DISTRICT 9 COMMITTEE MEETING
JANUARY 23, 2002
The January 23, 2002 meeting of the District 9 Committee was held at Aiello`s Café in Ridgway, PA.
The following members were present: Roger Collins, Gary Elder, Tony Flint, Terry Hoover, Jerry Linsenbigler, Jim Manners, Frank Palaggo, Larry Stiner, Aaron Straub, Susan Valentine, Tom Wagner, and Bob Wicker.
Chairman Hoover called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM.
A motion was made by Gary Edler and seconded by Susan Valentine to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2001 meeting. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Roger Collins and seconded by Tony Flint to accept the treasurers` report. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Aaron Straub and seconded by Gary Elder to authorize the payment of bills. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS:
A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Bob Wicker to grant athletic eligibility to Dayin Li, a foreign exchange student at Elk County Catholic High School. The motion passed.
NOTE: A foreign exchange student who has a J-1 Visa is permitted to participate in high school athletics for a one year period. A foreign exchange student who has a F-1 Visa may participate in high school athletics for a five year period.
There is a growing problem concerning schools that do not honor signed contracts for athletic contests. When contracts are not honored, the situation should be brought to the attention of the district committee by the high school principal. In recent months, the following schools that have had other schools break contracts: Punxsutawney Area High School, Brockway Area High School, Brookville Area High School, and Lewistown Area High School (District 6). The District 6 chairman will be contacted concerning the breaking of a contract between Johnstown Vo-Tech High School and Punxsutawney Area High School.
There is a problem with junior high, junior varsity, and varsity wrestling matches starting on the contracted time. Schools should honor the starting time on the contract signed between the two schools. Thus visiting teams must adjust their bus departure times to arrive for the contracted starting time.
SUMMARY OF ITEMS FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS OF DECMEBER 6 TO 8, 2001 AND JANUARY 12, 2002.
A question has been asked concerning the method for choosing inter-district playoff sites. The procedure for selecting playoff sites can be found on page 20 of the PIAA Policy Manual.
The PIAA charges each district committee a $200.00 insurance fee for every district playoff site used for basketball, football, and wrestling. The fee is used to pay the insurance fee, as well as, the cost of playoff operations.
Competitive cheerleading competition is being considered for sponsorship in District 9 and at the state level.
To be considered for PIAA membership, a school must sponsor at least one sport. This has an affect on co-operative sport programs.
Elected members to the district committees may be limited to principals and athletic directors.
There will be a new physical examination form. The Sports Medical Advisory Committee has designed the new form.
There is renewed consideration to permit two parents to serve on the Board of Directors.
There is some feeling of the Oversight Committee to centralize the powers of the PIAA and to decrease the authority to the district committees.
There is consideration for the local district committees to pay the officials` representative expenses to the PIAA Officials` Convention and the NFHS National Convention. Officials are encouraged to attend the PIAA Officials` Convention.
If your school competes against a school from another state, please refer to the PIAA Handbook for the rules concerning participation against schools from anther state.
There is some thought to play inter-districts contest at the higher seeded teams` home facility. The brackets would be rotated from year to year.
The district committees are to pay the sales tax on taxable items sold at district events.
The PIAA is advertising for a legal director. The salary will be $24,000.00 per year.
The Oversight Committee advised the PIAA not to honor officials, members of the board of directors, and individuals with dedicated service to the PIAA by giving them rings, watches, etc. The PIAA will not pay for the district chairpersons to attend the National Convention.
There is a $200,000.00 legal fees cap per year. Legal fee over the $200,000.00 must be paid for from district committees reserve funds.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
FOOTBALL: (FRANK PALAGGO, CHAIRMAN)
A motion was made by Frank Palaggo and seconded by Tony Flint to keep the same football format as used during the 2001 – 2002 season. The motion passed by a 9 to 3 vote.
Under the new classifications, Dubois Area High School will enter the playoffs under an agreement with District 10.
The PIAA Board of Directors has approved the use of the Wilson 1003 football for the 2002 inter-district football playoff games. Either the Wilson 1003 or 1005 football may be used. If schools have already purchased the 1005 model, Wilson will trade the 1005 football for the 1003 football. The cost of the 1003 model will be the same as the 1005 model.
BASKETBALL: (JIM MANNERS: CHAIRMAN)
The format and the entry form for the 2001 – 2002 basketball playoff games have been mailed to all District 9 schools. Also, basketball information can be found on the District 9 website. Program information is due to Jim Manners as soon as possible.
GOLF: (TONY FLINT, GIRLS GOLF CHAIRMAN)
Surveys have been sent to District 9 schools to determine which schools desire to host the district golf tournament for the next two years.
Twenty-five schools responded to the District 9 athletic directors` survey concerning the format for future golf tournaments. Twenty schools wanted a two-day and thirty-six holes tournament, four schools wanted to continue the present format, and one school would like an additional nine holes played. Fourteen of the twenty-five schools had a concern over the method used to determine the team championship.
There may be a possible change in the site of the PIAA championship matches.
A number of districts charge their athletes (schools) a fee between $5.00 and $20.00 to participate in their district golf tournament.
WRESTLING: (TERRY HOOVER, CHAIRMAN)
Materials for the team and individual wrestling tournaments have been sent to District 9 schools and the information is on the District 9 website. The seeding meeting for the individual tournament will be on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, at 7:00PM, at Brockway Area High School.
OLD BUSINESS:
The cheerleading committee reported that there is a great amount of interest in District 9 to sponsor competitive cheerleading. A motion was made by D.J. Bevevino and seconded by Susan Valentine to continue to research the possibility for cheerleading competition. The motion carried.
D.J. Bevevino gave a summary of the District 9 cross-country championship. There is a possibility the Runners High will provide the timing system at the state meet next year. The site for the 2002 – 2003 PIAA championship meet is still to be determined.
Tom Wagner attended the soccer steering committee and reported discussion was held about the site selection process for inter-district matches. Other topics of discussion included natural grass vs. artificial surfaces and the lack of soccer playing sites. There is a recommendation being made to the Board of Directors not to sponsor spring soccer after the 2003 – 2004 classification cycle.
The District 9 finance committee will meet at 8:30 AM, on March 13, 2002, at Aiello`s Café. The committee members are Jim Manners, Frank Palaggo, Tony Flint, D.J. Bevevino, Terry Hoover, and Bob Tonkin.
Bradford Area High School is becoming pro-active in promoting good sportsmanship, especially at basketball games. Complaints concerning student or fans` behavior should be made to the district committee by the high school principals. Susan Valentine noted sportsmanship was discussed at a meeting of the Northern Tier Conference schools and there did not appear to be a problem in their conference.
NEW BUSINESS:
Junior high athletic programs consist of students in 7th, 8th, and 9th grades regardless of a junior high school or middle school system. Senior high athletic programs usually consist of students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Ninth graders may participate at the senior high school level.
Susan Valentine sent a letter to District 9 principals reminding them of the regulations concerning academic eligibility for their student-athletes.
The PIAA is instituting a new billing format for materials, handbooks, forms, etc.
Consideration is being given to use Diamond baseballs and softballs for the District 9 tournament.
Frank Palaggo, the District 9 officials` representative, will check to find out why a number of District 9 officials are listed under District 6 registration with the PIAA.
SPECIAL NOTE: FRANK PALAGGO RECEIVED THE PIAA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD AT THE OFFICIALS CONVENTION. CONGRATULATIONS – FRANK!
The meeting adjourned at 2:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert J. Tonkin
District 9 Secretary