9/14/12 – Proposal by Proposal Analysis of 2012 Annual Meeting Proposals

September 14, 2012 Athletic Department Blog Updates

This is the second part of a two-part effort to talk about the 2012 KHSAA Annual Meeting.

There are nine proposals on the agenda this year. All but one are part of the Board’s required Annual Review and the vast majority are attempts to modernize the regulations. In some cases, they are provisions that combine pieces from several parts into one rule. Others call for removal of provisions that haven’t been utilized in many many years. As we continue to see turnover in athletic administrators, it is vitally important that the rules be as clear and concise as possible.

PROPOSAL 1 – Amend Bylaw 5 to clarify and reinforce provisions – Issues have arisen this school year that point to the need to modernize Bylaw 5 and its wording to ensure that any existing misinterpretation is clarified within the requirements for Bylaw 5. No special test or recitation may be given to restore eligibility for any reason, and the timing of awarding the credits is essential to a clear understanding.

The provision prohibiting special recitations was included in only one part of the rule, and in reality should apply to all provisions. Secondly, it was determined during the 2011-2012 year that there was a loophole in the existing rule that could be manipulated on behalf of athletics. This loophole needed closing and would restrict restoration of eligibility to the calendar originally submitted by a school.

PROPOSAL 2 – Amend Bylaw 7 to complete the separation of Bylaw 7 from its original position as Section 2 of Bylaw 6. When it was amended a few years ago, was separated into its own rule. At that time, the “athletic advantage” provisions were inadvertently omitted. In addition, the historic interpretation regarding students who sit out the first year is being moved to the Bylaws from the case situations. Lastly, the CSIET provisions that have been long interpreted have been codified into Sec 2(c).

It is vitally important to our membership that we take all steps to ensure that foreign exchange students do not gain an advantage over domestic students. These amendments will continue to ensure that this does not occur.

PROPOSAL 3 – This proposal was brought up by the Board of Control to help address issues when occasionally, it appears there is attempted circumvention of the penalty for ejection. The penalty needs to be in place based on the schedule at the time of ejection, not a new game substituted to lessen the burden. Knowing that big district game is coming up, or a key contest is next, that is to be a deterrent against the bad behavior. The Board’s efforts have been strong and visible trying to curtail situations related to bad sportsmanship, and this represented a logical next step.

PROPOSAL 4 – This is the first of a couple of proposals to modernize the KHSAA Bylaws. Bylaw 14 contained provisions that are long outdated. Most were “common sense” things, such as the duties of a principal, etc., which clearly don’t need to be spelled out in a bylaw. This change would move the assumed name rule to a different part of the bylaws (more appropriately to Bylaw 9) and would shorten and clarify the remainder of the rule with more modern provisions.

PROPOSAL 5 – As a second step to modernizing the rules of the KHSAA, during the 2011-2012 school year, a complete and thorough review of restrictions on contests, contracts, who plays whom, etc., was given a review by the Board. Over the course of time, items had been placed in the Constitution that really belong in the bylaws (the Constitution is about organization structure, not who plays whom), and other restrictions were dated and appeared not to be in the best interest to remain in the bylaws. Most of the previous provisions remain in the rules, but in a more appropriate location.

PROPOSAL 6 – As a part of the Annual review of the bylaws, the Board concurred with the desire to restrict play out of season in specific sports if played on school grounds. This was the primary feedback from the removal of case situation restrictions on coaches out of season involvement. This rule would continue to allow individual and group instruction if permitted by the Principal, but would not allow for full-blown games and other competition on campus. The intent of the Limitation of seasons is to limit the season, this ensures the publishing of such limits.

PROPOSAL 7 – The Sport Activities have always been different than sports. Prior to the membership survey three years ago, the only sport activity was Cheer. Now there are four. While there is no desire at this point to implement full blown sports type restrictions on these activities (they would take more than 9 years to phase in), there does need for insurance purposes to be a basic limit that would define when insurance was valid. These minimal provisions will ensure the development of these activities and allow for further modification at a future time.

PROPOSAL 8 – This proposal was from the membership, and extends the dead period to July 14. This would allow for school facilities to be shut down right up until the start of fall practice.

PROPOSAL 9 – This is the final of the modernization of the bylaws proposal for 2012. This proposal would consolidate the provisions of Bylaws 29, 30 and 31, which all related to officials, into one bylaw appropriately placed.