Policy Concerning Recommendation of Officials by IGHSAU Member Schools
Each school is required to recommend officials for IGHSAU tournament series assignment in the sports of volleyball, swimming and diving, basketball, soccer and softball. These recommendation forms are included on the IGHSAU web site, and take just a few minutes to complete at the end of each season.
In the sports of volleyball, basketball and softball, these recommendation forms replaced a much more exhaustive rating process in which officials in each competition were previously given a numerical rating based on a coachesÕ evaluation.
While ratings and/or recommendations have been required for many years, the return rate by member schools never approached 100 percent, despite annual reminders sent to coaches and school administrators. This year, with elimination of individual ratings, the response rate from our membership from the 2007 volleyball season stands at only 33%.
At its January 16 meeting, the Athletic Union Board of Directors voted unanimously to sanction coaches/schools who fail to complete the required recommendation of officials, starting with the 2008-09 school year. Once this sanction is in place, the head coach of any school failing to file its recommendation of officials will be suspended from coaching during the IGHSAU tournament series the following season. Even in the case of a coach leaving a school, the athletic director is expected to ensure the recommendation of officials is completed, or the sanction will ultimately apply to the new coach.
Thirty days following the end of the state tournament in each sport, a reminder letter will be sent to the Athletic Director of those schools who have yet to file the recommendations. A second reminder will be sent to the Principal after 60 days. If no report is filed within 90 days of the end of the state tournament, notice of sanction will be issued by the Board of Directors.
Questions concerning this policy should be directed to me either by phone (515-288-9741) or by email (troy@ighsau.org). Questions concerning procedures for completing the recommendation form should be directed to Jason Eslinger (jasoneslinger@ighsau.org).
Despite the fact no ÒpenaltyÓ is in place during the remainder of this school year, it is the expectation of the Board of Directors that each school will complete the required recommendation of officials for 2007-08 school year.
Troy Dannen
Executive Director