After some debate, the LHSAA executive committee granted a request from the state’s basketball coaches that will allow teams to play two tournaments during a week in order to alleviate conflicts with holiday tournaments.
The change won’t add more games for teams, who are limited to 34 for boys and girls teams in Class 5A to 1A.
The executive committee approved the move at its annual summer meeting held Thursday at the LHSAA office in Baton Rouge with the stipulation that the full LHSAA membership would then ratify it under bylaw 4.4.4 at the January convention.
The 4.4.4 bylaw allows the committee to make decisions in the interest of fair play for schools, a point LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine noted.
“One thing we wanted to make clear is that no games are being added,” said Carencro basketball coach Christopher Kovach, who serves as LHSCA president and the LHSBCA president. “The number of games we play remains the same.
“When it comes to holidays, there are seasons where two tournaments overlap based on when the holiday falls. They won’t be on a traditional Thursday, Friday and Saturday window. Players are not in school. This gives schools some flexibility.”
The request for the tournament change came out of the inaugural basketball summit held last week at the LHSAA office. The summit included coaches and administrators along with regional coordinators of officials from several parts of the state. LHSAA assistant executive directors Karen Hoyt (basketball) and Lee Sanders (officials) helped spearhead the effort along with Kovatch. Former LHSCA director Eric Held also was part of the process.
“What we did was select people from different parts of the state to include programs that were part of the postseason,” Hoyt said. “We selected athletic directors, coaches and principals from each area. Select schools, nonselect schools and someone from every class and division were represented. I think it went very well.”
From the officiating standpoint, suggestions were made to help alleviate scheduling issues. Schools were asked to invite officials to attend practices in order to provide training reps and promote interaction.
Reducing the number of games played and adding a shot clock were also discussed, but no action was taken. Starting the season one week later was another suggestion.
LHSCA announcement
Four candidates to replace Held as LHSCA director were interviewed by LHSCA officers and board members Wednesday at the LHSAA office. An announcement on the new director could come as soon as Friday.
Held left his post to join the LSU football program as coordinator of high school relations and alumni.
