Florida High School Athletic Association
Board of Directors Meeting – Agenda Item
Site:
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building Date:
Check One:
Action:
Jan. 28-29, 2007
Discussion/Information:
XX
Topic (brief descriptive statement):
Recommendations of the Football Advisory Committee
Detailed Information (background, observations, etc.):
The Football Advisory Committee met Dec. 13, 2006 at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
in Gainesville.
Recommendation(s):
None.
Rationale:
Alternative(s) to Recommendation(s):
Data Source:
FHSAA athletic operations department
Impact (to be completed by FHSAA staff):
Gary Pigott, Assoc. Dir. of Athletics
_____________________________________
Name of Individual Submitting Item
_____________________________________
Signature
FOOTBALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT
December 13, 2006
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building (Gainesville, Florida)
Gary Pigott, FHSAA Football Administrator, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. The
following committee members were in attendance: John Palmer (Port St. Joe H.S.), Shelton
Crews (FACA Chair & Godby H.S., Tallahassee), Craig Damon (North Marion H.S., Citra),
Phillip Ziglar (Boone H.S., Orlando), Mike Hayde (Fort Meade H.S.), Bill Kramer (Naples H.S)
and Jake von Scherer (Coral Springs Christian Academy). FHSAA staff members John Stewart,
Denarvise Thornton and Shanell Young were also present. Committee member Charlie Tate
(Winter Have H.S.) was unable to attend.
AGENDA ITEMS
Mr. Pigott reviewed the procedure for completing the expense vouchers and e-mail addresses were
collected and confirmed.
Mr. Pigott welcomed the committee to the FHSAA Office, reviewed the agenda and gave the committee
an overview of the process of any recommendations from the football advisory committee. Each person
present introduced himself or herself.
Motion by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Damon and carried (Vote: 7-0) to select Bill Kramer,
Naples High School, as committee chairperson.
The agenda was adopted as presented. Motion by Mr. Crews, seconded by Mr. Palmer and
carried (Vote 7-0) to approve.
Discussion - Review of 2005 Football Advisory Committee Minutes: The committee reviewed
the recommendations from the 2005 Football Advisory Committee meeting including the tweak
to the mercy rule, new forfeit regulation and all-star game modification. Each of the 3
recommendations were approved and implemented.
Discussion – 2006 State Championships: Mr. Pigott commended the organizations in Miami
(Miami-Dade Sports Commission, Greater Miami Athletic Conference, & Dolphin Stadium) for
the exceptional job they did in hosting the FHSAA Florida Football Finals this year. The
Dolphin Stadium grounds crew did an unbelievable job on the condition of the turf playing 8
high school games and 2 professional games within a 10-day period. As for attendance, the 6A
game set a single game record and the eight championship games set an overall attendance
record for the FHSAA Football Finals. Mr. Kramer attended the 3A Final and was very positive
in his comments on the atmosphere, the locker rooms and the field condition. No other
committee members attended the Finals this year. There is a 2-year option between the FHSAA
and the Miami-Dade Sports Commission to extend the current agreement. If possible, the
committee would prefer a more central location (somewhere along 1-4) for the FHSAA Football
Finals.
Discussion - FACA Recommendations: The Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA)
Football Committee did not submit any items for the committee to review. Mr. Crews will
address some items under Open Agenda that will receive discussion at the next FACA football
meeting.
Discussion - Film Exchange for Regular Season: The agenda item submitted by Jim Ahern, East
Lee County High School, was reviewed and discussed. No action was taken on this item. The
committee believes this is a local county or conference issue for regular season games. The
county or conference can address this situation with a local policy to address any problems with
film exchange.
2006 Recommendation #1: Motion by Mr. Crews, seconded by Mr. Ziglar and carried, Vote:
Unanimous (7-0), to submit a football rules change to the NFHS office that will prevent “horse
collaring” as submitted by Nease High School.
Rationale: Safety of the players. See attached letter.
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Meet on January 9, 2007
2ND Reading FBAC: December 2007
2ND Reading ADAC: January 2008
Discussion – Sideline Safety Rule Experiment: Committee was supportive of sideline rule
experiment and expressed very little concern after the initial weeks of the season. The rule kept
the sidelines cleaner for teams and officials. There was a lot of positive support for continuing
the NFHS experiment during the 2007 season.
Discussion – NFHS Playoff Game Stats: The NFHS statistics for 29 playoff games were shared
with the committee. The FHSAA provides game stats to the NFHS Football Rules Committee
each season for their review.
