NEBRASKA SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION

OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF CONTROL

 

The Board of Control met April 10 and 11, 2008, at the Association Office, Lincoln, Nebraska, with members present as follows.

                                                            District I           --  Terry Kenealy, York

                                                            District II          --  Dr. Bob Reznicek, Omaha Westside

                                                            District III          --  Jay Bellar, Battle Creek

                                                            District IV         --  Max Kroger, Ord

                                                            District V          --  Dr. Dallas Watkins, Dundy County-Stratton

                                                            District VI         --  Kent Halley, Mitchell

 

Also in attendance were Rick Moses, Nebraska Department of Education; Superintendent Mark Norvell, Fillmore Central High School; Dr. Peg Naylon, Omaha Public Schools; Ryly Jane Hamilton, Lincoln Journal-Star; Steve Johnsen, Nebraska Coaches Association; Superintendent Dan Albers, Rising City High School; and Rex Schultze, NSAA Legal Counsel.

 

Chairman Dallas Watkins called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 10.

 

  1. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Jay Bellar.  Motion Carried, 6-0.  Items approved on the Consent Agenda included approval of the Agenda as amended; approval of the Minutes of the March 5, 2008, regular Board of Control meeting; approval of the March 2008 Financial Statement; approval of new cooperative sponsorships for St. Paul and Palmer High Schools in softball, and Louisville and Weeping Water High Schools in softball.
  2. It was moved by Max Kroger, seconded by Terry Kenealy, to form a statewide committee to study dual participation concepts.  Motion Carried, 6-0.  It was proposed that the make-up of the committee include two representatives from each of the NSAA districts, one swimming and diving coach, one soccer coach, three representatives as designated by proponents of LB1135, a designate of the Legislature Education Committee and NSAA board and staff, with the meeting being scheduled for May 22, 2008.
  3. The Board discussed the third-place games that were implemented this year in boys and girls basketball.  It was moved by Kent Halley, seconded by Max Kroger, to continue the third-place games in girls and boys basketball for 2008-09 with the games to be played at two venues with game times set at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 2:00 p.m.  Provisions would be made for teams playing in the consolation games to also attend the championship game in their class at no charge.  Third and fourth place teams will receive trophies and team medals.  Motion Carried, 6-0.
  4. It was moved by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Terry Kenealy, to schedule third-place matches in volleyball for 2008-09 with the matches to be played at two venues with match times set at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 2:00 p.m.  Provisions would be made for teams playing in the third-place matches to also attend the championship match in their class at no charge.  Third and four place teams will receive trophies and team medals.

      Motion Carried, 6-0.

  1. It was moved by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Max Kroger, to waive the November 1 football coop deadline to allow Rising City and David City High School to cooperatively sponsor football for the next two-year classification period, pending a completed application for cooperative sponsorship prior to June 1, 2008.  Motion Carried, 6-0.
  2. The Board discussed the administration of the State Swimming and Diving Championships. 
  3. The Board discussed final arrangements for the NFHS Student Leadership Conference. 
  4. It was moved by Terry Kenealy, seconded by Jay Bellar to adopt an Approved Ruling to address ineligibility of students applying for March 15 transfers who later decide not to transfer: The Approved Ruling 2.7.8.1 would read as follows:  “Students who complete transfer requirements on or before March 15 and whose names are submitted to the NSAA by March 15 as transfer students shall be immediately eligible in the fall at the school to which they transfer.  If the student were to later change his/her mind and not transfer, that student would be ineligible for 90 school days at the school in which he/she attends.  If such student were to transfer to the new school, but later decides to return to his/her former district before 90 school days have elapsed, such student will be ineligible in the former district for 90 school days, with the ineligibility period commencing at the start of the fall semester.  Or, in the case of the student who transfers and attends the new school before the start of the semester but whose name is submitted on the March 15 transfer list, such student would be ineligible for 90 school days commencing at the time the student began attending the transfer school.”  Motion Carried, 6-0.
  5. The Board set the Summer Board Retreat for June 25 and 26 in McCook.
  6. The Board received a proposal from Kearney to extend the hosting agreement for the State Speech and Debate Championships. It was moved by Max Kroger, seconded by Kent Halley, to extend the State Speech and Debate hosting agreement with Kearney for 2009 and 2010.  Motion Carried, 6-0.
  7. It was moved by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Terry Kenealy, to extend the State Soccer hosting agreement with Omaha for 2009 and 2010.  Motion Carried, 6-0.
  8. It was moved by Jay Bellar, seconded by Terry Kenealy, to approve district seeding dates as presented for 2008-09 as presented.  Motion Carried, 6-0. The approved dates will be placed on the 2008-09 planning calendar.
  9. It was moved by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Jay Bellar, to approve Omaha Roncalli Catholic High School’s request for 2008-09 to opt up to Class B in all activities except football. Motion Carried, 6-0.
  10. It was moved by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Max Kroger, to approve Omaha Marian High School’s request for 2008-09 to opt up in all activities and athletics.  Motion Carried, 6-0.
  11. The Board discussed corporate sponsorship issues.
  12. It was moved by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Max Kroger, to consider all Approved Rulings as presented. Motion Carried, 6-0.

