Increase the Limit:  By-Law 213, Academic Requirements, currently indicates that a student who is dual enrolled in high school classes and in college classes being taken off campus with credit being placed on the high school transcript, may only count up to one full credit earned from the college classes toward academic eligibility and must be enrolled in and regularly attending the remainder of classes at the high school.  The Constitution Study Committee is recommending that the current limit of one full credit be increased to two credits.  This recommendation is due in part to the increase in the academic standard from 70% passing to 80% passing, but is also due to the increase opportunities for students to participate in dual enrollment classes.  The committee sees these opportunities as beneficial to students and wants students to be able to take advantage of these opportunities without activity participation being detrimentally effected. 

 

        213.0  ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

                213.0-a-5:  Dual-Enrollment in College Classes:

                        (a) For High School Credit: A student who is dual enrolled in college classes being taken off campus with credit being placed on the high school transcript and high school classes may only count up to one two full credits earned from the college classes toward academic eligibility and must be enrolled in and regularly attending the remainder of classes at the high school.

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor increasing the amount of credit (from one unit to two units) that can be counted toward academic eligibility from dual enrollment in college classes being taken off campus with credit being placed on the high school transcript?

 


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QUESTION 13:

Submitted by the Middle Level Advisory Committee

 

        By-Law 213 (Academic Requirements) - Junior High School Academic Standard:  The Middle Level Advisory Committee has recommended and the Board of Directors has approved that a proposal be placed on the Annual Questionnaire concerning By-Law 213-c-1, Academic Requirements for Grades 7 and 8.  Currently, a student may fail two scheduled subjects and be eligible to represent his/her school in interscholastic activities.  The committee is proposing an increase in this academic requirement, due to the recent change by the membership in the high school academic requirement.  The committee feels that the junior high school students will be better prepared for the high school academic requirement if they are allowed to fail no more than one scheduled subject per grading period. 

 

        213  ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:

                213-c:  Grades 7 and 8

                213-c-1  Grading Period:  A "grading period" is a period no less than six weeks and no greater than nine weeks where progress is determined and is reported to students/parents.  A student must have been promoted to a higher grade or a higher level in special education at the close of the previous year.  However, any such student who failed more than two one scheduled subjects, or failed to make standard progress in special education, shall be ineligible the following grading period regardless of promotion to the higher grade."

 

                213-d  Summer School – Grades 7 and 8 – A local school district may reinstate the first grading period eligibility of a student being promoted to the eighth grade who has failed more than two one classes but no more than four three classes if the student passes the appropriate number of core classes through secondary school-sponsored summer school, as described below, and provided the following requirements are met:

                        213-d-4  A student who has failed three two scheduled subjects must pass at least one core class through secondary school-sponsored summer school; a student who has failed four three scheduled subjects must pass at least two core classes through secondary school-sponsored summer school.

 

        ALL MEMBER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor amending MSHSAA By-Law 213-c-1, 213-d, and 213-d-4 (as shown above), to increase the academic requirements for students in grades 7 and 8, beginning with the 2009-10 school year?

 

 

QUESTION 14:

Submitted by the Middle Level Advisory Committee

 

        By-Law 235 (Non-School Competition) - Coaching During the School Year:  The Middle Level Advisory Committee has recommended that MSHSAA amend By-Law 235 to establish criteria that would allow a school coach to coach non-school teams based upon the level he/she is assigned to coach. Currently the interpretation is based upon the school's membership status with MSHSAA.  Therefore, if a school has a 7-12 combined membership status a middle school or high school coach cannot coach a nonschool team comprised of any student currently enrolled in that school, or including a sixth grader that will attend that school the next year. 

                                            

        235.2-c  SCHOOL COACHES:  If held during the school year but outside the designated school season for the sport, a school coach of any sport may not provide instruction/coaching in any sport to any student who is enrolled in a membership level(s) for which the coach is assigned to coach during the current school year or who will be enrolled in a membership level(s) for which the coach is or will be assigned to coach during the next school year.  Membership levels: 7th and 8th grades are considered as being within the Junior High Membership Level; ninth through 12th grades are defined as being within the Senior High Membership Level. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor amending MSHSAA By-Law 235.2-c (as shown above) to establish criteria that would allow a school coach to coach non-school teams based upon the membership level he/she is assigned to coach beginning with the 2009-10 school year?

