(2011-2012)
BY-LAW 4.00 - STATE
4.10 - GHSA ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO MEMBER SCHOOLS
4.11 The GHSA Executive Committee shall meet bi-annually to review By-Laws, policies and procedures of the Association, and to make additions, deletions, and modifications as necessary.
(a) The GHSA Executive Committee meetings shall be conducted according to the latest edition of "Roberts Rules of Order" except:
(1) "Pass" votes are not considered "No" votes
(2) Any Committee member may request a roll-call vote on any question before the Committee without the requirement of a majority vote.
(b) The GHSA Executive Committee shall consider recommendations at its bi-annual meetings from member schools and/or region secretaries that are submitted in writing to the GHSA Office at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
4.12 The GHSA Office shall maintain an official record for all dues and fees received from any source, and shall provide for an annual audit of finances by a firm of auditors or a certified public accountant.
4.13 The GHSA Office shall provide all necessary forms on the GHSA web site, including the following forms from which copies are to be made to satisfy the needs of the member schools:
(a) student eligibility forms
(b) declarations of intent to enter GHSA activities
(c) forms to secure sanctioning of events
(d) contracts for events
(e) financial statements for hosting GHSA events
4.14 The GHSA Office shall provide an annual calendar that notes:
(a) the beginning and end of the season for all activities
(b) dates for Region, Area and/or State Playoff contests and/or tournaments
4.20 - RECLASSIFICATION
4.21 Every two years, member schools will be placed in classifications for competition by one of the following procedures:
(a) based on the FTE count for students in Grades 9-11 provided by the Georgia Department of Education for the fall semester of the second year of the current reclassification cycle
(1) A school will be considered a single-gender school if either gender composes less than 35% of the school population
(2) A single-gender school shall have its FTE numbers doubled for the purpose of reclassification
(b) based on the actual head count of students in Grades 9-11 at member private schools as determined on September 15th of the second year of the current reclassification cycle
(c) based on projected enrollments numbers for all schools affected by the opening of a new school or the consolidation of existing schools that must be submitted by the system Superintendent no later than September 15th of the second year of the current reclassification cycle.
(1) Projections must be filed for the next two school years and those numbers will be averaged to get the number by which the schools will be classified
(2) In the event that a school's actual enrollment in the first semester of the new reclassification cycle exceeds the projection average by 10% or more or an existing school exceeds the projection by 5% or more, the school shall not be eligible for post-season play in any sport for the entirety of that reclassification cycle.
(3) Schools may appeal the loss of post-season competition to the Reclassification Committee and then to the full Executive Committee
(d) determined by the Reclassification Committee in accordance with the "Isolation Rule."
4.22 The membership of the Association shall be divided into six (6) classifications as follows:
(a) Schools will be placed in classifications as follows:
(1) Largest 15% of schools (according to F.T.E.) - 6A
(2) Next 15% - 5A
(3) Next 16% - 4A
(4) Next 16% - 3A
(5) Next 16% - 2A
(6) Remaining 22% - 1A
(b) Schools with the same F.T.E. count separated by a classification break point will be placed in the higher classification.
(c) Each classification will have eight (8) regions unless otherwise needed.
(d) The Executive Director shall have the authority to work with any school that is geographically isolated within its region in order to resolve difficulties in travel and time out of class.
(1) An individual school shall be considered to be isolated if the average distance from that school to all other schools in the region is 100 miles or more one way.
(2) The decision to place a school in a higher or lower classification will be based on a combination of factors that include travel distances and school population size.
(3) If two or three schools in a region are considered to be isolated (even if the average travel distance is less than 100 miles one way), the Reclassification Committee shall be authorized to place those schools in another classification based on travel distances and school population size.
(4) If four or more schools in a region are considered to be isolated (even if the average travel distance is less than 100 miles one way), the Reclassification Committee shall be authorized to form a subdivided region in which crossover games with the other subdivision will not be mandatory for region standing.
4.23 When the membership is divided into classifications as called for by the GHSA Constitution, the following process will be used:
(a) The F.T.E. count for public schools will be averaged by the GHSA staff, and the staff will compile enrollment counts from private schools and system projections for new schools and other schools affected by that opening.
