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TMSAA Minutes

February 17, 2010

 

The Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association held its second meeting of the school year on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, at the TSSAA office in Hermitage.  Committee members present were Tommy Shelton, India Weaver, Chic Nute, Vic King, Ken Hilliard, and David Greene whom attended the meeting in place of Katie O’Brien.

 

Members welcomed India Weaver, Head Athletic Trainer at MIAA to the TMSAA Committee.  India replaces Robert Cole who is now serving as an Assistant Executive Director at TSSAA.  India has worked in the past with middle schools in the Memphis City school system and is very familiar with TSSAA and TMSAA.

 

The committee was presented with the current membership list for approval.  Seven schools applied for first time membership into the association.  This brings the current membership to 309 member schools.

 

Committee members decided on the topics to be discussed with our Athletic Directors during the TMSAA Forum at the Athletic Directors’ Conference on April 20th.  The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, TN.  The topics that will be discussed are as follows:

 

  1. Online Eligibility System
  2. Changes in TSSAA Bylaws
  3. Change in TSSAA Calendar
  4. Dead Period
  5. Independent Game Participation Rule
  6. 50% Rule
  7. Middle School athletes playing a sport multiple seasons
  8. Middle School Post Season Game Fees

 

Committee members discussed the possibility of setting game fees for officials.  After much discussion, the committee members decided to follow the same policy currently used by the high schools.  The current high school policy is that J.V. and middle school fees are not set by the TSSAA State Office.  These fees are to be determined by member schools and the local association.

 

Committee members were made aware of the change made in the TSSAA Calendar at the January meeting by the Board of Control.  The first practice date for football, girls’ volleyball, and cross country was changed from August 2nd to July 26th.  This was done due to the fact if a school participates in a Week 0 game, their teams would only have two weeks to practice.  This change will not apply to middle schools due to the fact the start of the middle school season is set by the Local Education Association.

 

Committee members discussed and agreed to add the following statement to Rule #6 (Participation/Division) of the TMSAA Bylaws:

 

Once an eighth grade student who is enrolled and in regular attendance at a high school participates in a sport at that level, he/she will be ineligible to participate in the same sport for a member middle school.

 

This recommendation will be presented to the Legislative Council for approval at their March meeting.  If approved, the change would go into effect during the 2010-11 school year.

 

Committee members also discussed changing the wording in Rule #3 (Grade Participation).  Currently, the rule reads as follows:

 

No student in a grade below the 6th grade can compete as a member of a team in the Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association.

 

The recommendation is to change the word compete to participate.  The purpose for this is to make sure that student-athletes practicing for or competing with a member school are in grades 6th through 8th.

 

Committee members were presented with a plan to place East Tennessee schools into three classes within their Area.  The plan was approved and will go into effect for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.  The following was also approved by the committee in regard to the post season tournaments:

 

Three teams will qualify from each Area for the Sectional Tournament.  If there are less than three teams from an Area willing to compete in the Sectional Tournament, then members of the TMSAA Committee from East Tennessee will determine which teams will advance to the Sectional tournament.

 

Next school year, the committee will meet on the following dates:  November 16, 2010 and February 9, 2011.  Please feel free to contact the TMSAA committee member in your Area or the state office if there is something you feel needs to be addressed during these meetings.