 

 

QUESTION 15:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Laws 235, 241 and Board Policies - Contact with School Coaches/Directors: During the School Year and During the Summer.  This is a topic that has been discussed for two years, through the Area Meetings, the Questionnaire, and via special surveys.   Sport opportunities, beyond interscholastic competition, have continued to expand, and school coaches now have greater access to their athletes during the summer due to amendments to the non-school competition by-laws over the last ten years.  Off-season has become very active for non-school competition (leagues, shoot-outs, tournaments, etc.), as well as camps and clinics, open facilities, weight training and conditioning programs, especially for team sports.  Non-athletic activities have seen a rise in summer participation as well.  Differences in the regulations governing each of these separate areas cause confusion and frustration for administrators in regard to oversight of their athletes/students and coaches/directors.  Reports of violations by coaches are regularly reviewed by the Board of Directors, due to lack of education by schools and lack of knowledge by the coaches and athletes. 

 

        The Board of Directors is considering a merger of the by-laws (By-Law 235, 241, etc.) and policies that govern these various areas in order to simplify the oversight of what can and cannot take place during 1) the school year, and 2) the summer period.   Rather than the current structure, which defines each of these activities separately and details specific restrictions and requirements for each, the Board is drafting language that would create open periods, dead periods, contact periods and non-contact periods. 

 

        The following definitions are provided to assist you: 

 

        Summertime Dead Period (All Activities):  A period of defined length in which no contact takes place between school coaches/directors and students enrolled in the member school, or who will be enrolled in the member school during the next school year.  Further, during the dead period school facilities are not utilized by enrolled students in connection with any sport or activity governed by MSHSAA.  The dead period is a “no school activities time”; no open gyms, competitions, practices, conditioning programs, weight training; no activity related functions or fundraisers, camps or clinics at school facilities or sponsored elsewhere by the school; no coaches/directors or students may have planned contact other than casual, normal community, non-activity contact.  The school dead period must be the same for all sports and activities.  While there may be sports activities during this time, they must not involve the school coach, the school or school facilities for nine full consecutive calendar days, beginning with a Saturday and ending with a Sunday.  The dead period would be set somewhere between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and July 31. 

 

        Contact Period/Contact Days (Athletics Only): The current allowances for sports contact during the school year would not change significantly.  The school year is broken into two categories: during the school sport season and outside of the school sport season.  Summertime:  During the period between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and July 31 (approximately 67 days), coaches would have a set number of “contact days” in which they could work with students enrolled in the member school, or who will be enrolled in the member school during the next school year.  A day of contact is defined as any date on which any coaching or instruction in the skills and techniques of any sport takes place, regardless of whether activity-specific equipment is used.  Summertime activities shall continue to be voluntary and not required directly or indirectly for team membership.  The Board is currently considering an allowance of 25 days of contact during the summer period. 

 

        The following questions will assist in determining what changes, if any, the membership favors. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to these questions.

 

        a.     Would you favor a merger of By-Laws 235 and 241 and policies governing Non-School Competition, Camps and Clinics, Open Facilities, and Out-of-Season Conditioning Programs in an attempt to simplify governance and oversight by creating “open periods/dead periods” and “contact and non-contact periods” outside of the school sport seasons?


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(Question 15 Continued)

 

        b.     Would you favor the concept of a Summertime Dead Period as described in the background material above?

 

        c.     If a Summertime Dead Period is implemented based on support by the membership, which of the following would you prefer?

                1)     A standard statewide dead period that takes place during a pre-set period of nine consecutive days, or

                2)     A dead period of nine consecutive days to be set individually by each member school, to be reported to MSHSAA and posted on the MSHSAA website.

 

        d.     Would you favor the concept of an allowable number of Summer Contact Days, as described in the background material above, as a replacement for the current by-laws which restrict activities differently based on their “type” (i.e. camps, competition, open facility, etc.)?

 

        e.     In regard to the specific number of allowable Contact Days during the summer, as described in the background material above, which statement below best describes your school’s position? 

