Topics at the Winter 2015 Wyoming High School Activities Association Board of Directors meeting include football reclassification, combination school agreements, soccer standings, future state championship events, and the State Spirit Competition.

Football:

The board defeated a motion to change football, from 4 classes of 11-man to 3 classes.

4A would have been unchanged.

3A would have been 18 teams, (the current 12, plus Mountain View, Lovell, Pinedale, Wheatland, Glenrock and Newcastle moving up).

2A would have been the remaining 11-man teams, and would absorb all the 1A teams as well, and split into 3 divisions (North, Southwest, Southeast).

The top 2 in each division would have made the playoffs, and two wildcards would make it, based on a power rating system.

The idea was submitted by Burns High School.

The rationale was to reduce overall travel for about half of the teams, play more opponents geographically closer, and miss less school time.

Golf:

In past years, spectators have not been allowed on the course during the 2A State Tournament, but were allowed in the 4A and 3A State Tournaments.

This exception has been eliminated.

Tennis:

The board passed on first reading, a motion that would change the number of minimum practices before first competition, from 9 to 5.

The rationale is that reducing the number of practice days before the season starts, would open up a little more time on the schedule for matches, during the regular season, especially for those teams who have to travel a significant distance.

In addition, having the extra week for competition would allow a little more flexibility on the schedule, if a match has to be rescheduled due to weather.

This was a first reading item, and needs to undergo another reading to become official.

Tennis State Seeding:

The board passed on first reading, that each first round match at the state tournament, will pit an athlete from a school in the North vs. an athlete from a school in the South.

If the regional tournament is canceled due to weather or other concerns, the athletes will maintain the seed they had at the start of the regional tournament, and will carry that into the state tournament.

This is a first reading item and must undergo another reading to become official.

Affiliate Member and Combination School Agreements:

The board passed on first reading a motion that if an athlete from a school enters into combination agreement with another school for a particular sport not offered at the school entering into the agreement, that athlete must stay with the combination in other sports as well, provided the first school does not offer that sport.

Long story short...an athlete from School A joins with School B in one sport, and School C in another sport, yet School B offers that other sport as well...this process would be eliminated.

School A and B would have to stick to their combination agreement in all sports that School A doesn't have, unless it's in a sport that School B doesn't offer as well.

Schools must reapply annually to the WHSAA, and if School A decides to combine with a different school, in the next year, then athletes must follow transfer rules.

The WHSAA Commissioner can make exceptions, if it is determined if hardship exists.

Everything previously mentioned would also apply to home schooled students as well.

This is a first reading item, and must undergo another reading, to become official.

Soccer Standings:

The board passed on second reading, a change to rule 7.11.42, in how soccer standings are kept in conference games.

Currently a team get 3 points in the conference standings for a win vs. a conference opponent, and 1 point for a tie.

The new proposal is what the National Hockey League does.

Teams would get 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 1 point for losing in overtime. This would only apply to games vs. conference opponents.

The rationale is this would create a new way to help seeding for regional tournaments, and try to avoid ties in the standings, and coin flips to determine seeding.

The new rule takes effect for the spring 2015 season.

Basketball and Wrestling Practice:

The board defeated a motion (9-8) to allow practice to start one week sooner, so that players can get their minimum number of practices in, before the regular season starts.

Currently practice starts the Monday after Thanksgiving.

The new proposal would have allowed practice on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week, although schools are not required to do this.

2016 State Golf:

Host sites will be Green River (4A), Powell (3A), and Moorcroft (2A). Sites are on a rotational basis. No bidding is submitted.

2017 State Nordic Ski:

Jackson will host. It is their turn in the rotation.

State Football Championships:

The current deal to have the state football championships at Laramie, was set to expire after the 2015 season.

The deal has been extended for 2 more years, extending it through 2017.

No one else other than Laramie/UW submitted a bid.

State Spirit Competition:

Commissioner Ron Laird says some seats (not all) at the Casper Events Center, WILL be reserved seating, meaning they require seat specific tickets.

In the past, all seating was general admission (seat yourself), and this has caused some problems with seat-saving.

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