Dr. Anna Battle, the Arizona Interscholastic Association's executive board president and 5A conference rep on the board, became the first candidate to publicly say she’ll apply for the AIA’s executive director job.

Dr. Harold Slemmer, the current executive director, is retiring after the current school year. Dr. Battle recused herself when the board went into executive session to discuss the posting of the executive director position during Monday’s monthly executive board meeting.

Executive director report

Dr. Slemmer gave an update on the Notre Dame football recruiting allegation investigation during the meeting. 

Notre Dame is still investigating the allegations, and a final report will be presented to the board in January, Dr. Slemmer said. 

--The AIA received a letter requesting a bylaw amendment that would allow Arizona high school soccer players to participate in only one non-school, club event during the high school season. A similar proposal was “soundly” defeated last year. 

The board discussed the topic but didn’t vote on the request.

Membership comments

The board talked about the feedback they received regarding the decision to run this season’s volleyball bracket state show on a Sunday.

The volleyball show ran on a Sunday for the first time because some of the final regular season matches were played on the day before the bracket show. Sponsorship agreements also play a role in determining when the brackets are held, said Brian Bolitho, the AIA’s director of business development.  

Dr. Battle said the board and the AIA will work on picking the best day to run the bracket show. The athletics directors will continue the bracket show discussion during their Jan. 13 meeting at Xavier High from 9 a.m.-noon.

--The AIA is one of two state associations that experimented with a new chain crew rule in football this season. 

It hasn’t been popular, but the AIA wanted to experiment with the rule change just in case it is adopted.

This season, the chains were moved from one side of the field to the other at halftime. The head linesman was in charge of the chain crew. 

Some coaches have said that they prefer having the chains just on the opposite side of the press box for game-filming purposes.

A survey will be sent to coaches and officials Tuesday to get their feedback, which will then be presented to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Financial report

The gate receipts are ahead of last year’s postseason fall total, but the receipts for the football games at University of Phoenix Stadium still need to be counted, said Denise Doser, the AIA’s director of finance.

The “healthy fall season” helps offset the spring season, which doesn’t generate as much revenue as the fall and winter seasons. AIA board member Jeanine Brandel said that the board’s decision to lower the student ticket price to $5 was a beneficial move. 

The volleyball attendance was down in the small school divisions, though, but the costs were also down since those playoffs games were moved to the Valley this year.

The AIA had to also pay to replace two air conditioning units at its building and fix the security locking mechanisms to its doors.    

Proposed AIA amendments of AIA constitution, bylaws

The board approved the recommendations of the AIA to send seven bylaw changes for approval to the legislative council.

Two of the changes were amended on emergency basis Monday but still need the legislative council to ratify them in March.

A new pitch count rule for baseball will be implemented in February and will follow the guidelines of Arizona Pitch Smart instead of USA Baseball’s. USA Baseball’s pitch count rules are based on age limits, but the AZ Pitch Smart will use classes (freshman, sophomore, juniors, varsity). 

Baseball coaches will have to use maxpreps to keep track of pitch counts for each class.

What follows are the new bylaw changes the AIA will send to the legislative council for approval and the rational for doing so.  

Rational for amending Article 2.6 (Responsibility of school administrators): To improve the communication between the AIA, athletic directors and coaches. To provide a one-day forum for training, bylaw review, fiscal in service and legislative updates.

It is an opportunity for all athletic directors to talk about issues in one setting. According to the proposed amendment, every AIA schools’ athletic director will attend the AIA AD Conference annually in April. Also, the head coach of each varsity team will attend the AIA Head Coach Conference before their seasons begin.  

The AIA will film the meetings for coaches who can’t attend. To allow the AIA to prepare for the first AD meeting in April, emergency legislation was approved by the board.

Rational for amending Article 3.1 (certification of private, parochial, BIA, charter, public school staff): The bylaw is obsolete. Staff certification can come in many forms because of different types of schools in the AIA’s membership.

The amended bylaw will eliminate a “plethora” of unnecessary information.  

Rational for amending Article 11.5 (Reporting results): Current language is outdated and new technology is available. Reporting systems are now available for immediate results.

It will also provide accurate rankings daily.  

