MINUTES FROM MEETING WITH BOBBY COX-IHSAA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017 @ 2PM. 9150 Meridian St, Indianapolis– I had sent Bobby my agenda and he just ran from top to bottom and shared his thoughts.
1)What do you see as Pros and Cons of bowling becoming an IHSAA sport?We’ve done a great job. They don’t want to take it from us, but if we are ready, they are willing to talk.
2)What is the process to become an IHSAA sport?They would consider a new sport when ½ of their members participate (205). They would have to validate the numbers.
3)Do you feel all schools would continue if it would become an IHSAA sport?It would still be pretty much like it is now. The school could say yes, but will they have the bowlers. Schools would have to consider the costs and then whether they could/would budget the money or pass the cost on to the participants (like now). We would be considered an individual sport as individuals can participate without a full team. It may take some minor rule changes. It would be comparable to golf. Most schools have golf in their budget, but golf just celebrated the 80th anniversary and bowling is new.
4)Do you feel more schools would join if it were to become an official IHSAA sport?Perhaps more school participation, if not more schools/numbers. Soccer was the last sport added in the 90’s. They have added a ‘special needs’ program that has gone from 13, 39, 59 and 101 schools. The IHSAA is focused on providing opportunity for youth to participate and represent their school to get that ‘feeling’(?).
5)What is the current IHSAA rule on ‘Limited Participation’? Is there any chance of getting some or any exceptions?We presently allow kids to bowl in other programs during the HS season. IHSAA does not. Illinois has an athletic and activity association and bowling falls under the activity. Indiana is athletic only.
6)What is the current IHSAA rule on ‘Scholarships’? Is there any chance of bowlers continuing to keep, grow and use their SMART funds?Although they don’t allow money for performance, the SMART fund could still be a possibility where the money isn’t given to the kids and even then it’s after graduation.
7)Would IHSAA continue to require USBC certification? Would certification be an option to each conference or school? Would honor score still be recognized? They would not require USBC certification. It’s possible to work with USBC to recognize the scores. They allow state champions to purchase rings.
8)Is there any cost to have a IHSAA team/program?There is no cost to join IHSAA or any program/sport. Again, costs of the sport would fall to the schools where they could budget it or require fundraising. IHSAA pays every school for every bowler who advances in the tournament. The amount is the percentage of revenue generated. (I think) They would look at the revenue. Even deficit sports get paid.
9)Would the costs of the program be paid by the school or students?
10)Would it be up to the schools (ADs) to work out practice/match fees with the local proprietors?Yes. Would the schools charge and keep admission fees for matches?Probably. Would the proprietors be able to charge and keep the admission? No. They would work out agreement with school. Normally the home school gathers the revenue and pays the expenses. Some conferences share the revenue/expense, like the Summit Athletic Conf in Fort Wayne.
11)Do you see conference/local matches becoming more of a two-school match or maybe several schools on weekends (like wrestling)? Any chance of continuing as a ‘Travel League’ where all conference teams bowl at one time? Typically, schedules are set as two year deals, home and away. This would be a question. Alcohol could be an issue. IHSAA doesn’t allow any during their other competitions. Bobby says that if there was an attempt to separate it, it could work. Mark suggested pulling a curtain between HS and other. There would probably be a limit on the number of conf matches.
12)Would you still see schools forming bowling matches with their normal athletic conferences or staying with our established ‘geographical conferences’?Most conferences now are formed for competition and geographic location. Some of the old conferences have maintained for tradition. There are some conferences that are sport specific. Bowling could be like this. Schools form conferences.
13)Would IHSAA run the tournament? Would admission fees go to the association? School? Center?IHSAA tournament would be run by the association. They would appoint a home school to work with the proprietor to run the event. Conf money would be the schools’ and tournament money would be IHSAA.
14)What obligations and responsibilities will the centers have?They would provide the venue and work with the host school. (Similar to what we do now.)
15)What obligations and responsibilities will the association have? Schools?
16)Would your present staff run the program or would you need additional staff to run it? Transition period? They would run the program with the help of their schools and centers. They would like us to help with transition. They would probably announce it a year before it would go into effect. Then they would appreciate our continued support (of use of centers). They would assign an ‘assistant commissioner’ to oversee the program. He has the perfect person in mind, the former AD from Boone Grove when they won the title.
17)What about merchandise sales, fundraisers and raffles? Is the separation conference play and tournament? Are the schools responsible for conference and IHSAA tournament? IHSAA gets nothing from concessions. Their income is from admission and merchandise. Schools can sell their merchandise locally, but the tournament merchandise is IHSAA. They have a merchandise vendor and they just get a flat fee yearly and the company takes care of everything else.
18)Who staffs events, conference matches or tournament?The home school runs the conference match and IHSAA appoints a home school to run each event of the tournament.
19)Who promotes for new bowlers? Who oversees player solicitation? What is the registration process?The coaches would promote within their school district. IHSAA does have a recruiting rule prohibiting talk to kids from schools outside their feeder schools.
20)What is the registration process for coaches? Do they need background checks? Would they use our USBC RVP program? Are there IHSAA requirements? School requirements?They would not require USBC RVP. Each school has their own process.
21)Would you/we still need conference coordinators?Conferences normally elect a president to oversee their conf programs.
22)Would the IHSAA have uniform rules? Who would enforce these rules? IHSAA? School?Their enforcement is pretty much like ours. Schools are supposed to monitor themselves, but everyone watches each other. Infractions are reported to IHSAA, then Bobby goes back to the offending principal. Penalties result from ‘By Law Violations’. Most time it’s ineligible players resulting in forfeitures. He views two reasons: acts of omission and acts of commission. Did they not know or know and do it anyways? The penalties are determined by the infraction(s). They do have uniform rules from the National Athletic Federation. They would probably accept our uniform rules. They are aware that they have to make allowances to allow different causes. They now have a pick your night and pick your cause to allow for breast cancer, National Guard, heart association, etc.
23)What kind on time frame would be required to make the change? He would think it would be ideal for us to become a ‘coaches’ association’ and keep doing what we’re doing. If we are ready, he would put the inquiry on the agenda for their next board meeting and get a feel from their board. Their next meeting is a retreat in June. If the board approves, it would go on the agenda at the annual principals’ meetings across the state. The proposal would probably need 75-80% vote to be accepted.
I asked Mr. Cox for additional info after the Indianapolis Conf meeting and before the annual coaches meeting in Lafayette. Here are those questions and his answers.
October 4, 2017
Bobby,
We have our annual coaches' clinic on Sunday and I've going to officially announce our discussions to those present. I have had a couple questions at conference meetings.
1)What is the moratorium for coaches and players? Will it apply?
The IHSAA Moratorium week is the Monday through Sunday that includes the 4thof July each summer. I will be applicable to bowling should it become an IHSAA sanctioned sport.
2)Big one, will bowlers get any kind of exemption to bowl in other events? I thought you once told me it could be possible for state or national events. What about qualifying tournaments for the national tournament?
This is greatly dependent on how bowling is classified; a team sport or individual sport. In our individual sports, students are allowed two waivers to participate in non-school sponsored events during the contest season.
3)Do you think you'll change your by-laws to allow their SMART Fund scholarships?
Our amateurism rule (Rule 5) would need amendment to allow for this current practice.
4)Will coaches have to take your training classes?
Yes. All coaches must meet the provisions of Rule 7 of the by-laws.
Thanks.
Steve Kunkel