                1)     25 days would be an appropriate number of Summer Contact Days

                2)     Coaches should have more than 25 Summer Contact Days

                3)     Coaches should have fewer than 25 Summer Contact Days

 

 

QUESTION 16:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 236 (Foreign Student Eligibility) - Foreign Students Living with a Sport Coach:  By-Law 236, Foreign Student Eligibility, restricts International Students and students on a Foreign Exchange Program from residing with a school coach.  If such a student resides with a school coach, the student is ineligible for activities.  The MSHSAA Appeals Committee and the Board of Directors have heard appeals for eligibility from students who were residing with a school coach.  The Board is interested in the stance of the membership on this issue.

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to these questions.

 

        a.     Would you favor limiting the ineligibility status currently prescribed by this section of the by-law to only those sports in which that coach coaches, rather than ineligibility for all sports?

 

        b.     Would you favor removing the section of the Foreign Student by-law that indicates a student becomes ineligible for athletics if he/she is residing with a school coach?

 

 

QUESTION 17:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 236 (Foreign Student Eligibility) - International Students and Sports Eligibility:  The number of international students attending Missouri high schools has risen steadily and that number is expected to continue to rise.  An international student is defined in the MSHSAA by-laws as a student that is not an American citizen, and is not on a Foreign Exchange Program.  Under By-Law 236, such students currently may only participate at the sub-varsity level in athletics for their school career.  Unlike other eligibility restrictions, this restriction to the sub-varsity level does NOT expire after being enrolled for 365 days; these students are never able to participate at the varsity level.  These students are usually “otherwise qualified” – meaning that they meet the essential eligibility standards listed in By-Laws 210 through 219 (bona fide student, academic standard, semesters, etc.)  The Board of Directors is encouraging the membership to consider merging By-Law 236, Foreign Student Eligibility, and By-Law 238, Residency and Transfer Requirements, in order to treat all students similarly, and base eligibility on defined and tested eligibility standards that speak directly to the development of students and the principles of interscholastic activities.  Under the proposed merger of these two by-laws, a tenth exception to the transfer restrictions listed in By-Law 238.3-a would be added for students on a foreign exchange program, which would allow for one year of interscholastic eligibility.  Other students, such as international students, would utilize one of the existing nine exceptions upon transfer into a Missouri member school. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor merging By-Law 236, Foreign Student Eligibility, and By-Law 238, Residency and Transfer Requirements, in order to treat all students similarly in regard to transfer eligibility? 

 

 

QUESTION 18:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 238 (Residence and Transfer Requirements) - Charter School Attendance Boundaries:  All member schools, both public and non-public, have attendance boundaries that determine eligibility under the Residency Requirements set forth in By-Law 238.  Charter schools, by state law, have attendance boundaries as well, but these are currently not addressed in the by-law wording.  The Board is proposing that wording be added to this section to speak to the Charter Schools.

 

        238.0  RESIDENCE AND TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS

                238.1-b.  District - All member schools, both public and nonpublic, shall establish defined geographical attendance districts for athletic eligibility purposes.  The boundary for a nonpublic school attendance district shall be established by the school’s governing board and shall include an area not to exceed a twenty-five mile radius measured from the school principal’s office.  A current map showing the nonpublic school’s attendance district boundary shall be on file in the MSHSAA Office.  Any subsequent change in the nonpublic school’s attendance boundary must be reported to the MSHSAA Office no later than February 1 preceding the school year the change is to become effective since any change will be used in determining the eligibility of transfer students.  The boundary for a Charter School attendance district is set by state law, but may be reduced at the school’s discretion.  If thus reduced, a current map showing the Charter School’s attendance boundary shall be on file in the MSHSAA office and changes must be reported no later than February 1 preceding the school year the change is to become effective. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        Would you support amending the wording of the Residency Standards in By-Law 238 to include Charter Schools as outlined above?

 

 

QUESTION 19:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 293 (Limits on Participation) - Academic Competition: Restriction of Non-School Competition During the Season.  This item was presented by the Academic Competition Advisory Committee.  The committee is proposing the same non-school competition restrictions that apply in sports (as per By-Law 235, with exceptions in swimming, golf, and tennis).  Such restrictions would disallow students on academic competition rosters from competing in non-school competition during the season limits. 

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN ACADEMIC COMPETITION may respond to this question.

 

        Should non-school competition (participating in open events or against collegiate competitors) in Academic Competition (Quiz Bowl) be restricted during the interscholastic season? 

