First-Time Transfer proposal formally approved by Board Girls Flag Football approved as an Emerging Sport, Co-Op measure fails
During its annual review of the Member School By-Laws on Monday afternoon, the Board of Directors of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. formally adopted changes to Rule 19 regarding first-time transfers, added Girls Flag Football to its Emerging Sport Process, and a proposal allowing two schools to enter into co-op arrangements failed to receive enough support.
The Board of Directors, led by this year’s President Larry Cochren of Washington High School and Vice President Jim Brown of Fishers High School, approved 11 proposals, three (3) failed to receive enough support, and two (2) other was tabled during the meeting in Indianapolis.
All proposals are considered in the order that the rule appears within the current by-laws. The Board of Directors has four options on each proposal: affirm, deny, table or amend a rule. A simple majority is necessary to act on any measure and all approved measures become effective
immediately unless otherwise noted.
The Board officially adopted the first-time transfer proposal of Rule 19 (Eligibility and Transfers) that was adopted at the February 21 Executive Committee meeting.
In short:
• Students whose first transfer is from IHSAA Member School to IHSAA Member School will
maintain full eligibility if it occurs during their first six semesters of high school.
• Second and subsequent transfers and transfers from non-IHSAA Member Schools will be
handled in a similar fashion to the way they have been in previous years.
• Students whose second transfer involves a return to the IHSAA Member School where they
established their initial promotion eligibility will retain full eligibility within 365 days of
their enrollment date at the previous school.
This new by-law takes effect on June 1, 2025.
Girls Flag Football added as Emerging Sport, joins Girls Lacrosse
Girls Flag Football was approved by the group by a 17-1 vote to join the IHSAA’s Emerging Sports
Process. The sport joins Girls Lacrosse, approved last August, and both will begin the process with
the 2025-26 school year.
Girls Flag Football, a fall sport, has strong support and financial backing of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Emerging Sport Process, known as Rule 1-4, helps pave a way for those sports and
participation to continue to grow with an eye toward eventually becoming a recognized sport and
sponsorship of an official state tournament. Girls Wrestling and Boys Volleyball went through the
same process and became fully recognized and state tournaments sponsored this school year.
By earning the designation as an emerging sport, the IHSAA will now provide rule books, conduct
coaches rules meetings, and provide coverage in the IHSAA’s Catastrophic Medical program. Both
sports will now be subject to all IHSAA rules and policies, including the General Eligibility Rules.
For a sport to become officially recognized and an IHSAA state tournament be sponsored, 50
percent of the membership must be participating in the sport. The IHSAA currently has 409
member schools around the state.
Co-Op Programs
A proposed item submitted by Union High School Principal Ryan Chiddister failed to receive
enough support for passage by a 6-12 count.
It would have been an addition to Rule 9 (Contests) which outlined the conditions under which
member schools can form cooperative agreements for team sports, enrollment limits, proximity
requirements, and application processes.
Other items:
• The elections for next year’s leadership of the Board and Executive Committee were also
held.
Tom Black of East Central High School was voted president of the 2025-26 Board of
Directors and Jeff Hamstra of Chesterton High School was elected vice president.
Larry Cochren of Washington High School was named chairman of the 2025-26
Executive Committee and Jim Brown of Fishers High School was confirmed as vice
chairman.
About the 2024-25 IHSAA Board of Directors
The IHSAA is governed by its legislative body, the Board of Directors. Composed of 19 individuals
elected by member school principals from three legislative districts, they serve staggered three
year terms. Twelve board seats are filled by any qualified individual (open seats), and seven board
seats are filled by two qualified female representatives, two qualified minority representatives,
two qualified urban school representatives and one qualified private school representative. The
Board of Directors meets annually with the responsibility of establishing the Association’s By
Laws and regulations.
2024-25 IHSAA Board of Directors
District, Seat
District I, Class 1A
District I, Class 2A
District I, Class 3A
District I, Class 4A
District II, Class 1A
District II, Class 2A
District II, Class 3A
District II, Class 4A
District III, Class 1A
District III, Class 2A
Board Member
Tom Finicle, Southwood
Paul Voigt, Churubusco
Ryan Harrington, Highland
Jeff Hamstra, Chesterton
Martin Brown, North Vermillion
Jeremy Dexter, Western Boone
Chris Conley, Cowan
Jim Brown, Fishers**
Jeff Doyle, Barr-Reeve
Tim Grove, Linton-Stockton
Term Ends
June 2026
June 2027
June 2026
June 2027
June 2027
June 2026
June 2027
June 2026
June 2026
June 2027
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District III, Class 3A
District III, Class 4A
North District, Female
North District, Minority
North District, Urban
South District, Female
South District, Minority
South District, Urban
Private School
* President
** Vice-President
***
Larry Cochren, Washington*
Tom Black, East Central
Patti McCormack, Lowell
Stacy Adams, Valparaiso
Brian Strong, Logansport
Kris Painter, Terre Haute North Vigo
Kyle Duncan, Brownsburg
Chad Gilbert, Charlestown
Stephanie Gillett
June 2026
June 2027
June 2025
June 2025
June 2025
June 2025
June 2025
June 2025
June 2025
About the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. (IHSAA)
The IHSAA is a voluntary, not-for-profit organization that is self-supporting without the use of tax monies.