ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Bulletin December - January, 2004-05 SPRING SPORTS PROGRAMS CENTRAL BOARD BOARD DENIES MAKE SEVERAL CHANGES TWO APPEALS Two new state meet sites for track & field, a In a change under National Federation rules, a The Central Board of the Alabama High School revision in the baseball playoff format, and a new participant may not compete in more than four Athletic Association met Dec. 16 in Birmingham. site for the high school Hall of Fame induction are events, including relays, in a single track & field A synopsis of the meeting is as follows: among the “new looks” and changes in the 2005 meet. In recent years the AHSAA has allowed five • The Board heard an appeal from Shoals spring programs of the Alabama High School events per individual, but a member state associa- Christian School concerning the eligibility of Ryne Athletic Association. tion is no longer allowed to adopt that number Davis. After meeting in executive session, the under National Federation rules. Board voted unanimously to uphold the original Track & Field Junior high/middle school competition will decision of Dan Washburn, AHSAA Executive The state track & field meet hosts will be Paul allow participants to compete in three events. In a Director. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa for Classes 1A, meet involving all ninth graders (junior high), par- • The Board considered a letter from Francis 3A and 5A and Oak Mountain High School in ticipants may compete in four events. Marion High School outlining their progress of Birmingham for Classes 2A, 4A and 6A. Bryant In another rule clarification, no head attire is their sportsmanship education efforts and request- hosted the 4A-5A-6A meet last year while Oak permitted except in the pole vault event where a ing relief from restrictive probation for the spring Mountain will be a new site. Both meets are protective helmet may be worn. sports. Board voted to leave the probation status scheduled May 6-7. the same as decided upon during the previous The small schools (1A, 2A and 3A) have com- Baseball meeting. peted in state competition at Troy University for a The double elimination baseball playoff format • Board approved Oak Mountain High School as number of years, but its new track facility has not has been extended back to the second round, set- the host for the 2005 Class 4A, 5A and 6A state yet been completed. The track with permanent ting up a new schedule for the first two rounds. Track Meet and to put the other state track meet seating, concession stands and restrooms is The single elimination, opening round is set for site out for bid since the new Troy University facil- scheduled for completion in 2006. Tuesday, April 26, and the new best-of-three- ity has not yet been completed. “When the new track is finished, we will talk games second round for Friday and Saturday, • Discussed the area/region survey for the foot- with the Troy officials about using their facility April 29-30. ball championship program. The survey showed again for a state track meet,” said Dan Washburn, The last three rounds on succeeding weekends that region play was favored by a 177-141 vote. AHSAA Executive Director. “We appreciate the out- are already double elimination, including the State Class 2A was the only group that favored area standing job Coach Bob Lambert and his staff have play. done in running that meet.” (See SPRING, Page 2) (See BOARD, Page 6) DODGE JOINS AHSAA CORPORATE TEAM AS A MAJOR SPONSOR Dodge, expanding its high school sponsorship rate partners play a big role in our championship Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge in Prattville and a member of program in the Southeast, is a new major corpo- program, and adding Dodge should just enhance the Alabama Dodge Dealers group. “Sponsorship rate partner of the Alabama High School Athletic these championships.” of high school athletics is important to the stu- Association, it was announced Jan. 28 by Dan This partnership is part of the Southeastern dents, the fans, parents and high schools as well. Washburn, AHSAA Executive Director. Dodge Dealers Advertising Program. Dodge is We remain committed to supporting the better- Dodge becomes the AHSAA’s seventh major already a partner with high school athletic associ- ment of our communities through this engaging, corporate partner, joining Alfa Insurance, AmSouth ations in Georgia and Florida. grass-roots partnership with the AHSAA.” Bank, Coca-Cola, Alabama Power, Encore “We are excited to have Dodge on board,” said The partnership was negotiated by iHigh Inc., a Rehabilitation and Jack’s. The contract is for one Ron Swann, AHSAA Marketing Director. “We look high school marketing company based in year (2005), with an option to renew. forward to a long relationship and developing rela- Lexington, Ky., that