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Calendar & Contact

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Calendar & Contact Ad Hoc Committee

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has identified 23 individuals to serve on the ad hoc committee to study season length, game maximums and coaching contact.

Following the December 2023 meeting when the initiative was approved by the Board, the executive office received 189 letters from school and athletic administrators who expressed interest in serving on the committee. 

Emphasis for inclusion on the committee was given to having representation that reflects the composition of the membership, including members from each Board of Control district; small, medium and large schools; levels of school leadership comprised of athletic directors, principals and superintendents. In addition, gender and ethnicity representation is also included on the committee.

The first meeting of the ad hoc committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 18 at 9 a.m. at the WIAA executive office in Stevens Point. The objectives of the first meeting includes reviewing the directive of the Board of Control; orienting and aligning committee members to the purpose of the group; establishing familiarity with committee members; learning how others identify and perceive the issues pertaining to season length, coaching contact, and game maximums; identifying additional information and resources required to fully understand and address the issues; reviewing Area Meeting feedback; and agreeing on a timeline for the committee work. 

Calendar & Contact Committee Information

Video Summary

Committee Appointments

Below are the names, school affiliation and position of the initial ad hoc committee members, which were selected by the Board of Control.

Janel Batten – Pulaski Athletic Director, Co-Chair
Jake Beschta – Denmark Principal, Co-Chair
Paul Ackley - McFarland Athletic Director
Rachel Biertzer – Port Washington Principal
Andrew Caudill – Prescott Activities Director
Willy Chambers – Black Hawk District Administrator 
Mark Denniston – Pittsville Athletic Director
Todd Felhofer – Shell Lake Superintendent
Patrick Galligan – Colby Superintendent
Matt Goodwin – Milwaukee Public Schools Recreation Manager 
Joel Heesch – Mauston Superintendent
Todd Irvine – Muskego Principal
Mike Kaczmarek – Gillett Athletic Director
Taz Landry – Shorewood Athletic Director
Kolleen Nesheim – Mount Horeb Athletic Director
Ryan Olson – West Salem Athletic Director
Chad Steinmetz – Bloomer Principal
Jill Stobber – Waterford Activities Director & WIAA Board of Control
Brian Trettin – Ashland Principal
Andy Trudell – Mukwonago Athletic Director
Michael Vuolo - Franklin Principal
Kevin Wopat ­– Lourdes Academy Activities Director
Gregg Zonnefeld ­– Central Wisconsin Christian Athletic Director

April 18, 2024 Meeting Summary

Meeting Agenda

The committee met in-person for the first time. During meeting, the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee worked to review the directive of the Board of Control; orient and align members to the purpose of the group; establish familiarity with committee members; learn how others identify and perceive the issues pertaining to season length, coaching contact, and game maximums; identify information and resources required to fully understand and address the issues; review Area Meeting feedback; and to agree on a timeline for the committee work. 

Addressing the three major, interrelated topics of season lengths, game maximums and coaching contact is the focus of the group. These topics directly impact all WIAA member schools, and the committee is committed to studying the topics comprehensively to formulate and propose viable solutions to best serve the membership and their respective communities.

The committee will meet virtually on April 30, 2024.

April 30, 2024 Meeting Summary

Meeting Agenda

During the virtual meeting, the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee continued its work to review the directive of the Board of Control; orient and align members to the purpose of the group; establish familiarity with committee members; learn how others identify and perceive the issues pertaining to season length, coaching contact, and game maximums; identify information and resources required to fully understand and address the issues; review Area Meeting feedback; and to agree on a timeline for the committee work. 

Addressing the three major, interrelated topics of season lengths, game maximums and coaching contact is the focus of the group. These topics directly impact all WIAA member schools, and the committee is committed to studying the topics comprehensively to formulate and propose viable solutions to best serve the membership and their respective communities.

The committee will meet virtually on May 9, 2024.

May 9, 2024 Meeting Summary

Meeting Agenda

CALENDAR AND CONTACT AD HOC COMMITTEE BEGINS MEMBERSHIP-INITIATED STUDY 

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee developed a defined purpose and reviewed objectives at its meeting at the executive office Thursday.

The  established purpose of the ad hoc committee is to represent the diverse voices of the membership in evaluating season lengths, game maximums, and coaching contact with the primary goal to promote a balanced, education-based athletic experience for student-athletes. 

