CHSAANow

Category: NFHS

  • 2019-20 volleyball rules changes impact uniforms, prematch protocol

    Chaparral Valor Christian volleyball
    (Dustin Price/DustinPricePhotography.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — An overhaul of uniform-related rules and an adjustment to team roster submissions were among the most notable rules changes identified for the 2019-20 high school volleyball season.

    All rules changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Volleyball Rules Committee at its January 6-8 meeting in Indianapolis and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    “The sport of volleyball continues to be in a really good place,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. “The rules committee focused its changes this year on improving the administration of the match by taking into account the feedback it received via the 2018 NFHS Volleyball Rules Questionnaire.”

    The changes in uniform rules are a part of Rule 4-2, which reorganizes the uniform rule to improve understanding and eliminate solid-colored uniform requirements.

    Rule 4-2-1, which permits teammates to wear like-colored uniform pieces, was expanded to include all uniforms and involves nine guidelines.

    Rule 4-2-1a states that all uniform tops (with the exception of the libero, as noted in Rule 4-2-2) and bottoms shall be like-colored. Rule 4-2-1e permits the top and/or bottom of all uniforms to include the school’s name, nickname, logo, mascot and/or team member’s name. In doing so, a single mascot reference and/or school name may be placed on the sleeve(s), and shall not exceed either 4 inches by 4 inches or 3 inches by 5 inches.

    “The rules committee was very deliberate and measured in their language choices to ensure that all currently compliant libero and team uniforms will be compliant under the new rule,” Atkinson said. “The committee believes that this new rule will, in fact, be easier to apply and require less policing by both officials and state associations.”

    In Rule 4-2-2, the libero’s uniform must clearly contrast from the predominant color(s) of the team uniform top, excluding trim. The libero’s uniform top cannot be made up solely of the same predominant color(s) of the team’s uniform top, even if the like color(s) are placed differently on the uniform top. Furthermore, numbers shall meet all specifications in Rule 4-2-4, which removes the option for players to wear No. 00 to eliminate confusion surrounding the signaling of the number.

    Beginning July 1, 2023, a plain, Arabic numeral of a solid, clearly contrasting color from the body of the uniform will be required. The change eliminates the use of a border to create the number contrast, therefore, allowing officials and scorers to easily identify uniforms numbers while aligning the rule with that of other rules codes.

    In dealing with the submission of team rosters, sections of Rules 5-7 were modified to eliminate warmup interruptions by officials requesting rosters with 10 minutes remaining on the warmup clock. The change creates a smoother warmup process for coaches, players and officials.

    Rules 5-5-1b, 5-6-1b and 7-1-1a clarified the specific duties of the second referee, official scorer and coach during the prematch setting. Before the match, the second referee shall assist the first referee by collecting each team roster during the timed prematch conference and supervise the placement of the officials’ table and team benches.

    As part of Rule 5-6-1b, the official scorer shall now also receive each team’s roster from the second referee at the conclusion of the prematch conference. In Rule 7-1-1a, a coach from each team shall submit in writing to the second referee an accurate roster with names and uniform numbers of all players during the timed prematch conference. Roster changes may be made until 10 minutes remain on the pregame clock.

    “The logistical change of when, and to whom, the roster shall be submitted was again the result of questionnaire feedback,” Atkinson said. “In an effort to improve the flow of the prematch requirements, the committee felt that the submission of the roster as a part of the prematch conference, with the ability to make changes until 10 minutes remaining on the clock, allowed for a more efficient process and alleviated the scorer of the responsibility to collect team rosters.”

    The committee made additional changes that impact officials, including aligning rules regarding the treatment by officials of a ball striking either the cables and/or the diagonal poles used to retract ceiling-suspended net systems. This change in Rules 2-3j, 2-4-1e and 2-4 PENALTY 3 treats cables and diagonal poles as restricted play at which time officials must determine if the ball was playable. The committee’s change to Rule 5-9-2 NOTE places the line judge in a more appropriate position to watch for foot contact with the end line, as well as allowing him or her to quickly transition back into position for a view of the sideline.