A.  Football.  Schools in Class C1, C2, D1 and D2 may form cooperatives in football according to the same stipulations adopted for all other activities. Cooperatives will play the level of classification as based on the enrollment figures established by the NSAA.  Motion Carried, 6-0.

B.  Basketball Classification.  The 28 largest schools registered for basketball shall be Class A.  The 32 largest schools registered for basketball shall be Class B.  The remaining schools registered for basketball are divided into four classes with an equal or near equal number in each Class, C1, C2, D1, D2. Motion Carried, 5 For (I,II,III,V,VI), 1 Against (IV).

C. Basketball. The remaining schools registered for basketball are divided into four classes with an equal or near equal number in each Class, C1, C2, D1, D2, with extra schools added to C1 through D1 in order.  (i.e., C1, C2, D1).  Motion Failed, 1 For (IV), 5 Against (I, II, III, V, VI).

D.    Basketball, Volleyball.  Class B schools are divided into 3 regions, which will be subdivided into six districts. Those district sites will be determined before the start of the season. The Eastern region will be comprised of three districts of five to six teams. The Central region will be comprised of two districts of five to six teams. The Western region will have one district of six teams, which would include six schools geographically located in the western part of the state, with those schools being assigned to that district at the time of classification. Schools assigned to the Eastern and Central regions would determine their district assignments within two weeks prior to the first district contest using a serpentine method based upon the NSAA wild card point system. The schools in the western district will be seeded by the wild card point system within two weeks prior to the first district.
a. The winning boys’ team and the winning girls’ team in each district will qualify for the State Championship.
b. Two additional boys’ teams and two additional girls’ teams will also qualify for the State Championship on the basis of the wild card selection procedure.  Motion Failed, 3 For (I, II, III), 3 Against (IV, V, VI).              

E.     Classes C1, C2, D1 and D2 schools will be divided equally into 6 geographic pods once classification has been established. The pods will be established starting with schools in western Nebraska and working east. The subdistrict sites will be determined prior to the start of the season. Each pod will hold two subdistrict tournaments which will be seeded at-large based on the wildcard point system on the Wednesday preceding the start of subdistrict play. The winner of each subdistrict in the geographic pod will move on to the district final against the winner of the other subdistrict in the pod. The winners of the six geographic pods will move on to the state tournament. Two additional teams in each class will also qualify on the basis of the wild card team selection procedure.  Motion Failed, 1 For (II), 5 Against (I, II, IV, V, VI).

F.     Basketball.  Suit up to 14 players for District and State Tournament play. Motion Failed, 2 For (I, II), 4 Against (III, IV, V, VI).