 


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QUESTION 20:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Law 312 (District and State Tournaments) – Basketball: Expansion to Six Classes  The MSHSAA Board of Directors is gathering input from member schools to determine if basketball should expand to six classes.  By-Law 312 stipulates that schools shall be divided into a maximum of five classes for competition in district and state athletic tournaments or meets in all sports.  With the exception of Football and Wrestling the number of classes in each sport is based on the number of schools entering the state series in that sport as follows:

One Class—128 or fewer schools

Two Classes—129-192 schools

Three Classes—193-256 schools

Four Classes—257-514 schools

Five Classes—514 or more schools

        The procedure for grouping schools into classes for each sport is established by the Board of Directors.  Currently there are 561 schools registered for boys basketball and 541 schools registered for girls basketball and the “Standard Enrollment Breaks” are used to determine classification.  Under the standard enrollment break system, all member schools are divided into five groups of predetermined size, based on enrollment.  No recommendation has been made by the Board of Directors, the Athletic Directors Advisory Committee, or the Basketball Advisory Committee as to how classification breaks would be determined if basketball is expanded to six classes, nor as to how the state tournament would be structured in order to accommodate six classes.

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN BOYS OR GIRLS BASKETBALL may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor an amendment to By-Law 312 in order to allow for an expansion from five classes to six classes in boys and girls basketball? 

 

 

QUESTION 21:

Submitted by the Cross Country, Volleyball, and Soccer Advisory Committees

 

        By-Laws 322 and 327 (Sport Seasons) - Fall Sports Season: First Allowable Contest Date:  The Cross Country, Volleyball, and Soccer Advisory Committees have recommended that By-Laws 322.0 (Fall Sports Season) and 327.0-a-1 (Boys Swimming Sports Season) be amended to change the first possible contest date for cross country, field hockey, boys soccer, boys swimming, and girls volleyball from the Monday of Week Number Nine of the Standardized Calendar to the Friday of Week Number Eight (allowing contests to be held three days earlier).  The Swimming Advisory Committee has not had a chance to review this item, since the committee does not meet until March, following the Questionnaire deadline.  With the proposed change, all fall sports would have the same first possible contest date as football, except for fall baseball, fall softball, girls tennis, and girls golf, which have a first possible contest date of the Monday of Week Number Eight of the Standardized Calendar.  The above-listed advisory committees were supportive of changing the first possible contest date for cross country, field hockey, boys soccer, boys swimming, and girls volleyball because such change would permit an additional weekend to schedule competitions and would reduce the number of “first allowable contest dates” for the fall from three to two, for ease of scheduling and monitoring for athletic/activities directors.

 

        “322.0  FALL SPORTS SEASON:  The beginning practice date shall be no earlier than the Monday of Week Number Six of the Standardized Calendar; the first contest for all sports, except fall baseball, fall softball, girls tennis, girls golf, and football, shall be no earlier than the Monday of Week Number Nine; the first contest date for fall baseball, fall softball, girls tennis and girls golf shall be no earlier than the Monday of Week Number Eight; and the first football contest date for football*, cross country, field hockey, boys soccer, and girls volleyball shall be no earlier than the Friday of Week Number Eight; and the last practice or contest shall be no later than the Sunday of Week Number Twenty-Two.”  (*=football is currently under a four-year trial period)

 

        “327.0 SPECIAL SPORTS SEASONS

                327.0-a BOYS SWIMMING SPORTS SEASON

                        327.0-a-1:       The beginning practice date shall be no earlier than the Monday of Week Number Six of the Standardized Calendar; the first interscholastic contest shall be held no earlier than the Monday Friday of Week Number Nine Eight; and the last practice or contest shall be held no later than the Saturday of Week Number Nineteen.”

 

        Projected dates for 2009-2010

        First Possible Practice                                                                                                                                                         August 10

        First Possible Contest for Fall Baseball, Fall Softball, Girls Tennis, and Girls Golf                                                             August 24

        First Possible Contest for Football, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball & Boys Swimming        August 31 28

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE REGISTERED IN CROSS COUNTRY, FIELD HOCKEY, BOYS SOCCER, BOYS SWIMMING, OR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor amending By-Laws 322.0 (Fall Sports Season) and 327.0-a-1 (Boys Swimming Sports Season) to change the first possible contest date for cross country, field hockey, boys soccer, boys swimming, and girls volleyball to the Friday of Week Number Eight of the Standardized Calendar? 