    The final change involved the removal of Rule 8-2-6d and adoption of new Rule 8-2-5g, which establishes that a serve is illegal, and the ball remains dead, if the server tosses the ball for serve and the ball touches any part of a backboard or its supports hanging in a vertical position over the serving area and not a service fault.

    A complete listing of the volleyball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Volleyball.”

    According to the 2017-18 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, volleyball is the second-most popular sports for girls (trailing track and field) with 446,583 participants in 16,434 schools nationwide. In addition, there are 60,976 boys participating in the sport at 2,472 schools, and 24 states conduct state championships in boys volleyball.

  • Criteria for completing penalty corner among 2019 field hockey rules changes

    Field hockey generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — Rules regarding the completion of a penalty corner were among the changes for the 2019 high school field hockey season.

    All rules changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee at its January 7-9 meeting in Indianapolis, and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    “The Field Hockey Rules Committee continues to examine current trends of the game and work on overall consistency in the rules book,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee. “While the sport continues to prosper, there are areas such as eye protection where the committee feels it is best to continue to research options for the betterment of the sport.”

    Regarding eye protection, the committee voted to delay the requirement for all eye protection to be permanently labeled with the ASTM 2713 standard for field hockey at the time of manufacture. Rule 1-6-5, which previously had an implementation date of January 1, 2019, now will require permanent labeling beginning in the 2020 season.

    “The adjusted date to permanently label goggles is a response to the limited supply currently on the market,” Cochran said. “The committee believed the extension of the timeline will assist production and distribution to help those purchasing new goggles.”

    Changes in the criteria for the completion of a penalty corner during regulation and extended play align NFHS rules with other rules codes.

    Rule 10-3-1 now states that an awarded penalty corner is complete when a free hit is awarded to the defending team, when the ball is played over the back line and a penalty corner is not awarded, and when a defender commits an offense which does not result in another penalty corner.

    The changes to Rule 10-3-2 specify rules concerning a penalty corner as they pertain to extended play only. The newly adopted language is as follows:

    1. If time expires at the end of the game after the insertion from the end line, play shall continue until the penalty corner is completed.
    2. The penalty corner awarded is also considered completed when the ball travels outside the circle for a second time.

    In Rule 9-1-1 regarding a free hit, the committee clarified that the ball should be placed within playing distance of where the foul occurred to improve consistency in the reset of play.

    In other changes, the committee approved:

    • Revisions that clarify that the ball must travel 5 yards before being played into the circle by the attacking team (9-2-1f); and
    • Language stating the school’s name, nickname, logo, mascot and/or team player’s name are permitted on the uniform top and/or bottom (1-5-1b).

    A complete listing of the field hockey rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Field Hockey.”

    According to the 2017-18 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, field hockey has 59,856 girls participating in more than 1,700 schools nationwide. Additionally, there are 12 schools with 473 boys participating in the sport.

  • Self-start initiated in girls lacrosse to increase pace of play

    Cherry Creek Kent Denver girls lacrosse
    (Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — In an attempt to increase the pace of play in high school girls lacrosse, self-start has been adopted for restarting play outside of the critical scoring area.

    All 2019 rules changes recommended by the joint National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and US Lacrosse (USL) Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee at its June 18-20 meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, were subsequently approved by the NFHS and USL Boards of Directors.

    “The NFHS/USL Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee viewed these changes as a necessary progression in improving the game – from both an administrative and risk minimization perspective,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports/communications associate and NFHS staff liaison to the Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee.   

