NIAA board approves director’s recommendations

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | 6:48 a.m.

Nevada high schools will play fewer games in several sports starting next fall, in response to the state’s budget crisis.

As expected, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s Board on Control on Tuesday approved a recommendation from association Executive Director Eddie Bonine at a meeting in Reno to reduce the number of contests.

The money-saving measure will be implemented starting in August and already was considered in the schedule-making process.

Baseball and softball teams will be allowed to play a maximum of 21 games, down from 24. Basketball, volleyball and soccer will drop to 18 contests from 20. All five sports will still be allowed to compete in two tournaments.

In a separate decision, the board approved Bonine’s recommendation to postpone voting on realignment, a controversial plan released in May that would break the state’s four classifications into three divisions.

The proposal was met with disapproval by officials at several Las Vegas Valley schools that are part of the NIAA’s large-school classification and would be transferred to the middle division as part of the realignment.

“This gives the NIAA and league liaisons time to further discuss with member schools what is best for the state,” said Donnie Nelson, the NIAA’s assistant director.

Nelson said the NIAA would like to have a modified realignment plan by the spring 2010 board meeting. He called a 30-minute discussion on the topic at the meeting a cordial debate.