Meeting called to order at 12:45 by Linzi Gronning, Holmen.

New AD’s welcomed: Doug Freiermueth, Baraboo

Retiring AD’s recognized:

Dave Milne, Cashton – 30 years of service

Miles Oakey, Portage – 22 years of service

As reported by individual school AD’s: Recognition of teams that made it to WIAA Winter Season State Tournament. Congratulations to the District 3 schools who had individuals and/or teams competing in the WIAA Winter Season State Tournaments!

Aquinas – Boys’ Basketball D2 Champions

Baraboo – D2 Boy’s Swimming- Nathan Kneeling State Champ in 200 yrd Freestyle and 100 yrd Butterfly

Chippewa Falls - Wrestling

Eau Claire Memorial – Boys’ Basketball Semifinals, Girls’ Swimming & Gymnastics

Eau Claire Regis – Girls’ Basketball D4 Champions

GMC (Gale Ettrick Trempealeau/Melrose Mindoro/Cochrane Fountain City) – Gymnastics D2 3^rd place

Hillsboro – 125 lb. Wrestling Champion

Holmen-Gymnastics Team Qualifier, 2 State Wrestling Qualifiers (Jordan Granum and Pete Steffen)

Mauston – Wrestling

Onalaska – Girls’ Hockey Semifinals

Portage- Boy’s Basketball D2 Semifinals

Sparta – Wrestling Team

Approval of minutes from November 10, 2002: Joe Beran, Central moved; Todd Fisher, Logan second – motion carried.

1. Attendance and Years of Service

A listing of attendees and their years of service are attached. Years of service is used for WADA and NIAAA Longevity Awards

2. WADA Newsletter Articles

3b. WADA Gender Rep Candidate

4. Golf Outing – July 22 Ridges Golf Course, Wisc. Rapids $65

5. WADA Fall Workshop – Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton – November 9-11

LTC Courses offered: 500, 501, 502, 504, 514, 520 or 507

Anyone interested in being a presenter or a presider should contact Linzi Gronning.

The Coulee Conference volunteered to provide the vacation door prize and the wind up luncheon door prizes from District 3. Other conferences that have already taken a turn are: Mississippi Valley, Big Rivers, and the South Central.

6. WIAA Issues

1. Annual meeting: April 30, 9:00 a.m. Stoney Creek Inn, 1100 Imperial Avenue, Mosinee, WI 54455
2. Protective equipment out of season: It is a violation to issue protective equipment only outside of an athletic season. It is within the regulations to issue other types of equipment. Example: illegal to issue a pole vault helmet, but legal to issue a pole vault pole. Miles Oakey, Portage presented an article "Safe Pole Vaulting" by W. Mark Hannay published in Coach and Athletic Director which outlines safety issues with pole vault helmets. Miles cautioned there is no standard pole vault helmet and no criteria available to regulate safety features, therefor in some cases a helmet may actually contribute to injury rather than prevent it. Miles also indicated that coming in the future would be the requirement to have a "soft box" for the area where the pole is planted.
3. Frosh basketball – 5^th Quarter: Ron Johnson, Onalaska as the WIAA Sports Advisory Rep. surveyed the AD’s present and found that only in the Badger Conference is the 5^th Quarter used. They compare numbers ahead of time and determine if schools have enough frosh to play 5^th quarter. If it is used they have a 10-minute running clock and officials are paid an extra $5-10. In some cases if a school has enough frosh they will create a second team and then the 5^th quarter rule does not apply.
4. Recruiting issues – Gymnastics: Tom Goller, G.E.T. sees that it may happen due to the use of clubs for gymnastics outside of season. Bryan Yager, Reedsburg related that due to budget cuts affecting co-curricular activities they have had about 35 students apply for open enrollment, the majority of whom did so because of the potential for the elimination of co-curricular activities. Bryan noted that classroom education should be, by state standards, the same in every district. Parents and students will leave one district for another for what can be offered as a total educational package, inclusive of co-curricular activities in sports, vocal music, orchestra/band and drama.
5. Residency and Eligibility in private schools: AD’s advised to review the materials sent by the WIAA as this will be a voting issue.
6. WIAA and email: AD’s are advised to check email daily as the WIAA is planning to use this more for communication.
7. Spirit and Cheer Competitions: WIAA is not considering adding these sports in the near future. The WIAA is endorsing the WACPC State Tournament.
8. Fundraising: Jim Moe, Hillsboro led a discussion concerning the use of performance by athletes to raise money for charities. Survey of AD’s present showed that it is being done in Black River Falls and Reedsburg. Neither school felt it was a negative impact to student-athletes, nor did the AD’s feel it add extra pressure to the student-athletes to win. Jim indicated he was very concerned about season competitive events utilizing student-athletes to raise funds in this manner. It was noted that the WIAA does not allow any type of raffles or other activities to occur during the tournament series.
9. Eighth Grade Entertainment – Recruiting or Promotion: Linzi led a discussion on whether allowing 8^th grade teams to get in free or perform during breaks in varsity competition is considered recruitment or promotion. Linzi related that this practice is considered a recruitment technique and is therefor a rules violation according to WIAA rule. Comments by others: Bryan Yager, Reedsburg – When a "club" is recognized is that a violation? Mark Froehle, Eau Claire Memorial – This type of activity is happening in many programs. Gary Pszeniczny, Altoona – Kids within your district are your "own" and in your own school district’s programs, therefore this should not be considered recruitment. Joel Babinec, Onalaksa Luther – This activity is retention not recruitment. Dan Retzki, Wisc. Dells – This is a matter of semantics; promotion or recognition. After the discussion a show of hands showed that the majority of AD’s present agreed that allowing 8^th grade teams from within your own school district’s programs to perform or get in free to varsity events should not be considered a recruitment violation.
10. The WIAA is increasing all Regional and Sectional ticket prices to $3. This affects the previous $1 children under 6 charge. The WIAA is also changing the host school expense initial allotment from 20% to 15%. Miles Oakey, Portage cautioned AD’s that if they are hosting or presetting tickets for tournament games they should not use something that is reproducible or that is generic.
11. Seeding Meetings: Bryan Yager, Reedsburg led a discussion concerning how seeding meetings are run. He reiterated the WIAA opinion that it really should be a neutral party that runs the meeting to avoid conflict of interest between coaches. It was noted that an official runs wrestling seeding meetings.
12. Regional Sites Baseball and Softball: The AD’s present expressed concern that regional sites are not assigned ahead of time. This would help in planning. The AD’s also strongly agree that the WIAA should hire officials for all softball and baseball tournament games.
13. The WIAA approved a 5-Op for Hockey (Spooner, Webster, Siren Frederic, Shell Lake)
14. WIAA is forming an ad hoc committee to discuss a rating system/sport specific to choose tournament officials.
15. WASB passed a resolution requiring the WIAA to follow Olympic Procedure in regulating all performance-enhancing drugs.

