AUG./SEPT. 2003 Volume 88 • Number 1 UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○Leaguer GOOD TO THE LAST DROP Briefs and Notes Districts work to squeeze every Calendar of upcoming events penny out of tighter budgets Sept. 15 ............................ District directors’ and academic eaching has always was an easy way to give it up.” Others said they are postponing coordinators names due. Sept. 20 ........................... Student been considered one Many of the cutbacks are seen facilities or charging athletic fees. Activities Conference — of those “safe” careers in the athletic area. In the In fact, other states are making University of North Texas (Denton) — safe in the fact that Crawford school district, superin- more reductions than in Texas. Sept. 27 ........................... Student no matter what kind tendent Kenneth Judy said he is “Oklahoma has cut back 25 Activities Conference — Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Tof financial situation the country trimming approximately 10 percent percent of its spring meet athlet- Oct. 1 .................................... UIL was in, a person could find a of the extra-curricular budget. ics,” said Dr. Bill Farney, UIL Memberships due Oct. 15 ..................... Elementary/ teaching job. That idea is now “Most of the trimming will Director and member of the In Texas, several school Junior High academics — becoming harder to prove in some come in the form of having the National Federation of High districts have gone to charging deadline to submit spring district areas. School districts faced layoffs athletes wear the same uniforms School athletics committee. “They meet organization form and students to participate in extra- requistion and other another year,” have had to eliminate games and curricular activities. Oct 19-20 .............................. UIL reduction in “Oklahoma has cut he said. matches.” “Every student pays $250 to Legislative Council meeting force measures back 25 percent of its “There’s not Other states, too, have had play football, basketball, track, academics Notes to balance spring meet athletics,” much you can financial difficulties. and other sports,” Dallas Highland The four Student Activities budgets last UIL Director Dr. Bill cut back on. A “Oregon had to close schools 18 Park High School principal Patrick Conferences have been scheduled spring, and are lot of the days early because of a lack of Cates said. “There is a limit to the for this fall. They will be held Farney, said. “They Sept. 20 at The University of now instituting have had to eliminate expenses come funds,” Farney said. “Illinois and amount charged to a family each North Texas in Denton; Sept. 27 other cost- games and matches.” from fees for Minnesota are charging up to year, but this program has helped at Texas Tech University in Lub- saving measures tournaments $1,200 to $1,400 per student to the district offset some of the costs bock; Oct. 25 at The University to maintain the financial picture of and fees for officials, so there’s not participate in sports. Nationally, associated with running the of Texas in Austin; and Nov. 8 at athletic programs.” Sam Houston State University in the district and still provide for the many places we can really trim we are seeing more and more needs of the students in the from.” schools charge fees to participate.” Huntsville. continued on page 10 Each conference is set to be- district. gin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 1:30 Since approximately 80 percent p.m. Admission is free to all ac- of a district’s budget deals with UIL accounting office makes some changes, tivities. Please check the UIL web- site for more details. personnel, number-crunchers must keeps other procedures similar to past look at that other 20 percent for Athletic Notes In one major change, UIL now accepts VISA and some financial relief, and much of The more things change, the more they stay the For the first time in the history same, or so the saying goes. Mastercard as a payment option as well as purchase that is seen in the extra-curricular of UIL, volleyball has gone to The UIL accounting office has instituted some orders. ‘rally scoring’ rather than the tra- areas. changes, but many of the same procedures will be done “We still do not accept phone orders,” Deel said, ditional type of scoring. Teams “Although I don’t think this is this year as in years past. “but we can take orders by fax since there is a fax will play three out of five to 25 the beginning of a trend, we’ve machine in the order department.” The fax number is (no cap) and the fifth game will Order forms for this school year have been sent to be played to 15. Sub-varsity games heard of a few school districts that superintendents and principals. These forms are also (512) 232-6471. will include: three out of five to are considering not competing in available on the UIL web-site (www.uil.utexas.edu). As with school districts, the UIL also