For changes to the membership’s Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Eligibility, a vote of the entire membership is required at the Annual Meeting each spring. Changes to the sport seasons regulations are advanced through the democratic committee structure. The Constitution contains information relating to the Association as an organization. The Bylaws encompass information relating to member high schools’ responsibility concerning WIAA rules and regulations. The Rules of Eligibility embody information relating to the relationship of the student-athlete to the high school and the WIAA.
The Board of Control has the ultimate authority in determining the outcome of sport seasons rule recommendations and regulations. Among the advisory groups that provide input to the Board are the coaches advisory committees for each sport; the sports advisory committee, comprised of school athletic directors from each of the seven districts; the advisory council, consisting of school administrators from each elector district; and the executive staff. Other groups with advisory responsibilities include the medical advisory committee, sportsmanship committee and the officials advisory committee. The Season Regulations address, among other topics, definition of the sports seasons, participation, contest control and tournament procedures. View Organizational Structure
The National Federation of State High School Associations is the authority of the competition rules for sport contests (i.e. uniforms, length of contest, game rules). As a member of the NFHS, the WIAA adheres to those rules as a member in good standing. The WIAA, as well as all state associations in the NFHS, has input with an advisory role in the review and promulgation of the playing rules. The NFHS office is located in Indianapolis, Ind.
Currently, the Association sponsors a State Tournaments for 25 sports with tournament series for baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, hockey, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling for boys, and basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball for girls.
Who to Contact?
The structure of governance embraced by the WIAA extends the interests of its members to the local level. Because it is the membership--all 500+ high schools--that develops and applies the rules, attempts to contact someone with concerns or questions regarding the member’s rules and interpretations should first be directed to local school administration.