Chairman Phillip Gardner, Vice Chairman Priscilla Dillow, Mike Blackburn, Curtis Casbon, Dale Crafton, Dan Cunningham, Al Logsdon, Michael Powell, Steve Riordan, Cassel White, Directors Dennis Eller, Michael Necessary, Cecil Raymond, Oren A. Sutherlin, Joseph Trimboli, Commissioner Bob Gardner, Associate Commissioner Ray Craft, Assistant Commissioners Blake Ress, Sandy Searcy, Theresia Wynns, Sports Information Director Jim Russell and Attorney Robert Baker.

Minutes of the January 13, 2000 meeting were recommended for approval. A motion for approval was made by Michael Powell; seconded by Mike Blackburn; motion passed 10-0.

Assistant Commissioner Ress reported on the general format, sites and other preliminary plans for the 1999-2000 Softball Tournament Series. The following recommendations were made for host sites:

The state finals will be conducted under the same format as 1999 with Carmel, Hamilton Southeastern and North Central (Indpls.) being the host sites for the semi-final games on Friday, June 16. The state championship games will be played Saturday, June 17 at Carmel. A motion to approve the recommendations for the 1999-2000 Softball Tournament Series was made by Steve Riordan; seconded by Michael Powell; motion passed 10-0.

Associate Commissioner Craft reported on the general format, sites and other preliminary plans for the 1999-2000 Baseball Tournament Series. Included in the baseball proposal were the following changes in host sites:

Additionally, it was recommended that the following schools host the four-team regionals:

The host sites for the semi-final games on Friday, June 23 will be determined and announced at a later date. A motion to approve the recommendations for the 1999-2000 Baseball Tournament Series was made by Al Logsdon; seconded by Mike Blackburn; motion passed 10-0.

Approval was requested for Commissioner Gardner and IHSAA Attorney Robert Baker to attend the legal seminar sponsored by the National Federation. The dates for these meetings are April 14-16, 2000. For the first time, this seminar will be held in Indianapolis. A motion to approve the IHSAA’s participation in the NF’s legal seminar was made by Michael Powell; seconded by Cassel White; motion passed 10-0.

Attorney Robert Baker proposed that the Executive Committee adopt the following by-law that would become effective immediately and remain in effect until the Board of Directors could take official action at their annual meeting.

9. DISABILITY WAIVER – ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE

The Commissioner, his designee or the Committee may in individual cases, upon written request, declare eligible a student who would otherwise be ineligible under Rule 12 if all of the following conditions are met:

1. the student has not graduated from high school;
2. the student establishes, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commissioner, his designee or the Committee, that he or she has, or had, a disability as defined in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1403(3);
3. the student establishes, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commissioner, his designee or the Committee either:

1. the student had an I.E.P. and was meeting the requirements of the I.E.P., yet is unable to graduate from high school within eight semesters after entering the ninth grade, primarily because of the disability; or
2. the student did not have an I.E.P. and is unable to graduate from high school within eight semester after entering the ninth grade, primarily because of the disability; and,

1. the student establishes, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commissioner, his designee or the Committee that the student’s participation would not constitute an undue risk to the health or safety of other participants or provide the student or the student’s team an undue competitive advantage. Without limiting the evidence that may be considered, the Commissioner, his designee or the Committee, may consider the following in determining whether the student’s participation would constitute an undue risk to the health or safety of other participants or provide the student or the student’s team an undue competitive advantage:

1. whether the student has presented a report from a physician regarding the student’s height, weight and whether the student is likely to pose an undue risk to the safety and health of other participants; the student shall submit to an independent medical examination by a physician selected and paid for by the Association at the request of the Commissioner, his designee or the Committee;
2. whether the student has previously participated in the sport for which eligibility is sought, or a similar sport, and if so, how many years and at what level the student has participated and whether the student’s skill level is such that the student was ever a member of the starting team or was a recipient of league or other honors as a result of previous participation in the sport;
3. whether the student has competed in a prior state tournament series competition (either in an individual sport or in a team sport), and particularly at the championship level; and
4. whether the sport is a contact or a non-contact sport.

A motion to approve the adoption of a new by-law, Rule 17-9, was made by Al Logsdon; seconded by Steve Riordan; motion passed 10-0.

Commissioner Gardner recommended that the Executive Committee adopt the following by-laws that would become effective immediately and remain in effect until the Board of Directors could take official action at their annual meeting.

Student athletes, having successfully completed basic training with a branch of the United States Military, may be eligible to participate in a fall sport contest after five separate days of organized practice under the direct supervision of the high school coaching staff.

Student athletes, having successfully completed basic training with a branch of the United States Military, may be eligible to participate in a fall sport contest after five separate days of organized practice under the direct supervision of the high school coaching staff.

A motion to approve the adoption of Rules 50-1.2 and 101-1.2 to the IHSAA By-Laws was made by Priscilla Dillow; seconded by Al Logsdon; motion passed 10-0.

Pat Malone of Princeton High School, Scott Bovenkerk of South Bend Washington High School and Doug Denny of Yorktown High School appeared before the Executive Committee to present the following proposals on behalf of the Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA).

1. An optional segment of 10 offensive plays and 10 defensive plays should be added football scrimmage allowing those players, who did not participate in the first 80 plays, an opportunity to play;
2. Neutral sites be selected to host the semi-state games of the football tournament series;
3. Sectionals be split into four-team sub-sectionals;
4. Allow players to wear shoulder pads, in addition to shoes, helmets and mouthpieces, during the first two days of non-contact practice.

