GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Even with the 2023 football season mostly in the rear-view mirror, topics ranging from classifications to padded camps in the summer were among the discussions and items taken up for action in the 2023-2024 FHSAA Football Advisory Committee meeting held Thursday at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building in Gainesville.

Actions Items tackled to address various concerns, needs and wants

A lot of action items were tackled on the agenda for the Football Advisory Committee meeting with some things moving forward towards the Athletic Directors Advisory Committee (ADAC) meeting on January 24. However, a couple of items were withdrawn or tabled due to lack of consensus or other committees are working on those items that were presented.

Here is a quick rundown and synopsis of what was looked at and acted upon by the committee:

1. Summer Padded Camps – Second Read

Unanimous Vote

This item was in old business as football coaches in the state have been seeking more defined rules regarding rules around summer camps and summer activities as the policy currently does not allow for padded camps.

However, that could be changing this summer if votes with the ADAC and potentially with the Board of Directors favor implementation.

With the by the committee, more specific language will be in development that will be sent to the ADAC for their meeting on January 24. So far what is to be included as part of the draft of the policy would be a process for FHSAA member schools to get approval with a structure for a summer team padded camp that would be a maximum two-day camp along with acclimatization periods to be included in the drafted language. Other member schools would be able to apply and take part in a padded camp at a member school based on what the proposed policy would be like. The summer team padded camps would allow teams to also be able to wear helmets as well. However, there are still questions about who would run the camps, who would be the liable party for issues that arise, and so forth that need to be addressed and would likely be among a bigger discussion among the ADAC at their meeting.

Summer 7v7 tournaments will remain unmanaged or unregulated meaning it will be left at the discretion of member schools and their school’s policy around summer activities based on what is already in the FHSAA handbook regarding summer 7v7.

2. Zachary Martin Act – Gameplay modifications – First Read

Tabled

A proposal that would have allowed the FHSAA to change policy to allow gameplay modifications that are applicable under state law with the Zachary Martin Act which was signed into law back in 2020 and addresses a variety of health and safety policies to protect student-athletes at the high school level. The changes would have allowed gameplay to happen with modifications based on the Wet Bulb Globe temperature readings. Damon chimed in during the discussion to tell the committed that the Sport Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) is working on developing policies that would address this item and as such the action item was tabled and would let SMAC do the work necessary to bring potential proposed policy changes to the proper committees.

3. Spring Game/Jamboree Classic Game Fee Removal – First Read

Unanimous Vote

A proposal brought forth by Sean McIntyre at Creekside (St. Johns) wanted to look at removing the spring game/jamboree classic game fee along with the fall classic game fee as schools are struggling financially and looking to put more money back into the pockets of football programs. However, the motion made was to modify the item to just have it removed the spring game/jamboree fee as there are other sports the FHSAA still pays for preseason classic game fees currently and would bring football in line with the rest of the team sports that have these fees. This item will head to the ADAC for a first read.

4. Use of Drones – First Read

3-2 Vote for Approval

Another item brought by McIntyre was to address the issue of drones as drone footage has become much more popular with football teams across the state. However, currently, FHSAA policy forbids any usage of drones at any state series or state championship contest in football. However, it was brought up that is virtually impossible to create a rule that could allow it to be applied across the board as it was raised that there is one known member school that is located next to an airport where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules are much stricter about drone usage around an airport. The wording in the proposed policy change would include allowing the use of drones to film in all FHSAA football state series contests by member school programs only as long as the usage is in accordance with school, school district, school guidelines, third-party policies, local and state policies as well as FAA policies. While it is unknown if this will make it through the ADAC is unknown, it will head to the ADAC for its first read on January 24.

5. Instant Replay in State Championship – First Read

Unanimous Vote

It is an early discussion, but the consideration of introducing instant replay into the state series is finally arriving in Florida after Georgia and Alabama have already introduced instant replay in their state championship games over the last few years. While the item was modified by the committee to make just for state championship football games, when available. With it being the first read, a lot more leg work would be worked upon, and a rough draft of policy would come about over the next year. This proposal heads to the ADAC for a first read on January 24.

