Arkansas Activities Association Releases New Rules

2017 Annual Meeting of the Governing Body

LITTLE ROCK- The Arkansas Activities Association held it’s annual Governing Body meeting at the State House Convention Center on Monday. Nine proposals were voted on by the body, 8 passed and 1 failed. Listed below are the results of the Governing Body Meeting. Please click here for a copy of the Governing Body agenda.
Proposal #1 - Ejection Penalty and Review
This rule changes the amount of time a player is prohibited from participation. This rule would change a football suspension from one full game to the next 4 quarters.
Purpose: To more closely align the ejection penalty among all sports. To authorize the appeal and review of ejections.
Vote: Passes 298-7 Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #2 - Football Game Limitations
Participants are prohibited from participating in more that 5 quarters per calendar day.
Purpose: To align game contact rules more closely to the Sports Medicine Committee recommendation and practice rules. 94% in favor of the proposal on the 2017 Spring Survey.
Vote: Passes 290-11
Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #3 - District Conversion Charter
The school of innovation or district conversion charter school shall participate at the same classification as the highest classified school in the district.
Purpose: Allow students attending district conversion charter schools the same eligibility opportunities of other students in their school district.
Vote: Passes 277-28 Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #4 - Christmas Dead Period
Schools will observe a 3 consecutive day athletic dead period. These days must be taken from December 23-27.
Purpose: Allow students, families and school personnel a flexible 3 consecutive day break during the Christmas holidays.
Vote: Passes 274-32
Effective Date: 2018-2019 school year
Proposal #5 - Amateurism
Change the AAA handbook on the Amateurism rules. Purpose: To clearly define the definition of amateurism.

Vote: Passes 293-2 Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #6 - Summer Competition Days
Limit school teams to a maximum of 8 days of competitive activities during summer break per sport, per student.
Purpose: To lessen the financial and physical demands of summer sport participation.
Vote: Passes 210-94 Effective Date: Immediately
Proposal #7 - Tennis Season
Tennis begins on week 6 and state event held on Week 15.
Purpose: Avoids conflict between volleyball districts and state tournaments and tennis state and overall tournaments. Currently students are having to choose one sport over the other.
Vote: Passes 201-2
Effective Date: 2018-2019 School Year
Proposal #8 - Classification of Schools
To change the number of classifications from seven to six in the sports of Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Golf, Track and Field. Proposal was not detailed enough.
Purpose: Solve problems with blended conferences
Add schools to classification to assist with travel
Keep enrollment discrepancies to less than 50%. Vote: Failed 30-183
Proposal #9 - Classification of Schools
To change the number of classifications from seven to six in the sports of Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Golf, Track and Field.
6A – 16 largest schools by ADM
5A – The next largest 32 schools by ADM
4A – largest 48 schools by ADM
3A/2A/1A - Take remaining schools and divide by three with the greatest number of schools assigned to Class 1A if not divisible by 3.
Purpose: Solve problems with blended conferences Add schools to classification to assist with travel Keep enrollment discrepancies to less than 50%. Vote: Pases 141-68
Effective Date: 2018-2020 Classification Cycle