specializes in grass-roots pro- “We welcome Dodge as one of our major spon- tionships with Dodge dealers in Alabama.” jects involving America’s high school students and sors,” said Washburn. “We’re glad to have them as “We are very excited about this new relation- their parents. PHD US of Atlanta represented the a part of this great corporate team. These corpo- ship,” said Lamar Wagner, owner of Victory Alabama Dodge Dealers group. CORPORATE PARTNERS A SOUTHERN COMPANY® Alabama High School Athletic Association Page 2 ■ December-January 2004-05 N EWS AND N OTES 2004 – 05 MEMBER SCHOOLS MUST PLAY ONLY RULE AFFECTS COACHES, PLAYERS OTHER MEMBER SCHOOLS The Conduct Rule governing ejections of coach- Member schools of the AHSAA may not partici- es and players from contests is in effect for all DEADLINE DATES pate against any non-member schools. sports. Accreditation, a prerequisite for high school mem- The first ejection from a contest will result in a March 1– 2005 Football Schedule Form (No. 51) bership, must be completed before the AHSAA warning or reprimand, the second ejection a one- March 1– Ordering High School Hall of Fame Central Board of Control can approve a school’s game suspension, and the third ejection a suspen- Banquet Tickets membership request. sion for the remainder of that season. If the second March 8– Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Accreditation is not a prerequisite for junior high or third ejection occurs during the last game of the Basketball Games Nominations and middle school membership, but member year, a monetary fine would be placed on the (Form 35) schools can play only member schools. offender’s school. March 8– North-South All-Star Basketball Games ORGANIZED PRACTICE ALLOWED ONLY Nominations (Form 35) DURING A SPORT SEASON March 28– North-South All-Star Baseball It is not permissible for a coach of any sport to Spring Nominations (Form 36) hold organized practice with his/her players outside (Continued from page 1) March 28– North South All-Star Softball the sport season during the school year under the Finals in Montgomery May 18-21. A double- Nominations (Form 37) guise of a physical education class. header is played on the first day of each double March 28– North South All-Star Soccer Tryouts for any sport must be conducted only elimination round. Nominations (Form 38) during the designated practice period for that sport. Any bat that meets the Ball Exit Speed Ratio May 1– 2005-06 Sports Declaration Form (BESR) performance standard is legal for the 2005 (No. 26) SANCTIONING REQUIRED baseball season. If the BESR certification mark is on Most interscholastic events involving more than guards on their softball batting helmets this spring, two AHSAA member schools must be sanctioned. the bat, it may be used. The standards also apply to but effective Jan 1, 2006, a new rule will require all Application for the sanction events must be made non-wood bats, which must be labeled with a silk high school fast pitch softball players to wear bat- (using Form 8 or 9) to the State Office. screen or other permanent certification mark. ting helmets equipped with NOCSAE-approved Effective Jan. 1, 2006, no BESR label, sticker or It is not permissible for a school to participate in facemasks/guards. decal will be permitted on any non-wood bat. an interscholastic event that has not been sanc- This date allows all state association member tioned by the AHSAA. (Page 36, Section 2 of schools adequate time to budget and purchase new 2004-05 AHSAA Handbook) Tennis The date of the Class 5A girls and boys state ten- helmets that include guards or to obtain facemasks nis tournament will begin a day earlier due to a to attach to current helmets. All masks must have conflict with a junior tournament at the Mobile the phrase “Meets NOCSAE Standards” printed SM Bulletin DECEMBER-JANUARY 2004-05 Tennis Center. The new dates are Thursday and directly on them. Many manufacturers are already Official publication of the Alabama High School Friday, May 5-6. The other two state tournaments in producing these facemasks. Athletic Association, P.O. Box 5014, 926 Pelham St., Mobile remain the same, 1A-2A-3A on May 2-3 The state tournament at Lagoon Softball Complex Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5014. and the 4A on May 4-5. in Montgomery May 19-21 will feature Classes 2A, (334) 263-6994 Fax No. (334) 387-0075 The Class 6A state tennis tournament is May 5-7 Website Address: www.ahsaa.com 4A and 6A playing on Thursday and Friday, then at Lagoon Park Tennis Center in Montgomery. Girls Classes 1A, 3A and 5A on Friday and Saturday. Executive Staff and boys divisions compete at each of the four state Dan Washburn..............................................Executive Director Joe Evans....................................Associate Executive Director tournaments.