Illinois High School Association

http://www.ihsa.org

Introduction to IHSA

• What is the IHSA?

- Illinois High School Association

• Who are members?

over 760 public and private high schools in the - - state of Illinois (show map)

• Where are IHSA’s headquarters located?

- Bloomington, Illinois

Introduction to IHSA

• How is the IHSA Governed?- one executive director and six assistant executive directors

- full time staff of 27

• What does the IHSA govern?- the IHSA regulates interscholastic competition for girls and boys, as well as non-athletic activities

Girls Athletics

IHSA offers 13 statewide championship series. In five of the 13 series, competition is conducted in two (Class A and Class AA) enrollment classifications, while the remaining series are not classified. Two-class state series are conducted in Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Track & Field and Softball.

Girls Athletics

Girls Athletics Sponsored by IHSA?

The series (and the year in first state championship was crowned) are:

Badminton (1977), Basketball (1977), Bowling (1973), Cross Country (1979), Gymnastics (1977), Soccer (1988), Softball (1976), Swimming & Diving (1975), Tennis (1972), Track & Field (1973), Volleyball (1975) and Water Polo (2002).

Girls Athletics Calendar

Fall, Winter, Spring sports?

The series are conducted during the school year as follows:

Fall — Golf, Tennis, Cross Country, Swimming & Diving, and Volleyball;

Winter — Bowling, Gymnastics, and Basketball;

Spring — Track & Field, Badminton, Soccer, Water Polo, and Softball.

Boys Athletics

IHSA offers 13 statewide championship series. In seven of the 13 series, competition is conducted in two (Class A and Class AA) enrollment classifications. A seventh, Football, is conducted in eight classes, while the remaining series are not classified. Two-class state series are conducted in Golf, Cross Country, Soccer, Wrestling (Dual Meet and Individual), Basketball, Track & Field and Baseball.

Boys Athletics

Boys Athletics Sponsored by IHSA?

The series (and the year the first state champion was crowned) are:

Baseball (1940), Basketball (1908), Bowling (2003), Cross Country (1946), Football (1974), Golf (1916), Gymnastics (1952), Soccer (1972), Swimming & Diving (1932), Tennis (1912), Track & Field (1893), Volleyball (1992), Water Polo (2002), Individual Wrestling (1937) and Dual Meet Wrestling (1984).

Boys Athletics Calendar

Fall, Winter, Spring Sports?

The series are conducted during the school year as follows:

Fall — Golf, Soccer, Cross Country, and Football;

Winter — Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, and Basketball and Bowling;

Spring — Tennis, Track and Field, Gymnastics, Volleyball, Water Polo, and Baseball.

Non-Athletic Activities

What are the non-athletic IHSA activities?

It offers state championships in five-class Music competition in Solo/Ensemble Contest and Organization Contests; one-class Speech (Debate, Drama/Group Interpretation, Individual Events), team Chess, and two-class Scholastic Bowl for all students.

IHSA Qualifications for Coaches

• The Illinois High School Association has taken a direct interest in the qualifications of coaches at member high schools throughout the state of Illinois

• The IHSA bylaws serve to provide the best qualified high school coaches for member schools (hopefully)

IHSA Q & A’s

(Q) Define “full-time” teacher?

(A) A “full-time” teacher is a certified person who is on a member school’s payroll and teaches at least five (5) clock hours per day in that member school

Student Teachers

(Q) May a student-teacher assist with the coaching of an athletic team?

(A) Yes, provided it is part of the student teaching experience

Student Teachers

(Q) May student-teachers be paid for assisting with the coaching of athletic teams?

(A) No, unless the person who is student teaching is at least 19 years old and has completed an IHSA-approved coaching education program

Volunteer Coaches

(Q) May a person volunteer to coach without pay at a member school?

(A) Yes. However, whether a person is paid to coach or is a non-paid volunteer, the person must have completed an IHSA-approved coaching education program

IHSA Q & A’s

(Q) Must certified teachers be given priority for coaching assignments at a member school?

(A) Yes. If a school is then unable to fill a coaching position with a person acceptable to the school’s Board of Education or governing board, non-certified persons who have completed a coaching education program may be used as coaches

IHSA Q & A’s

(Q) Is there an age minimum for non-faculty and/or non-certified personnel who coach?

(A) 19 years of age

IHSA Q & A’s

(Q) May a college student or other alumnus participate in a school team practice?

(A) No. A person who is not a student at the school and is not qualified and approved by the school as a coach under the provisions of this by-law may not participate in practice.

IHSA Q & A’s

(Q) Can persons who are not certified teachers, but are at least 19 years old be a head coach?

(A) Yes. Provided they successfully complete an IHSA-approved coaching education program.

Coaching Education Program

(Q) What are curriculum components of an IHSA-approved coaching education program? (courses)

(A) Sports Management, Sports Medicine, Liability, Philosophy, Child Development, IHSA Guidelines, Psychology

IHSA.org?

The official Web Site contains "anything you'd ever want to know about the IHSA" and then some! 

- IHSA policies and by-laws

- Real Time Tickers for almost all state final tournaments,

- the Officials Department (8,500+ officials)

- The IHSA Constitution and Board Policies

- Much more info