(b) Member schools will receive a listing of student population counts for their verification. When there is a major discrepancy between the school's enrollment count and the count determined by the GHSA staff, the school may appeal to the Executive Director to reconsider the count.
(c) When enrollment figures have been verified, schools will be placed in the proper classification and schools will have fourteen (14) days to file a request to play at a higher classification.
(1) A request to move to a high classification must be submitted over the signatures of the school's administrative authorities (i.e., the Principal and Superintendent).
(2) A school that transfers to a higher classification must remain in the higher classification until school are next reclassified on a statewide basis.
(d) The Reclassification Committee will meet in the month of November to place schools in regions and subregions. The decisions will be sent to the member schools after that meeting.
(1) There will be a mandatory subdivision of each region containing ten (10) or more schools by the Reclassification Committee (Exception: Cheerleading).
(2) The Reclassification Committee may subdivide a region consisting of less than ten schools if there is an extremely large geographic area within that region.
(3) For football, the Reclassification Committee will require crossover games between teams in the subregions to guarantee a minimum of 70% of the season schedule unless there are isolation issues.
(4) For all other sports, subdivided regions must guarantee member schools a minimum number of contests within the region equal to 50% of the season schedule unless there are isolation issues.
(5) Any region subdivided because of geographic considerations may vote to play a full region schedule based on a two-thirds approval of all Principals in the region.
(e) Following the initial placement of schools into regions, each new region shall meet to audit the population numbers of its member schools.
(1) If the numbers are accurate, a written notice of approval shall be sent to the GHSA office.
(2) If there are discrepancies in the numbers, a written notice shall be sent to the GHSA office asking the Reclassification Committee to hear the appeal at the meeting that is scheduled to hear appeals for lateral transfers.
(f) Member schools will have fourteen (14) days to request a lateral move to another region, and that request is filed with the Reclassification Committee.
(1) A request to have a lateral transfer must be submitted over the signatures of the school's administrative authorities (i.e., the Principal and Superintendent).
(2) This appeal will be heard in December and representatives from both regions shall be notified of the appeal, and may attend the meeting to voice their approval or state their concerns about such a move.
(3) A school that receives a lateral transfer must remain in that region until schools are next reclassified on a statewide basis.
(4) The decisions made by the Reclassification Committee will produce the alignment that will be presented to the full Executive Committee.
(g) At a specially-called meeting in January, the Executive Committee shall hear any appeals from members who were denied lateral transfers by the Reclassification Committee. Representatives from both regions involved in the appeal shall be notified, and may voice their approval or state their concerns about the appeal.
(h) Member schools may begin scheduling contests for the new reclassification cycle as soon as the final vote has been taken, the membership notified, and any region subdivisions finalized.
(i) When a majority vote is used in a subdivided region to determine scheduling and the process for selecting teams for post-season play, one or more schools may file a "minority report" with the Executive Director if the approved procedure is alleged to be unfair to all schools in the region. If the Executive Director believes that there is unfairness with the chosen procedure, the Reclassification Committee will mediate the matter.
4.24 The following scheduling policy will be in effect for public schools entering the GHSA at the beginning of the second year of the reclassification cycle:
(a) In sports where the region has two-year scheduling, the new school will not be able to play a complete
region schedule at the varsity level. In those sports, the school could play a varsity non-region schedule or a JV schedule.
(b) In sports having year-to-year scheduling, the new school will have full membership once it has been assigned to the new region by the Reclassification Committee.
(c) In sports that have a region tournament to advance to post-season play, the region may allow a new school to accepts a low seed in the tournament even though it did not play a complete region schedule. That is a decision made by the region.
4.25 The Reclassification Committee will utilize the following factors in reclassification decision:
(a) consideration of travel time and costs, plus time out of school for students.
(b) consideration of differences in the size of school populations.
(c) consideration of competitive balance of the schools.
(d) consideration of equitable access to playoff slots.
(e) consideration of rivalries and gate-receipt issues.
4.26 Charter schools that apply for membership after the reclassification process has been completed will be accepted as schools playing sub-varsity schedules and/or non-region varsity schedules for the next reclassification cycle.
4.30 - STATE ASSOCIATION CONTEST/EVENT RESPONSIBILITIES
4.31 The GHSA shall determine the activities in which a State Tournament, Playoff, and/or Meet are to be held.
(a) In order for a new sport to have a state competition to determine a state champion, the sport or activity must show significant growth and financial stability for a period of three (3) years.