5. Officials and Conference Commissioners: Reminder that guidelines must be followed in how far out ahead officials can be hired. There is concern that many conferences are hiring 2-3 years out. This limits opportunities for new officials.
6. NIAAA Convention: Indianapolis Dec. 13-17: Because of the short distance all members are encouraged to attend if they can. Brad Nemec is running for member at large. There will be 17 LTC courses offered.
7. Girls’ Basketball Tournament Site in 2004 will be the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
8. State Soccer will not be held at Carthage due to the cost. Other possible sites are Warner Park in Madison or Eland Field in Milwaukee.
9. Baseball Tournament Season Proposal: Pete Swanson, Viroqua shared a handout and led a discussion about changing the date format for the spring baseball season. It was recommended that this proposal get to the WIAA from the Baseball Coaches Association as soon as possible.
10. Coaching Principles Class: Linzi Gronning, Holmen is offering an additional class this spring. If anyone is interested in sending coaches contact her.
11. WADA Handbook Committee: The WADA handbook needs to be updated, see Linzi if interested in participating on this committee.
12. Distinguished Service Award Recipient is Lenny Alexander, nominated by Bryan Yager, Reedsburg. Bryan received the appropriate forms to return with information on Mr. Alexander. Other nominations were: Todd Fisher, Logan High nominated Jim and Shirley Besl. Linzi Gronning, Holmen nominated Dennis Krumenauer, Mary Lin Wershofen, and Lloyd Dressen.
13. District 3 Athletic Director of the Year is Ron Johnson, Onalaska nominated by Joe Beran, Central. Ron received the paper work forms he needs to complete for consideration as State AD of the Year. Also nominated was Miles Oakey, Portage by Bryan Yager, Reedsburg.
14. District 3 WADA Rep and Gender Rep: Linzi noted that she had received an agenda that indicated elections for District 3 WADA Rep and Gender Rep. In reviewing the by-laws she noted that the by-laws indicated this would be done in November. Steve Balda (retired) indicated he believed it was also to be done in November and that at one time the gender rep was done in the spring. Dave Milne offered to make a nomination to resolve the discussion. Dave Milne, Cashton nominated Linzi Gronning, Holmen with a second by Ted Knutson, Aquinas. Dave Durni, Lincoln moved to cast a unanimous ballot for Linzi, second by Bryan Yager, Reedsburg. Passed. Ron Johnson, Onalaska will be the gender rep for District 3. He was nominated by Byran Yager, Reedsburg with a second by Miles Oakey, Portage. Bryan Yager moved to cast a unanimous ballot for Ron, second by Dave Milne. Passed.
15. Games Wanted:

Girls’ Basketball, ‘03-’04, Onalaska

JV Hockey, ‘03-’04, Chippewa Falls

Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball, ‘03-’04, Logan

Softball on 5/10/03, Blair Taylor

Boys’ Basketball Holiday Tournament, 2003, Hillsboro

Frosh Football 9/23 or 9/25, 2003, Onalaska

JV Football, Sept 22, 2003 – Holmen

B-BKB, week of Dec 8, 2003- Holmen

16. Thank you’s

Minutes Submitted by: Barb Buswell, West Salem