The Arizona Interscholastic Association is anticipating more hardship appeals as a result of the new transfer rule. 

That’s because the new rule eliminated a number of the previous bylaws that applied to every type of transfer. But to keep future legitimate transfers from getting stuck in the hardship line the AIA is expecting, the AIA is examining how to streamline the hardship process for those transfers. 

The new transfer rule will go into effect in July. Defining the details of the new transfer rule will happen in the next couple of months during a meeting with conference chairs and 10 workshops throughout the state.

The start dates for when transfer students will be eligible to play, beginning in the fall of 2016, in each sport will be posted on aiaonline.org.

“That (transfer rule) is what the membership wants,” said Dr. Harold Slemmer, the AIA's executive director, after Monday's executive board meeting. “We will make the necessary adjustments to meet the desired changes that came from the member schools.”

Monthly financial report

The AIA’s overall gate receipts are up 12 percent compared to last year's, according to Denise Doser, the AIA’s director of finance. 

Tournament income expenses still have to be calculated, however, Doser added.

“We see a positive trend, but we are still cautious,” Dr. Slemmer said.

Spring state tournaments tend to operate at a loss, Doser said.

With the addition of a division, the AIA is expecting costs to increase next year.

Despite the 12 percent increase, overall attendance was down at Gila River Arena during the basketball playoffs in February. Also, Grand Canyon University recently informed the AIA that GCU’s arena won’t be able to host the AIA’s spiritline state competition next year. 

February’s 2015-16 state spiritline event at GCU saw an increase in gate receipts, but GCU already booked a February event for next year. A budget for the 2016-17 school year is expected to be proposed during the April board meeting. 

Agenda items approved

These agenda item requests were approved by the board:

The 2015-16 spring season cancellation requests from 29 schools was accepted.

The baseball freshmen seasons of North Canyon, Willow Canyon, Cactus, Dobson, and Camelback and freshmen softball programs of Shadow Mountain, Cortez, Higley, and Desert Vista were among the programs that cancelled their 2015-16 seasons.

—The student hardship eligibility appeal requests from Williams Field and Flowing Wells were also accepted.

—The additional game requests from six schools.   

Notes

The board tabled its discussion on prohibiting the use of drones at AIA sanctioned events.

The AIA is concerned that drones are becoming a safety hazard at games. The AIA’s board members want to gather more information from their constituents before voting on the drone policy.  

—Varsity Brands will offer catastrophic insurance for spiritline teams attending Varsity Brand’s summer camps. Incoming 8^th graders will not be covered until the school year starts.  

—The board denied a hardship appeal for a student that transferred from Camp Verde to Mingus.

—Next week, the National Federation of State High School Associations will post a video about the new baseball pitch count rule that will go into effect next year in Arizona. aiaonline.org will post the video as well. 

Schools violations

The following are the violations school self reported in the past month and discipline they received:

Advisement for McClintock’s activities program. A fight ensued after girls basketball game between Skyline and McClintock.

—Advisement for girls soccer program of Central High. A senior played in a junior varsity game.

—Warning to the activities program of Kingman Academy, which was unaware of a sectional game it was scheduled to play.

—Advisement for the spiritline program of Bradshaw Mountain. The performed an illegal stunt at a basketball game.

—Warning to Joseph City’s baseball program. A student didn’t have his doctor’s physical paperwork after paying to participate in baseball.

—Warning to Camp Verde’s baseball program for removing its team prior to completing a contest. Dr. Slemmer lauded Camp Verde for its thorough report and corrective actions.

—Cienega’s baseball and girls track teams for failing to file completed athletic packets for student athletes.

—Advisement for Agua Fria’s activities program for failing to process the paperwork of a student.

—Advisement for Sabino’s tennis program for having a senior play in a junior varsity match.

—Warning for Academy of Tucson’s softball program for violating 15.3.1, the enrollment rule.