Listed below are the results of the Governing Body Meeting that was held at the Peabody Hotel on August 1, 2012.
Proposal #1 Spring Football Practice
To provide three consecutive weeks selected for spring football practice for a maximum of 10 practices using regulation equipment for full contact drills.
Purpose ? To give schools more flexibility to work around testing, regional and state events, graduations, proms, etc.
Vote: Passed 120-1
Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #2 Failure to Compete
Any school refusing to play in a regional tournament without just cause shall forfeit the contest and will not be allowed to advance to the next round of championship play.
Purpose ? To address the penalty for failure to compete.
Vote: Passed 169-0
Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #3 State Volleyball Tournament Date
The state volleyball finals will be played during week #17. In years when the national ACT test date will conflict with the state volleyball finals, member school coaches, counselors and administrators should schedule volleyball athletes to take the ACT exam during the earlier or later examination periods to avoid conflict. The state volleyball tournament and finals will not be moved.
Purpose ? To treat the state volleyball tournament the same as other sports. The finals of other events which conflict with national test dates are not moved. The rule affects multiple activities (volleyball, cross country and dance) causing the finals of these events to be moved back one week, thus affecting a larger number of schools, students and coaches.
Vote: Passes 161-2
Effective Date: 2013-14 school year
Proposal #4 Class 7A 9th Grade Participation
To remove the exception in section 7, Rule 1 from the Arkansas Activities Association Handbook, 9th grade participation.
Purpose ? It is a local school district decision and will treat all freshmen the same in all classifications.
Vote: Passed 11-5 (Class 7A votes)
Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #5 Conference Assignments
To allow the Arkansas Activities Association Executive Board the ability to assign 7, 8 or 9 teams to a conference in all classifications (this is currently done in the smaller classifications).
Purpose ? This would allow more flexibility in assigning teams to a conference and would drastically reduce travel. The number of teams that advance to the state tournament could be adjusted according to how many teams are in a certain conference ? as is currently done in smaller classifications.
Vote ? Failed 32-136
Proposal #6 Classification: Competition by Numbers
Set the classification based on enrollment so that no one school must play anyone more than twice their size. In other words, start with the school that has the highest enrollment and divide by 2. These would be in the top classification ? Class 6A. Divide the remaining schools by 2 to determine the bottom of the next classification. Proceed on down.
Purpose ? Toe reduce travel issues associated with having 7 classifications; to make all classifications equitable with respect to the % discrepancy between the largest and smallest members within each classification and lessen the involvement of or the need for state legislation and lessen the possibility of a lawsuit.
Vote ? Failed 17-146
Proposal #7 Home School Eligibility
To establish guidelines for home school eligibility. A home-schooled student is not guaranteed participation in an interscholastic activity, only the opportunity to try out for an interscholastic activity. For non-athletic competitive activities, the home-school student must meet all the academic and co-curricular requirements of the class.
Vote ? Passes 155-82
Effective Date: 2013-14 school year
Proposal #1 Spring Football Practice
To provide three consecutive weeks selected for spring football practice for a maximum of 10 practices using regulation equipment for full contact drills.
Purpose ? To give schools more flexibility to work around testing, regional and state events, graduations, proms, etc.
Vote: Passed 120-1
Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #2 Failure to Compete
Any school refusing to play in a regional tournament without just cause shall forfeit the contest and will not be allowed to advance to the next round of championship play.
Purpose ? To address the penalty for failure to compete.
Vote: Passed 169-0
Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #3 State Volleyball Tournament Date
The state volleyball finals will be played during week #17. In years when the national ACT test date will conflict with the state volleyball finals, member school coaches, counselors and administrators should schedule volleyball athletes to take the ACT exam during the earlier or later examination periods to avoid conflict. The state volleyball tournament and finals will not be moved.
Purpose ? To treat the state volleyball tournament the same as other sports. The finals of other events which conflict with national test dates are not moved. The rule affects multiple activities (volleyball, cross country and dance) causing the finals of these events to be moved back one week, thus affecting a larger number of schools, students and coaches.
Vote: Passes 161-2
Effective Date: 2013-14 school year
Proposal #4 Class 7A 9th Grade Participation
To remove the exception in section 7, Rule 1 from the Arkansas Activities Association Handbook, 9th grade participation.
Purpose ? It is a local school district decision and will treat all freshmen the same in all classifications.
Vote: Passed 11-5 (Class 7A votes)
Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #5 Conference Assignments
To allow the Arkansas Activities Association Executive Board the ability to assign 7, 8 or 9 teams to a conference in all classifications (this is currently done in the smaller classifications).
Purpose ? This would allow more flexibility in assigning teams to a conference and would drastically reduce travel. The number of teams that advance to the state tournament could be adjusted according to how many teams are in a certain conference ? as is currently done in smaller classifications.
Vote ? Failed 32-136
Proposal #6 Classification: Competition by Numbers
Set the classification based on enrollment so that no one school must play anyone more than twice their size. In other words, start with the school that has the highest enrollment and divide by 2. These would be in the top classification ? Class 6A. Divide the remaining schools by 2 to determine the bottom of the next classification. Proceed on down.
Purpose ? Toe reduce travel issues associated with having 7 classifications; to make all classifications equitable with respect to the % discrepancy between the largest and smallest members within each classification and lessen the involvement of or the need for state legislation and lessen the possibility of a lawsuit.
Vote ? Failed 17-146
Proposal #7 Home School Eligibility
To establish guidelines for home school eligibility. A home-schooled student is not guaranteed participation in an interscholastic activity, only the opportunity to try out for an interscholastic activity. For non-athletic competitive activities, the home-school student must meet all the academic and co-curricular requirements of the class.
Vote ? Passes 155-82
Effective Date: 2013-14 school year
