NSAA Board of Directors Meeting (10/8)

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The NSAA Board of Directors met on October 8, 2020 at the NSAA Office in Lincoln with the following members present:

District I - Kathi Wieskamp, Lincoln Public Schools​

District I - Dana Wiseman, Sutton​

District II - Dr. Bob Reznicek, Boys Town​

District II - Thomas Lee, Omaha Northwest​

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

District IV - Dan Keyser, Sutherland​

District V - Robert Drews, Holdrege​

District VI - Dr. Troy Unzicker, Alliance​

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Also in attendance were Rex Schultze, NSAA Legal Counsel; Jordan Engle, Grand Island Central Catholic; Tony Jerina, HBE Certified Public Accountants and Consultants.

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.

1. Was moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Items on the Consent Agenda included:

- approval of the meeting Agenda as amended​

- approval of the minutes of the September 17th Board of Directors meeting​

- approval of the Financial Statements​

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Motion Carried: 8-0

2. Moved to approve the 2020-21 NSAA Bowling Manual. Motion Carried: 8-0

3. Moved to approve the NSAA Play Production, Wrestling, Swimming, Basketball and Speech Manuals. Motion Carried: 8-0

4. Moved to adjust the dates, times and locations of the 2020 NSAA State Volleyball Championships due to COVID-19. Motion Carried: 8-0

5. Moved to adopt the COVID-19 protocols for District Play Production. Motion Carried: 8-0

6. Moved to allow Stanton High School to opt up in Play Production. Motion Carried: 8-0

7. Moved to allow Conestoga High School to opt up in Speech. Motion Carried: 8-0

8. The Board discussed the NSAA Legislative Proposals submitted by the membership.

9. The Board discussed the Class Caucus Proposals approved by the Class Caucus Review Committee.

10. the Board heard an appeal of the denied hardship of Daniel Martinez Rey of Grand Island Central Catholic High School.

11. Tony Jerina, HBE Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, presented the annual audit report to the Board.

12. Moved to enter into executive session at 12:01 p.m. for the purpose of (1) deliberation on the Grand Island Central Catholic appeal, and (2) discuss matters related to health and security issues for the winter and spring activities; and (3) to protect the public interest and to prevent needless injury to the reputation of individual(s). Motion Carried: 8-0

13. Moved to exit executive session at 12:53 p.m. Motion Carried: 8-0

14. Moved to uphold the Executive Director's denied hardship waiver for Daniel Martinez Rey of Grand Island Central Catholic High School. Motion Carried: 8-0

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 Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. at the NSAA Office in Lincoln.

 

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The Class Caucus Review Committee met on October 6, 2020 via Zoom with the following members present:

Chairperson: Bob Reznicek, Boys Town (NSAA Board of Directors)​

Class A: Pat Gatzmeyer, Lincoln High​

Class A: Tom Kerkman, Omaha Westside​

Class B: Dave Hoxworth, Scottsbluff​

Class C: Nate Larsen, Logan View​

Class C: Jason Polk, Wisner-Pilger​

Class D: Alan Garey, Medicine Valley​

Class D: Mike Meyerle, Diller-Odell​

Ex-officio members included NSAA Executive Director Jay Bellar; Associate Director Jennifer Schwartz; Assistant Director Jon Dolliver; Assistant Director Dan Masters. Class B representative Matt Fritsche (Grand Island Northwest) was absent.

Meeting was called to order at 10:09 a.m.

Reznicek reviewed the responsibilities of the Class Caucus Committee as defined in NSAA Bylaw 1.5.4. The purpose of the committee is to take action and review each proposal to determine if it meets the following criteria:

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1. The proposal does not affect student eligibility​

2. The proposal does not materially affect NSAA or member school finances​

3. The proposal does not affect another class.​

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If the proposal does not meet the criteria, the proposal shall be returned to the submitting Classification Caucus. The Classification Caucus may submit amendments to the proposal on or before November 15, 2020.

(I will list proposals dealing with athletics below that were considered)

Class A Wildcard Critiera - Addition of Bonus Points
Class affected: Class A
Activities affected: Baseball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling

Submitted By
Pat Gatzemeyer, Lincoln High

Proposed Implementation Date
August 9, 2021

Summary
In competition with other Class A opponents, 2 bonus points will be awarded.

Rationale
There have been several situations in recent years where Class A schools have played a majority of Non-Class A schools. In a few of these cases, the schools playing the majority of Non-Class A schools have finished in the top 8 of the final wild card standings and received the wild card berth in the Class A state tournament or were a district host. Many of these teams have under-performed in the district and state tournaments. Class A coaches and ADs believe this system has not allowed schools deserving of the opportunity to compete in a Class A state tournament.

Pros
Creates equity within the wildcard point system. Allows for flexibility to schedule Non-Class A schools. Less restrictive than requiring school to play a Class A schedule in order to host districts and/or qualify for the wildcard. You can still qualify to host districts and/or qualify for state based upon your standing within the wildcard point system.

This Proposal Passed the Committee: 7-0

 

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Class A Wildcard Critiera - Point Deduction
Class affected: Class A
Activities affected: Baseball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling

Submitted By
Pat Gatzemeyer, Lincoln High

Proposed Implementation Date
August 9, 2021

Summary
In Class A Volleyball, Softball, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Baseball and Dual Wrestling, points will be deducted for Class A schools playing non-Class A opponents using the point-deductions described below: 1) In competition with schools one classification below yours, 2 points will be deducted; 2) In competition with schools two classifications below yours, 3 points will be deducted; 3) In competitions with schools three classifications below yours, 4 points will be deducted; 4) In competition with schools four classifications below yours, 5 points will be deducted; 5) In competition with schools five classifications below yours, 6 points will be deducted.

