The Missouri State High School Activities Association voted yes on proposals to add bowling, bass fishing, target shooting, and chess as sponsored activities. These activities have been on the table for the last four or five years, but MSHSAA was concerned about adding financial strains to schools during a downturn in the economy.
“We’re not going to look to adding anything that’s going to cost our schools more out of their budgets until the economy starts to turn around,” said Jason West, communications director for MSHSAA. “We felt it was time we needed to bring it back on board.”
The final voting:
Bowling 289-yes, 233-no
Bass fishing 275-yes, 247-no
Target shooting 264-yes, 258-no
Chess 267-yes, 255-no
AUDIOÂ West explains how those activities can now become eligible for state championships
A simple majority vote was needed. Other items passed include state titles for softball being offered in the spring and fall.
AUDIOÂ West on the addition of another softball title
Track and Field will expand from four classes to five, starting in 2014.
Football playoffs will be less compressed. Instead of Wednesday, Monday, Saturday for the first three games, it will now be Friday, Friday, Friday. That was a big push from coaches and sports-medicine staff.
Check out the final voting on all 19 measures