(b) The GHSA Executive Director will appoint a committee and a sport liaison to monitor the sport.
(c) In order to have a State Championship in an Open Meet Event, there must be a minimum of sixteen (16) teams participating and this will be determined with the "Intent to Participate" form that is submitted to the GHSA office by April 1 of the preceeding school year (with the exception of coed cheerleading, which has a later deadline). Schools which submit this form and then withdraw from that sport will be fined.
4.32 The GHSA Executive Director shall determine and provide adequate sites for all State Tournaments, Playoffs, and/or Meets to successfully conduct the event.
(a) Tournament sites will not be available to participating teams for practice prior to the tournaments.
(b) The GHSA shall have full rights to the use of the GHSA logo at these events, and have full and complete rights to the sale of championship merchandise at the venue. The GHSA will also have the right to display signage of corporate partners and to restrict the use of goods in the competitive area that promote a competitor of GHSA corporate partners.
4.33 The GHSA shall provide team trophies for State Champions and Runners-Up, and individual medals for first and second place winners in all State activities.
(a) The number of individual medals provided for team sports and activities is limited as follows:
Baseball 18 Football 44 Softball 18 Wrestling (Dual) 14
Basketball 15 Lacrosse 22 Tennis 7
Cheerleading 16 Soccer 22 Volleyball 12
(b) Schools may purchase additional medals if desired. The form to use to place an order for extra medals is found on the GHSA web site.
4.34 The GHSA shall assign field/court officials for all Area, Sectional, and State competitions (i.e., after the region winner has been determined), and the fees will be as shown in the chart in Appendix F.
(a) Baseball - crew of 3
(b) Basketball - crew of 3
(c) Cheerleading - 5 scoring judges and 2 safety judges
(d) Football - crew of 6
(e) Soccer - crew of 4
(f) Softball (fast pitch) - crew of 3
(g) Swimming (TBA)
(h) Volleyball - crew of 2
(i) Wrestling (TBA)
4.40 - STATE PASSES TO GHSA EVENTS
4.41 The GHSA shall issue passes for regular season and post-season events annually to:
(a) Elected or appointed Board of Education members
(b) The following school system personnel who work directly with interscholastic activities in grades 9-12:
(1) Superintendent
(2) Assistant Superintendents
(3) System-wide Athletic Directors and Assistant Athletic Directors
(c) The following school personnel of grades 9-12:
(1) Principal and Assistant Principal(s)
(2) 1 Band Director
(3) 1 Literary Coordinator
(4) 1 One Act Play Coordinator
(5) Athletic Director(s)
(6) All athletic coaches, including Community Coaches who have successfully completed the GHSA Coaches Education Program and who are registered by a member school as being utilized as a high school coach.
(7) 2 Certified Trainers employed by the school system in grades 9-12 and recommended by the Principal
(d) Retired persons of the teaching profession who served at least twenty (20) years in high school(s), at least the last ten (10) of which must have been served at GHSA member school(s), grades 9-12 as a:
(1) Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent AND/OR
(2) Principal or Assistant Principal AND/OR
(3) Athletic Director AND/OR
(4) Coach of a sport listed in the GHSA by-laws
NOTE: Individuals who have retired from coaching, but not from teaching, and who have met all requirements for a Lifetime Pass, may apply for the pass before retiring from the school system.
(e) GHSA staff members
4.42 A Retiree's pass will be issued by special application from the school system from which the individual retired.
(a) Application should include the individual's permanent address and verification of years of service.
(b) Application forms are available upon request from the GHSA Office.
(c) Years of service to the GHSA as a Region Secretary and/or Executive Committee member shall count towards the requirements to qualify for a GHSA Lifetime Pass.
4.43 GHSA passes are non-transferrable and may not be used by persons other than the individual to whom it was issued.
(a) The individual's name shall be typed on the pass
(b) Picture Identification is required for the user of the pass at all GHSA post season events
(c) A pass that is used illegally is to be confiscated and the individual to whom the pass was issued forfeits the right to receive a pass in the future.
(d) The spouse of a coach, coaching in a State Playoff event shall be admitted to that event upon presentation of their spouse's pass and proper identification.
