The Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors met Thursday morning in Columbus for its regularly scheduled June meeting, which marks the final board meeting of the 2012-13 school year. The following are highlights from the meeting. The complete set of meeting minutes will be posted later at OHSAA.org.

-          The board approved the football divisional breakdowns and regional assignments for 2013 and 2014. The lists of schools in each of the seven divisions, along with the regional maps, are posted on the football page at OHSAA.org: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/ft/boys/default.asp

-          The board approved a proposal from the OHSAA staff for the 2013 football playoff schedule format. This fall, Divisions II, III, IV and VI will play their regional and state semifinal games on Friday nights at 7:30 p.m., while Divisions I, V and VII will play their regional and state semifinal games on Saturday nights at 7 p.m. The order and game times for the state championship games will be announced after the state semifinal games, which will include a determination as to which division (II, III, IV or VI) will play its state championship game on Thursday night, Dec. 5.

-          The board approved a proposal from the OHSAA staff that beginning in 2014, the start date for football practice will always be August 1 (unless August 1 is a Sunday, in which case football practice will start August 2). This makes football consistent with the OHSAA’s other fall sports, which already begin practice August 1 (unless August 1 is a Sunday). Of note, this fall football practice begins August 5 except for those schools that begin classes August 16 or earlier, in which case football practice may begin August 1 for those schools.

-          Four schools were recently penalized for committing infractions of OHSAA bylaws or sports regulations. The list of schools, along with their infractions and penalties, is always included in the meeting minutes posted at OHSAA.org, but media members may obtain the list in advance via email from Tim Stried ([email protected]).

-          The Board approved an OHSAA staff request to propose a rules experiment to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) regarding the wearing of jewelry in swimming and diving. The rules experiment, which will be conducted over the next three years if approved by the NFHS, will allow swimmers and divers to wear jewelry without being disqualified.

-          Except gymnastics, the 2013 winter sports financial reports were presented to the board. The new team wrestling regional and state tournament operated at an overall loss of $96,166. Attendance at the one-day state tournament was 1,750. The boys basketball state tournament attendance increased by 2,513 tickets (total attendance of 115,343) and resulted in a net profit of $871,858.

The girls basketball state tournament attendance increased by 2,537 tickets (total attendance of 35,953) and resulted in a net profit of $15,204. The bowling state tournament had a total attendance of 1,607 and resulted in a net profit of $99. The ice hockey state tournament had a total attendance of 4,466 and operated at a net loss of $4,798.

The swimming and diving state tournament had a total attendance of 8,354 and operated at a loss of $8,979. The individual wrestling state tournament had a total attendance of 49,256 (down 1,187 from 2012) and resulted in a net profit of $191,143. Of note, the OHSAA receives no tax dollars and does not charge annual membership dues or tournament entry fees. Eighty-percent of the OHSAA’s operating budget comes from gate receipts at regional and state tournaments.

-          The board denied a proposal from the basketball coaches association that would require schools to do a film exchange at the regional and state tournament level.

-          The OHSAA welcomes one new member school for the 2013-14 academic year with Columbus Patriot Preparatory Academy. Of note, Bedford St. Peter Chanel and Marion Catholic are no longer member schools, while Berea and Midpark have consolidated into one school.

2013 OHSAA Spring State Tournaments Coverage:

-          Boys Tennis: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/te/boys/2013/2013BTEcoverage.htm

-          Softball: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/sb/girls/2013/2013SBcoverage.htm

-          Baseball: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bb/boys/2013/2013BBcoverage.htm

-          Track & Field: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/tf/2013/2013TFcoverage.htm