 

 

QUESTION 22:

Submitted by the Soccer Advisory Committee

 

        By-Law 325 (Spring Sport Season) – Spring: First Allowable Contest Date:  The Soccer Advisory Committee has recommended that By-Laws 325.0 (Spring Sports Season) be amended to change the first possible contest date for spring sports, from the Monday of Week Number Thirty-Eight of the Standardized Calendar to the Friday of Week Number Thirty-Seven (allowing contests to be held three days earlier).  The Soccer Advisory Committee was in favor of this change because it would permit an additional weekend to schedule competitions in the spring which is shorter than the fall.

 

        “325.0  SPRING SPORTS SEASON:  The beginning practice date shall be no earlier than the Monday of Week Number Thirty-Five of the Standardized Calendar; the first interscholastic contest shall be no earlier than the Monday of Week Number thirty eight; Friday of Week Number Thirty-Seven; and the last contest shall be played no later than the last day of school except for MSHSAA tournament series contests.

 

        Projected dates for 2009-2010

        First Possible Practice                   February 28

        First Possible Contest                   March 23 20

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE REGISTERED IN BASEBALL, BOYS TENNIS, GIRLS SOCCER, BOYS GOLF, GIRLS LACROSSE, SOFTBALL, TRACK AND BOYS VOLLEYBALL may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor amending By-Laws 325.0 (Spring Sports Season) and to change the first possible contest date for Baseball, Boys Golf, Girls Lacrosse, Softball, Girls Soccer, Boys Tennis, Track, and Boys Volleyball to the Friday of number thirty-seven of the Standardized Calendar?     

 

 

QUESTION 23:

Submitted by the Tennis Advisory Committee

 

        By-Law 326 (Contest Limitations) – Tennis: Shortening of Season in Order to Expand the Team Tennis Play-Offs:  The Tennis Advisory Committee has recommend that the State Tennis Tournament be modified beginning with the 2010-11 school year for a two-year trial period.  The modification would reduce the contest limits for tennis by two matches, in order to allow for a complete team tennis district and state series, in addition to the individual tennis district and state series.  The modification would expand the number of districts from 8 to 16 per class, thereby reducing the number of teams in each district.  Each district would establish a team district play-off bracket and conduct an individual tennis district tournament.  Team Tennis:  Team districts would be conducted during Standardized Calendar Week Number Fourteen for girls tennis and Week Number Forty-Five for boys tennis.  A team tennis play-off system would take approximately one week to complete, and would allow competitors to compete at the home court of the highest seeded team.  The team district would be completed prior to the Individual Tennis District Tournament.  The winner of each Team District Tournament would qualify to a four-team Sectional Tournament, where the winner would qualify for


Page 7

 

(Question 23 Continued)

 

        the State Tournament.  Individual Tennis:  Individual Tennis Districts would be held following team districts, and would no longer have a bearing on Team Tennis qualification.  The top two singles players and doubles teams from each district would qualify to an Individual Tennis Sectional, from which the two singles and doubles winners would qualify to the Individual Tennis State Tournament.  In order to allow for such an expansion, the Tennis Advisory Committee has recommended that the number of duals allowed during the season be reduced by two as shown below. 

 

        326.0  ASSIGNMENT OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TO SEASONS AND TEAM CONTEST LIMITATIONS

                326.0-a  Fall: 

                        8. Girls Tennis ................16 14 matches & 3 tournaments or 14 12 matches & 4 tournaments

                326.0-c  Spring: 

                        6. Boys Tennis ............... 16 14 matches & 3 tournaments or 14 12 matches & 4 tournaments

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED FOR BOYS OR GIRLS TENNIS may respond to this question.

 

        Would you support a reduction in the match limits for boys and girls tennis in order to allow for an expansion of the Team Tennis state play-off system, as described above?