G.    Class A Cross Country.  Class A schools are the 28 largest schools registered for cross country and are assigned to four districts; assigned to four districts using a left-to-right method based on enrollment; the method of counting the number of schools registered for Class A is determined by counting the 28 largest schools for Class A boys; C. Omaha Creighton Prep and Omaha Marian are placed in the same district.  Motion Carried, 6-0.            

H.    Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Wrestling. If lodging is used, $20 per participant and one coach will be paid.  Motion Failed, 2 For (II, VI), 4 Against (I, III, IV, V).

I.       Football Point System

Step C. If two or more teams have identical point averages and are tied for one or both of the remaining qualifying spots and/or higher seed, the team or teams with the greatest number of wins over first division teams will be selected and/or given the higher seed. If only two teams remain after this step and the two teams tied have played each other, Step A will be used to determine the qualifier for the State Playoffs and/or get the higher seed.
Step D. If a tie still exists, the team or teams with the greatest number of wins over first and second division teams will be selected and/or given the higher seed. If only two teams remain after this step and the two teams tied have played each other, Step A will be used to determine the qualifier for the State Playoffs and/or get the higher seed.
Step E. If two or more teams have identical point averages and are tied for one or both of the remaining qualifying spots and/or higher seed, the team or teams playing the greatest number of first division teams will be selected and/or given the higher seed. If only two teams remain after this step and the two teams tied have played each other, Step A will be used to determine the qualifier for the State Playoffs and/or get the higher seed.
Step F. If a tie still exists, the team's opponents' win and losses will be totaled and the winning percentages calculated. The team whose opponents have the highest percentage based on this calculation will be selected as the qualifier for the State Playoffs and/or get the higher seed.  Motion Carried, 4 For (I, II, IV, VI), 2 Against (III, V).

J.      Class A Football Districts and Qualifiers.  The 28 schools in Class A are divided into five districts. The district assignments divided the Omaha Metropolitan area into three districts by enrollment going from left to right. The six Lincoln schools, Columbus, Fremont, Grand Island, Kearney, Norfolk and North Platte were placed in two districts by enrollment going left to right. The teams within the district will play a round-robin schedule with the district champion in each district qualifying for the football playoffs. Using the point systems and point system tiebreaker, the next eleven teams with the highest point system rating will qualify for the playoffs, making a total of sixteen teams. Motion Failed, 1 For (II), 5 Against (I, III, IV, V, VI).

K.     Class A Football Qualifiers. Using the point system and point system tiebreaker, the team with the highest regular season point average that did not finish as a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place team in their district, will qualify for the playoffs, making a total of sixteen teams. Motion Carried, 5 For (I, II, IV, V, VI), 1 Against (III).

L.     Class B Playoff Qualifiers. Using a 16-team bracket, the point system and point system tiebreaker will be used to seed the 16 qualifying teams.  Motion Failed, 0-6.

M.    Football. Prerecorded music that has been approved by the Host administration may be played during pregame warm ups provided that a high school band is not available to play during that time. Also permitted shall be the National Anthem or as accompaniment for the half-time performance of an authorized student dance or cheer group.
Basketball and Volleyball. The use of recorded music that has been approved by the host administration may be played by a host school for warm-up provided that a band is not available to play at that time during subdistrict and district tournaments. Also permitted shall be the National Anthem or as accompaniment for the half-time performance of an authorized student dance or cheer group.  Motion Carried, 6-0.

N.    Soccer and Softball District Assignments. All Class A schools in softball are to be placed into seven districts. Those district sites would be determined at the start of the season. Six of the districts would be determined using a serpentine method (not modified), based upon the NSAA wild card point system within two weeks prior to the first district. The seventh district would include four schools geographically located in the western part of the state, with those schools being assigned to that district at the time of classification. North-south travel distances shall be considered in determining the make-up of that western district. The schools in the western district (Columbus, Grand Island, Kearney and North Platte) will be seeded by the wild card point system within two weeks prior to the first district. Class B will be divided into two regions – West/Central and Eastern. The twelve most western schools in the state will make up the West/Central region. They will be assigned into two districts using a serpentine method based upon the NSAA wild card point system. The rest of the Class B schools will be in the Eastern region. They will be assigned into four districts using a serpentine method based upon the NSAA wild card point system. Class C district assignments are based on geographic location starting west and moving east with consideration also given to north and south to reduce travel. Motion Failed, 1 For (II), 5 Against, (I, III, IV, V, VI).