Rationale
There have been several situations in recent years where Class A schools have played a majority of Non-Class A schools. In a few of these cases, the schools playing the majority of Non-Class A schools have finished in the top 8 of the final wild card standings and received the wild card berth in the Class A state tournament or were a district host. Many of these teams have under-performed in the district and state tournaments. Class A coaches and ADs believe this system has not allowed schools deserving of the opportunity to compete in a Class A state tournament. This proposal applies a point-deduction for Class A schools playing Non-Class A schools. The point deduction is equivalent to the point bonuses Non-Class A schools receive for playing schools above their classifications. Similar to the point-bonus system, the point deductions increase for each level down a Class A team plays (ex. 2-point deduction for playing Class B, 3-point deduction for playing Class C1, 4-point deduction for playing Class C2, 5-point deduction for playing Class D1, 6-point deduction for playing Class D2.)

Pros
1) Encourages Class A schools to play Class A schools during the regular season. 2) Creates equity within the wildcard point system. 3) Allows for flexibility to schedule Non-Class A schools. 4) Less restrictive than requiring schools to play a Class A schedule only in order to host districts and/or qualify for the wildcard. 5) You can still qualify to host districts and/or qualify for state based upon your standing within the wildcard point system.

Cons
Loss of points for playing Non-Class A opponents

This Proposal Passed the Committee: 7-0

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Class A Wildcard Critiera - Contest Percentage Point Deduction
Class affected: Class A
Activities affected: Baseball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling

Submitted By
Pat Gatzemeyer, Lincoln High

Proposed Implementation Date
August 9, 2021

Summary
If a Class A school plays more than 25% of their Class A schedule against Non-Class A opponents, 3 points will be deducted for each of the games played beyond that 25%.

Rationale
There have been several situations in recent years where Class A schools have played a majority of Non-Class A schools. In a few of these cases, the schools playing the majority of Non-Class A schools have finished in the top 8 of the final wild card standings and received the wild card berth in the Class A state tournament or were a district host. Many of these teams have under-performed in the district and state tournaments. Class A coaches and ADs believe this system has not allowed schools deserving of the opportunity to compete in a Class A state tournament.

Pros
1) Encourages Class A schools to play Class A schools during the regular season. 2) Creates equity within the wildcard point system. 3) Allows for flexibility to schedule Non-Class A schools. 4) Less restrictive than requiring schools to play a Class A schedule only in order to host districts and/or qualify for the wildcard. 5) You can still qualify to host districts and/or qualify for state based upon your standing within the wildcard point system.

Cons
Possible loss of points

This Proposal Passed the Committee: 7-0

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Class B Sub-District Softball
Class affected: Class B
Activities affected: Softball

Submitted By
Dave Hoxworth, Scottsbluff

Proposed Implementation Date
August 9, 2021

Summary
Class B Sub-District assignments are divided into ten (10) groups, based solely on geographic location starting west and moving east. All sub-districts would be four (4) teams if the total number of Class B teams is divisible by four (4). If the total number of teams is not divisible by four (4), then sub-districts of five (5) teams would be created for extra teams over that number divisible by four (4). The five (5) team sub-districts would be the teams that are furthest east. Class B sub-districts would be single elimination with the winner qualifying for districts. The highest-seed will be the host unless they choose not to host. Class B district championship assignments will consist of ten (10) sub-district champions and the six (6) teams that did not win a sub-district with the highest wildcard point averages following sub-districts. The district finals will be a one-day, best-of-three (3) series with the higher seed hosting the district final unless they choose not to host. Pairings for the districts will be based on wildcard point averages following sub-districts (1 v 16, 2 v 15, 3 v 14, 4 v 13, 5 v 12, 6 v 11, 7 v 10, 8 v 9). The district final will be played on Friday or SATURDAY of Week 14. District Dates: Class B Sub-Districts would be Monday of Week 14 with Tuesday as a rain date. District finals played on Friday OR SATURDAY of Week 14.

Rationale
The new format is consistent with other sports -- volleyball, basketball and soccer; you must win to get to state. The double-elimination format in sub-district play will likely take two days to play in the current structure. Many schools in Class B do not have access to multiple fields so playing over two days and interrupting instructional time is quite possible. Plus an additional day of travel will be needed to complete the format from at least one school. Moving to a single-elimination sub-district tournament decreases all of these things and eliminates pressure on schools hosting in terms of facilities as a maximum of three games would be played. Designating Monday as the sub-district day and Tuesday as the rain date provides clear direction on when games can be played and also gives teams qualifying for the district final time to plan for the rest of the week. Lastly, no other sport has a double-elimination sub-district tournament. With the district final set as a best 2-out-of-3, there is minimal need for a double-elimination format to be used twice in the same postseason. In addition, this exact proposal was passed in Class C a year ago.

Pros
Eliminates additional travel for sub-district play. Creates a one-day sub-district format. More consistent with what is done in other sports. Less pressure on facilities. More time for district final planning and preparation.

Cons
The double-elimination format in the sub-district allows for teams to lose twice before being eliminated which is not consistent with other Class B sport formats. The double-elimination format in both sub-districts and district finals allows a team to lose up to three games and still make the state tournament, which again, is not possible in other Class B sub-district formats. The double-elimination in the sub-district creates an additional day of travel and lengthens the amount of instructional time missed by students and coaches. Inclement weather could impact when district finals can be released, possibly not until Wednesday or Thursday. With district finals currently scheduled for Friday, this puts pressure on schools to plan and communicate with all parties involved.


This Proposal Passed the Committee: 6-1 (For: Gatzmeyer, Kerkman, Larsen, Polk, Garey, Meyerle | Against: Hoxworth)