2006 Recommendation #2: Motion by Mr. von Scherer, seconded by Mr. Hayde and carried,
Vote: Unanimous (7-0), to permit one (1) “controlled scrimmage” prior to the preseason classic
in the fall. “Controlled scrimmage” is defined as: no more than 3 hours, officials must be
present, to be held during Week #6 (2nd week of fall practice) of preseason and must be an instate opponent.
Rationale: Learning tool for players, coaches and officials. Other team sports play twice as
many games. Classics for other team sports play 2 games whereas football classic is only one
game. Non-school program opportunities for competition is much more available for other
sports (Vb, Bk, Soc, Ba, Sb).
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Meet on January 9, 2007
2ND Reading FBAC: December 2007
2ND Reading ADAC: January 2008
Discussion – FHSAA Calendar: Mr. Kramer submitted an agenda item concerning the FHSAA
calendar dates as it relates to the new state law about the school start date for all public schools
in Florida. Mr. Pigott stated that there would be no FHSAA calendar changes for at least a year
while the Board of Directors, FHSAA Staff, county Athletic Directors and FHSAA Member
Schools have a chance to watch and evaluate the new school calendar and how it works with the
current FHSAA calendar.
Discussion – Affiliate Members: Mr. Kramer submitted an agenda item concerning the “affiliate
status” of some member schools. Dr. Stewart updated the committee on plans to submit a Bylaw
proposal to the Representative Assembly in January that will change the criteria for joining as a
FHSAA member school. Endorsement of Committee: Motion by Mr. Crews, seconded by Mr.
Damon and carried, Vote: Unanimous (7-0), to support the Commissioner’s new Bylaw proposal
to modify the requirements for membership.
Discussion – Officials Evaluation System: Mr. Kramer submitted an agenda item concerning the
evaluation of game officials. The committee understands the shortage of officials and makes the
following suggestions for improving performance and incentives: place an advertisement in the
weekly game program to let people know how to register as a football official, provide ad space
on the school web site or newspaper, add officiating courses at Florida Universities and Junior
Colleges. Incentives should include a reward system to get the best officials and a standard
statewide evaluation system to provide feedback for coaches. Training components should
include invitations to officials associations to attend preseason practices and consistent feedback
from the coach/school to the local officials’ association during the regular season, whether the
school wins or loses.
Discussion – NFHS Rules Changes: Mr. Kramer submitted agenda items concerning low blocks,
the face mask penalty and muffed punts. Any NFHS rules changes must be completed and
submitted to the NFHS football rules committee for review and discussion. Low blocks item
came specifically from a local officials association regarding the proper NFHS mechanics on
punts and kickoffs. Mr. Pigott stated he would research in the NFHS Officials Manual and
forward information to Mr. Kramer.
2006 Recommendation #3: Motion by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Crews and carried, Vote:
Unanimous (7-0), to submit a NFHS football rules change that will add an automatic first down
penalty to the face mask rule. NFHS rules change will be submitted to the NFHS football rules
committee for review and discussion.
Rationale: Safety rules change. Further penalize this unsafe act.
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Meet on January 9, 2007
2ND Reading FBAC: December 2007
2ND Reading ADAC: January 2008
2006 Recommendation #4: Motion by Mr. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Ziglar and carried, Vote:
Unanimous (7-0), to submit a NFHS football rules change that will change the rule when a
muffed punt rolls into the end zone. NFHS rules change will be submitted to the NFHS football
rules committee for review and discussion.
Rationale: Make consistent with other muffing rules.
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Meet on January 9, 2007
2ND Reading FBAC: December 2007
2ND Reading ADAC: January 2008
Discussion – FHSAA Football Manual: The existing FHSAA Football Manual was reviewed. A
recommendation to change the financial payout to schools participating in the FHSAA Football
Finals, page 20, item 206.04 was reviewed.
2006 Recommendation #5: Motion by Mr. Kramer, seconded by Mr. Hayde and carried, Vote:
Unanimous (7-0), to double the payout, on page 20 of the FHSAA Football Manual, to schools
that play in the FHSAA Football Finals.
Rationale: Many schools lose money when they make it to the FHSAA Football Finals due to
travel expenses.
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Meet on January 9, 2007
2ND Reading FBAC: December 2007
2ND Reading ADAC: January 2008
Open Agenda:
Mr. Kramer: Officials Mechanics: suggest that the wing officials switch sidelines at halftime so
each team is treated equally and any frustrations are defused. Meeting day for advisory
committee: Monday is preferable as well as 9 a.m. meeting time instead of 10 a.m.
Mr. Crews: As FACA Chairman, will survey FACA coaches to provide a consensus on agenda
items for 2007 meeting. FHSAA financial percentages from fall classics and jamborees.
FHSAA office is receiving more profit than the 2 participating schools. Look at percentages and
adjust.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 P.M.