| School directors
encouraged to review, provide feedback on WIAA amendments
Updated April 10, 2008
Includes positions on
amendments from the WSSDA Interscholastic Activities Committee
Should some sixth-graders be allowed to play middle school sports? Should coaches who are ejected be required to take training before they can coach again? Should academic eligibility requirements be increased for student athletes?
These are some of the nearly 20 proposals that will be considered by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Representative Assembly when it meets April 25. The proposals, which would amend the WIAA Handbook, were submitted by member school districts and the WIAA Executive Board.
The proposed amendments are distributed to all member schools and are discussed in WIAA district meetings. They are also reviewed by the WSSDA Interscholastic Activities Committee, which makes recommendations to WIAA on which proposals should be adopted.
School directors are encouraged to review the amendments (shown below) and provide input to their Director Area representatives on the WSSDA IAC.
See the links at right for a complete description of the amendments, along with IAC
contact information.
Proposed Amendments to the WIAA Handbook – 2008
HS = High Schools Only MS =
Middle Schools Only
MS/HS = MS/HS
#1 (HS) Section 4.1.2 – Classification of Schools This proposal would change the schedule for reclassifying schools from the current two-year cycle to a four-year cycle.
WSSDA IAC Position: Oppose
#2 (HS) Sections 4.0.0, 4.1.2 – Classification of Schools This proposal would allow the classification of schools to be determined one month earlier by changing the way November/December student enrollment is factored.
WSSDA IAC Position: Oppose
#3 (HS) Sections 4.0.0, 4.8.0 – Classification of Schools This proposal would establish procedures giving schools two opportunities to "opt up" to a higher classification.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#4 (MS) Section 17.14.0 – Number of Middle Level Squads This proposal would allow sixth-graders to participate in all sports except football if their middle school is comprised of grades 6, 7 and 8.
WSSDA IAC Position: Oppose
#5 (MS/HS) Section 18.6.0 – Student Eligibility, Scholarship This proposal would increase the minimum number of classes in which students must maintain passing grades to be eligible for athletic activities.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#6 (MS/HS) Section 18.6.5 – Student Eligibility, Academic Suspension Period This proposal would standardize the academic suspension period for fall athletes.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#7 (MS/HS) Sections 18.7.0, 18.8.0 – Eligibility Standards, Previous Semester This proposal would give local districts more authority to determine what constitutes completion of a semester and irregular attendance in relation to the eligibility of student athletes.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#8 (MS/HS) Section 18.10.0 – Student Eligibility, Transferring Students This proposal would extend the rules governing student residency and eligibility to play varsity sports to include students who transfer to/from high schools within the same school district.
WSSDA IAC Position: None (Tie vote)
#9 (MS/HS) Section 18.11.0 – Student Eligibility, Transferring Students This proposal is similar to # 8, except that it would eliminate middle school students from the definition of "transferring students."
WSSDA IAC Position: Oppose
#10 (MS/HS) Section 18.10.1 – Student Eligibility, Transferring Students This proposal would prohibit students from transferring schools to avoid being ineligible.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#11 (MS/HS) Section 18.13.0 – Physical Exam Under this proposal, the number of contests a player would have to sit out because of an expired physical exam would be equal to the number of contests he or she played with the expired exam.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#12 (MS/HS) Section 27.5.0 – Penalty for Use of Ineligible Participant This proposal would allow schools to appeal a forfeiture on grounds that an athletic director or principal made a "mechanical, electronic or clerical" error that allowed an ineligible student to participate in a contest.
WSSDA IAC Position: Oppose
#13 (MS/HS) Sections 18.17.0, 18.23.1, 18.23.4 – Amateur Standing Under this proposal, student-athletes could accept up to $300 worth of merchandise or in-kind gifts per sport per year (up from the current limit of $100). It would also give districts the authority to determine whether their schools or teams could accept sports-related trophies or other awards from outside individuals or organizations.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#14 (MS/HS) Section 18.26.0 – Use of Illegal Substances Under this proposal, students transferring to a new school would be held accountable for any penalties assessed at their previous school for using illegal substances.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#15 (MS/HS) Section 23.3.1 – Coaching Requirements This proposal would required cheer coaches to be certified in stunt coaching every three years if they intend to have their cheer squads perform stunts.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#16 (MS/HS) Section 23.3.1 – Coaching Requirements Under this proposal, any coach ejected from an interscholastic contest would be required to complete an approved coaching course before he or she could coach the same sport the following year.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#17 (MS/HS) Section 58.6.0 – Golf This proposal would allow up to two student golfers from a school to participate in one invitational tournament without violating the current limit of 12 contests per season.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#18 (MS/HS) Section 60.0.0, 60.61.0 – Lacrosse This proposal would establish rules for girls’ lacrosse at the middle and high school levels.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
#19 (MS/HS) Section 67.0.0 – Sports Days and Play Days This section would be deleted since schools no longer have play days.
WSSDA IAC Position: Support
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