The SDHSAA Board of Directors had 1st reading for several proposals at a meeting yesterday in Pierre.
The Board approved to eliminate the combined “AA” & “A” basketball tournament, effective for the 2020-21 season. Combined tournaments will remain as scheduled next year.
The Board approved 1st reading for football to bring instant replay to championship games, and for state basketball tournaments. Replay would be used for specific situations.
The Board also approved changing Playoff format for Class 11B will take top 16 teams w/power points, eliminating regions. Also approved changing seeding for 11 AAA for the next two years to use win-loss records as the first criteria, since all teams will play each other during the season.
The Board also presented terms for a one-year re-location of the state football finals from Vermillion to Brookings, although no action was taken yet. The finals will be held over two days instead of three, with four games to be played on Thursday, Nov 14, and three games on Friday, November 15. The move was needed due to ongoing renovations to the Dome which would reduce seating by almost half to just over 52 hundred this year.
All those proposals were first reading, with second reading to come at their next meeting in June.
SDHSAA Board also approved an amendment for new procedures for student-athletes and coaches in football who are ejected by officials which calls for disqualification for the remainder of the game if foul occurs in the 1st half, or if foul occurs in 2nd half, disqualification for 2nd half of that game, and 1st half of next contest. Since this would be an amendment to the Association’s Constitution, member schools will now vote on the proposal.