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The Idaho High School Activities Association has released the notes from the August 2015 Board Meeting held on August 5.
Some of the more interesting notes of that meeting are as follows:
1. NEW STATE BASKETBALL SITE? - Executive Director Ty Jones reported on where fall state championships would be played. He also reported that Middleton High School has requested the opportunity to host the boys state basketball tournaments. Currently, Middleton is in the girls tournament rotation and is slated to host the 2016 and 2017 girls 3A tournaments.
2. USE OF FACEMASKS IN SOFTBALL - Softball concussions and the potential use of facemasks became a hot button issue this past spring after Middleton softball player Aubrey Creekmore was struck in the face by a ball. The board decided to look into requiring a facemask for the pitcher and 3rd baseman. Jones consulted with the NFHS about this and was advised against making it mandatory, as there are no uniform safety standards in the United States for those masks. The board decided to not require those facemasks and instead leave the decision to use one up the players and their parents. In terms of concussion numbers, Jones reported that of almost 2,000 players, there were only 47 reported concussions. He found information on 30 of them and only one reported that a facemask may have prevented the concussion.
3. MERCY RULE IN BASKETBALL DISTRICT TOURNAMENTS - The Board discussed the use of the mercy rule in district basketball tournaments. They decided to approve the use of that rule being used at the discretion of each district tournament.
4. 5A BASKETBALL BRACKETS - The Board decided to approve a change to the first two games of the 2016 5A Girls and Boys state basketball brackets which ensures that no officials will work games with schools from their own district.
5. WRESTLING COACHES AT STATE TOURNAMENTS - The IHSAA decided to approve a measure that changes the number of the coaches and support personnel allowed on the floor at the state wrestling tournament. The measure was brought up with concern for overcrowding on the mats and floor area at the tournament. The number of coaches allowed on the floor now goes as follows:
1-3 participants = two coaches on the floor
4-9 participants = three coaches
10-17 participants = four coaches
18+ participants = five coaches
6. EXTRA BERTH FOR HOST DISTRICT AT STATE GOLF - A measure eliminating an automatic extra berth for the host district in 5A Golf starting with the 2016-17 year was approved as a first reading.
7. CLASSIFICATION PROPOSALS - The Board approved the classification cutoffs for the 2016-18 cycle. Tim Perrigot of Minico asked about finding a way to let member schools know of the potential proposals ahead of time so they can be prepared, especially for 2A/1A schools and the petitioning process.
8. NORTH FREMONT CLOSER TO STAYING 2A - The Board approved a motion for North Fremont High School to stay at 2A as a first reading. The vote of the superintendents is still needed, however West Jefferson superintendent Dwight Richins said the team is competitive in their conference at the 2A level.
9. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS STUDY - Board member Gary Brogan, who attended the NFHS Summer Meeting, recommended that the IHSAA Classification Committee look at different options for the next classification cycle, including point-based and success-based systems. As of now, the committee only looks at proposal submitted to them, however Jones said he will ask the committee to look at different proposals at their next scheduled meeting.
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