The New Mexico Activities Association announced three rule changes in a press release on June 26, set to be in effect immediately for the 2018-19 school year.
The first change states in bylaw 7.6.6.B: Schools must compete within the assigned district (as determined by the NMAA) and must complete their entire district schedule, as determined by the district, in order to qualify for the post season. Districts must minimally schedule to play each school in the assigned district one time. Exception: Golf, Spirit and Swimming and Diving. District play must be completed prior to state tournament seeding and selection.
“We’ve seen in recent years, especially in smaller schools, an increase where a team decides to forfeit a game,” Association associate director Dusty Young said.
The previous bylaw required schools to play each team in their district at least once to be eligible for the postseason.
Young said the discrepancy made it difficult to select seedings for post season play because teams could forfeit a road game after already playing the same opponent at home.
The second change states in bylaw 7.7.4: A school is responsible for the conduct of its team, coaches, students, and fans at any interscholastic event in which the school is participating. The Executive Director may invoke penalties upon a member school for actions which violate the principles of “Compete with Class.” These actions include, but are not limited to, hindering the normal progress of an event, creating situations that may lead to the restriction or discontinuance of interscholastic competition, or endangering or threatening the personal safety of any individuals involved. Unsportsmanlike conduct by coaches, students, and or spectators may cause the school or individual to be placed on probation or suspension for 180 school days/365 calendar days.
Young said there has been a spike in ejections and unsportsmanlike behavior over the last two years, making the rule an obvious point of emphasis.
The final change states in bylaws 1.8, 6.1.3 and 7.4.3: The use of any of the following inducements by any person directly or indirectly associated with a student or school, including adults and parents, to secure or encourage the attendance of a student for athletic purposes constitutes undue influence, resulting in ineligibility for all high school athletic participation for 180 school days/365 calendar days.
“We were beginning to see coaches use parents and club coaches to recruit athletes to their schools/programs,” Association executive director Sally Marquez said in the press release. “Also, there has been an increase in parents and club coaches ‘shopping around’ their student-athlete, which can put coaches in a compromising position. Hopefully this new language puts a stop to that practice.”