BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (January 31, 2009) —The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) conducted its quarterly Executive Committee meetings today and yesterday in Binghamton and voted on the following recommendations from its Fiscal Concerns ad hoc committee:
1. Support the use of telephone conference calls and video conferencing for NYSPHSAA meetings to reduce the travel reimbursements costs for the NYSPHSAA and Sections. APPROVED
2. Support the use of officials from the host Section at all NYSPHSAA regional contests, except when the Sections involved mutually agree to use neutral officials. Effective with the 2009-2010 season and continuing to 2010–2011 school year. APPROVED
3. Support a moratorium on the expansion of existing NYSPHSAA tournaments as it pertains to participation. APPROVED
4. Centralized sites should be considered as part of the bid process for state tournament site selection when it can be proven that cost savings outweighs other criteria. APPROVED
5. Support the reduction of the maximum number of contests permitted during the regular season. Sports with 24 contests will be reduced to 20, sports with 20 contests will be reduced to 18 and sports with 18 contests will be reduced to 16. Wrestling will be reduced to 20 points. Football will be reduced from 10 to 9. The 9th game is permitted, with section approval, for teams who do not qualify for sectional play. For the teams involved in the sectional tournament the maximum number of contests shall be 10. For the sections involved in the state championship three additional games are permitted for a total of 13 games for the season: 1 game for regionals, 1 game for semifinals, and 1 game for championships. Effective for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. APPROVED
6. Support the reduction of the number of classes and divisions in team and individual NYSPHSAA Championship competition. REFERRED TO CHAMPIONSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
7. Support the reduction of participants in NYSPHSAA Championships in individual and combination (team/individual) sports. REFERRED TO CHAMPIONSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
8. Support the reduction of tournaments (multi-school competition) for team and individual sports. NO ACTION
9. Support the establishment of a maximum number of scrimmages permitted by a team to: Varsity, JV and freshmen – 2 scrimmages and Modified – 1 scrimmage. NO ACTION
10. The Executive Committee will meet three times per year with one meeting at the site of the Central Committee meeting. APPROVED
11. Support the establishment of a team travel restriction for all member schools limiting out of state team travel to competition with bordering states only. NO ACTION
12. Support the establishment of a moratorium eliminating mandated attendance beginning with the 2009-2010 school year at the following NYSPHSAA workshops: Safety, Life of an Athlete, Sportsmanship and Chemical Health workshops. APPROVED
13. Support eliminating participation in the NFHS Student Leadership Conference. DENIED
The approved changes will take effect immediately unless specifically noted. One item has already gone into effect (use of telephone conference calls and video conferencing for NYSPHSAA meetings) to expedite savings to member sections and schools who pay travel expenses of its committee members.
"The representatives serving on the Executive Committee are very concerned with the fiscal challenges schools are facing," said Nina Van Erk, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. "The Executive Committee has taken action to assist schools, leagues, conferences, sections and NYSPHSAA to reduce costs related to the interscholastic athletic program. The rationale supporting these incremental reductions will have a significant impact for our member schools. For example, the savings realized by schools may act to protect lower level programs such as modified from being eliminated."
The recommendations were developed as a result of NYSPHSAA’s Fiscal Concerns ad hoc committee, chaired by Executive Committee member Julie Maney of Section IV, which met on December 18th and January 20th. The committee’s charge was to discuss topics and ideas on how it can assist its 775 member schools, sections and leagues in cutting costs in their athletic budgets.
"The Fiscal Concerns committee has worked hard to evaluate the role athletics play in the financial struggles of our member schools", said Pat Pizzarelli, NYSPHSAA President. "Prior to this weekend’s meetings, the individuals on the Fiscal Concerns Committee communicated with their sections on all the recommendations that were considered by the Executive Committee. The ultimate goal was to help our membership alleviate financial burdens on their athletic budgets."
The fiscal concerns committee was appointed by President Pizzarelli in November and is comprised of a representative from each of the 11 sections across the state which included Section Executive Directors, school administrators, NYSPHSAA Officers, and NYSPHSAA Past Presidents. The committee is a recommending body to the Association’s 22-person Executive Committee which is made up of a male and female representative from each section. These representatives reflect the vote of their respective Sections. The Executive Committee is the voting Board of NYSPHSAA and traditionally conducts its business meetings four times annually. |
