Recent times Illinois High School Association

1 recent times

1.1 class change
1.2 private school multiplier
1.3 march madness
1.4 1995 wrestling controversy
1.5 media usage restrictions
1.6 performance-enhancing drug testing

recent times

while mundane tasks of regulating eligibility , licensing officials remain important ihsa s mission in beginning, higher-profile issues having state tournaments –- , wins them –- have repeatedly stolen spotlight in recent years.

class change

illinois 1 of last states, , largest, retain one-class system, schools, regardless of enrollment, competed same prize. in december 1970 smaller schools, make majority of ihsa members, forced binding referendum on whether implement two-class system in boys basketball, , measure carried narrow margin, 312–293. after move, several other sports adopted two-class format. in january 2006, after substantial majority of schools responding advisory referendum indicated preference more classes, ihsa board of directors approved expansion in several sports, starting in 2007–08.

at culmination of first drive expansion, ihsa sought way add state championship in football schedule of events. because of sheer number of schools involved, playoff involving schools not possible. in 1974, ihsa introduced five-class system in teams qualified based on regular-season performance. addition of football playoffs coaxed last large group of non-members, schools of chicago catholic league, join ihsa. playoffs expanded 6 classes in 1980 , 8 classes in 2001.

private school multiplier

the success of non-public schools in ihsa tournaments has led considerable debate among members, 83% of public schools. in 1985, interstate 8 conference proposed bylaw ihsa should exclude private schools competing in state tournaments, though membership voted proposal down. in 2005, board of directors implemented multiplier classification purposes boosted enrollments of non-boundaried schools factor of 1.65. group of 37 private schools later sued association, , settlement reached required multiplier go through association s annual legislative process. in december 2005, member schools voted 450–143 retain 1.65 multiplier.

march madness

another lawsuit drew national attention in 1990s, when ihsa laid claim march madness . phrase first used describe ihsa basketball tournament in essay written h. v. porter in 1939 , published in ihsa s monthly magazine. on time phrase came used high school basketball tournaments, particularly in illinois, not trademarked ihsa. when television production company sought register phrase, ihsa sued, leading battle involved ncaa well. in end, district court judge ruled both ihsa , ncaa register trademark , use phrase own purposes. in addition, ihsa sole owner of mark, america s original march madness .

1995 wrestling controversy

in 1995, mt. carmel (chicago), under coach bill weick, entered end of wrestling season ranked third in nation usa today, , poised win fourth consecutive state dual team title. prior regional tournament, ihsa learned school had competed in many invitational tournaments, , disqualified school further competing team. mt. carmel did not deny assertion; however, claimed 1 of varsity tournaments had had jv , frosh-soph wrestlers competing. mt. carmel won temporary injunction cook county circuit court permit team compete in regionals. while individual tournaments progressed, mt. carmel won court victory, forced ihsa permit team wrestle. when ihsa s appeal denied, , after temporarily suspending tournament, ihsa decided end season without class aa state championship dual team tournament; first time in history of association state tournament had been cancelled due cause other war.

media usage restrictions

on november 1, 2007, illinois press association (ipa) , 2 newspapers (the northwest herald , state journal-register) filed temporary restraining order prohibit ihsa enforcing policy restricting use of photographs taken @ state final events. ihsa s policy, similar adopted ncaa, colleges such illinois state university , university of illinois, , other state high school associations, allows news-gathering organizations sell photos published prohibits sale (usually through web site) of many photos taken @ event not published. circuit court judge denied motion on november 5 , encouraged parties renew talks resolve impasse. plaintiffs withdrew request preliminary injunction on november 16 talks continued.

on december 5, 2007, ihsa announced had filed countersuit ipa seeking resolution ongoing issue, citing failure on part of ipa continue talks, , ongoing sale of photographs.

in january, 2008, announced state representative joseph lyons had submitted illinois house bill 4582, prevent ihsa enforcing ban on press outlets selling pictures of ihsa events.

in april, 2008, ihsa , illinois press association jointly announced cessation of hostilities gave press permission sell photographs without hindrance ihsa

performance-enhancing drug testing

on january 14, 2008, ihsa announced that, based on survey of 54% of principals, move forward design , implement program test presence of performance-enhancing drugs in student athletes participating in select state series competitions. while details have not been worked out, based on vote of principals, membership not favor forcing team forfeit in event of positive test, though membership, voted overwhelmingly favored support period of ineligibility athletes testing positive, , narrowly supported forcing schools adopt education programs if athlete tested positive.