 

 

QUESTION 24:

Submitted by the Middle Level Advisory Committee

 

        By-Law 331 (Junior High School Sport Season) - First Allowable Practice Date for Junior High:  The Middle Level Advisory Committee has recommended and the Board of Directors has approved that a proposal be placed on the Annual Questionnaire concerning By-Law 331, Definition of Sport Season, which would establish a first allowable practice date for seventh and eighth grade teams that is based on the MSHSAA Standardized Calendar.  The proposed date for practice to begin for the junior high level is Monday of calendar Week Number Seven, which is one week later than the first allowable practice date for the high school level.   Currently the sports season for the seventh and eighth grade teams may be schedule at any time during the period beginning with the second Monday preceding Labor Day or the first day of classes, whichever is earlier.  It should be noted that this is not a required start day but a possible start date.  Each school may start practice at a later time but may not begin prior to the first allowable practice date outlined in By-Law 331.

                                                                        

        331.0   DEFINITION OF SPORT SEASON:  Junior high school sports seasons shall be twelve consecutive calendar weeks in length beginning with the first organized practice with any part of a sports squad and ending with the last interscholastic contest in the sport concerned.  (…)  The sports season for the seventh and eighth grade teams may be schedule at any time during the period beginning with the second Monday preceding Labor Day or the first day of classes, whichever is earlier shall begin no earlier that the Monday of Standardized Calendar Week Number Seven, and ending with the last day of school in the spring.

 

        ALL MEMBER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGISTERED FOR AT LEAST ONE SPORT may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor amending MSHSAA By-Law 331 (as shown above) to establish a first allowable practice date for seventh and eighth grade teams which is based on the Standardized Calendar, and which would be one week later than the first allowable practice date for the high school level?  

 

 

QUESTION 25:

Submitted by the Middle Level Advisory Committee

 

        By-Law 331 (Junior High School Sport Season) - Junior High: Softball and Baseball:  The Middle Level Advisory Committee has recommended amending MSHSAA By-Law 331, Definition of Sport Season, to allow junior high schools to offer two twelve-week seasons in the sports of softball and baseball.  This would reflect what is currently available at the high school level, and would allow a school that does not offer a fall sport (e.g. football) to participate in two seasons of softball and/or baseball.  The proposal would disallow schools placing the two twelve-week seasons concurrently. 

 

        ALL MEMBER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS may respond to this question.

 

        331.0  DEFINITION OF SPORT SEASON:  Junior high school sports seasons shall be twelve consecutive calendar weeks in length beginning with the first organized practice with any part of a sports squad and ending with the last interscholastic contest in the sport concerned.  For the sports of softball and baseball only, a school may participate in two separate seasons, each twelve weeks in length.  The two seasons may not be held consecutively. (…)

 

        Would you favor amending MSHSAA By-Law 331 (as shown above) to allow junior high schools to participate in two twelve week seasons of softball and baseball?

 

 

QUESTION 26:

Submitted by the Board of Directors

 

        By-Laws 540, 640 (Season Limits in Speech and Academic Competition) - Definition of Summer:  Some of the MSHSAA by-laws refer to “summer” or “summertime” when outlining restrictions that may begin or end based on school being “out of session for the summer.”  A concern has been raised regarding students being treated differently, and not having the same opportunities, due to when their school starts and ends classes.  There are a variety of activities and event offerings, some interscholastic and some non-school, that take place over Memorial Day weekend.  A student, for example, that is still in school after Memorial Day, may not be able to participate in activities that other students are currently able to partake in because their schools are out of session at that point.  In the original wording “summertime” was used to eliminate the possibility of students missing class time.  Events held over Memorial Day weekend may not cause a loss of class time, due to the extended weekend.  The Board is asking you to consider the following proposal. 

 

        500.0  SPEECH REGULATIONS

                540.0  SEASON LIMITS - No senior high school interscholastic debate, dramatics, or speech events shall be held before the second Friday in October nor later than April 1; however, teams or individuals representing a school may participate in an interstate, interscholastic event which may begin no earlier than the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, only if the school has advanced from a qualifying event that takes place during the aforementioned season.  District festivals shall be held no later than the last weekend in March; and the state tournament shall be held no later than the Friday and Saturday of Week Number Forty-Two of the Standardized Calendar

 

        600.0  ACADEMIC COMPETITION REGULATIONS

                640.0  SEASON LIMITS - No senior high school or junior high school shall participate in an interscholastic academic competition before the second Friday in October nor later than the date of the MSHSAA District Competition, exclusive of the MSHSAA state competition, except to participate in an summertime interstate, interscholastic academic competition event which may begin no earlier than the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, only if the school has advanced from a qualifying event that takes place during the aforementioned season.

