Leading off today: The New York Public High School Athletic Association's Executive Committee wrapped up two days of meetings in Binghamton by announcing today that regular-season schedules will be reduced under a plan to help reduce expenses.
Sports with a 24-game schedule will be dropped to a maximum of 20 contests. All other sports except for football and wrestling will drop their maximums by two contests. Football will cut back by one game and wrestling will tweak its format to a 20-point limit.
The football change pertains to teams not qualifying for sectionals. Teams that reach state finals can continue to play a maximum of 13 games.
The Executive Committee has taken action to assist schools, leagues, conferences, sections and NYSPHSAA to reduce costs related to the interscholastic athletic program," NYSPHSAA Executive Director Nina Van Erk said in a press release. "The rationale supporting these incremental reductions will have a significant impact for our member schools. For example, the savings realized by schools may act to protect lower level programs such as modified from being eliminated."
Here is a rundown of the proposals provided by the NYSPHSAA;
1. Support the use of telephone conference calls and video conferencing for NYSPHSAA meetings to reduce the travel reimbursements costs for the NYSPHSAA and Sections. APPROVED
2. Support the use of officials from the host Section at all NYSPHSAA regional contests, except when the Sections involved mutually agree to use neutral officials. Effective with the 2009-2010 season and continuing to 20102011 school year. APPROVED
3. Support a moratorium on the expansion of existing NYSPHSAA tournaments as it pertains to participation. APPROVED
4. Centralized sites should be considered as part of the bid process for state tournament site selection when it can be proven that cost savings outweighs other criteria. APPROVED
5. Support the reduction of the maximum number of contests permitted during the regular season. Sports with 24 contests (baseball, softball) will be reduced to 20, sports with 20 contests (basketball) will be reduced to 18 and sports with 18 contests (soccer) will be reduced to 16. Wrestling will be reduced to 20 points. Football will be
