Board of Directors Meeting Release: February 1, 2024

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. ---- Adding a third class to Girls Tennis, implementing a seeding process in State Football, expanding seeding in State Volleyball and modifying the suspended game language in Soccer were Fall Activity Advisory proposals approved by the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors during its fourth scheduled in-person meeting of the school year. 

Proposals in Soccer, Volleyball and Football were approved for implementation for the 2024-2025 school year: 

Soccer:  

• The Board of Directors approved a Suspended Game Policy for Soccer.  

Regular Season: If less than one-half of the game has been played, the game will be replayed from the point of suspension unless game completion is mutually agreed upon by head coaches in which case the existing score would be final. The host school has the authority to suspend a game for inclement weather.  

Postseason: Games that have been suspended before the completion of the first half, or are tied at the point of suspension, shall be replayed from the point of suspension unless game completion is mutually agreed upon by head coaches and tournament manager in which case the existing score would be final. 

Volleyball: 

• This approved proposal implements seeding of the state tournament quarterfinals Nos. 1-8 in all four enrollment classes. Previously, the state tournament quarterfinals were seeded Nos. 1-5 with the pairing of the three remaining qualifying schools determined by a random draw. 

Football:  

• The Board of Directors approved the implementation of a state tournament seeding system for Class Nine-Player through Class AAAAA. The state quarterfinals will be divided geographically into North and South brackets, respectively. Those two brackets in each class will be seeded Nos. 1-4. The semifinal round at U.S. Bank Stadium would pair the advancing teams with the higher seed in the North playing the lower seed in the South, and higher-seed in the South vs. lower seed in the North. Class AAAAAA will continue to use a pre-determined bracket based on section seeds. 

The Girls Tennis classification proposal was approved for implementation in the 2025-2026 school year:  

Girls Tennis: 

• With 194 member schools participating in Girls Tennis, the Board of Directors approved a proposal to add a third class. Per League classification policy, the minimum number of teams required for a third class is 192. The approved proposal will divide the participating teams into three equal classes by enrollment. With the passage of the proposal, more students will have access to the state tournament and the reduction in enrollment ratios create more equitable and balanced section competition. Because the next Competitive Section Placement cycle is in Spring 2025, this will be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year. 

“As a board, we are so appreciative of the hard work behind these initiatives and proposals,” said Board of Directors president Jim Smokrovich, the principal at East Ridge High School. “These are well thought-out proposals that required research and process before being approved for implementation.” 

In another Action Item, the Board of Directors approved a Conference Placement Recommendation that Detroit Lakes High School be placed in the Central Lakes Conference. This placement will take place in the 2024-2025 school year. 

In Discussion Items, League Staff shared updated information in preparation for the Representative Assembly that will meet Tuesday, May 7. A Dance Team Advisory proposal seeking to eliminate the spring tryout window has received the required support at the Administrative Region level to advance to the Representative Assembly. If approved by the Representative Assembly, it will require tryouts to be held in the approved winter season beginning in the 2025-2026 season. This approval brings dance into alignment with other League activities. 

A gymnastics proposal seeking an opportunity for member school coaches to coach their student-athletes during the school year outside of the designated season did not receive the required support by the administrative regions to advance.