Several Proposals Passed at Arkansas Activities Association Governing Body Meeting

The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) Governing Body held its annual meeting Monday at the Statehouse Convention Center’s Wally Allen Ballroom in Little Rock, bringing together superintendents and school officials from across the state to vote on proposed amendments to the AAA Constitution and Bylaws.

Each proposal was introduced with a detailed explanation, followed by written balloting. Per AAA procedure, each member school’s superintendent—or a designated representative—was entitled to cast one vote. All six proposed amendments were approved by wide margins:

• Baseball & Softball Championship Brackets
  Higher-seeded teams in state championship games will now have the option to choose whether to be designated as the home or visiting team on the scoreboard at neutral-site venues. The change is designed to enhance competitive fairness and allow for greater strategic flexibility.

  • Baseball: 144 in favor, 24 opposed

  • Softball: 142 in favor, 24 opposed

• Administrator Responsibilities
  This amendment clarifies the role of school administrators in the certification of athletic eligibility.

  • Vote: 260 in favor, 3 opposed

• Sportsmanship Course for Ejections
  Coaches and participants ejected from contests must now complete an additional course emphasizing sportsmanship and conduct.

  • Vote: 248 in favor, 18 opposed

• Reporting Violations
  Updated guidelines provide a clearer framework for reporting rule violations and outline the process for assigning penalties.

  • Vote: 260 in favor, 3 opposed

• Soccer Participation
  New language clarifies student-athlete participation rules regarding non-school soccer teams during the school season.

  • Vote: 251 in favor, 12 opposed

The Governing Body also reviewed several proposals that will be put to a vote later this year. Each received unanimous "Do Pass" recommendations from the AAA Board of Directors:

• Proposal #1 – Sportsmanship Manual Update
  Would grant home teams exclusive control over sound systems at indoor and outdoor venues during pre-game, game, and post-game activities. Visiting teams would be limited to locker room usage.

  • Board Recommendation: 20-0

  • Proposed Effective Date: 2025–2026 school year

• Proposal #2 – Bowling Classification Changes
  Seeks to restructure school classifications for bowling into five distinct groups (6A through 2A/1A combined) to foster competitive balance and improve conference and state venue planning.

  • Board Recommendation: 20-0

  • Proposed Effective Date: 2025–2026 school year

• Proposal #3 – Cross Country Season Start
  Recommends moving the start of the cross country season from Week 9 to Week 8 on the AAA calendar, beginning with the 2026 season.

  • Board Recommendation: 20-0

  • Proposed Effective Date: 2026–2028 classification cycle

For more information about these proposals and the Arkansas Activities Association’s governance process, visit www.ahsaa.org.