Time to Review Your List of ‘Things to Do’
By Mark Cousins | Friday, November 07, 2008 10:08 AM
It is hard to believe that November is already here and our first state champions for the 2008-2009 will be crowned this month.
As we edge closer to the end of 2008 and look forward to 2009, it is a good time to check and make sure you have done the things you need to do and get ready for things to come.
COPE (Coaches and Officials Positive Expectations)
The UIL Legislative Council requires all coaches to annually complete the COPE program. As of May 2008, the COPE program is available only via the UIL Web site. If you have not completed your COPE registration for this year, you need to take care of it as soon as possible.
So far, more than 30,000 coaches and officials in grades 7-12 have completed COPE registration for this year. But we know many more have not taken the time to be in compliance with UIL rules as of yet. Should a coach be ejected from a contest and be found not current in their COPE registration, the coach will receive a minimum one game suspension on top of the automatic penalty of reprimand and probation.
Steroid Testing
Mandated by Senate Bill 8, passed by the 80th Texas Legislature, this statewide random testing program will affect student-athletes in grades 9-12, regardless of sport, gender or participation level.
The UIL has been directed to test a statistically significant number of student-athletes in grades 9-12 at approximately 30 percent of UIL member high schools. The selection process of schools and student-athletes will be random, and approximately 40,000-50,000 student athletes will be tested for anabolic steroids by the end of the 2008-09 school year. All testing dates will be unannounced, in keeping with the nature of the random steroid testing process.
It is imperative that schools plan now to be ready should they be selected for random anabolic steroid testing. This includes making sure all of your athletes in grades 9-12 have signed anabolic steroid testing consent forms on file with the school at the beginning of the school year, including those students who may only participate in winter or spring athletic activities.
Also, it cannot be stressed enough how important it is that the school create and maintain an accurate listing of student athletes in grades 9-12 in the event the school is tested. Creating the list early and making sure it is and stays current will make the process run smoothly if your school is selected.
Testing is well underway for the 2008-2009 school year. Schools that do not have consent forms completed or do not have accurate rosters when selected for testing could be subject to the range of penalties included in the Constitution and Contest Rules. For more information on what is expected of the school if they are selected for anabolic steroid testing, consult the Testing Site Coordinators Manual on the UIL Web site.
TAKS Testing and Regional Track Meets
Some students who qualify for UIL regional athletic competition in track and field scheduled for May 1st will have a conflict with the scheduled TAKS tests.
Exit Level and Grade 10 Science, as well as Grade 9 Mathematics, TAKS tests are scheduled on Thursday, April 30. Exit Level and Grade 10 Social Studies TAKS tests are scheduled on Friday, May 1.
UIL has tried to work with regional sites to eliminate or reduce conflicts wherever possible, but regional schedules could not be modified due to commitments for facilities and personnel.
Length of travel time may also create conflicts for some participants. Please check your specific regional schedule on the UIL Web site at: http://www.uil.utexas.edu/academics/spring_meet/sm_region_directors.html
Regional hosts who have not yet posted their Regional Meet Handbooks and/or schedule will be doing so in the near future.
Schools may submit a request to TEA for on-site testing or for a modified test schedule. You can find these these forms on TEA’s Student Assessment Division Web page at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/index.html.
Click on the Student Assessment A - Z Directory and then Guidelines and Procedures for Requesting Changes to the State Testing Schedule. Questions should be directed to TEA at 512-463-9536.
Officials
Change to Section 1204 of the 2008-2009 Constitution and Contest Rules
The following interpretation of Section 1204 of the 2008-2009 Constitution and Contest Rules was approved by the UIL Legislative Council October 20, 2008, effective immediately.
"A school may average a game fee based on last season’s game receipts provided it does not violate Section 1204."
There continues to be much concern expressed over the revisions and changes made to Section 1204 of the 2008-2009 UIL Constitution and Contest Rules. As indicated in previous correspondence from the UIL office, UIL member schools must be in compliance with Section 1204 of the C&CR.
The only flexibility within 1204 approved by UIL staff, deals with the ability of a school or school district, if they so choose, to average their gross gate receipts from the previous year (not what they paid, but what they grossed at the gate) and pay officials for this year based on that average, plus the applicable mileage and rider fees under 1204.
Other than that 'average from the previous years gate' flexibility, the UIL staff has not approved any other options for payment of officials outside of what is currently within section 1204 of the C&CR.
If a school chooses to utilize the previous years average gate to determine payment of officials, TASO chapters are not allowed to dictate what that average is. The determination on what the average will be is made by the school based on their individual scenario and from records of the previous years contests.
Also approved immediately by the Legislative Council was a revision to the softball and baseball pay fee scale. The following pay fee scale will be used for the 2009 softball and baseball seasons.
Section 1204: OFFICIALS
(k) FEE SCHEDULE.
(1) Baseball.
Gross Gate Receipts 1 Game DOUBLE HEADER
Up to $150 $45 $75
$150 to $300 $50 $80
$300 to $500 $55 $85
$500 to $700 $60 $90
$700 to $1,000 $65 $95
$1,000 to $1,500 $75 $105
$1,500 to $2,000 $80 $115
Each additional $1,000 $20
(5) Softball.
Gross Gate Receipts 1 Game DOUBLE HEADER
Up to $150 $40 $65
$150 to $300 $45 $70
$300 to $500 $50 $75
$500 to $700 $55 $80
$700 to $1,000 $60 $85
$1,000 to $1,500 $65 $90
$1,500 to $2,000 $70 $95
Each additional $1,000 $20
Safety Training – Senate Bill 82
Senate Bill 82, effective for the 2008-2009 school year, related to safety regulations for certain public school extracurricular activities
This legislation:
1. Requires safety training for all coaches, sponsors or athletic trainers for athletic activities, and any marching band director. UIL has developed a safety training program that is available through the UIL Gateway on the UIL Web site, similar to what is currently available for COPE training and Steroid Education. The Web address for the UIL Gateway is: http://utdirect.utexas.edu/uilgate/index.WBX
2. Mandates that schools, at least once per year, conduct a safety drill that incorporates the training described in the safety training program developed by UIL.
3. Requires that students shall be provided training in recognizing symptoms of catastrophic injuries, including head and neck injuries, concussions, asthma attacks, heatstroke, cardiac arrest and injuries requiring use of an AED, the risks of using nutritional supplements. This training can be conducted by the school, using the materials available on the SB 82 portion of the Health and Safety Section of the UIL Web site.
4. Mandates that unsafe athletic activities are prohibited and schools must make sure that safety precautions are required (asthma medication, hydration materials present, emergency lanes clear etc..)
5. Requires that any student who is rendered unconscious while participating (in practice or game) cannot participate further in that practice or game any more and must get written clearance prior to any further participation.
6. Mandates that records of compliance with the requirements of the legislation be kept and be made public upon request.
7. Requires that non-compliance with the provisions of the bill could subject the school to penalties as outlined in section 27 and 29 of the C&CR.
8. Mandates that the Texas Education Agency create hotline number and email address for reports of non-compliance and schools must post that information in their administration offices. This information is as follows.
9. Requires the text of sections of bill as well as the Parent Information Manual must be provided to parents of participants. The bill does allow that the required materials can be provided electronically, unless specifically requested otherwise.