WIAA board approves permanent spring tournament series admissions

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control voted to require schools hosting Tournament Series events to charge admission in a number of spring sports at its April meeting Tuesday.

The spring sports tournaments impacted by the board’s action, in addition to girls soccer that already requires admission, include baseball, softball and track and field. Schools electing not to charge admission will be able to host regionals and sectionals but will not receive reimbursements for hosting or payment of licensed officials assigned to the event. In similar action, the board approved beginning a $9 admission this spring and for future state boys and girls golf championships.

The board also approved the implementation and requirement to use an online form in the WIAA school directory with instructions for member schools to accurately and consistently report their grades 9-12 enrollments by the second Friday in October beginning this fall.

In other action items, the Board approved the winter sports cooperative teams for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, the procedural February and March general fund statements as well as the March deferred liability fund.

The board received staff reports previewing the agenda for Wednesday’s annual meeting, a recap of the NFHS Legal Meeting and an update on the ongoing efforts to recruit and retain licensed officials. The board also received liaison reports from John Ashley of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and Shawn Groshek of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association.