4.44 In the event a pass is destroyed or lost, the school administrator should notify the GHSA Office in writing, and should include the payment of $25.00 with a school check to have the pass replaced.
4.45 When a school staff member who was issued a GHSA pass leaves the position that entitles them to that pass, the pass should be voided and returned to the GHSA Office.
4.46 At any GHSA event, the host school must honor the GHSA pass that admits "the bearer and one other person." For GHSA state playoff events, the host school shall honor only the GHSA pass, GAOA membership cards, and valid media credentials.
4.47 School resource officers and other law enforcement personnel in uniform are to be granted free admission to all GHSA events.
4.50 - CERTIFICATION OF ATHLETIC OFFICIALS
4.51 A plan for the certification of athletic officials shall be established which includes:
(a) published procedures for registration of officials
(b) published guidelines for training officials
(c) a system for evaluating performances of officials
(d) a system of recognition of years of service by officials
4.52 The following items constitute the Athletic Officials Associations Approval Plan for the GHSA:
(a) The Executive Director of the GHSA shall determine the number of officials associations to be approved for each activity. The number of associations will be determined by:
(1) the demand for officials in that activity in that geographic area of the state
(2) the number of associations already in existence in that activity in that area
(3) the extent to which member schools' needs are being met by existing officials associations in that activity.
(4) The assignment of officiating associations for most GHSA activities shall be the responsibility of the GHSA office.
(5) Officials' associations must maintain minimum membership levels in order to be considered "active associations" by the GHSA in certain sports. Those numbers shall be: Baseball (15), Softball (15), Football (30), and Basketball (30).
(6) New officiating associations may be established when it can be demonstrated that the needs of member schools will be met by adding an association.
(b) The GHSA Executive Director may, at his discretion, approve additional associations utilizing the following criteria and procedure:
(1) Such associations shall make applicationto the GHSA requesting approval.
(2) The By-Laws of such an association shall be subject to the approval of the GHSA and must include provisions indicating that the association and its members will be subject to the rules and authority of the GHSA.
(3) An approved officials association must handle its finances through a central banking account, and should distribute IRS 1099 forms to all members. Every officiating association must have a Federal Tax Identification Number on file with the GHSA office.
(4) An approved association shall require all its members to be registered with the GHSA, and to comply with all requirements of the GHSA Policies and Procedures Manual.
(5) An approved association must comply with all GHSA reporting deadlines.
(6) An approved association, and any of their individual members, shall be subject to penalties of fines and/or suspensions for failure to comply with GHSA rules and regulations.
(c) The GHSA expects every officials association to operate in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, disability, religion, national origin or age.
(d) Officials associations shall not charge member schools any administrative fees not authorized by the GHSA.
(e) All Invoices for officiating fees in all sports should be paid within 30 days of the end of the season. Failure to do so will result in a 10% late fee being charged to the member school by the officials' association. Associations must send a final season invoice to schools within one week of the completion of the season. Schools are discouraged from paying officials at the game site.
4.53 Contest officials and officials' associations are independent contractors and not employees of the GHSA or its member schools.
4.54 In the event that officials do not show for a scheduled event without notification or emergency situation, a fine shall be assessed to the officials association for twice the amount of the game fees and that amount be divided between the competing schools.
4.55 All decisions of the GHSA Executive Director in regards to officials shall be subject to the appellate procedures as set forth in the GHSA Constitution.
4.56 Universal contest fees shall be charged for all scheduled, regular-season interscholastic contests (including scrimmages). The universal fee schedule shall be as shown in the chart in Appendix F. Schools and officiating associations may not reduce or increase game fees from those listed in this section. Penalties may be imposed for those violating this rule.
4.60 - SPECIAL GHSA POLICIES
4.61 Gender Equity: The Georgia High School Association shall comply with the requirements of subsections (a) through (f) of Code Section 20-2-314, as those requirements relate to the association's functions of organizing, sanctioning, scheduling, or rule making for events in which public high schools participate.
The Georgia High School Association shall, no later than October 1, 2003, and every year thereafter, submit a report to the General Assembly regarding its compliance with paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such report shall address the number, type, and disposition of written requests for the association to organize and administer regional or state events for additional or different sports; written requests for information regarding the types of athletic events for public high school students that the association organizes and administers;