Coaching Accreditation Rule Addressed by IHSAA Board of Directors
New Processes also created for Emerging and Recognized Sports
In its annual review of the IHSAA By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors approved
changes to its Mandatory Coach Accreditation rule, and outlined how new sports may become recognized by
the Association.
The Board of Directors, led by this year’s President Chad Gilbert of Charlestown High School and Vice
President Stacy Adams of Valparaiso High School, approved 27 rules proposals during the meeting on Monday
in Indianapolis.
Most of this year’s proposals were either adjustments to current rules due to COVID-19 or were temporary
regulations made at some point during the school year by the Executive Committee and needed official
ratification by the Board. Member school principals may submit new proposals for consideration annually by
March 1 but none were received this year.
All proposals are considered in the order that the rule appears within the current by-laws. The Board of
Directors has four options on each proposal: affirm, deny, table or amend a rule. A simple majority is necessary
to act on any measure and all approved measures become effective immediately unless otherwise noted.
Minutes from the Board of Directors meeting as well as the Executive Committee meeting are posted at
IHSAA.org.
Mandatory Coach Accreditation
Rule 7 was clarified that any paid or volunteer coach of a program must be rostered with the IHSAA and
accredited prior to having any athletic contact with a student (physical athletic activities or conditioning).
It also introduces two additional courses for coaches to complete provided by the National Federation of State
High School Associations (NFHS). In addition to courses already required by Indiana law on concussions, heat
illness and prevention, and sudden cardiac arrest, coaches will have to complete offerings on protecting
students from abuse as well as student mental health and suicide prevention or the equivalent of those courses
already offered by the Indiana Department of Education. To remain accredited, an individual must retake each
of the five courses every two years.
The proposal also outlined the meaning of suspension and revocation of accreditation and established a
protocol for reinstatement as well as penalties and fines when an unaccredited coach has contact with a
student.
These additions to Rule 7 were approved by a 17-2 vote.
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Emerging Sports and Recognized Sports
The Board also approved by a unanimous 19-0 vote a proposal adding to Rule 1 that creates a new process for
Emerging Sports and a clarified pathway to become a Recognized Sport.
Going forward, the IHSAA Board of Directors may designate a sport as an Emerging Sport if 20 schools are
currently sponsoring said sport, suggest specific rules (playing and practice seasons) and 10 letters of
commitment are submitted from member schools that currently sponsor or intend to sponsor a program in the
their school.
Once approved by the Board, that sport will be added to the IHSAA General Eligibility Rules and all schools
participating will be eligible to receive administrative services such as rules books, rules meetings and
registration in the IHSAA Catastrophic Medical program.
A sport may be designated a Recognized Sport by the Board and a state tournament offered if, after going
through the Emerging Sport process, 150 or more member schools with a minimum of 40 from each district,
have sponsored a full program and participated for two consecutive years.
The following additional items of note were approved during today’s Board of Directors meeting and the
ensuing Executive Committee meeting.
• Approved 17-2 an amendment and new sub-section to Rule 9-14 regarding contests. This requires
practice participation by students prior to a contest when all students on a team are unable to attend
regular practices because their school was unable to conduct those sessions (necessitated by situations
like COVID-19). Students will need four days of practice before participating in a contest when 8-14
days have been missed or make up six days of practice when more than 15 days have been missed.
• The elections for next year’s leadership of the Board and Executive Committee also were held. Jeff
Doyle of Barr-Reeve High School was voted president of the 2021-22 Board of Directors and Jim
Brown of Fishers High School was elected vice president. Victor Bush of MSD Lawrence Township in
Indianapolis was named chairman of the 2021-22 Executive Committee and Stacy Adams of Valparaiso
High School was confirmed as vice chairman.
2020-21 IHSAA Board of Directors
The IHSAA is governed by its legislative body, the Board of Directors. Composed of 19 individuals elected by
member school principals from three legislative districts, they serve staggered three-year terms. Twelve board
seats are filled by any qualified individual (open seats), and seven board seats are filled by two qualified female
representatives, two qualified minority representatives, two qualified urban school representatives and one
qualified private school representative. The Board of Directors meets annually with the responsibility of
establishing the Association’s By-Laws and regulations.
District, Seat Board Member Term Ends
District I, Class A Tom Finicle, Southwood June 2023
District I, Class AA John Steinhilber, Hebron June 2021
District I, Class AAA Nathan Dean, Jimtown June 2023
District I, Class AAAA Ed Gilliland, LaPorte June 2021
District II, Class A Martin Brown, North Vermillion June 2021
District II, Class AA Matt Martin, Knightstown June 2023
District II, Class AAA Chris Conley, Delta June 2021
District II, Class AAAA Jim Brown, Fishers June 2023
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District III, Class A Jeff Doyle, Barr-Reeve June 2023
District III, Class AA Tim Grove, South Knox School Corporation June 2021
District III, Class AAA Mike Whitten, Boonville June 2023
District III, Class AAAA Brent Duncan, Connersville June 2021
North District, Female Patti McCormack, Lowell June 2022
North District, Minority Stacy Adams, Valparaiso** June 2022
North District, Urban Brian Strong, Logansport June 2022
South District, Female Rae Ferriell-Woolpy, Richmond June 2022
South District, Minority Victor Bush, MSD Lawrence Township June 2022
South District, Urban Chad Gilbert, Charlestown* June 2022
Private School Dave Worland, Indianapolis Cathedral June 2022
* President
** Vice-President
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