WIAA Board Of Control Holds January Meeting

Thursday, January 28th, 2021 -- 6:31 AM

The WIAA Board of Control held their January meeting on Wednesday.  

Two recommendations for change in the football regulations received Board support. The first adds language to the Playoff Procedures to count forfeits as victories for playoff qualifying but not for seeding. Only games actually played will be considered for computer seeding purposes with the results of the games counting for both teams. The second approved recommendation mandates a playoff ineligibility period until the next two-year realignment cycle for any school football program changing sponsorship to-or-from an 11-player or 8-player program outside the designated realignment process cycle.   

In soccer, the Board ratified a recommendation to strike language from the Tournament Procedures that requires a vote by coaches to retain the half bracket or split into two regional groupings. As a result, beginning in 2021-22, Sectional 1 in each division will be split into two regional groups, geographically, prior to seeding for both boys and girls soccer tournaments. Also approved, dependent upon NFHS adoption, is the removal of the experimental designation of the 45-minute halves in the Season Regulations. If not approved by the NFHS, halves will return to 40 minutes in 2021-22.

Addressing the pending winter Tournament Series, the Board approved hosting and attendance policies, as well as requiring appropriately worn masks by participants and spectators, except for competing gymnasts while performing routines. For regionals and sectionals involving two teams – including basketball and hockey – host schools are to provide a minimum of four spectators per travel party as defined in the Tournament Regulations. Schools able to accommodate only two spectators per travel party member at the regional level must contact the WIAA office.

For regionals and sectionals involving multiple teams – including wrestling, boys swimming & diving and gymnastics – host schools are to provide a minimum of two spectators per travel party.

For statewide uniformity and consistency during the tournaments, the Board reaffirmed the policy requiring a 14-day quarantine period for individuals having close contact with positive COVID-19 cases.

The Executive Staff shared with the Board the decision to suspend the state Scholar-Athlete Awards selections with recognition limited to local school recipients for 2020-21. The disruption of traditional sports seasons, tournaments and conference programming during the pandemic significantly impacts the integrity of uniformly and objectively applying the award selection criteria.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.