NSAA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - February 15, 2023

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The NSAA Board of Directors met on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at the NSAA offices in Lincoln with the following members present:

District I - Kara Graham, Lincoln Southeast​

District I - Dr. Dana Wiseman, Sutton​

District II - Nick Wemhoff, Fort Calhoun​

District II - Thomas Lee, Omaha Westview​

District III - Dr. Jon Cerny, Bancroft-Rosalie​

District IV - Ryan Ruhl, Centura​

District V - Robert Drews, Arapahoe​

District VI - Dr. Troy Unzicker, Alliance​

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Also in attendance: Kim Snyder, Nebraska Department of Education liaison; Bobby Truhe, NSAA Legal Counsel; Harrison Phillips, and Jason Heldt, Athletic Director, Red Cloud High School.

The meeting was called to order at 8:47 a.m.

1. During the public comment period, the Board heard from Harrison Phillips.

2. It was moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Items on the Consent Agenda included: the approval of the meeting Agenda as presented; approval of the Minutes of the January 25, 2023 Board of Directors meeting; approval of the Minutes of the February 8, 2023 Class Caucus Committee meeting; approval of the Financial Statements. Motion Carried: 8-0

3. Moved to approve the 2023 NSAA Journalism, Baseball, Soccer, Track & Field and Unified Sports Track & Field manuals. Motion Carried: 8-0

4. The Board heard a presentation from administration from Red Cloud High School.

5. The Board discussed ways to support diversity, equity and inclusion.

6. Moved to approve a new NSAA State Softball Championship format, consisting of two 4-team double-elimination brackets with a winner-take-all championship final. Teams cannot be eliminated by the same team in back-to-back games, due to cross-bracket matchups after the second round. Motion Carried: 5-3 (For: Graham, Wiseman, Wemhoff, Lee, Drews | Against: Cerny, Ruhl, Unzicker).

7. Moved to move the NSAA State Softball Championship Final games to Monday of NSAA Week 16 and play the games at the University of Nebraska-Omaha's softball facility. Motion Carried: 7-1 (Against: Unzicker)

8. The Board discussed the dates and location of the Summer Board Retreat.

9. The Board discussed the 2023 NFHS Summer Meeting in Seattle.

10. The Board discussed NSAA Bylaw 3.5 Participation on Non-High School Teams and in Non-High School Competition during the season of a sport (Outside Participation).

11. Moved to enter into executive session at 11:33 a.m. to discuss Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and receive legal advice. Motion Carried: 8-0

12. Moved to exit executive session at 12:47 p.m. Motion Carried: 8-0

13. Moved to adopt the amended Approved Ruling 3.7.1c Name, Image, and Likeness effective February 27, 2023. The NSAA Executive Director will provide information to the member schools prior to the new language going into effect.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

The next meeting of the NSAA Board of Directors will be March 8, 2023 at the NSAA Office in Lincoln.

 

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The Class Caucus Review Committee met February 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (CT) via Zoom with members present as follows:

NSAA Board of Directors Chairperson - Bob Drews, Arapahoe​

Class A - Tom Kerkman, Omaha Westside​

Class A - Matt Uher, Lincoln Northeast​

Class B - Dave Hoxworth, Scottsbluff​

Class B - Luke Ford, Elkhorn North​

Class C - Jason Polk, Wisner-Pilger​

Class C - Nathan Dietz, Amherst​

Class D - Alan Garey, Medicine Valley​

Class D - Ron Beacom, Neligh-Oakdale​

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Ex-officio members included NSAA Executive Director Jay Bellar; Associate Director Jennifer Schwartz; Assistant Directors Nate Neuhaus and Jeff Stauss.

Drews called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

The purpose of the second meeting of the Classification Caucus Committee is to consider the proposals and any subsequent amendments. For a proposal to advance, it must receive an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the committee members.

There were no amended proposals to consider. The committee reaffirmed that the proposals met the Classification Caucus criteria.

After Representative Assembly, approved proposals will be sent to the respective class for a vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:21 a.m.

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SOFTBALL NUMBER OF CONTESTS
Author: Dave Hoxworth, Scottsbluff
Classes Affected: B
Motion Carried: 9-0

Summary:
Currently, Class A is allowed 18 dates. Class B and C are allowed 17 dates. This proposal will allow Class B to be consistent with Class A and allow for an additional softball date. Current verbiage in manual: No team representing a member school in Class A may participate in more than eighteen (18) dates; no team representing a member school in Classes B or C may participate in more than seventeen (17) dates. Proposed verbiage for manual: No team representing a member school in Classes A or B may participate in more than eighteen (18) dates; no team representing a member school in Class C may participate in more than seventeen (17) dates.

Rationale:
During the 2012-13 school year the calendar was adjusted to allow for an extra week of practice at the beginning of the season. Immediately, the Class A caucus passed this additional game into what it is today. Class B (and C) never has adjusted (hence the discrepancy). Class B should be afforded the same opportunities as Class A. Class B programs carry the same number of levels and participants as a majority of Class A teams. NSAA tracks records by All-Class (As well as Class by Class). Class A has access to more records/accolades as a result of being afforded extra contests. Both OWH and LJS also use stats for criteria when selecting all-state teams. More games = more opportunities for hits, RBIs, HRs, etc. Class B athletes deserve a consistent/level playing field and opportunity to make all-state when compared to their Class A counterparts.

Pros:
More opportunities to showcase our athletes and our programs.

Cons:
Only would increase costs/umpires if you desire to add that extra game -- not required

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WRESTLING SEEDING FOR STATE TOURNAMENT
Author: Tom Kerkman, Omaha Westside
Classes Affected: A
Motion Carried: 9-0

Summary:
Seeding Top 4 Wrestlers at State Meet State Championships Seedings and Pairings. 1. The pairings for the State Wrestling Championships will be made available on (NSAA date TBA) at the conclusion of the last District Tournament. All Weight Classes -- Seeding the four district champions for the State Tournament. Once all district tournaments are concluded, the district champions will be put into trackwrestling.com and the same seeding criteria used to seed wrestlers at districts will be implemented to determine the top four seeds at the state tournament. At the state tournament, the #1 seed will be placed at the top of the bracket, the #2 seed will be placed at the bottom of the bracket. The #3 seed will be placed at the top of the bottom-side of the bracket. The #4 seed will be placed at the bottom of the top-side of the bracket. The remaining 12 wrestlers will be bracketed according to their district place at their respective district meet. The 1st round at the state tournament will pair the district champions with the 4th-place finishers from a different district. The 1st round at the state tournament will pair district runner-ups with 3rd place finishers from another district. 2nd place finishers will be placed on the opposite side of the state bracket from the champion from their district.

Rationale:
The goal is to better promote our sport at the state tournament by bracketing the top kids in a manner that televised championship matches feature the top two wrestlers at that weight class. If the two best kids are in the same district and both make the district finals, they are already separated. If the best two wrestlers are champions in different districts, they would be on opposite sides at the state tournament with this format. This will reduce the number of championships that are decided in the semifinals and allow the best two wrestlers to be showcased during the championship match on Saturday.

Pros:
Gives the best opportunity for the best match-ups.

Cons:
(none)