O.    State Softball Format. The teams play a double-elimination bracket over two days.  The winners of each bracket play a winner-take-all championship game on Friday.  If necessary games to decide the bracket winner will be played at the start of day 3.  Motion Failed, 3 For (III, IV, VI), 3 Against (I, II, V).

P.     Soccer Bonus Points. In competition with schools one classification above yours, 2 bonus points will be awarded. A maximum of 4 bonus points per season are allowed. Motion Failed, 2 For (I, V), 4 Against (II, III, IV, VI).

Q.    Softball/Volleyball/Basketball/Soccer/Baseball.  Class A District Seeding: District competition shall be seeded based upon wild card points. All Class A schools in (softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball) are to be placed into seven districts. All districts would be determined using a serpentine method (not modified), based upon the NSAA wild card point system within one week prior to the district play. There will be no western district. Motion Failed, 2 For (II, III), 4 Against (I, IV, V, VI).

R.    Speech. Class C1 and C2 – six districts; Class D1 and D2 – six districts. Motion Carried, 6-0.

S.     Tennis. Seed twelve players in each of the four divisions.  Motion Carried, 6-0.

T.     Track and Field Awards.
1. The Association will provide a team trophy to the winner and runner-up of each class. Medals will be provided for the eight place winners in each event. Scoring for both individual and relay events will be 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. The coach of the championship team shall receive an award. State meet qualified members of the championship and runner-up teams of each class will receive team medals.
2. Gold Medal. After comparing the first place performances in each class (A, B, C, D), the individuals and relay teams with the best winning performances in each event will receive gold medals. If the event winners in two or more classes have identical performances, each will receive a gold medal.
3. All State champions in an event shall be presented their medals at the same time in front of the viewing public. After these presentations, the overall gold medal shall be awarded.
4. Team medals for championship and runner-up qualified team members will be mailed to each school following the state meet.  Motion Failed, 3 For (I, IV, VI), 3 Against (II, III, V).

U.    Volleyball Classification.  The 28 largest schools registered for volleyball shall be Class A. The 32 largest schools registered for volleyball shall be Class B. The remaining schools registered for basketball are divided into four classes with an equal or near equal number in each Class, C1, C2, D1, D2.  Motion Carried, 5 For (I, II, III, V, VI), 1 Against (IV).

V.     Volleyball. The remaining schools registered for volleyball are divided into four classes with an equal or near equal number in each Class, C1, C2, D1, D2, with extra schools added to C1 through D1 in order.  (i.e., C1, C2, D1).  Motion Failed, 1 For (IV), 5 Against (I, II, III, V, VI).

W.   Volleyball.  Classes C1, C2, D1 and D2 schools will be divided equally into 6 geographic pods once classification has been established. The pods will be established starting with schools in western Nebraska and working east. The subdistrict sites will be determined prior to the start of the season. Each pod will hold two subdistrict tournaments which will be seeded at-large based on the wildcard point system on the Wednesday preceding the start of subdistrict play. The winner of each subdistrict in the geographic pod will move on to the district final against the winner of the other subdistrict in the pod. The winners of the six geographic pods will move on to the state tournament. Two additional teams in each class will also qualify on the basis of the wild card team selection procedure. Motion Failed, 2 For (II, III), Against (I, IV, V, VI).

