The recent NFHS/SGMA/NCAA Meeting, held April 25 in Indianapolis, IN, to discuss rules changes for high school and college sports was considered a major success by organizers and attendees alike.  More than 70 sporting goods industry executives from 40 sporting goods companies and organizations met with the leadership of SGMA, NCAA, and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).  Attendees took in presentations detailing upcoming rules changes and injury studies before participating in sport-specific discussion sessions moderated by NCAA and NFHS officials. 

“We were very pleased with the meeting,” said SGMA President Tom Cove in an interview with Team Business following the event.  “It included virtually every major team sports company in the United States and gave everyone a chance to identify issues and resolve them through a non-controversial, non-conflict-oriented process.  We were very happy with the breadth of subjects which were addressed – everything from football helmets to lacrosse balls to uniform issues, as well as injury statistics.”

NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner and SGMA’s Cove opened the day with a welcome and introductions, both of whom noted the gradually growing attendance at the meeting from year to year.  Other featured speakers included Ty Halpin, associate director of playing rules and officiating for the NCAA, who offered an NCAA update, and Mike Oliver, executive director of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), who provided a NOCSAE update.  Dr. Tom Dompier, president for Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research & Prevention, and Dr. Dawn Comstock, associate professor of Pediatrics at Ohio State University, gave presentations on injury surveillance systems for the NCAA and NFHS, respectively.

Rules changes were discussed for a myriad of sports, including baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and many others. Attendees were provided with a list of all NFHS equipment, facilities, uniform and rules changes which took effect this school year (2011/2012) and which will go into effect in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 school years.  The NCAA and the NFHS also presented a list of all the Playing Rules Committees (NCAA) and Sport Rules Committees, staff contacts, and meeting dates.

Full coverage of the event can be found in the May 2 edition of Team Business Digital.