    The adoption of the new self-start in girls lacrosse decreases the amount of involvement by officials in restarting play, thus increasing the pace of the game. The new Rule 5-4 “Restarting Play – Self-Start” establishes the specific allowances for restarting play with a self-start. Additionally, Rules 5-4-2 and 5-4-3 outline procedures for the defense during a self-start and establish that failure to move away from the free position may result in a warning, and repeated failures may result in a delay of game penalty.

    The new Rule 5-4-4 establishes that the self-start is not an option when:

    1. The game clock is stopped;
    2. There is a restraining line violation;
    3. The ball is in the critical scoring area, excluding boundary restarts;
    4. There is an alternating possession;
    5. There is an inadvertent whistle; or,
    6. A goal is scored.

    “The Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee did an outstanding job to evolve the rules of the game in ways that encourage pace of play, the enjoyment for athletes and growth of the sport, while reinforcing the safety of our game,” said Caitlin Kelley, the USL liaison to the rules committee.

    Another significant rule change is the establishment of a penalty zone that must be cleared when a defensive player commits a major foul in the 8-meter arc. The committee advanced this safety-based change to minimize risk around 8-meter free positions as well as to increase pace of play by limiting repeated obstruction calls. 

    In Rule 10-1-1, the committee established that a penalty zone is the area 8 meters away from the goal circle above the goal line extended and the area created by the extension of the 8-meter mark to the dots and across the dots. The definition of a penalty zone is also included in Rule 13.

    An additional change in 10-1-1 establishes defensive positioning on the hashmarks closest to the free position on the 8-meter free position and also eliminates stoppage of play for delay of game due to competition for inside position.

    “Establishing the penalty zone and the placement of the defense on the adjacent hashmarks for an 8-meter free position is a rules change that the committee feels will improve the administration of the penalty by increasing the flow of the game and minimizing risk of injury,” Atkinson said.

    Among other major changes were the release of the ball from the crosse in relation to timing, and the administration of alternate possession in the critical scoring area.

    Changes in Rule 4-8 establish the release of the ball from the crosse before time expires as a legal shot, eliminating the judgment call at the goal line. A shot or propelled action must release the ball before time expires, and a goal cannot be scored when the ball is released after the whistle has blown or horn has sounded.

    New language in Rule 4-8-2 states that a shot is deemed complete by an official. A shot is deemed complete when:

    1. The ball enters the goal;
    2. Any player gains possession;
    3. The ball goes out of bounds;
    4. The ball comes to rest on the field of play or inside goal circle; or
    5. The ball touches the ground below the goal line extended.

    In Rule 5-4-3b, alternate possession in the critical scoring area is awarded at the closest dot, regardless of the location of the foul in relation to the goal line.

    A change in Rule 7 PENALTIES establishes that a free position is now awarded at the dot for goal circle fouls by the defense – other than for an illegal deputy – rather than 8 meters out to either side level with the goal line. This allows for easier administration of the penalty and minimizing the risk of injury.

    The committee continues to stress the importance of risk minimization in girls lacrosse with its 2018-19 points of emphasis. The criteria related to the “officiating of obstruction of free space to goal,” “rough and dangerous play” and “empty stick check – intentional vs. unintentional” are the focus of the rules committee for the 2018-19 season.

     A complete listing of the girls lacrosse rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Lacrosse-Girls.”

    According to the 2016-17 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, there are 93,473 girls participating in lacrosse at 2,717 high schools across the country.

  • Football’s uniform and equipment rules will be an emphasis of enforcement this season

    Peetz Stratton/Liberty football
    (Dustin Price/dustinpricephotography.com)

    AURORA — There will be an emphasis on enforcement of uniform and equipment rules during the 2018 football season.

    The renewed focus has already been evident during clinics for officials which have started to take place this summer. Coaches will also be heavily informed of the emphasis during mandatory rules meetings before the season. In addition the topic will be discussed between officials and coaches during pregame meetings.

    The uniform and equipment rules have been part of the NFHS rules, but “it has been enforced inconsistently,” said CHSAA associate commissioner Tom Robinson, who oversees officials. “This season, those rules will be enforced consistently.”

