BOONE, Iowa – Recent approvals from the Iowa High Athletic Association’s Board of Control will adjust schedules and postseasons for the 2021-22 athletic year and add to annual sport award programs.
The board meeting was held on Nov. 19 in Cedar Falls ahead of the state football championships, with participating member schools notified of the approved items below by Nov. 29.
Swimming: New para-swimming division added
Starting this winter, the IHSAA will offer competition in a para-swimming division to run in cooperation with the current single-class swimming season. The division is intended for individuals who require the use of a wheelchair for athletic participation and will feature four events: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, and 100-yard breaststroke.
As will all varsity swimming competitors, student-athletes may compete in up to two individual events in a single meet. Para-swimming events will immediately precede the typical non-disabled races, like the meet schedule in track and field’s wheelchair division.
Para-swimming competitors must compete in district meets to qualify for the state meet, currently set for Feb. 11-12 in Iowa City. Para-swimming guidelines have been added as an addendum to the 2021-22 swimming manual.
Baseball: Preseason practice time adjusted
Two schedule changes have been approved ahead of the 2022 baseball season, both involving preseason workouts.
Hitting workouts have been expanded to allow coaches to offer hitting instruction 15 times during the preseason starting Feb. 28, which adds five dates and one month to prior protocols. Starting Jan. 1, coaches are also permitted to instruct catchers during the approved voluntary pitcher and catcher workout period. Previously, coaches were only to intended to be present to coach pitchers and supervise the workout.
Additional IHSAA Halls of Fame to start in 2022-23
Hall of Fame honors will expand starting in the 2022-23 school year to incorporate all available IHSAA sports. Currently, the IHSAA maintains and recognizes sports Hall of Fame selections in basketball (started in 1969), wrestling (1971), and football (1980). Each Hall of Fame has a nomination process, selection committee, and inducts honorees at IHSAA state championship events.
With these new Halls of Fame, the IHSAA will create or partner with preexisting coaches’ associations Hall of Fame standards to honor standouts annually. New sports include baseball, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, plus track and field and cross country. A plan will be developed for bowling, which was sanctioned for the first time in 2009-10.
Selection criteria for former student-athletes in IHSAA Halls of Fame consist of a nomination submitted by a member school representative, being at least 10 years removed from high school graduation, and verified and quantified outstanding accomplishments.
Nomination forms and selection committee applications will be posted later this school year.
Wrestling: 2022 Postseason Assignments
Assignments for sectional and district tournaments were released on Friday, Nov. 19. Those tournaments are currently scheduled for Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, 2022.
The top two place-winners in each district tournament weight class advance to the state tournament, set for Feb. 17-19 in Des Moines.
