Public, Non-Public High School Sports Could Be Separated In Upcoming Vote

By JASON KOESTENBLATT (Patch Staff)

The structure of several high school sports across New Jersey could change with a single vote this month if the majority of 435 member districts agree.

The New Jersey Schools Interscholastic Athletic Association is holding its annual meeting on Monday, Dec. 7, and has five measures up for vote, which will be decided on by superintendents, athletic directors, and principals from public and private schools across the Garden State.

The five measures are:

1.) Create a non-public football conference. According to the legislation, this would create a non-public conference and would allow for non-conference play between public and non-public members to be at the discretion of each school.See the proposed legislation here.

2.) Amend transfer rule. This would distinguish between closed-enrollment schools and open enrollment schools; would eliminate the bona fide change or residence condition presently in the transfer rule bylaw.

3.) Change the state wrestling championship structure. This proposal also targets the difference between public and non-public schools and would separate public schools into 28 district tournament and seven regional tournament sites. All non-public schools would be separated into four district tournaments and one regional tournament. All wrestlers who place first, second, and third in the non-public tournaments move forward, and the same for the non-public tournaments. First, second, and third place finishers from the regional tournaments move on to the state championship, which would not be separated by public and non-public. In addition, three wild cards per weight class. See the full legislation here.

4.) Earlier start dates for fall sports. This would leave the start date to the discretion of each member school and would be in effect for the next five years. In 2016, the first day of full fall sports practice would be Aug. 10. See the full legislation here.

5.) Earlier start dates for winter sports. This would bump up the start time for winter sports to the Monday before Thanksgiving Day, to allow for try-outs and player evaluation before the holiday weekend.

See the full legislation here.

“Our hope is that 435 member schools are on hand, ready to share their views and vote,” said Steven J. Timko, NJSIAA executive director. “NJSIAA represents one of the few areas of education where public and non-public schools come together with an opportunity to directly impact the rules and policies governing interscholastic sports and more than 250,000 student-athletes.”

What do you think? Should these changes be made?