    In addition — and this is new for the 2018 season — any player using improper equipment will be removed from play for one down. That was a rule change announced by the NFHS in February. A team can call a timeout, but the player still must miss a down.

    If equipment or uniform violates the rules as a result of a play during the game, the player will be given the opportunity to fix it without missing a play — so long as it “does not delay the ready-for-play signal for more than 25 seconds,” according to the new rule.

    “This is similar to what we saw with mouthpieces, or chinstraps, or helmets coming off,” Robinson said of the new rule. “Gradually, all these thing with equipment are now being addressed, either by a penalty, or by not being able to play.”

    Repeat offenses could result in an unsportsmanlike foul on either the player or the coach, Robinson added.

    Among the focuses:

    • Knee pads need to be worn under the pants, and they need to actually cover the knee.
    • Jerseys should completely cover pads, and fit to the top of the pants. This means no players’ stomachs should be showing, an emerging trend in recent seasons. Additionally, this means that the jersey should completely cover the shoulder pad at the shoulder.
    • Thigh pads and hip pads also need to be worn.

    Again, these rules have existed in the rule book, and are not new. There is, however, a renewed emphasis on enforcing them.

    “We are not going to look the other way,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bud Ozzello, who administers football. “It is a safety issue, and we are going to be sure they’re properly equipped.”

    The hope is that the multi-pronged approach to the communication of this emphasis will limit the in-game infractions during the season. It will also be highlighted in the football bulletin, which is required reading for each coach.

    “We want this addressed during each pregame meeting so they can make any necessary adjustments to their equipment or uniforms before the game begins,” Ozzello said.

  • Simplification of uniform rule continues in track and field, and cross country

    (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    INDIANAPOLIS — Further simplification of the uniform rule in track and field, and clarification on the method of determining the order of finish in cross country highlight 2019 rules changes in those two high school sports.

    Seven changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee at its June 11-13 meeting in Indianapolis, and all changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    In Rule 4-3-1, the interpretation of a foundation garment was expanded to include any item worn under the uniform top and/or bottom. The rule now states that “any visible garment worn underneath the uniform top and/or bottom is considered a foundation garment. A foundation garment is not subject to logo/trademark/reference or color restrictions.”

    In addition, Rule 4-3-2 was rewritten to allow schools more options in meeting the uniform rule. The rule now states that “all relay and cross country team members must wear uniforms clearly indicating, through predominant color, school logo and color combination of all outer garments worn as a uniform, that members are from the same team.”

    “It has become increasingly more difficult to officiate the uniform rule given the increase in the number of programs nationwide that are allowing individual team members the option of independently purchasing either all or part of their team uniform,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field/Cross Country Rules Committee. “Slight differences in design of uniform do not negatively impact the identification of a relay or cross country team. The expectation of this rule is that all relay and cross country team members can be clearly identified as representing the same school.”

    The revised 4-3-2 NOTE states that “the official shall have no uncertainty in determining that all members are from the same team.”

    In cross country, regardless of the system used to determine the places of runners, the order of finish should be based on when the torso of the runner crosses the finish line. Changes in Rule 8-3 state that whether hand timing, transponder/chip or image-based timing systems are used, the torso is the determining factor in order of finish.

    The committee also revised Rule 8-1-1 regarding the cross country course which better describes a legal course layout.

    The remaining changes concern field events in Rule 6. In the discus and javelin, measurement shall be recorded to the nearest lesser inch or centimeter. The addition of centimeter allows states using the metric system to give a fairer depiction of the actual performance.

    In Rule 6-9 regarding the long jump and triple jump, the committee established ranges of distances in the events. Rule 6-9-5 NOTE states that the “distance from the foul line or takeoff board may be adjusted to accommodate different levels of competition. Competitors may change which foul line or takeoff board they are using during competition, but only with the prior notification and confirmation of the event judge.”