X.     Volleyball.  A five-team subdistrict/district will be scheduled in two days. Day 1: Match 1–Seeds 4 vs. 5, 30 minute break; Match 2–Seed 1 vs. Winner 4 vs. 5; Match –Seed 3 vs. 2.  Motion Failed, 1 For (V), 5 Against (I, II, III, IV, VI).

Y.     Wrestling.  a. Each school will receive coaches' wristbands based on their number of qualifiers.  Wristbands will only be given to those coaches whose names have been submitted by their school administration in advance of the State Tournament.
b. Each school will receive the following number of coaches’ wristbands:
1--3 qualifiers 2 coaches' wristbands
4--14 qualifiers 3 coaches' wristbands

      On a motion by Terry Kenealy, seconded by Max Kroger, to amend the proposal as follows:

      1—5 qualifiers 2 coaches’ wristbands

      6—14 qualifiers 3 coaches wristbands

      Amendment Carried, 6-0.  Motion Carried, 6-0 as amended.

Z.     Wrestling Seeding.  1. The pairings for the State Wrestling Tournament will be made February 11, 2007 and placed on the NSAA web site. 2. The four district champions would be seeded using the district seeding criteria, and then placed in the respective bracket with the remainder of the field. 3. These bracket assignments will be placed on the NSAA web site on Sunday. Motion Failed, 1 For (I), 5 Against (II, III, IV, V, VI).

AA. Wrestling Seeding and Pairings

7. Once the seeding meeting has concluded, no changes may be made except to scratch an athlete from competition. If the scratched athlete was seeded, those wrestlers seeded below may be moved up a seed. This could cause the bracket to be redrawn, not reseeded. If the scratched athlete was not seeded, the bracket may be redrawn with no changes in the seeded athletes. The only exception would be for an injured or ill wrestler. The injured or ill wrestler may not be replaced by an athlete who has previously been seeded or placed in any other weight class for the district tournament.    Motion Carried, 6-0.

BB. Wrestling.  Add Consolation semifinals and 7th place matches.  Motion Failed, 6-0.

CC.   Volleyball, Football, Boys and Girls Basketball.  Up to 12 cheerleaders, 12 drill team members and 50 band members per school would be admitted free of charge to district and state competition.  Motion Failed, 1 For (I), 5 Against (II, III, IV, V, VI).

13.       It was moved by Bob Reznicek, seconded by Kent Halley, to approve the 2008-09 Association calendar as amended.  Motion Carried, 6-0.

14.       It was moved by Max Kroger, seconded by Terry Kenealy, to form a statewide committee to study middle school implementation pending ratification of Proposal 1.1.2.1 that passed at the 2008 Representative Assembly.  Motion Carried, 6-0.

14.       The Board discussed infractions for which sanctions have been levied.  The following school had non-attendance of a head girls soccer coach at NSAA soccer rules meeting, first offense: Michelle Pleiss, Omaha Central High School; and John Singer, South Sioux City High School.  The following schools had non-attendance of boys soccer coaches at NSAA soccer rules meeting, first offense: Eric Shanahan, Blair High School, and Chris Eastridge, Omaha Northwest High School.  The following schools had non-attendance of a track coaches at NSAA track rules meeting, first offense: Julie Studnicka, Clay Center High School, and Cele Finley, Omaha Roncalli High School.  The following school had non-attendance of a boys track coach at NSAA track rules meeting, first offense: Jon Borer, Lourdes Central Catholic.  Columbus High School violated the swimming individual instruction rule, a letter of reprimand was issued to the school and a one-meet suspension was issued for the student.  Stuart High School missed the district music entry deadline and was penalized by being assessed a late administrative fee to participate in the district music contest.  Giltner High School violated the volleyball organized practice rule; a letter of reprimand was issued to the school.  South Sioux City High School violated the outside participation rule; a one-game suspension was issued for the student.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. on Friday, April 11.

 

The next meeting of the Board of Control will be held in Lincoln on May 23, 2008. 

 

                                                            ____________________________________

                                                            Debra Velder, Associate Director