Executive director looks for ‘common ground’ with board restructured by Governor DeSantis
GAINESVILLE — One by one, 15 members of the Florida High School Activities Association board of directors heaped praise upon Craig Damon for work done in his first year as the executive director.
Those thanks came near the conclusion of Tuesday’s final
FHSAA meeting for the 2022-23 school year and commended the former high school football coach for the passion, professionalism and persistence he displayed as a leader while traveling the state to meet coaches, administrators and student-athletes at member schools. .
Since his promotion from coordinator of eligibility and compliance to the top job in April 2022,
Damon stopped by more than 100 schools in what has been described as an unprecedented trek by a leader of the FHSAA, which has governed high school sports in Florida since 1920.
He also attended coaching conferences, a seven-on-seven tournament and academic award presentations “just to introduce myself, build relationships and answer questions.”
But now he’s hearing a question he can’t yet answer: Will he remain in charge of the FHSAA in the wake of the recent passage of HB225? That bill gives Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis and the state department of education authority over the FHSAA on July 1.
“Not sure about that,” Damon said after Tuesday’s meeting concluded at the association’s headquarters. “I’m hoping that I’ll be grandfathered in. That has not been confirmed yet.”
Nine on the 16-person board, seven who were elected by member schools, had terms extending until July 2024 or later.
But they too are in limbo, not knowing whether they will remain when the new-look panel
is scheduled to meet again in September.
HB225, pushed by Republican majorities in the state House and Senate, allows DeSantis to choose eight members of a new 13-person board. The DOE will continue to have one seat, and four will be selected in votes by member schools.
Previously, 12 of 16 board members were elected.
FHSAA board member Chris Patricca, a Lee County school board representative, thanked Damon and then expressed her displeasure with the governmental power play. She implored colleagues who remain on the board — at least for 24 more days — to continue to do “the right thing.”
“The first 4 ½ years on this board for me was politics-free,” Patricca said. “Every decision that was made by this board was based on what was best for the student-athletes.”
DeSantis is among those in Tallahassee who said the FHSAA needs to be held accountable for its regulations and rulings.
In addition to his school tour Damon made “six or seven” trips to Tallahassee since February to attend legislative committee hearings and speak to state education Commissioner Manny Diaz and others inside the DOE about the legislation, authored by state representative Fred Hawkins (R-St. Cloud).
Damon said he has not spoken to DeSantis.
The FHSAA director does have some more road trips scheduled.
“I plan to get back on the road and meet each member of the new board once they are elected or selected,” Damon said. “I want to share with them our philosophy on doing what is best for students and definitely see if we can find some common ground.
“I really have no idea who those people will be.”
HB225 also includes statutory amendments that open the door wider for students to select high school teams. That forces the FHSAA to scramble to revise its rulebook ahead of fall sports, which kick off in August.
Those revisions were the subject of a second big gathering Tuesday afternoon after the board meeting. County athletic directors filled the room to be briefed by FHSAA staffers on policy changes needed to adhere to the new law.
“How do we communicate all these changes to our community?” asked former Edgewater High athletic director Valerie Miyares, who now oversees athletics for Palm Beach County public schools.
Among the new regulations that raised eyebrows, and concern:
Students who attend a private school that is not an FHSAA member and has 200 students or fewer will be allowed to play for a public school — even one from a different county — in sports their home school does not offer.
Florida Virtual School and home-schooled students can play for consenting private schools. So can public charter school students in sports their school does not have.
Students in public alternative or “special” schools that don't have sports programs can join any public team (including charter and lab schools) in their county.
Those stipulations don't guarantee a roster spot, just an opportunity to try out. But coaches fear they provide more loopholes for elite players to transfer to join power programs.
The board debated for 75 minutes before voting 11-4 to once again table a proposal to add a shot clock to boys and girls basketball. Proponents have said the high school game needs a clock similar to college and professional basketball to prevent stalling.
An FHSAA survey showed that 67% of 1,166 school representatives (principals, ADs, coaches and others) who responded were in favor of shot clocks. But again the cost of equipment and manning the clock on game nights was the overriding concern.
Schools are permitted to use shot clocks experimentally again in the 2023-24 regular season.