Page 10 - 2022 IHSAA Annual Report

LET TER FROM THE COMMIS SIONER LET TER FROM THE COMMIS SIONER

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COMMISSIONER “... the passing of Title IX a half-century ago deserves
to be celebrated, as it was monumental for our
country, state, Association, and, most importantly,
To All IHSAA Stakeholders: for female student-athletes.”
This year’s Annual Report is a celebration that has been 50 years in the
making. As was mentioned in the chairman’s letter, the passing of Title
IX a half-century ago deserves to be celebrated, as it was monumental
for our country, state, Association, and, most importantly, for female
student-athletes.
Paul Neidig is the ninth Commissioner of
While every annual report aims to represent all IHSAA student- the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
athletes equally—whether by sex, race, geographic location, or the size He completed his third year in the role at the
of the school—you will very quickly see that this year’s annual report conclusion of the 2021-22 school year.
intentionally celebrates our female student-athletes. And not only does
it celebrate what they accomplished this year, but it celebrates all they
have accomplished over the last 50 years.

Now, I want us to look at Title IX through the lens of education-based
athletics. As I’ve stressed throughout my time as commissioner, high
school sports in this state are an extension of the classroom. And
therefore, coaches, athletic administrators, game officials, and parents
must, in fact, be educators.

To that end, education-based athletics aim to forge all participants and
stakeholders—which includes coaches, ADs, administrators, fans, and
you—into lifelong learners. That means we build off what we learned the
day before. We continue to strive and get better. We must be better
today than we were yesterday, and we will be better tomorrow than we
were today.

Lifelong learners make progress. The passing of Title IX was progress.
Continually implementing it was progress. Now, it’s time to celebrate
that progress.

I am so excited to share this 2021-2022 annual report to celebrate this
past year and the 50 years that preceded it. We have accomplished a
great deal. Let’s continue to build on that. Let’s get better every single
day. That’s what Title IX has taught us, and that’s what lifelong
learners do.

Please join me in giving our Indiana female student-athletes of past and
present a standing ovation!

Paul Neidig
Commissioner
Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.
#ThisIsYourIHSAA

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