Board Proposes Amendment to Part 2, Article IX: Awards

The NDHSAA Board of Directors will bring an amendment to Part 2, Article IX: Awards, of the NDHSAA Constitution & By-Laws for a membership vote in October 2016.  The amendment governs the awards portion of the NDHSAA Constitution & By-Laws.  The proposed amendment will be further discussed at all fall administrator meetings.  The amendment appears below.  

Current By-Law

Article IX:  Awards (With Strike Through)
SECTION I:  The giving and receiving of awards and medals shall:
a.    Be kept within reasonable bounds
b.    Have symbolic value only, and
c.    Be done by and with the consent and under the supervision of the superintendent and/or principal concerned.

SECTION II:  Awards such as unattached letter, trophy, metal football, metal basketball, metal track shoe or similar article of symbolic value only may be given, provided that the cost of the awards shall not exceed the amount set by the NDHSAA Board of Directors ($300.00).

SECTION III:  Conferences or schools conducting invitational tourneys and meets under Association rules may make awards to the winning schools or contestants, provided that the awards are within the bounds of Sections I and II.

SECTION IV:  Suitable awards of symbolic value only may be given by such organizations as service clubs, patriot organizations, civic groups, Dads’ and Mothers’ Club, and the sports department of a newspaper, radio or television station.  No awards shall be accepted which in any way advertises any firm or individual so far as commercial or business interests are concerned “with the exception of NDHSAA approved corporate sponsors for NDHSAA awards”.

SECTION VI:  The Board shall have authority to designate, give and control medals and trophies to be awarded to schools or individuals on championship teams in any sport or activity, provided that these awards are kept within the bounds of Sections I and II III.

SECTION VI:  Awards, medals, recognitions, gifts, trips and honors shall not be accepted by individuals or schools from colleges, universities and higher institutions of learning and their alumni.  High school athletes or performers should be permitted to complete their high school careers without being exploited by outside sources.

SECTION VII:  Penalties for violations of the above rules may be suspension of the school and ineligibility of the individual who accepts the award.

Proposed Amendment will read:
Article IX:  Awards
SECTION I:  A student activities participant may not accept monetary compensation in recognition of activities ability, participation and/or achievement.

SECTION II:  A student may accept non-monetary compensation or items of value solely in recognition of activities ability, participation and/or achievement if the total monetary compensation or items of value, including the actual value of any gift certificates (so long as they are not convertible to cash), discounts, coupons, etc., does not exceed the amount set by the NDHSAA Board of Directors during the Association year (July 1-June 30).

SECTION III:  Non-monetary compensation or items of value does not include customary awards of symbolic nature without resale value such as the school’s athletic letter, medals, ribbons, certificates, plaques, trophies and other emblems, provided the cost of the award does not exceed the amount set by the NDHSAA Board of Directors.  

NOTE:  This rule does not regulate or prohibit compensation received by a student for ability, participation and/or achievement in a non-NDHSAA sponsored sport or activity, nor does this rule prohibit the acceptance of college scholarships by students.

SECTION IV:  A coach or director is responsible for reporting to the school’s athletic/activities director all compensation or items of value received by the students on that coach/director’s team within one month of the receipt of the compensation or items of value.  School administration is responsible for verifying that the total sum of compensation or items of value received by each student participant at that school does not exceed the retail value amount set in SECTION II.

SECTION V:  The NDHSAA Board of Directors shall have authority to designate, give and control medals and trophies to be awarded to schools or individuals on championship teams in any sport or activity, provided that these awards are kept within the bounds of Section III.  

SECTION VI:  Penalties for violations of the above rules may be suspension of the school and ineligibility of the individual who accepts the award.