experiences a 25 (cap at 30). If one school wants UIL academics,” said Bobby There has been a slight increase in the cost of some busy time during the first six weeks of the school year. study materials, but shipping and handling charges “You can expect your order to be shipped within to play three out of five, then the Hawthorne, UIL director of sub-varsity guidelines for three have been eliminated. two to three weeks after we receive it in the office,” academics. “I’m not sure how much out of five will be used. “By eliminating the shipping and handling we ship Deel said. “All orders are shipped Federal Express emphasis they placed on the UIL the materials more expediently,” said Sandra Deel, ground service, which takes two to three working days The UIL web page is: academic contests anyway, so this UIL accounting department head. from the date of pick-up.” www.uil.utexas.edu UIL Leaguer 2 • News Aug/Sept. 2003 UIL works to improve all competition in Texas through different problem-solving techniques he many goals set always agree with, the eligibility, playing, penalties and, sadly, of schools with the regional directors so by the UIL each process of rule-making more over-emphasis on students spe- provisions for proper scheduling, judg- EDITOR Tyear are based on and enforcement — why cializing in one sport. Coaches aren’t ing and officiating will be in place. Dr. Bill Farney providing high quality rules are necessary, and leading this movement, parents are. And Regional directors will welcome the UIL Director service to member why penalty enforce- club coaches are fueling this fire. There expertise and help. It will be far better MANAGING EDITOR schools. Bringing com- ment is a must. It will is so much non-school play that school to plan in advance than to culminate Randy Vonderheid prehensive programs to help them know that seasons are becoming less significant. regional meets with bitterness and pro- Assistant Academic students is an exciting but rules are constantly With year-round play, other issues test. By the way, most of the college Director ever-challenging task for evolving to meet the emerge, many of them dealing with faculty provide their services free or local schools. The logis- needs of equitable com- safety. The athletic staff at UIL is doing without significant remuneration.The ADMINISTRATIVE tics of staffing, training, Bill Farney petition. They will be a marvelous job with the Medical Advi- schools they serve need to show better STAFF transporting, certifying UIL Director surprised to learn that sory Committee to study the implica- appreciation. Dr. William D. and accommodating stu- almost every rule has ex- tions of injuries, the impact of environ- We hope to have an electronic re- Farney, director; dent participants is a remarkable ceptions or redemption facets, and that mental factors, and precautions for added porting system for entry and reporting Dr. Charles achievement. all penalties do not necessarily result in safety. Scrutiny on athletics has grown results in place this year for academic Breithaupt, All the hard work, attention to de- forfeiture or ineligibility. from simple emphasis on football to the events and immediately thereafter for director of athletics; tail and commitment by dedicated pro- Our wish is that the public will see entire range of athletic endeavor. Texas athletics. This will expedite a smoother fessionals sometimes goes unnoticed or the spirit behind the structure and the is determined to lead the nation in its administration of all regional meets. Richard Floyd, director of music — in some schools — is taken for abiding purpose of equitable competi- efforts to make athletics safer for current Our staff will generate better state activities; granted. It is significant that thousands tion. In a society that shows abundant and future athletes. meets — not totally problem-free, but of directors, coaches and sponsors con- bias toward the powerful and wealthy, it Emphasis on elementary and junior better each year. You can help us by Bobby Hawthorne, tinue to operate in a selfless manner. is important that UIL rules apply uni- high academic activities remains a strong telling us what we need to do better. director of academics; For them, the intrinsic values of seeing formly to the privileged and unprivi- goal this year, especially in areas of the Pats on the back are always appreciated, Diana Cardona, young people grow and mature far out- leged. state which traditionally have had little but we also need your critique. spring meet materials shine monetary compensation. Our goals for music include, but are or no participation. Why this emphasis? Officials will never be perfect. Theirs director; At the UIL we will work harder to not limited to, the important balance Because we know there is genuine inter- is a journey of controversy, emotion and Peter Contreras, provide prompt and accurate response between music education and perfor- est and unrealized talent in those schools.