Schools are expected to report their enrollment totals for the next two-year scheduling block by Oct. 1, said Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Director David Hines during Wednesday's monthly AIA board meeting.

On Oct. 11, the 1-3A Conferences will meet to set the initial placement of their schools in conferences and regions, and the 4-6A Conferences will follow on Oct. 17. Schools can appeal their initial placement to their respective conferences.

If that appeal is denied, the schools can then appeal to the AIA's board. The scheduling of individual sports will happen first, and the plan is to try and keep the regions the same, the board said.

For the entire conference/region realignment timeline, go here.

Executive director report

A record 217 athletic directors, including 52 new athletic directors, attended this year's Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association conference in Prescott, Hines and AIAAA board representative Dr. Michael Fowler said.

In the future, Hines said he wants to host an AIA session in Prescott for each of the association's six conferences, since each conference might have questions pertaining to just their conference. The keynote speakers during this year's AIAAA conference were Arizona State Athletic Director Ray Anderson and Debbie Castaldo, the Vice President of Corporate and Community Impact for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who will continue to work with AIA member schools and a student leadership program.

Joe Paddock, AIA Assistant Executive Director, gave an update on the upcoming bylaw workshops (Oct. 2 at Lake Havasu, Oct. 8 at Amphitheater, Oct. 11 at Bradshaw Mountain) during the executive director's report to the board.

During his report, Hines also informed the board that Arizona Leadership Academy's Ironwood campus in Queen Creek wants to become an AIA member and would like board members to accompany him during a site visit. Board member Dr. Camille Casteel expressed her concern over an ALA employee recruiting football players on a Chandler Unified School District campus.

Hines said the AIA has contacted ALA and told school administrators that it is a violation for AIA member schools to recruit athletes.

Financial report

Denise Doser, the AIA's Director of Finance, reported to the board that the AIA’s spiritline tournament coordinators held an American Association of Cheerleading and Administrators class for 222 spirit line coaches at Higley High recently.

AACCCA safety certification is valid for four years. The NFHS course must be taken annually, and all new hired coaches must attend the course.

Doser also said that the AIA has already exceeded this year's AIA budget expectations for spiritline by 10 percent.

"We are 32 percent ahead of last year compared to this same time," Doser added.

Response to end of game rule

AIA State Commissioner of Officials Gary Whelchel said that at future softball and baseball meetings he will review with coaches the rule for ending a game early if a team runs out of pitchers.

Whelchel said that he doesn't want officials to interpret that rule, which confused some after a baseball game between Glendale Prep and Tempe during the 2016-17 spring season.

Whelchel also introduced Brian Gessner, who will replace Whelchel, who is retiring, during the board meeting.

Whelchel also went over the thunder and lighting guidelines for halting games.

Membership comments

The executive board members sent their best wishes to AIA Executive Assistant Tayler Coady and new addition to her family, baby Kolton, who arrived on Monday.

2A basketball proposal not approved

The 2A's proposal to increase the state basketball tournaments for boys and girls to 24 teams failed to pass by a 4-3 vote.

The board said it was impressed by the presentation Duane Ediger, 2A Conference chair, made and would like to revisit the proposal after the 2017-18 winter basketball season.

Some board members said they want to be fiscally responsible and study the proposal more before voting on it again.

South Mountain's maximum participation hardship eligibility request also wasn’t approved because of lack of information.

Agenda items approved

The following executive board items were approved by the board:

Seven requests for AIA lifetime passes.

The 2 and 4A Conference meeting agendas and minutes.

The requests for hardship eligibility (legal guardian) from Ironwood, Marana Mountain View, Perry and Thunderbird.

The request for an additional semester to allow a student from NFL Yet to compete.

The cancellation request of twelve programs, including Desert Vista's freshman 'B' football team, and nine contests between schools.

Additional game requests from Benson and St. Mary's.

Seligman's boys and basketball basketball request to allow its players to participate with Ash Fork's basketball co-op teams.

Peoria Unified District's request to allow its seven schools to exceed the fall tournament limit so they can participate in seven different district sports tournaments.

School violations

Advisement for the football programs of Centennial and Chandler. The football programs played a varsity scrimmage game on the 14th day of permissible fall day practice. Football teams can't play in scrimmage games until after the 14 permissible fall day practice.

Advisement for swim and track programs of Mesquite. Two home schooled students living in the Chandler District boundary participated in swim and track events for Mesquite. The students live near Mesquite, and the parents assumed they lived in Gilbert Mesquite's boundary.

Warning for football program of Betty Fairfax. The school's freshman football team began a practice with 12 student athletes who weren't cleared to play through the school's athletic office. The athletic trainer informed the head coach that only students who are cleared can practice