6. Travel Supplements for State Series – First Read

Withdrawn

An issue that was raised after some teams have had to travel over 500 miles round-trip or over 500 miles across several playoff games over the last couple of years. It was addressed that it will always be the worst in Region 1 in most classifications due to Region 1 usually spreading uniquely across the Panhandle and North Florida from Pensacola to Jacksonville in most instances. The idea of a travel supplement would help offset some of the costs of teams making multiple long-distance trips. McIntyre used his own program as an example that had to spend $17,000 for their playoff trip to Navarre in 2022 while Bartram Trail spent over $35,000 for two long-distance trips to Navarre and Niceville in consecutive rounds. However, after some discussion and with some information from Brandi Waters, FHSAA Associate Executive Director of Financial Services, a decision was made to withdraw the agenda item from the floor as it appeared things could be very complicated to make things happen.

OTHER NEWS & NOTES

MaxPreps rankings to replace FHSAA power rankings

One question that has been seemingly looming over the minds of many coaches, fans, and even media in the state since the vote that took place on December 12 of last year to change the classification structure in football and all other team sports – what rankings will be used to seed playoff teams starting in the 2024-2025 school year?

It appears as such we now have an answer straight from the state’s top high school athletics official.

FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon said during the meeting that the MaxPreps rankings will be the official playoff ranking going forward. That means the rankings that are posted weekly on MaxPreps’ website every week, will be the same rankings that will determine which teams will advance to the playoffs and which teams will be among the at-large teams selected.

It was also clarified that teams would still be selected with four district champions and four at-large teams per region would advance to the playoffs in Classes 1A to 7A while Class 1R would still take the six highest rated teams per each of the four regions. Teams would be seeded still based upon the final ranking order of the MaxPreps rankings and seeded No. 1 through No. 8 with district champions hosting in the first round only if the team is seeded No. 1 through No. 4 or if the team is seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and is facing off against an at-large opponent.

Damon and Robbie Lindeman, who oversees football as a Director of Athletics with the FHSAA, heard concerns about how the final very ranking from MaxPreps that would be used to seed teams in each team sport would be released and published as the FHSAA has been holding selection shows to reveal playoff brackets. Both said they would be working with MaxPreps on how that publication would work to make sure the rankings that the public sees would not be published in advance before the playoff brackets are revealed.

Questions about what the formula looks like or any insights into how the MaxPreps rankings work were brought up but was addressed once more that it is a proprietary formula owned by MaxPreps.

Classifications and Open Division discussed with the committee

Damon took the time during the meeting to take questions and address what has taken place with classifications and addressed the process from everything from how the task forced handled the process of coming up with ideas to discussing the vote and the changes that are forthcoming as the appeals process closes tomorrow, January 12.

While a couple of coaches expressed disappointment with the recent changes in the classifications, a couple of other coaches on the committee expressed that they were happy or in between both sides on the elimination of Metro/Suburban classifications. Damon expressed that with all the changes to the classifications, there is a remote possibility that a further contraction of the number of classifications might be required depending on the number of teams that elect to go independent along with some teams assigned to the classification they were prior to Christmas could change classifications once the appeals process is completed so districts have at least a minimum of three teams.

The number of teams going independent is unknown as some schools have not reported to the FHSAA that they are planning to go independent or withdraw their football programs from the FHSAA to join the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA). Damon noted that the SSAA wants schools in their association not to be a part of the FHSAA for football. Such changes, Damon noted, will force some current full FHSAA member schools to convert to sport-by-sport membership for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year instead of those schools being both part of the FHSAA and the SSAA in football as it has been recognized in previous years as the SSAA moves towards a 10-game season for teams with additional weeks allotted for playoffs.