Dan Kapsalis of Carmel High School, Greg Mauch of Fort Wayne Canterbury High School and Caryn MacKenzie of South Bend Adams High School appeared before the Executive Committee to present the following proposals on behalf of the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association (ISCA).

1. Although schools are limited to scheduling 32 halves (16 matches) during a contest season, individual players should be permitted to participate in 36 halves;
2. All sectional host sites should be required to have a soccer field that is at least 110 yards by 65 yards;
3. During post season tournament play, each participating school should have the same amount of rest between games;
4. Championship contests for the sectional, regional and semi-state should be scheduled to allow fans to see both the boys and girls championships (especially when a school has both their girls and boys teams competing).

Faith Wilder-Newland of Columbus East High School and Gail Gripe of Lafayette Jefferson High School appeared before the Executive Committee to present the following proposals on behalf of the volleyball coaches.

1. At the sectional level, any teams drawing into the bye round should play the second match of the semi-finals.
2. The state championships should be conducted at a larger venue than a high school gymnasium;
3. The IHSAA should advertise and air the state championship matches on television.
4. Sectional host sites should be required to provide adequate facilities (acceptable playing floor, locker rooms for each team, seating, parking, athletic training and hospitality facilities) in order to be a host.
5. Award participation medals to those schools who lose during the semi-finals of the state championships.

Associate Commissioner Craft reported on transfers that have been ruled upon during the 1999-2000 school year. This report included the following actions as of Feb. 14,^, 2000:

Full eligibility: 2,005.

Limited eligibility: 213.

Ineligible: 32.

Total transfers: 2,250.

Assistant Commissioner Wynns reported on the unsportsmanlike conduct reports the Association has received as of February 16, 2000. A total of 895 unsportsmanlike reports have been filed in seven different sports.

Commissioner Gardner present the monthly financial report of the Association

Attorney Robert Baker updated the Executive Committee on the current status of pending litigation against the Association.

Sports Information Director Russell reported that Joe Ammerman of WNVI in North Vernon has been selected as the IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award Recipient for 1999-2000 in District IV. Ammerman has served as the play-by-play voice of the Jennings County Panthers since the 1982-83 school year. A graduate of Jennings County High School, Joe and his wife, Kim, are the parents of three daughters.

The Executive Committee went into executive session to conduct the following hearing:

Joe Fadde, a student at Lafayette Central Catholic High School, had been declared to have limited eligibility on the basis of Rule 19-6.2. A hearing was requested in order to appeal the ruling and request full eligibility. Following the hearing, both sides were offered an opportunity to submit findings of fact to the Executive Committee. Following the hearing, the student or his representatives and legal counsel for the IHSAA was offered an opportunity to submit findings of fact. Having analyzed all of the available data, Steve Riordan made a motion to uphold the decision of the Commissioner; seconded by Cassel White; motion passed 7-0.

The following penalties were assessed for various violations of the IHSAA By-Laws:

Benton Central High School – Commissioner Gardner reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 15-1c.

1. The Benton Central wrestling program is placed on probation until January 22, 2001.
2. Coaches Kevin Elliott, Dave Hinkel and Bill Bayley are severely reprimanded for their roles in deliberately causing this violation to occur.
3. The IHSAA accepts and supports the actions taken by the administration in suspending the coaches for the remainder of the 1999-2000 school year.
4. Having filed a report outlining the disciplinary action taken, Benton Central High School may continue to compete in wrestling, including the IHSAA tournament series.
5. The administration is commended for its prompt reporting and handling of this matter.

Perry Central High School – Commissioner Gardner reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 15-1d.

1. The Perry Central girls basketball program is issued a warning.
2. Coach Robert Linne is reprimanded for permitting this violation to occur.
3. The administration is commended for its prompt reporting and handling of this matter.

Dale Crafton, chairman of the Urban Schools Committee updated the Executive Committee on the sessions that have been conducted with representatives of the Indiana Urban Schools Association (IUSA). There are currently three issues that the two groups are focusing upon:

• A workable definition of an urban school,
• An acceptable definition of a minority (possibly, anyone other than a white male or female) and
• Representation on the IHSAA Board of Directors from IUSA.

It is likely that a by-law change may be proposed by this committee prior to the May meeting of the Board of Directors.

Assistant Commissioner Ress reported that with the addition of Wheeler High School to the football playoffs in 2000, a few changes in sectional assignments will be necessitated. Wheeler will be entered in Sectional 25 of Class AA. That addition requires Winamac to move to Sectional 26 and Madison-Grant to move to Sectional 29. It is anticipated that 309 schools will enter the football playoffs in 2000.

1. Letter from Steve Appel, Fort Wayne, Ind.
2. Letter from Pat Coslett, Evansville, Ind.
3. Letter from Charles K. Crabb, associate athletic director of facilities & events, Indiana University.
4. Letter from Marty Johnson, president, Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
5. Letter from Dennis Kas, baseball coach, Noblesville High School and Bill Jones, executive secretary, Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.
6. Letter from Jim Rueger, director, Huntingburg Parks & Recreation Department.
7. Letter from Louis A. Smith, Indianapolis.
8. Letter from Pete Swanson, sports editor, Princeton Daily Clarion.

A motion to adjourn the February meeting of the IHSAA Executive Committee was made by Cassel White; seconded by Al Logsdon; motion passed 10-0. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be at IHSAA headquarters at 8 a.m., March 24, 2000.