 

        ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS REGISTERED IN SPEECH OR ACADEMIC COMPETITION may respond to this question.

 

        Would you support the wording change listed above in order to allow all Missouri students equal access to allowable interscholastic events held on Memorial Day Weekend (or later in the summer) if they have met the requirements of the applicable by-laws? 

 


Page 8

 

QUESTION 27:

Submitted by the Speech, Debate, and Drama Advisory Committee

 

        By-Laws 540 (Season Limits in Speech) – Flexibility in Scheduling Contests in Speech, Debate, and Drama:  The Speech, Debate, and Drama Advisory Committee has recommended that By-Law 540.0 (Season Limits) be amended to permit schools to participate in one interscholastic speech, debate, and/or drama event, in addition to the MSHSAA state tournament, between April 1 and the beginning of summer.  The recommendation stipulates that such an event must count as one of the student’s eleven (11) allowable regular season speech, debate, and drama events for that school year as per By-Law 262.0 (Limits on Participation) and must meet the travel regulations per By-Law 530-d.  Currently senior high students cannot participate in interscholastic speech, debate, and drama events after April 1, except for the MSHSAA state tournament.  As a result, Missouri students are not eligible to participate in prestigious tournaments like the NCFL Grand National Tournament and the Tournament of Champions, which are held during the school year but after April 1.  Such tournaments provide students exposure to national level competition and to the collegiate programs where scholarship considerations may be a possibility.  The committee was supportive of amending By-Law 540.0 so that students could have the option to utilize one of their eleven regular season tournaments to participate in a tournament scheduled between April 1 and summer, should a desirable opportunity exist.

 

        "540.0 SEASON LIMITS:  No senior high school interscholastic speech, debate, or dramatics events shall be held before the second Friday in October, nor later than April 1, except schools may participate in one interscholastic speech, debate, and/or drama event in addition to the MSHSAA state tournament, between April 1 and the beginning of summer.  Such event must count as one of the student’s allowable regular season speech, debate, and drama events for that school year as per By-Law 262.0 (Limits on Participation) and must meet the travel regulations per By-Law 530-d.  District festivals shall be held no later than the last weekend in March; and the state tournament shall be held no later than the Friday and Saturday of Week Number Forty-Two of the Standardized Calendar.”

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE REGISTERED IN SPEECH, DEBATE, AND DRAMA may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor amending MSHSAA By-Law 540.0 (Season Limits) to permit schools to participate in one interscholastic speech, debate, and/or drama event in addition to the MSHSAA state tournament between April 1 and the beginning of summer, as shown above?

 

 

QUESTION 28:

Submitted by the Academic Competition Advisory Committee

 

        By-Laws 640 (Season Limits in Academic Competition) - Flexibility in Scheduling Contests in Academic Competition:  The Academic Competition Advisory Committee has recommended that By-Law 640.0 (Season Limits) be amended to permit schools to participate in one interscholastic event in addition to the MSHSAA State Series, between the MSHSAA District tournament and the beginning of summer, under the condition that the event must count as one of the school’s fourteen (14) allowable regular season events for that school year as per By-Law 293.0 (Limits on Participation) and must meet the travel regulations per By-Law 630-d.  Currently, academic competition teams may not participate in any events after districts and before summertime, other than the MSHSAA sectional or state tournament. 

 

        “640.0 SEASON LIMITS:  No senior high school or junior high school shall participate in an interscholastic academic competition before the second Friday in October nor later than the date of the MSHSAA District Competition, exclusive of the MSHSAA state competition, other than the following allowances:

        a.     except to A school may participate in a summertime interstate, interscholastic academic competition event only if the school has advanced from a qualifying event that takes place during the aforementioned season.

        b.     A school may participate in one interscholastic event following districts and prior to the beginning of summer.  Such an event shall count as one of the school’s allowable regular season events as per By-Law 293.0 (Limits on Participation) and must meet the travel regulations per By-Law 630-d.

 

        ALL MEMBER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE REGISTERED IN ACADEMIC COMPETITION may respond to this question.

 

        Would you favor amending MSHSAA By-Law 640.0 (Season Limits) to permit schools to participate in one interscholastic academic competition event in addition to the MSHSAA state tournament between the District Tournament and the beginning of summer, as shown above? 

 


 


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