PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors discussed several issues at their Tuesday meeting.
The board continued discussion of wittling down the current seven-class system in high school football down to five.
The board is still in favor of it, but decided Tuesday it needs some more work.
The board, along with discussion from several other state athletic directors, had some concern with the enrollment disparity between the largest and smallest schools under the advisory committee’s initial proposal.
The proposal is now headed back to the advisory committee for a redesign. If they finish that re-design by May, it will be discussed then. The earliest a 5-class system could be ready would be the 2021 season.
In other football matters, the board passed a proposal to move an earlier football start date for Class AAA, AA and A from August 13 to August 10. A proposal that moves an earlier start for Class 11B and 9-man from August 10 to August 6 was also passed.
The board also voted in favor of a mercy rule for Class 11AAA and 11AA football. This implementation, which follows a lopsided playoff game between Spearfish and a Sioux Falls school, would allow for a running clock for any game where the lead is 35 points or greater at halftime.
In basketball issues, the board voted to honor the 48 teams that qualified for the state basketball tournament with plaques.
The state semi-finalists in Class B girls had already played their first round when the COVID-19 virus shut things down. Faith, Corsica-Stickeny, DeSmet and Castlewood will receive state semi-finalist plaques for their first round wins and the other four teams will receive state consolation finalist plaques.
All other classes that hadn’t played will receive state quarter-finalist plaques. The board is also looking into special medals to present to all the players.
In track issues, the board unanimously approved first reading of a plan that would have all three classifications of the state track meet for three days at just one location. The javelin has also been added as a standard Class AA event effective spring of 2021.
And, in soccer, the board failed to pass a first reading of a plan to move soccer from the fall to the spring season.
The change was brought to the board due to concerns of the number of sports events already being played in the fall.
