Page 13 - 2014 IHSAA Annual Report

SECTION THR EE A Letter from the Commissioner

Valued Members of the Indiana High School Athletic Association:

It is with extreme pleasure that we provide you with this first ever annual
report of the Corporation. Our intent is to use this medium to share
the important and triumphant events of the recently completed school
year as well as highlight individuals and groups for their outstanding
accomplishments. Additionally, we will use this instrument to offer a
summary of the Association’s financial position for the recently completed
fiscal year.

For over 110 years, the Indiana High School Athletic Association has provided
governance and direction for education-based athletics in our state. The
strength of this Association lies directly with its membership and their
support of our purpose. As stated in Article II of the Articles of Incorporation:

“The purpose of this Corporation shall be to encourage, regulate and give
Bobby Cox just completed his third year direction to wholesome amateur interschool athletic competition between
as the Commissioner of the IHSAA.
the schools who are members of the Corporation. All such interschool
athletic competition coming under regulation by this Corporation shall be
subservient to and complementary to the academic or curricular functions
of the member schools which are their primary purposes. To assure that
the program of interschool athletic competition remains steadfast to the
principles of wholesome amateur athletics and subservient to its primary
academic or curricular functions of education of the member schools, the
Corporation shall cooperate with agencies vitally concerned with the health
and educational welfare of secondary school students; furnish protection
against exploitation of member schools of their students; determine
qualifications of individual contestants, coaches and officials; and provide
written communications to establish standards for eligibility, competition
and sportsmanship.”

The IHSAA continues to experience dramatic change and innovation.
The current challenges to promote and protect the values of interscholastic
athletics have never been greater. Today’s scholastic athletic landscape
includes discussions about concussion awareness, heat acclimatization,
home schooling, virtual schools, bullying and hazing. Emergency action
plans not only speak to addressing injury but now also to weather and
the threat of terrorist acts. We execute our work amidst an evolving culture
of public expectations, in an era of unprecedented scrutiny and perhaps a
diminished sense of patience or empathy. Our work is daunting yet together
our collective strength will meet all these challenges and more. The
distinguished 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once
wrote, “The secret to success is constancy to purpose.”

On behalf of our Board of Directors and staff, we thank you for your support
of our Association.

Bobby Cox

Commissioner

INDIA NA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Annual Report 2014 11