Adding a third class to Girls Tennis, implementing a seeding process in State Football, expanding seeding in State Volleyball, and modifying the suspended game language in Soccer were Fall Activity Advisory proposals approved by the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors during its meeting on Thursday, February 1. A synopsis of the meeting is below.
Action Items
9A: Conference Placement
The Board of Directors approved a Conference Placement Determination and Executive Committee affirmation that Detroit Lakes High School be placed in the Central Lakes Conference.
9B: Fall Activity Advisory Proposals
Note: All proposals are reviewed by Region Committees, the AD’s Advisory Committee and the Principals’ Advisory Committee.
Soccer:
The Board of Directors approved a Suspended Game Policy for Soccer.
Regular Season: If less than one-half of the game has been played, the game will be replayed from the point of suspension unless game completion is mutually agreed upon by head coaches in which case the existing score would be final. The host school has the authority to suspend a game for inclement weather.
Postseason: Games that have been suspended before the completion of the first half, or are tied at the point of suspension, shall be replayed from the point of suspension unless game completion is mutually agreed upon by head coaches and tournament manager in which case the existing score would be final.
Girls Tennis:
With 194 member schools participating in Girls Tennis, the Board of Directors approved a proposal to add a third class. Per League classification policy, the minimum number of teams required for a third class is 192. The approved proposal will divide the participating teams into three equal classes by enrollment. With the passage of the proposal, more students will have access to the state tournament and the reduction in enrollment ratios creates more equitable and balanced section competition. Because the next Competitive Section Placement cycle is in Spring 2025, this will be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year.
Volleyball:
The Board of Directors approved implementing a state tournament seeding process for the quarterfinals that determines Nos. 1-8 in the four enrollment classes. Previously, the state tournament quarterfinals were seeded Nos. 1-5 with the pairing of the three remaining qualifying schools determined by a random draw.
Football:
The Board of Directors approved the implementation of a seeding system for state quarterfinals in Class Nine-Player through Class AAAAA. The state tournament quarterfinals will be divided geographically into North and South brackets, respectively. Those two brackets in each class will seed the qualifying teams 1-4. The semifinal round at U.S. Bank Stadium would seed the advancing teams with the higher seed in the North playing the lower seed in the South, and the higher seed in the South vs. lower seed in the North. Class AAAAAA will continue to use a pre-determined bracket based on section seeds.
Discussion Items
10A: Representative Assembly Proposals
Bylaw 208.02: Gymnastics — A Gymnastics Advisory Proposal seeking to provide an opportunity for member school coaches to coach their student-athletes during the school year outside of the designated season, did not receive the required support of the administrative regions to advance to Representative Assembly.
Bylaw 522.07: Dance Team — A Dance Team Advisory proposal seeking to eliminate the spring tryout window received the required support at the Administrative Region level to advance to the Representative Assembly. If approved by the Representative Assembly, it will move tryouts to the approved winter season, which aligns with other League activities. This change would take place in the 2025-2026 season.
The Representative Assembly is Tuesday, May 7.
10B: Adoption of Programs: Sunset Draft
The Adoption of Programs Committee has completed its work and has submitted a draft policy for consideration by the Board of Directors. With their work completed, the League has received policy language for the adoption of a new program, the policy on engaging in presenting partnerships and the language that provides a process and timeline for possible sunset of League programs that are fewer than 32 schools or teams. This is the first reading of the conclusionary draft.
10C: 9th Grade Governance
A draft timeline indicating the steps in the consideration of adding 9th Grade Governance in the 2025-2026 school year was presented to the Board of Directors. Ongoing discussion included prominent topics of amending the League’s Constitution, Bylaws and Policies, financial implications, messaging and communications during the Fall 2024 Area Meetings and the creation of a task force.
10D: Competitive Section Placement: Boys Volleyball
Boys Volleyball, in Emerging Status as an activity, is a year from its debut as a League-sanctioned activity. In preparation, League Staff shared the process, steps and timeline required for Competitive Section Placement. Feb. 23 is the deadline for member schools to complete surveys requesting 2024-2025 registration and co-op intentions. On March 4, the League will begin the Competitive Section Placement process for the inaugural season in the 2024-2025 school year.
Committee Reports
11A: Eligibility Committee
-The Board of Directors approved the Eligibility Report as presented.
11B: Audit/Finance Committee
-The Board of Directors approved the November 2023 and December 2023 Financial Statements.
-The Board of Directors approved an Audit/Finance Committee recommendation to increase the number of comp tickets to member school administration from four to eight for the Girls and Boys Hockey State Tournaments and the Girls and Boys Basketball State Tournaments with the intent that these tickets be used for additional contest supervision.
