LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AGENDA March 14, 2018 Murfreesboro, TN

  1. Roll Call
  2. Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting
  3. Old Business
    1. Proposed Change to Article I, Section 3 (Membership) of the TSSAA Bylaws: br> br> This item was tabled at the December meeting. This proposal would change Section 3 to read: br> br> For tournament competition there shall be two categories. Division I shall be schools whose student-athletes do not receive need-based financial aid. Division II shall be those independent schools whose student-athletes may be the recipients of need-based financial aid. Any independent school with a financial assistance program involving tuition-paying student-athletes and/or their immediate family must be classified as a Division II school. br> br> Rationale: br> br> The current policy, which allows public schools to compete in Division II is not consistent with the direction that the TSSAA membership appears to be taking. As the TSSAA membership more clearly delineates the lines between public schools and independent schools based on their many differences, entanglement between public and independent schools should be reduced. Division II should be reserved for and limited to independent schools. Furthermore, this separation would effectively eliminate the potential for abuse of cooperative agreements between public schools and independent schools. (Submitted by Jackson Christian School)
    2. Proposed Change to Article I, Section 3 (Membership) of the TSSAA Bylaws: br> br> Effective in the 2019-2020 school year, all public and charter schools will participate in Division I, and all private and independent schools will participate in Division II. (Submitted by Harding Academy) br> br> If approved, the proposed bylaw change would read: br> br> For tournament competition there shall be two categories. Division I shall consist of all member public schools. Division II shall consist of all member independent schools.For tournament competition there shall be two categories. Division I shall consist of all member public schools. Division II shall consist of all member independent schools.
    3. Proposed Addition to Article III, Section 10 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) of the TSSAA/TMSAA Bylaws br> br> At the December meeting, the Council requested that the staff work on the language for this proposal and survey the schools. The amended proposal reads: br> br> If a fan is ejected from an athletic contest, the school will be given a choice of removing the fan for a minimum of the next two contests or be fined $500.00 and face further disciplinary action. br> br> Rationale: br> br> The TSSAA and its member schools believe strongly that the major purpose of athletics is to be a part of the total educational program. A major part of this purpose is to stress to coaches, players, officials, and fans the vital importance of sportsmanship. It is critical that everyone in each of these categories understand the major role model that they can be for others. Recognizing this principle, unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of these groups cannot be accepted. (Submitted by the TSSAA Staff) br> br> The state office surveyed schools to see if they would like to see fan ejections addressed by the TSSAA Bylaws.
  4. New Business
    1. Proposed change to Article I, Section 10 (Rules Meetings for Coaches) br> br> A member of the coaching staff in each sport and cheerleading or the Athletic Director shall attend a state rules meeting, if held, or complete the online rules meeting (if available), in the sport involved, by the set deadline each year. The penalty shall be a fine of $50.00 if a member of the coaching staff in each sport and cheerleading or the Athletic Director does not meet the requirement by the set deadline. After the deadline passes, an online rules meeting will be available to make up missed meetings. An online or face-to-face rules meeting must be completed each year before the head coach is allowed to coach in the post-season tournament competition.
    2. Unified Sports Update br> br> The staff is currently working with Special Olympics to finalize the necessary modifications to the bylaws for Unified Sports. We will update the Council on the progress.
    3. Sports Medicine Advisory Committee - Football Practice RegulationsMark Reeves will bring this information to the Legislative Council
    4. Discussion of Spring Football Practice br> br> The state office conducted a survey to see which states still have spring Football practice. A supplement will be with the results and also contains a recommendation from the Tennessee Football Coaches Association. This item is being brought to the Council for discussion.
    5. The TMSAA Committee Requests Permanent Removal of the Independent Game Rule for all Middle School Sports Except Football and Basketball br> br> The Legislative Council waived the Independent Game Rule for all middle school sports except football and basketball for the last two years. Over 80% of the member schools are in favor of making this change permanent. There have been no issues during the two trial years. The staff recommends this change.
  5. Litigation Report