It was also brought up that the FHSAA Board of Directors is still considering voting on an Open Division, but with only it being an option to participate, coaches on the committee said they wish to see a future Open Division be mandatory and not just left open as an option to participate. As such, it is possible to see the potential for the Open Division to be an agenda item at the FHSAA Board of Directors meeting on February 26.

Sportsmanship raising concerns with FHSAA staff

Sportsmanship concerns were an issue raised near the start of the meeting as the number of ejections has risen this school year season compared to the 2022-2023 school year, Lindeman reported to the committee.

Lindeman did say that some of the punishments have been reduced for some based on the severity but expressed concern that schools need to put more emphasis on the sportsmanship side of the sports with the numbers trickling up regarding ejections.

Damon said that the FHSAA is seeing club sports playing a role in the rise in the number of ejections so far.

Lindeman told FloridaHSFootball.com that a stronger emphasis regarding sportsmanship from the FHSAA is forthcoming soon.

NIL discussion

Justin Harrison, FHSAA Associate Executive Director of Eligibility and Compliance said that everything with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules being implemented in Florida is just a discussion currently with the FHSAA.

NIL which is legal for high school student-athletes in 31 states, including neighboring Georgia, is currently not legal in Florida.

The FHSAA is looking at sending out four levels of surveys regarding thoughts about NIL extending from count level administrators down to student-athletes to gauge the thoughts of all the stakeholders. When those surveys are going out is unknown currently but are under development by the FHSAA.

Harrison said that they “don’t know where it is going to go,” regarding where NIL is going to head in Florida. Harrison did acknowledge that not everyone wants it, but everyone knows it is coming and the FHSAA wants to develop NIL rules that are tailored for Florida and what is best for the state.

While it was acknowledged that current state statutes regarding NIL for college student-athletes require student-athletes signing any deal to have an agent that requirement would likely have to be a part of any NIL rules that eventually come to high school student-athletes. However, some interpretations might say otherwise that this might not be fully necessary but could be cleared up as discussions progress going forward.

Open enrollment transfer issues discussed

During the season, an issue caught some legislators’ eyes in Tallahassee when a few student-athletes transferred from a local private school to a public school in a bordering county with the FHSAA State Series drawing near.

Damon brought up that the state legislators are considering potentially modifying state statutes regarding open enrollment to where a window to transfer and be eligible for the state series could be added, but this is only in discussion at this point with no formal proposal having been brought for to the any state legislative dockets with the 60-day state legislative session having opened late last week in Tallahassee.

As such, the issue is currently out of the FHSAA’s hands and the FHSAA has no way of creating policy regarding in-season transfers as state statutes triumph over any existing FHSAA policies regarding transfers.

Other items discussed

These topics had short discussions, but no action was taken as developments are occurring within these topics and may come back to the committee in the future:

• Coach to Player communication via headsets – This is something that is emerging and appears to be on the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) radar that would be addressed nationally for all states.
• Postseason expenses – FHSAA is aware of issues with some extreme items being placed on state series expenses and usually questions schools if something looks unreasonable on the expense reports that are submitted. FHSAA Financial Services staff said that some things like law enforcement, athletics trainers, or anything dealing with the health and safety involving a game are not capped while other things like equipment are capped.
• Game Tape Exchange – Ideas about looking into shared folders or systems for game film are being looked at as companies are in the process of developing systems for the high school level that would allow the exchange of film between teams in the regular season and allow easy access for the FHSAA to potentially access film for any ejections or other needs film might have.
• Penalties on scoring plays – A discussion was held about wanting to change that any live ball penalty on defense on a scoring play must be accepted or declined by the offense on a scoring play and not be able to be enforced on the kickoff.
• Adding protection for specialists – With an uptick in some areas, penalties for roughing the kicker have increased and have been highlighted by multiple injuries. Any rule changes regarding this most likely would have to be addressed and changed through the NFHS.