    According to the 2016-17 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, track and field is the most popular sport for girls with 494,477 participants and is No. 2 for boys with 600,136. Cross country ranks sixth for girls with 226,039 and sixth for boys with 266,271 participants.

    A complete listing of the track and field/cross country rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Track and Field/Cross Country.”

  • 2018-19 baseball rules changes focus on pitching mechanics

    Windsor Pueblo West baseball
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — The elimination of the requirement for the entire pivot foot to be in contact with the pitcher’s plate is among the changes approved for the 2018-19 high school baseball season.

    This revision in Rule 6-1-3 was one of three changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 3-5 meeting in Indianapolis. All changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    “We are very fortunate that the state of high school baseball is in an excellent position, which is indicative of the few rules changes that were passed,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and staff liaison for baseball. “We appreciate the hard work of dedicated coaches who, in addition to minimizing risk associated with the sport, teach the game in a way that makes our young people enjoy playing for their high school. We must also acknowledge the highly professional and responsible game umpires. Without their thorough knowledge and implementation of NFHS rules, we would not be able to enjoy the small injury rate and increase in player participation.”

    The rationale behind the change to Rule 6-1-3 is a result of the difficulty for pitchers to consistently make contact with the pitcher’s plate when pivoting. Before starting the delivery, the pitcher shall stand with his entire non-pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate and with the pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher’s plate.

    “The committee concluded that many pitching mounds are such that it is problematic for a pitcher to have his entire pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate,” Hopkins said. “Therefore, no advantage is gained by having some of the pivot foot not in direct contact with the pitcher’s plate.”

    The committee also approved two new umpire signals. The two new signals, indicating calls for “Correct Rotation” and “Information Available,” were approved to further improve communication between partners.

    “It is always wise to be able to communicate clearly with your partner(s) during a game,” Hopkins said. “With so many moving parts (defensive players, base runners, umpires), it is imperative that umpires communicate easily and inconspicuously from players and fans. These mechanics say a lot without brining attention to the signaling umpire.”

    The “Correct Rotation” signal comes when in a three- or four-man mechanic, the umpires indicate to their partner(s) where they are rotating to a specific base for coverage of an anticipated play. The umpire(s) points with both hands in the direction of the base that they are moving toward.

    To assist in providing pertinent information between partners, the “Information Available” signal occurs when the game umpire is indicating that he/she has some information that is relevant to their partner by tapping two times over the left chest (heart).

    Additionally, the NFHS Rules Review Committee extended the implementation date to January 1, 2020, for baseballs to meet the NOCSAE standard.

    According to the 2016-17 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, there are 491,790 boys participating in baseball at 15,979 schools across the country, and 1,145 girls playing the sport in 269 schools.

    A complete listing of the baseball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Baseball.”

  • New NFHS executive director Karissa Niehoff: Kids are “our reason why”

    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    CHICAGO — Karissa Niehoff, set to become the sixth full-time executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) on August 1, addressed the gathered membership at the annual summer meeting on Saturday.

    Speaking in her role to the group as executive director elect for the first time, Niehoff talked about her background as a teacher and coach, and then transition into a school administrator.

    For the past eight years, she has served as the executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

    “I never would have dreamed I would have this opportunity,” Niehoff said. “I can promise you that my commitment to the Federation is as strong as ever. And that commitment will manifest through a willingness to communicate, a willingness to collaborate, and compassion.”

    Niehoff will succeed Bob Gardner as executive director. Gardner is retiring this summer following 18 years at the NFHS, including eight as executive director.

    “Truly, I think that the work that we do is the greatest work that’s possible to do, and that is building the future of this country through our kids,” Niehoff said. “As Bob said earlier, each of you in this room are the most special people in the country, and the most capable of doing this work.”

    She then commented on the importance of high school activities, drawing back to Friday’s opening ceremony which featured a show choir from a local high school, and also awards to recognize individuals in sports and performing arts.