Members of the committee elected Janel Batten, athletics/activities director at Pulaski High School, and Jake Beschta, principal at Denmark High School as co-chairs.

The committee first met in-person on April 18 and then virtually on April 30. During the first three meetings, the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee worked to review the directive of the Board of Control; orient and align members to the purpose of the group; establish familiarity with committee members; learn how others identify and perceive the issues pertaining to season length, coaching contact, and game maximums; identify information and resources required to fully understand and address the issues; review Area Meeting feedback; and to agree on a timeline for the committee work. 

Addressing the three major, interrelated topics of season lengths, game maximums and coaching contact is the focus of the group. These topics directly impact all WIAA member schools, and the committee is committed to studying the topics comprehensively to formulate and propose viable solutions to best serve the membership and their respective communities.

The committee will develop a communication plan for sharing information and receiving membership feedback throughout the entire process with additional resources of an outside person or group to interpret data, facilitate meetings and create a communication plan. The committee also committed to meet two or three times monthly, with at least one of the meetings being in-person. 

The recommendations of the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee may result in implementation with action by the Board of Control or advancement to the Annual Meeting for a membership vote with amendments to the membership’s Constitution, Bylaws or Rules of Eligibility.

The next meeting of the committee via Zoom is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29.

 

May 29, 2024 Meeting Summary

June 11, 2024 Meeting Summary

July 23, 2024 Meeting Summary

CALENDAR AND CONTACT AD HOC COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON COACH CONTACT

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee, which was approved by the Board of Control last December, conducted its sixth meeting Tuesday at the WIAA executive office.

After initial discussions, the ad hoc committee affirmed summer coaching contact days as the focal point of the upcoming survey and its first priority among the assigned topics to study. In addition, the committee split into small and large groups and spent much of the meeting discussing a draft of a survey that will be distributed to multiple, statewide stakeholder groups this fall. In addition, after reviewing a summary of survey data from the National Federation of State High School Associations, the committee reviewed a draft of the communications plan and approved revisions.

The  established purpose of the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee is to represent the diverse voices of the membership in evaluating season lengths, game maximums, and coaching contact with the primary goal to promote a balanced, education-based athletic experience for student-athletes.  The committee is committed to studying the topics comprehensively to formulate and propose viable solutions to best serve the membership and their respective communities.

The recommendations of the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee may result in implementation with action by the Board of Control or advancement to the Annual Meeting for a membership vote with amendments to the membership’s Constitution, Bylaws or Rules of Eligibility.

The committee’s next in-person meeting will take place at the WIAA office Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. 

 

August 15, 2024 Meeting Summary

Meeting Agenda

CALENDAR AND CONTACT AD HOC TO CONDUCT COACHING CONTACT SURVEY

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee conducted its seventh meeting Thursday at the WIAA executive office.

Following the introduction of Paul Ackley, Athletic Director at McFarland–who is new to the ad hoc committee after replacing a departing member–the group reviewed the most recent draft of the planned survey. The committed participated in thoughtful discussion of how to best engage multiple audiences and gather a representative sample of actionable data.

The committee and the executive staff also finalized the communication plan for the implementation of the summer coaching contact survey.

In addition, the committee continued its discussion regarding summer coaching contact based on the work done thus far in reviewing current policy language, national survey data and membership feedback. 

In preparation for the upcoming fall Area Meetings, which are predominately attended by athletic directors, the committee created a list of topics for presentations to be led by ad hoc committee members at each of the district meetings.

The  stated purpose of the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee is to represent the diverse voices of the membership in evaluating season lengths, game maximums, and coaching contact with the primary goal to promote a balanced, education-based athletic experience for student-athletes.  The committee is committed to studying the topics comprehensively to formulate and propose viable solutions to best serve the membership and their respective communities.

The recommendations of the Calendar and Contact Ad Hoc Committee may result in implementation with action by the Board of Control or advancement to the Annual Meeting for a membership vote with amendments to the membership’s Constitution, Bylaws or Rules of Eligibility.

The next meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 10,  and the next in-person meeting will be conducted at the WIAA office on Tuesday, Oct. 22. 

The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 514 senior high schools and 36 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.