FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2006


Board approves increase in qualifiers for swimming & diving

GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors today approved an increase in the number of qualifiers in the state swimming & diving series.

The amendment stipulates that 24, rather than 16, contestants in individual swimming events and diving competition (but not relay events) will advance from district meets to their respective regional meets, and from regional meets to the FHSAA Finals. The top finisher in each swimming event (top two finishers in diving competition provided they score 280.0 or better) from each district or regional meet and the next overall best times (diving scores provided they are 280.0 or better) at-large from the top eight finishers in each district/regional meet will comprise the field of 24 contestants in the event. Also, the top 16, rather than eight, places will be scored in district meets, regional meets and the FHSAA Finals.

"The increase in participation is something that bubbled up from the coaches and participants," said Commissioner John A. Stewart. "The staff considered it to be a positive change as well, and we hope it adds to the overall experience of the student-athlete and the success of the events."

The board also approved a staff recommendation to amend all references to loss of time from school in FHSAA Policy 5, "Sports Season Guidelines," and all sports regulation manuals to state: "No more than one school day or part of one school day may be missed in a week for traveling to, traveling from and participating in an athletic contest(s)."

In other action, the Board of Directors:

• Approved a recommendation of the Cross Country Advisory Committee to amend the FHSAA Finals time schedule so that races are alternated girls-girls-boys-boys-girls-girls-boys-boys rather than girls-boys-girls-boys-girls-boys-girls-boys.

• Approved a recommendation of the Football Advisory Committee to amend Regulation 106.01, modification to NFHS Rule 3-1-2, to read: "If one team is ahead by a margin of 35 points or more at the end of the second quarter or at any point during the third quarter, the head coach of the team that is behind may request of the referee a running clock. If, however, the differential in the score is 35 points or more at the end of the third quarter or at any point thereafter, the running clock shall become mandatory. Once the running clock is initiated, it shall run continuously with the exception of any timeout taken by a team or officials, following a score by either team, and during the period between quarters."

• Approved a recommendation of the Football Advisory Committee to create a new regulation to read "Forfeitures. Each contracted regular season game shall be played as scheduled unless it is due to inclement weather (see Section 108, Inclement Weather Procedures). A school that fails to play a contracted game as scheduled shall forfeit the game and shall become ineligible to participate in the state series that season. Should this occur, all district games played by the school shall be considered non-district games and shall not count in the district standings."

• Approved a recommendation of the Football Advisory Committee to amend FHSAA Policy 26, "Guidelines for Participation by Student-Athletes in All-Star Games," to read: "The all-star game, or tryouts or practices for the all-star game, may not be conducted prior to the completion of the regular season in the sport in which the all-star game is to be conducted, An all-star game, however, shall not be played on any date on which an FHSAA State Series contest in that sport is scheduled."

• Approved a recommendation of the Girls Volleyball Advisory Committee to petition the NFHS for a rules experiment in which the libero would be permitted to serve. The coach would be required to designate for whom the libero would serve prior to the start of each game of a match.

• Approved a recommendation of the Girls Volleyball Advisory Committee to amend Regulation 105.05, "Preseason Classics," to read "Must be held on Thursday through Saturday of Week 6." Amend Regulation 103.02, "Contests," to read "First regular season contest date is Monday of Week 7. Last regular season contest date is Saturday of Week 15."

• Approved a recommendation of the Wrestling Advisory Committee to amend Contest Officials Regulation 103.05, "Field Clinics," to read "(a) All officials in sports other than wrestling must attend a field clinic in their sport(s) at least once every four years. (b) Wrestling officials must attend a field clinic at least once every three years. These field clinics shall be conducted by FHSAA-trained clinicians and shall utilize wrestlers on the mat for training purposes."

• Approved the Sea Turtle Inn in Jacksonville Beach as the site for the 2006 and 2008 June Board of Directors meetings and Academic All-State Awards banquets, and the Orlando Airport Marriott as the site for the 2007 and 2009 meetings and banquets.

• Reviewed a proposed comprehensive revision to FHSAA Bylaws Article 3, "Membership," for submission to the 2007 Representative Assembly.

• Heard a report from the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee that the committee is reviewing the NCAA's current preseason conditioning policy with regard to heat and hydration.

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 700 middle, junior and senior high schools.

The FHSAA Board of Directors is the executive authority of the Association, establishing guidelines, regulations, policies and procedures within the framework of the Association’s bylaws. The Board of Directors also has the sole authority over all terms and conditions of participation and competition in the FHSAA state championship series. The Board of Directors meets five times annually. Its next meeting is Apr. 2-3, 2006 at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building in Gainesville.

Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org