By Gary Lloyd
The Alabama High School Athletic Association Central Board of Control approved returning $1.4 million to its member schools under its revenue sharing plan Wednesday at the annual summer meeting in Montgomery.
The plan, approved first by the Central Board in 2009, has now returned $5 million to its member schools in four years. The formula for the distribution of funds includes a differential between classifications and the number of sports played by non-football-playing schools. The plan returns excess funds back to the schools when the AHSAA has at least one year’s working capital in reserve.
The 2012-13 payout to schools with football:
– Class 6A – $3,934
– Class 5A – $3,794
– Class 4A – $3,654
– Class 3A – $3,514
– Class 2A – $3,374
– Class 1A – $3,234
Payout to schools with no football:
– (with at least five boys, five girls sports) – $1,862
– (with less than five boys, five girls sports) – $1,185.34
For the 21th consecutive year, the Central Board voted to waive membership dues to all member schools – a cost savings of more than $75,000 annually that totals $1,575,000 returned to the schools since 1992.
In addition, the Central Board approved the Super Sectional wrestling format to precede the state tournament. Two Super Sectionals will include the South at Montgomery’s MultiPlex at the Cramton Bowl and the North at Birmingham’s Bill Harris Arena.
Also discussed was the possibility of playing semifinal football playoff contests at neutral sites and of conducting two Sub-State Swimming and Diving qualifying meets prior to the state meet. Both items are currently being studied by the AHSAA.
The Board also approved allowing baseball teams competing in the semifinal series to begin play on Thursday if their state championship series are scheduled to begin the following Wednesday. Both teams must agree, however, or the semifinal series defaults to the same dates as the remaining classifications – Friday and Saturday.
Other Central Board action:
– Approved the financial reports for the spring championships in soccer, softball, baseball and track. Attendance and revenue was up from 2012 in each sport.
– Reviewed and approved the new Handbook along with the fall, winter and spring sports books.
– Approved the 2013-14 budgets for the AHSAA and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association and the 2012-13 audits for each group.
– Approved, beginning in 2014-15, a new division in girls golf championship play. The new divisions will be 6A, 4A-5A and 1A-3A. Also approved, beginning in 2014-15, is a change to the qualifying format from the sub-state tournament to the state tournament. In the sub-state tournament, the top two teams and the top two individuals not on qualifying teams will advance to the state tournament. The board voted to keep the sub-state tournament an 18-hole event instead of 36 as had been proposed.
– Also approved the use of range finders in championship play for golf as a one-year pilot program beginning this season.
– Approved releasing fine and ejection information on a quarterly basis to the media.
– Heard an update on all AHSAA Insurance coverage and approved the purchase of a concussion insurance policy by the AHSAA.
Action by the Legislative Council:
– Discussed possible recommendations regarding the amount of full contact football practice as discussed by AHSAA Medical Advisory Board.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.