WIAA Board of Control alters penalty interpretation for two rule violations; Amateur Status and Non-school Competition Penalties to be Impacted

From Todd Clark at WIAA:

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Board of Control voted to change the interpretation of the penalty administration on violations of the membership’s amateur status and non-school competition rules at its December meeting today.

Beginning immediately, violations of amateur status and non-school competition rules will result in enforcement of prescribed sanctions upon determination a violation occurred; whereas, the former interpretation of the rule required enforcement retroactive from the time the violation actually occurred, which has often required forfeits of competitions and elimination from the Tournament Series.

The new interpretation of removes the retroactive aspect of the penalty and will now be assessed similar to code of conduct violations, unless the member school was aware of the violation and did not respond in a timely and appropriate manner. The scope of the penalty for amateur status and non-school competition remains unchanged, resulting in a student-athlete’s ineligibility for the period prescribed in the membership’s Rules of Eligibility.

The Board also approved an Executive Staff recommendation to discontinue reimbursements for travel and meals to member schools participating at Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the football playoffs, effective in 2013. The decision provides equity and uniformity in reimbursements across all sports during the Tournament Series.

Another approved action item was an alternate admission ticket plan for the State Boys and Girls Hockey Tournaments. A $5 per session youth ticket will be offered in 2013 to middle school-aged students wearing their youth hockey program apparel when purchasing a ticket.

Other agenda topics requiring action included approval of the 2011-12 independent audit and an appointment to the Middle Level Council, as well as an eight-player representative to the Football Coaches Advisory Committee.

The Board heard staff reports on the efforts to declare sport officials independent contractors, the introduction of the proposed 2013-14 calendar and the progress of a planned upgrade to the State Tournament ticketing process to include electronic purchasing. The Board also engaged in significant discussion on tournament seeding and its impact on tournament planning and travel. In addition, it received updates from the liaisons from the Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.

The membership of the WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 507 senior high schools and 65 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It will sponsor 25 championship tournament series in 2012-13.