I know exactly how Mindi Rice feels.
In her blog entry updating the Tacoma News Tribune's girls basketball rankings and scoring leaders, she talks about how hectic life for a preps writer gets this time of year.
I was disappointed that not enough sportswriters voted this week for the Associated Press rankings to run. But I can understand how that task can fall through the cracks in the rush of state playoff previews and district tournament coverage.
For example, I've been trying to find the time to update statewide scoring leaders. Now, I might just wait until the end of this week and let all the 3A and 2A leagues around the state finish their regular seasons before taking a crack. We'll see.
One thing I did get a chance to peruse were the WIAA's proposed amendments for the Rep Assembly this spring.
One of the amendments ... let's just say it's obvious what the motivation for it was. It was submitted in part by Columbia (Burbank), and it would add a provision that "a student who changes schools shall be held accountable for any violation and penalties incurred from their previous school regarding the use of illegal substances."
A corresponding one, submitted by the Executive Board, reads simply: "A student who is ineligible in a member school may not become immediately eligible at another member school without completing the conditions of ineligibility."
Duh! How was this not already in the WIAA handbook?
There are several interesting proposals on the list.
One would increase the classification cycles from two to four years, starting with the 2010-2011 reclassification. This one is long overdue. Another would end the count after Nov. 1 rather than Dec. 1, doubling the November enrollment figure, allowing for an additional month to finalize league structures. Another good one.
Here's one regarding opt-ups that I think is sensible and could pass. It would create two periods during which a school could opt up in the years in which percentages, not actual enrollment counts, determine classifications.
The first is prior to the enrollment count, and would probably affect private schools such as Gonzaga Prep and O'Dea, which know they're going to opt up anyway. Then, when schools are divided into the top 17 percent for 4A, next 17 for 3A, etc., these opt-ups already are taken into account, bumping other schools down.
The second would be a two-week window after classification numbers have been finalized, and it would require a school wanting to opt up to get approval from its District board and the WIAA Executive Board.
Here's one regarding transfers that could complicate matters. One would make it so if a student transfers between high schools in the same district -- for example, from Kamiakin to Kennewick -- they would be subject to the same regulations as students who transfer from one school district to another -- for example, from Kamiakin to Richland.
What that means is in open-enrollment districts, if you don't move into the physical boundaries of the new high school, then you could have to sit out a year of varsity competition if you don't win an appeal to the WIAA District eligibility committee.
What I'm unsure of is how this would affect eighth-graders who have yet to enroll in a high school. Could they still choose which high school in the Kennewick School District they wish to attend without having to move into the boundaries of that particular high school? Or does it only apply to students who are already enrolled in the high school? I'm thinking it's the latter, but if someone knows for sure, let me know.
Here are two amendments stemming from the Archbishop Murphy football fiasco. One would change the penalty for an expired physical exam to suspend the player from the same number of contests in which (s)he participated with the expired physical -- but not penalize the team.
The second would allow for the appeal of the penalty for use of an ineligible player in a team sport for an "inadvertent error," which would be defined as "a mechanical, electronic or clerical (incorrect posting) or an incorrect interpretation or application of the Rules and Regulations committed by the principal or athletic director that resulted in an ineligible participant competing in a contest."
While forfeiture is the initial penalty, the school could appeal the penalty and have the forfeit reversed if it can show the error was unintentional and happened despite checks and balances that should have caught it. Another common-sense proposal.
Then there's one to add girls lacrosse as a WIAA-sanctioned sport. Sorry, boys, it doesn't apply to you. I'd guess Title IX is to thank for that. Too bad. Lacrosse is a great sport and should be added to the WIAA roster for both sexes.
Finally, here's one that might make coaches think twice before getting that second technical: "Any coach ejected from an interscholastic contest must complete the NFHS Coaching Fundamentals Course or attend the WIAA Coaches School before he/she can coach the same sport the following year."
It's like traffic school for coaches. I love it.
"Now, Coach, what's the proper way to address an official?"
Hey, Stripes, how could you possibly have blown that call?
"Now, now, Coach. Don't you think it's not nice to call the official 'Stripes'?"
But that's what I've called them for years.
"Why do you think you're in this class, Coach?"
Til next time ...