    “We invite kids to talk about their reason why (they participate in high school activities),” Niehoff said. “I think, watching the kids, and listening to the kids (on Friday) — inside all of us, that’s our reason why. It’s the kids.”

    Niehoff concluded by looking ahead.

    “I look forward to taking the Federation forward — being very respectful of the past, realistic about the present, and optimistic about the future,” she said.

  • CHSAA staff and Board members arrive in Chicago for NFHS Summer Meeting

    (Mariano Mantel/Flickr)

    CHICAGO — Nine CHSAA staff members and members of the Association’s Board of Directors arrived here Thursday to attend the annual NFHS Summer Meeting.

    The meeting — which is the 99th in history — is a five-day event featuring various workshops, panels, discussions, sessions and awards. It is an opportunity to exchange ideas on a nationwide scale.

    Three CHSAA staff members will be leading discussions:

    • Assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens will lead the fine arts roundtable, which includes music and speech.
    • Assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann is presenting a session on participating in multiple sports and activities.
    • Associate commissioner Tom Robinson is presenting on students participating from home, charter and virtual schools.

    The Summer Meeting also includes the NFHS Hall of Fame induction ceremony, as well as the ceremonies for the Spirit of Sport and Heart of the Arts awards.

    Next year’s Summer Meeting, the 100th, will be held in Indianapolis — where the NFHS is headquartered.

  • Chicago to host 99th annual NFHS Summer Meeting

    (Roman Boed/Flickr)

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The 99th annual National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Summer Meeting will be held June 28-July 2 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois.

    The NFHS is the national leadership organization for high school athletic and performing arts activities and is composed of state high school associations in the 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

    More than 800 individuals are expected to attend the Summer Meeting, including staff members and board members from the 51-member associations.

    CHSAA’s Tom Robinson and Bert Borgmann are both scheduled to present during the meeting. All CHSAA administrative staff members and many members of the CHSAA Board of Directors will also be in attendance to attend various workshops, discussions and panels.

    The 36th annual induction ceremony of the National High School Hall of Fame and discussion of several key issues affecting high school sports and performing arts highlight this year’s agenda.

    Twelve individuals will be inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame, including Tom Osborne and Dick Fosbury.

    Osborne was a three-sport standout (football, basketball, track and field) at Hastings (Nebraska) High School in the early 1950s before becoming one of the most successful coaches in college football history. Fosbury developed the upside-down, back-layout leap known as the Fosbury Flop at Medford (Oregon) High School and later perfected it by winning the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

    Other former high school athletes in the 2018 class are Nicole Powell, one of Arizona’s top all-time girls basketball players during her days at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix who later excelled at Stanford University and in the WNBA, and Carrie Tollefson, who won five state cross country championships and eight individual track titles at Dawson-Boyd High School in Dawson, Minnesota, before winning individual and team NCAA titles while competing at Villanova University and qualifying for the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

    Five outstanding coaches will be inducted in the 2018 class, including Miller Bugliari, No. 2 nationally in boys soccer coaching victories with a 850-116-75 record in 58 years at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and Dorothy Gaters, the Illinois state leader with 1,106 career victories in 42 years as girls basketball coach at John Marshall High School in Chicago who won her ninth Illinois High School Association state title earlier this year.

    Other coaches who will be honored this year are Buddy Anderson, the winningest football coach in Alabama history with 329 victories the past 40 years at Vestavia Hills High School; Jeff Meister, girls and boys swimming coach at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, who has led his teams to a combined 34 Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships; and Bill O’Neil, who retired last year after winning almost 1,300 games as the boys ice hockey, girls soccer and girls softball coach at Essex High School in Essex Junction, Vermont.

