GAINESVILLE, Fla-The Florida High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors conducted their third regularly scheduled meeting of the 2024-25 school year Monday, February 24th in Gainesville.
During the meeting, the Board was presented with, and supported, the FHSAA, Inc. and FHSAA Land Corporation’s financial statements for the period ending January 31, 2025. The Board approved the FHSAA Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2024-25.
Teall Properties Group (TPG) provided a presentation to the Board introducing themselves as the official marketing and sponsorship company of the FHSAA.
During the report of the Governance Committee, the Board reviewed and approved a proposal to Bylaw 1.4 clarifying which students fall under the non-traditional designation. The Board also reviewed and approved a proposal to amend FHSAA Policy 5.1.1 which requires annual attendance at an FHSAA Compliance Seminar by all member schools. There was brief discussion regarding possible virtual attendance of Compliance Seminars and which administrators would be required to attend. Jordanne Stark from Eligibility and Compliance presented a discussion item in reference to the FHSAA EL6 form, implementing a penalty schedule for EL6 forms that are not completed. EL6 forms are required when a student transfers from one member school to another, in which the receiving school is required to initiate an EL6 form. The current Bylaw requires the previous school to complete their portion of the form within five (5) business days, however many forms are defaulting to “expired” because the previous school is not completing the form. Details regarding penalties for not completing the EL6 form will be discussed at the next Board meeting. An informational item was presented to the Board regarding participation by member private school students at another school when their private school does not offer a particular sport. On Friday, January 31, 2025 the FHSAA received a letter from Commissioner Manny Diaz, directing the association to revise FHSAA Bylaw 9.2.2.3 to allow member private school students to participate in sports not offered by their private school, at any public school in the district in which the student resides or may develop an agreement to participate for another private school. The Board was advised that this revision is effective immediately and all member schools have been advised of the change and publications have been amended.
In operations, the Board of Directors approved the Fall sporting season dates as presented for the 2025-26 school year. In addition, the Board approved the restructuring of FHSAA Administrative Procedures 4.12.2.2.4 for Swimming and Diving State Series advancement procedures as follows: District to Regional: Relay Events. Sixteen (16) teams shall advance from district meets to the correlating regional meets in each relay event in swimming competition as follows: the top two finishers in each relay event from each district meet as well as the next overall best times at large for a field of 16 comprising the region. Region to State: Twenty-four (24) teams shall advance from regional meets to the Florida High School State Championship Series in each relay event in swimming competition as follows: the top two finishers in each relay event from each regional meet as well as the next overall best times at large for a field of 24. In football, the Board voted to deny instant replay review in State Championship Football games from the football advisory committee. In Track and Field, the Board approved a request to allow FHSAA member schools to participate in the Penn Relay Carnival, a preeminent high school track & field meet in the United States. The Board voted to approve changes to the EL2 Preparticipation Physical Examination Form. Board member Bobby Johns presented an action item on FHSAA Policies 12.3.1 & 12.3.2 about expanding rural classifications to include individual sports. Bobby Johns requested FHSAA staff and Board work to move this process forward into a planning stage to implement for the 2026-27 school year. Mr. Johns requested the Board approve to allow this plan to move forward towards completion of a final proposal to be voted on at the April Board of Directors meeting. The Board voted to conduct a feasibility study regarding the proposal. In basketball, the Board voted to approve boys’ and girls’ basketball teams from Florida to participate in the 2025 Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals postseason high school tournament held by Paragon Marketing Group. The tournament will be held April 3-5, 2025. Board member Ricky Bell presented a discussion item about a pilot program for team sports in Region 1 for regional playoffs. Mr. Bell suggested that to reduce travel expenses for schools in Region 1, the Association should use the district champion and runner-up for advancement in the playoffs in which the district champion would always host in the 1st round. This is open for discussion.
The FHSAA Board of Directors is scheduled to convene for their fourth regularly scheduled meeting of the 2024-25 school year on April 27-28, 2025, in Gainesville, at the FHSAA office.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at nearly 850 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.
