On Monday, the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s executive board denied a conference request to allow top seeds to host sectional tournament basketball games.

Before the board’s vote, AIA Executive Director Dr. Harold Slemmer explained why it’s important for the AIA to host sectional games at centralized locations instead of at the home sites of No. 1 seeds. Some sites might not be big enough to host games, said Dr. Slemmer during Monday’s monthly board meeting.

The meeting's minutes will list all of the reasons for disallowing No. 1 seeds to host sectional games, something AIA board member Sister Lynn Winsor of Xavier Prep requested just in case schools have questions.

AIA board notes

The board rescinded its decision to allow members of an organization that promotes football globally, Global Football,  from inviting Arizona high school players to participate in its football events and trips.

Catalina Foothills coach Jeff Scurran, a Global Football representative, said during Monday’s board meeting that Global Football doesn’t just invite elite players. Global Football is open to players from all levels, including students with disabilities, Scurran said.

After hearing Scurran’s speech, the board gave the OK to allow Arizona high school players to join Global Football.  

----A task force formed to avoid losing AIA officials to other organizations has recommended that the AIA board now oversee the fiscal management of officials to help maintain its pool of candidates.

Higher paying non-AIA sporting events continue to attract AIA officials, and the AIA is searching for ways to end that trend.

----The Sports Medicine Advisory Committee is meeting next week to continue addressing how much time a player can miss after an injury.

One of the issues the committee is running into is the amount of time injured freshmen players play on freshman and junior varsity teams. Some junior varsity programs lack bodies and rely on their freshmen players to fill their ranks during games.

----The board approved Tucson Sabino’s Jay Campos’ request to coach in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl and declined Hamilton’s Steve Belles’ request to coach in the Canyon-Coast Classic.

Slemmer said the Semper Fedelis game is a nationally recognized event for seniors, which the AIA has no jurisdiction over. The Canyon-Coast Classic is a regional event that violates the AIA’s All-Star rule. 

----The board approved the Volleyball Sports Advisory Committee's recommendation to replace Basha’s Jim Kahn on the committee with Renee Regoli of Campo Verde.

----The board recognized the efforts of all of its tournament workers.

Some of those workers/school members attended Monday’s board meeting. For an entire list of the AIA's tournament workers and the AIA’s letter of recognition go here.