    The other three members of the 2018 class are Roger Barr, who retired in 2015 after a 43-year career in high school officiating in Iowa, including the final 13 years as director of officials for the Iowa High School Athletic Association; Dick Neal, who retired in 2013 after a 34-year career as executive director of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association; and Bill Zurkey, who retired in 2012 after an outstanding 35-year career as a choral director in three Ohio schools, including the final 25 years at Avon Lake High School.

    Among the topics that will be discussed at the 52 workshops during the NFHS Summer Meeting are esports, recruiting and retaining officials, overuse and sport specialization, crowd control, social media, inclusion, digital ticketing, and participation by students in home, charter and virtual schools.

    In addition, the Legal/Sports Medicine Workshop will be held at 1:00 p.m. on June 30. This event provides an ideal opportunity to discuss current legal and medical issues, as well as an open exchange among the attendees.

    The Summer Meeting will kick off on June 29 with the Opening General Session featuring Mark Wood, original member and string master of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Along with the 11th annual National High School Spirit of Sport Award ceremony, the NFHS will present its performing arts counterpart – the National High School Heart of the Arts Award – for the fifth time.

    Marissa Walker of Waterford (Connecticut) High School will receive the National High School Spirit of Sport Award, and Cecelia Egan of Riverside St. Mary Academy-Bay View (Rhode Island) will receive the National High School Heart of the Arts Award.

    The Second General Session on June 30 will feature NFHS President Jerome Singleton and NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner, and the Closing General Session on July 2 will feature speaker and author, Aaron Davis.

    The Summer Meeting Luncheon will be held at 12 p.m. on July 1 and will feature the presentation of NFHS Citations to 12 individuals. State association honorees include Steve Timko of New Jersey, Melissa Mertz of Pennsylvania, Keith Alexander of Louisiana, Craig Ihnen of Iowa, David Cherry of Kansas, T.J. Parks of New Mexico, Becky Anderson of Utah and Trevor Wilson of Wyoming.

    Other Citation recipients are Joe Manjone of Alabama (NFHS Officials Association), Scott Evans of New Mexico (NFHS Coaches Association), Alan Greiner of Iowa (NFHS Music Association) and Tara Tate of Illinois (NFHS Speech/Debate/Theatre Association).

    The NFHS Summer Meeting will conclude at 6 p.m. July 2 with the induction of the 2018 class of the National High School Hall of Fame.

  • NFHS responds to Rice Commission Report on College Basketball

    George Washington Rock Canyon boys basketball
    (Steve Oathout)

    In response to the Rice Commission Report on College Basketball, NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner offers the following comments on some of the suggestions from the Commission, particularly those that would impact the 51 NFHS member state associations and the high school basketball community.

    NFHS executive director Bob Gardner comments on Rice Commission Report on College Basketball

    First, the NFHS commends the NCAA and the Rice Commission for its thoughtful examination of the status of NCAA Division I men’s basketball and its recommendations to provide meaningful changes. Overall, we believe the Rice Commission offered some suggestions that will improve the collegiate model.

    The specialness of college basketball is not just that it is “amateur,” but also that it is “education-based.” We agree with the Rice Commission that both attributes are important to the game’s future. Preserving and promoting the education-based aspect of the game calls for the high school and college levels to support one another.

    As the NCAA considers implementation of these proposals, however, we have concerns in some areas and urge that thought be given to the high school landscape. As an example, we are concerned that “certified agents” meeting with high school student-athletes could be disruptive to high school teams. Although we understand the need to have all college prospects obtain information regarding their potential, the high school community should be involved in determining when and where this would be promoted.

    Another concern from the Commission’s report is the June evaluation period for “scholastic” events. We would like to see what roles our member state associations and high school coaches would play in that evaluation period. Further, we still believe that limiting recruiting to the high school season would be the most effective tool in eliminating the unsavory outside influencers.

    We support the requirements of education as a part of non-scholastic events and that participation in such events require students making appropriate academic progress towards initial college eligibility.

    We look forward to working with the NCAA to bring about important change.