GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

AGENDA

Thomaston-Upson County Civic Center – Thomaston, GEORGIA May 16, 2017 – 2:00 p.m.

Call To Order….Glenn White, President
Pledge of Allegiance….Lisa Moore Williams, Vice President Invocation….Carror Wright, Associate Director
Roll Call….Steve Figueroa, Media Director
Adoption of Agenda….Executive Committee

OLD BUSINESS: Proposal to amend Article IV, Section 3, Board of Trustees as follows: Subparagraph “D” would be revised to delete the words “in exigent circumstances, as determined by the President”.

NOTE: This is a Constitutional Amendment and this is the second vote.

NEW BUSINESS: Proposal to reword By-Law 1.62, item “l” on Page 20 as follows:

First Option: The migratory rule (See 1.63) will be waived one time for boarding students only who enter the following schools: Ben Franklin Academy; Darlington; Riverside Military Academy; Tallulah Falls.

Second Option: The migratory rule (See 1.63) will be waived one time for boarding students only who enter the following schools: Ben Franklin Academy; Darlington; Riverside Military Academy; Tallulah Falls. This By-law will be effective for Darlington beginning with the 2017-2018 school year and for Ben Franklin Academy, Riverside Military Academy and Tallulah Falls beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

Proposal to adopt a “50% Sit Out Rule” as follows (See Addendum No. 1): All student athletes that complete a bona fide move will be required to sit out 50% of all varsity competitions for one calendar year. It is important to note that this 50% requirement can be waived by the former school or the student can appeal the decision. It will be the responsibility of the new school to show that the transfer was not athletic in nature.

Proposal to accept the BOARD of TRUSTEES’ recommendation for the new GHSA Executive Director to replace the retiring Gary Phillips. (Note: the recommendation will be announced at the meeting)

Adjournment

ADDENDUM No. 1

Transfer Proposal for the GHSA (50% Rule)
If a student makes a bona fide move from one GHSA high school to another GHSA high school, he/she will be required to sit out for the first 50% of all competitions for one calendar year unless the “sending” high school waives the 50% sit out rule. A form will be sent to the “sending” high school from the “receiving” school requesting the school to sign off on the transfer. The “sending” school will have the opportunity to waive the 50% Rule, or the 50% Rule will remain in place. If the “sending” school does not waive the 50% Rule, the “receiving” school will have an opportunity to appeal the decision to the Transfer Appeals Committee.

THE PROCESS:
1. The receiving school must first verify that a bona fide move has been completed. If a bona fide move has not occurred, the student is migratory for one calendar year. If the school believes that a hardship exists, the school can file the hardship paperwork with the GHSA (normal process). If a hardship is approved by the GHSA, the 50% Rule does not apply.

2. After the bona fide move has been verified, the “receiving” school will submit the (Sending School Transfer Form B) to the previous high school. The “sending” school will have 10 school days from the date sent to complete the verification form. The “sending” school will have the opportunity to waive the 50% rule. If the school has objections to the transfer, the 50% rule is applied.

3. If the “sending” school does not waive the 50% Rule, they must complete and submit the form B verification sheet. This will allow the “sending” school an opportunity to provide additional information needed if the “receiving” school appeals the decision (Example: undue influence, community member’s influence, personal trainers, or the transfer was athletic in nature). The “receiving” school can only appeal the decision to the Transfer Appeals Committee if they do not feel the reason for the transfer was athletic in nature.

4. It is the responsibility of the receiving school to prove to the Transfer Appeals Committee that the move was not athletic in nature.

The Transfer Appeals Committee
The Transfer Appeals Committee will be comprised by members of the state executive committee. These members will be specifically trained on this process, and the GHSA office will try to use the same group of members to create consistency with the appeals as well as using members that do not have a connection to the school or region that might compete against the transfer.

If a student transfers into a school and wants to play a sport, the student’s 50% sit out will start the day of his enrollment and it will last for one calendar year. If the student participates in a sport that has already started, the athlete will sit out the assigned amount of games and this can include playoff games or wrapping around to the following season. The student is eligible to practice during the sit out time. The sit out requirement is in effect for all sports played by the student athlete. So if the student plays 3 sports, they will be required to sit 50% in all 3 sports.

50% Sit Out Rule Applied
An athlete is required to sit out half of the season in consecutive weeks. This may include playoffs or wrapping around for the following season. This starts after the school has verified that a bona fide move has occurred.

For Example: A football player transfers after the 6th game is played, the student will be required to sit out the next four games. If the team qualifies for the playoffs, the student must sit during the first playoff game. If the team advances, the student is eligible for the 2nd playoff game. In the same example, if the team does not qualify for the playoffs, the student will have to sit out the 1st game of the following year to meet the 5 game sit out requirement.

The sport specific 50% sit out times are listed below:
Football 5 games
Cheerleading 3 meets
Softball 13 games
Cross country 5 races
Volleyball 9 matches
Swimming 5 meets
Basketball 13 games
Wrestling 10 meets/dates
Gymnastics 5 meets
Tennis 9 matches
Soccer 9 games
Track 5 meets
Baseball 15 games
Lacrosse 9 games
Golf 6 matches

Form B Application – Response from Sending School
This form must be submitted to the GHSA office within ten school days from the date the receiving school sent the form. The receiving school needs to communicate with the sending school that the form has been sent. The Receiving school needs to identify how the form has been sent (fax or email) to the sending school. Failure to submit this form within the required 10 school days indicates that the student transfer has been granted a waiver on the 50% Rule.

Yes or No To the best of your knowledge, is page 1 of this Form B correct? If No, please provide additional information: (Or attach documentation) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yes or No Was the student eligible for athletic participation when he/she left your school?

Yes or No Was the student removed, or suspended, or did he/she quit an athletic program while enrolled at your school?

Yes or No Would the student be prohibited from participation in athletics had he/she not transferred schools?

Yes or No Based on your knowledge, are you willing to waive the 50% Rule for this athlete?

Print Name of Former Principal
Signature of Former Principal

Print Name of Former Athletic Director
Signature of Former Athletic Director

Please provide any pertinent information that you may have as it relates to this athlete. Please list the specific reasons of why your school is not waiving the 50% Sit Out Rule. This information may be used in the event of a Transfer or Hardship Appeal: (Or attach documentation)

GHSA Committee Approval:
Yes or No We certify the above named student is approved to participate in athletic competition.