Page 14 - 2017 IHSAA Annual Report

2016–17: The Year in Review

Following a successful spring (2016) sports rule changes and amend By-Laws every year,
season, attendance at IHSAA tournament and 2016-17 was no exception.
events in the fall and winter continued to
trend upward. While weather and team The IHSAA welcomed two new school
match-ups have an undeniable effect on members this year, Indianapolis Lighthouse
crowd size, attendance at high school Charter School East and Lighthouse Chris-
tournament events appears to be steadily, if tian Academy of Bloomington.
modestly, increasing. And this is significant
considering all of the alternatives that The Board also considered and voted
sports fans can choose from. on proposed rule changes submitted by
wrestling, golf, gymnastics, track and cross
Related to attendance is realignment. In this country coaches. And emergency By-Law
regard, the IHSAA Executive Committee amendments relating to Unified Sports, the
realigned member schools for all team timing of eligibility decisions and baseball
sports as well as wrestling for the 2017-18 pitch counts were all passed.
and 2018-19 school years. This helps keep
the playing field level—which assures In addition, a third classification for soccer
fairness among student-athletes, gives was added, and two new administrative
more schools an opportunity to compete positions were created, Director of Broad-
for championships, and, in turn, generates cast Operations and President of the IHSAA
increased interest among fans. Foundation. After four years, the IHSAA
Officials Summit was discontinued because
It is customary for the IHSAA Executive of a lack of participation.
Committee to admit new members, consider

Fast Fact: The IHSAA was founded on December 29, 1903. It is believed that
the original 15 charter schools were Anderson, Alexandria, Bloomington, Eaton,
Fairmount, Goshen, Huntington, Indianapolis Manual, Indianapolis Shortridge,
Kokomo, Marion, Noblesville, North Manchester, Salem and Wabash.

14 INDIANA HIGH S CHOOL A THLE TIC ASS OCIA TION Annual Report 2017