Switching seasons -- Chap. 2

Here's the WIAA's Tom Shafranski on switching boys and girls swim seasons (from the 10/24/08 WIAA Bulletin):

"Seasonal Placement
Question: I read in the Wisconsin State Journal that boys and girls swimming is switching seasons. Is this a “done deal” or is this in discussion? When will it be implemented?

"There are significant consequences with moving sports -including participation, etc. Interpretation: First of all, please understand the issue of flip-flopping WIAA girl’s and
boy’s swimming and diving is currently being discussed by school administrators at WIAA Area Meetings. No decisions have been made. If a decision is made, it will be at least four years before implementation of the change is made. This is a good time for coaches to discuss this issue with their athletic director. At our WIAA Area Meetings, we are hearing concerns from athletic directors regarding boy swimmers having difficulties with fall sport opportunities. I am organizing a survey of the WIAA boy’s swimming programs that will identify the number of swimmers who participate in fall sports. This survey is intended to help identify quantifiable data for this issue. Moving girl’s swimming to the winter and keeping boy’s swimming there as well creates a facility issue for swimming pools across the State. As you know, pools have many recreational and community programs at their sites along with high school swimming and diving programs. In addition, it does not solve the “preferred seasons” issue. This “preferred seasons” problem developed this past summer when the Michigan High School Athletic Association lost their suit on seasonal placement and had to pay over $7 million in legal fees. Currently, the WIAA is not balanced with the number of girls and boys sports in their “preferred seasons.” The “preferred season” for girl’s swimming and diving is the winter season. Switching girl’s swimming to the winter and boy’s to the fall will place the WIAA membership in compliance. Swimming and diving have been chosen because the least amount of conflict exists with the number of participants and school teams that could be affected."

Interpretation (there are several):

-- If the WIAA decides to switch girls and boys swim seasons, everyone will be "grandfathered" in, i.e. no one currently swimming will be forced to switch seasons during their high school career. For instance, if the WIAA announces in the fall of 2009 that swimming seasons will switch (girls will move to winter, boys to fall), all freshmen swimmers (girls and boys) will be permitted to finish their high school careers in the same season in which they began.

-- The WIAA wants some hard data to support the current argument being made by (mainly) boys swim coaches that a switch in seasons would potentially damage boys swimming. The state high school swim coaches association (WISCA) is already organizing a survey of coaches; the WIAA is looking beyond opinions to get some idea of how many boy swimmers (and girls, presumably) participate in sports in the season to which they would be switched.

-- The WIAA would do well -- and coaches and ADs concerned about the switch should push for -- better defining what it means by "preferred seasons." Preferred by whom? Is this all about avoiding the kind of expensive lawsuit seen in Michigan? Or are there more substantial issues at play? The WIAA's use of the word "compliance" is also somewhat vague. In compliance with what, exactly?

One prediction: outgoing WIAA executive director Doug Chickering -- who earns praise from most quarters of athletic observers in the state -- won't make this decision. Instead, look for his predecessor to take it on and make the eventual decision on season switching.