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From the Hip: Predictions for Wednesday's WIAA Annual Meeting

04/21/2015, 8:45am CDT
By Travis Wilson

As I wrote in my State of Play column for NOW Newspapers last week, the 2015 WIAA Annual Meeting to be held Wednesday, April 22nd could be one of the most impactful and transformative days in Wisconsin high school sports history, with questions and proposals that go to the very heart of what it means to be "school-based high school athletics".

As it was last year, the headlining issue revolves around the idea of competitive equity and the ongoing public/private debate for divisional placement. But other wide-ranging changes that will be voted on include the expansion and allowance of participating on non-school teams, unlimited summer contact for coaches, and more.

This article isn't meant to provide judgement or opinion on the various proposals, but rather to provide a prediction of what I think will happen. Each of the 10 Constitutional Amendments along with a possibility that could arise at the meeting will be examined.

To see the full list of proposed Amendments and the rationale behind them, please click here. The meeting begins Wednesday at 9 am in Stevens Point, and we'll have full coverage at the proceedings and following. Follow me on Twitter @travisWSN for live updates throughout the day.

Number 1 - Membership

Summary: Adds language that would require schools to have at least one independent team (non co-op) at all times to stay a WIAA member.

Prediction: This change has full support from all committees and WIAA staff, and I believe will pass.

Number 2 - Classification

Summary: Success Factor to be applied to sports of soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, and baseball beginning in the 2016-17 school year. Point system utilized based on state tournament success to move teams up a division on a sport-by-sport basis. See full proposal here.

Prediction: I think there's a chance this item gets amended from the floor and doesn't not actually get voted on, but if it does make it to a vote, I do not think it will receive passage. While the plan has its merits and came out of 7 months of work from the Ad Hoc Committee, it does not seem to have much support from the small, rural schools that pushed and/or signed the original 1.65 Multiplier last year. It doesn't appear to have wide-spread support from the mid- to large-sized schools either.

Addendum: I think it is almost certain that a motion will be made from the floor to amend the Success Factor language and replace it with language similar to or perhaps the same as the 1.65 Multiplier originally proposed for last year's meeting. All it would take is one person to provide a second, and the members in attendance would vote on whether to amend the Success Factor language and replace with the new Multiplier language. If that vote is approved, the membership would then vote on the passage of the new proposal. So in essence, the member schools would have to vote twice in support of the Multiplier. I think the Multiplier does get proposed, and I lean towards it replacing the Success Factor language on the ballot. However, I do not think it would pass the final vote for implementation. I think there's enough schools that would like to see the Ad Hoc Committee work and options played out and voted on, and with more information available from the Committee's work, more people will see the problems with a blanket Multiplier, along with the likely legislative and legal challenges that would come with it. I think had the original 1.65 Multiplier come to a vote last year instead of being sent to committee, it would have passed. However, with more time and more, for lack of a better term, confusion of the issues and options now, I think the momentum for it has been lost and it would not receive final passage, if it is brought forward.

Number 3 - Classification (Petition)

Summary: Apply a Reducer to enrollments for determining divisional placement based on Free and Reduced Lunch numbers. For full details of the plan, see here. This proposal was placed on the agenda following a successful petition from Six Rivers schools unhappy with the Ad Hoc Committee's plan for the Success Factor.

Prediction: This vote would be held after the Success Factor (or Multiplier that may replace it) is voted on. Little supporting evidence has been presented for a Reducer, and it was dismissed by the Ad Hoc Committee, with the rationale provided to all schools. I do not think it will pass, as it could have a number of potential unintended consequences (large urban schools moving down), and wouldn't significantly change divisional placement for the stronger private school programs either.

Number 4 - Penalties

Summary: Would remove language in the WIAA Constitution that has existed since 1924 that allows the Association to impose a fine or restitution on any member schools that may bring legal challenges against the WIAA.

Prediction: This is a vote to affirm the status quo, and was universally opposed by the WIAA committees and staff. I believe this proposal will be defeated, and the existing language remain in place.

Number 5 - Petition

Summary: Would add language to the Constitution that would require petitions for new amendments to be submitted by the first Friday in January prior to the next Annual Meeting.

Prediction: Arising from the Six Rivers petition petition for a 1.65 Multiplier on private schools that was advanced last February, just two months prior to the Annual Meeting, this would simply provide the membership more time to research and review amendments, as well as time for review and consideration by the various WIAA committees. It would not remove the petition option, and I think it will pass.

Number 6 - Coaches Qualifications

Summary: Would require all coaches, whether paid or unpaid, to be certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED training.

Prediction: While it puts a significant burden of responsibility on coaches to be considered first responders, the plan has support from the various committees and staff, and I think will pass.

Number 7 - Nonschool Participation During the Season

Summary: The WIAA does not allow athletes to compete in nonschool competitions during the season (think a standout track athlete competing at a national event in California instead of with their high school team), though there are waivers that can be requested and granted under the exceptional athlete clause. Those waiver requests continue to rise, and this would allow athletes to compete in no more than two nonschool competitions during their sport season.

Prediction: The WIAA has been acutely aware of the growing push by some athletes, parents, and coaches to allow nonschool competition in order for an athlete to test their abilities against the best in the nation and still maintain eligibility at the high school level. A compromise to allow that to happen, this proposal is a big step for the WIAA, and one its members may not be ready to take. I don't believe it passes this year, but could see it brought back in the next five years with more support and more of a chance to pass.

Number 8 - Nonschool participation during the season

Summary: While Amendment Number 7 deals with nonschool competition for exceptional athletes, Number 8 addresses individual skills contests such as free throw contests or punt, pass, and kick. Currently, those are considered violations when done in season. This change would allow athletes to participate in such skills contests during their sports seasons, with school approval.

Prediction: I believe this is an easier nonschool competition change for schools to swallow, and I think it will pass.

Number 9 - Basketball Instructional Coaching Contact

Summary: The basketball coaches have been asking for more coaching contact during the summer for a number of years, and this is their latest proposal to try to get it done. It would allow unlimited, nonschool contact during the summer for no more than 1 hour per day per athlete, and coaches would be allowed to work with up to six athletes at a time. 

Prediction: I do not see this passing for a number of reasons. Perhaps most importantly, amendment Number 10 could give coaches unlimited, nonschool contact, and I could see member schools voting against this proposal in favor of Number 10, or voting against this in favor of addressing the issue for all sports. Also, there has been and continues to be pushback from many administrators of opening up the summer period to more coaching contact and removing more "free time" from athletes during the summer.

Number 10 - Coaching Contact 

Summary: Would extend unlimited, nonschool summer coaching contact to all sports except football. Currently, some sports have this, while others have only 5 contact days. This would provide more standardization of rules and address coach requests for more options to work with athletes in the off-season.

Prediction: While this does receive support from the WIAA committees and staff, it may be too soon for the member schools to accept. Concerns about if it will burn out not only athletes, but coaches are legitimate, and while the association has moved further in this direction than ever before, I think it comes up just short this year. Look for it to be discussed further over the coming years, and brought back again within the next five years, where it may finally pass.


Needless to say, there will again be considerable buzz around the WIAA's Annual Meeting, which set a record for attendance last year, and could do the same in 2015. Keep it glued to WSN for the best and most thorough coverage throughout the day, and in the days after.

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