Time to get into the 21st century, NSAA.
That means it’s time to overall the high school governing body’s constitution.
You, the 308 schools, need to stop patching the 1911 document and review it line by line. The conditions warrant it.
It’s a stance I’ve held for a long time. Because well before events of the past few years, this document was showing its age.
For instance, you won’t find recruiting mentioned in the NSAA constitution or bylaws. “Undue influence” takes up only a half-page.
Three of the first four states (the As) in their respective high school association’s transfer and recruiting rules a have one-year ineligibility for transfers without a bona fide residence change by the parents. Arizona prescribes missing the first 50% of each sport’s season.
Nebraska’s change in residence rule is one paragraph and weak compared to that in Arkansas, where the parents must register to vote in the new district, change their driver’s licenses to the new address and stop mail delivery at the previous address among other requirements.
All four A states have pages devoted to recruiting. Kansas, for instance, starts a hands-off period beginning with seventh-graders.
All 89 pages of the NSAA constitution and bylaws need a review.
Wednesday is the deadline for schools to propose legislative changes. As of Thursday, not one proposal for transfers being ineligible for 180 school days. Not one regarding recruitment.
Not that it’s bad, but there are three proposals to add more photography categories at the state journalism championships.
NSAA schools talk about competitive equity. But without legislative teeth behind athletically motivated transfers — not what the state’s open enrollment law intended — it’s just lip service.
Come Oct. 2, my hope is that the list of legislative proposals includes a call for a constitutional convention and 180-day and recruitment rules.
One for a three-day state track meet, putting the format up for a vote by schools, needs to be there, too.
Friday’s watch list
District play begins in Class A for the final season. Last week’s NSAA action makes all playoff berths in Class A beginning in 2026 determined by the point system.
Top 10 No. 8 Omaha Central (3-1) at No. 2 Omaha Westside (4-0), 7 p.m.: Central didn’t show well in its last game against a ranked opponent, Omaha North running over the Eagles in the second half. Westside had red-zone issues against Bellevue West, needing a record-tying five field goals from Everett Scherlizin. Radio: 1620, Omaha
Top 10 No. 4 Omaha Creighton Prep (4-0) vs. Class A No. 10 Papillion-La Vista (3-1), 7 p.m. at PLV Stadium: Papio has won three in a row since its opening loss, but faces four Top 10 teams to finish, starting with the Junior Jays. Prep needed a final-minute touchdown against Millard West, a team that had been beaten down 116-0 by Millard South and Westside, to stay undefeated.
Top 10 No. 7 Papillion-La Vista South (3-1) at Norfolk (3-1), 7 p.m.: Can the Panthers, after surprising Lincoln Southeast, take down their second ranked visitor in as many weeks? This game should decide which team plays undefeated Elkhorn South for the district title.
Class B No. 4 Bennington (3-1) at No. 6 Gretna (2-2), 7 p.m.: Another Eastern Midlands Conference clash – the top six in Class B this week are all from the league. Each team missed one of its top receivers last week, Drew Boltz for Gretna and Jake Russell for Bennington. No word on their status for this game. TV: Cox13.
stu.pospisil@owh.com, twitter.com/stuOWH
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Stu Pospisil
Reporter – High school sports
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