Recap of NYSPHSAA Executive Committee Meeting

5/4/2022 4:05:32 PM

NYSPHSAA Holds Quarterly Executive Committee Meeting in Saratoga

LATHAM, NY - The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) held its quarterly meeting of the Executive Committee on Wednesday, May 4th at the Embassy Suites in Saratoga Springs. The committee voted on several key proposals important to the Association’s 787-member schools.

To be more inclusive of participants’ cultural and religious beliefs, the Executive Committee approved adding the following to the NYSPHSAA Jewelry Rule in the NYSPHSAA Handbook:
 
“Hair adornments, including beads, may be worn provided they are secured and do not present a safety hazard to the player, teammates, or opponent(s).”

The Committee approved waiving the seven-day rule for the remainder of the spring season, which allows teams to play or practice every day of the week, effective immediately.

The NYSPHSAA Football Committee received approval for numerous proposals: a formal regional football championship for 8-man football for a two-year period, the penalty for a football player who is disqualified for targeting will not permitted to participate for the next two halves of a game, and allowing football teams participating in the NYSPHSAA championships to begin their season on the Saturday of week 7 (of the NYSPHSAA standard calendar). The Executive Committee defeated a football proposal to allow Sections VIII and XI to start on the Monday of week 7.

The following championship venues were approved: Carrier Dome for Football State Finals (2023-25), Middletown High School (2023-25) for the Football East State Semifinals, and Cicero North Syracuse High School (2023 & 2025) and Vestal High School (2024) to share a rotation for the Football West State Semifinals.

The sport of girls volleyball had four proposals approved: a waiver of the fifth set and instead play to 15 points (varsity only), a waiver of NYSPHSAA rule #3 related to warm-up space, adopting a 75 second -time out rule as used in the NCAA and a new regional rotation for 2022-2025.
 
The boys and girls tennis proposal to establish a format to play for 9th and 10th place in singles and doubles at the tennis state championships was defeated. The field hockey proposal to amend the current regional rotation and fill byes with at-large teams was approved. The sport of boys lacrosse was granted approval to revise the current classification cut-off numbers as well as a new regional rotation was approved for 2022-2027.

Adam Stoltman, Superintendent of Alden Central School (Section VI), was approved as the second Vice President of the Association. His term will begin on July 28th.

The complete meeting agenda can be found here. A recap pf the voting items can be found here.

The meeting was called to order by President Julie Bergman at 9:00 am and concluded at 1:36 pm. The next meeting of the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee will be held in conjunction with the NYSPHSAA Central Committee meeting at the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid July 26th-28th.