Rational for amending Article 13.2 (Awards): The 6A Conference was added and to emphasize and recognize sportsmanship. A couple of new awards will be handed out during the AIA’s annual awards luncheon. The Glen Treadaway Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship will be presented annually to a school from each of the six conferences.

The Overall Excellence in interscholastic activities for 6A was named after Dr. Slemmer.   

Rationale for amending Article 19 (policies and procedures): Technically, the AIA’s bylaws are more policies and procedures than bylaws. An auditor has suggested that ‘bylaws’ be changed to ‘policies and procedures.’

Conferences requesting exceptions can do so with the AIA’s executive board instead of the legislative council.

Rationale for amending Article 31 (equipment sanitation requirements): To verify protocol needed for wrestling mat cleaning procedures for infection prevention. It was recommended by the AIA’s Sports Medicine and Wrestling Advisory Committees.

Meeting updates

David Hines, the AIA’s assistant executive director, gave up an update on two committees that were recently formed.  

One of the committees is trying to resolve the cancellation of programs and or game cancellations issues that continually arise. That committee reported that of the 17 varsity programs that were cancelled this year, 14 were 1A programs. 

The 18 games that were cancelled were across the board from all the divisions and levels. Some small school advisors talked about the option of playing less games and allowing a JV ‘B’ team with freshman and sophomore players to be formed.  

One Jan. 11, the athletic directors will continue to address the unique scheduling conflicts that affect the 1-3A and the 4-6A schools. Hines also reported on the potential liability issues districts may encounter with some of the coaches who own a limited liability company.   

Cancellation requests

The cancellation requests of contests and or programs by 23 programs were granted.

AIA lifetime passes

Wayne Jones (28 at Marana Mt. View) and Patty Egan (25 years at Cactus Shadows) were granted AIA lifetime passes.  

Peoria’s eligibility appeal request

The board accepted the student eligibility appeal (paper review for hardship eligibility, domicile rule, legal guardian) request of Peoria.   

Additional game requests

The additional game requests of Kofa, Lee Williams, Winslow, Red Mesa, Benjamin Franklin, and Casteel were granted.

2A Metro request or regional basketball tourney

The 2A Metro South Region’s request to run two, three-day basketball tournaments for its basketball teams was accepted.

Gilbert Christian, Walden Grove request to allow 12^th graders to participate on JV

The board denied the requests of Gilbert Christian and Walden Grove to allow a couple of 12^th graders to participate with their junior varsity programs.

Gilbert Christian wanted two 12^th graders to play on its girls basketball junior varsity team. Only 13 players are participating on the JV and varsity teams this year.

A first-year female wrestler, who’s a senior, will not be allowed to participate with Walden Grove’s junior varsity team.

Pusch Ridge Christian, Tanque Verde request exceptions

The requests of Pusch Ridge and Tanque Verde to allow their athletes to exceed the number of games played in a season were approved.

Pusch Ridge filed its request because of its boys and girls roster sizes and to make sure its junior varsity and varsity can fulfill their schedules. Tanque Verde wants to honor its girls junior varsity basketball schedule but only has 14 girls in its entire program.    

Peoria District request to exceed permissible wrestling tournaments

The Peoria Unified District’s request to host a district tournament on Jan. 26 was approved.

The following schools will participate in the tournament: Cactus, Centennial, Ironwood, Liberty, Peoria, Raymond S. Kellis, Sunrise Mountain.

4A request for double elimination baseball, softball state tourneys

The 4A Conference’s request for 16-team double elimination state tournaments for baseball and softball was tabled.

According to a survey the 4A conducted, 32 of the 34 coaches who responded were in favor of the double elimination tournaments. The AIA will present more information in January on the costs of expanding the tournaments.    

School violations

Mountain Ridge received an advisement because its cheer team didn’t submit a registration form for a state qualifier when it withdrew from the competition.

Kofa received a warning because the athletic’s office didn’t have a wrestling student’s current AIA physical and clearance packet on file when the student practiced.

Future AIA dates

Dec. 19-30: AIA office closed

Jan. 16: AIA office closed, holiday. 

Jan. 17: AIA board meeting. Spring hardship appeal deadline.

Jan. 23-24: Spring sports hardship appeal hearings.

Jan. 26: Legislative council agenda deadline. 

Feb. 21: AIA board meeting.