NFHS adopts position statement for state associations

INDIANAPOLIS — In support of the 51 NFHS-member state associations that provide opportunities for students to participate in education-based high school sports and other activity programs, the NFHS Board of Directors has approved the adoption of an NFHS Position Statement titled "The Case for State High School Athletic/Activity Associations." The Board of Directors approved the statement at its regularly scheduled spring meeting last month in Indianapolis. The Board voiced strong support for the 51 state associations, which have been successfully promoting, regulating and directing interscholastic athletic programs for 100 years. The NFHS position statement in support of state high school associations is another part of the ongoing 2025-2029 NFHS strategic plan. Previously, the NFHS developed the "Value of State High School Associations" document, which led to the current "Protect the Purpose" campaign. All of these initiatives are part of the strategic plan's directive to "establish the NFHS as the leading voice in advocating for the enduring relevance and importance of education-based athletics and activities, ensuring their continued prominence and valued integration into the educational experience." After setting the stage with a history of NFHS member associations, the position statement discusses the essential services provided by these organizations — all focused on educational outcomes. They include structure for regular-season competition, state-culminating championships, promotion of student safety/risk minimization, sportsmanship initiatives, coaches education programs, and community service and recognition programs, among many other important initiatives. The statement emphasizes that NFHS-member state associations are governed by boards and committees composed of individuals within member schools — superintendents, principals, athletic directors, coaches and others — who have an educational focus to enforcing eligibility, playing and academic rules. Further, the statement adopted by the Board of Directors noted that governance of high school sports by these 51 state associations ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all student-athletes because the goal of sports within our nation's schools is not to prepare students first and foremost for playing sports after high school, but to mold high school students to be tomorrow's leaders. To maintain the proper focus on sports within our nation's schools, it is essential that NFHS-member state associations maintain control over education-based activity programs in our country. In light of recent challenges to the governing authority of NFHS-member associations in some states, the NFHS position statement concludes with the following summary: "The NFHS believes that state high school associations that are education-focused and have been successfully directing high school sports for more than 100 years should continue to direct and operate these programs. The NFHS believes these programs should remain independent of state government involvement, so that the outcomes are not influenced by independent districts apart from the educational objectives of high school sports. "Education-based sports programs are connected to classroom learning every day, and the 51 athletic/activity associations that govern activity programs have adopted eligibility, participation, transfer and academic rules consistent with their member schools that apply statewide. These are the only organizations capable of maintaining the educational focus on high school athletics and activity programs."