Sun-Times spotlight
Marty Hickman | Executive Director | Illinois H.S. Association
It's as good as any time in my six-year tenure. Our finances have improved. We have high levels of participation. A lot of good things are going on in our schools. The message of interscholastic activities enhancing the educational experience is alive and well.
What are your goals for 2007-08? To make sure class expansion goes as well as it can possibly go. I know there are naysayers in boys basketball. From an implementation point of view, it is important that we go on without a hitch. We have to bring some finality to the issue of performance-enhancing substances. And we need to continue to do all we can to promote the value of high school activities.
What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job? Without question, it is being at state final events. I get the biggest kick at an event like cross-country and being there 40-50 minutes before it begins and watching parents and kids and the school spirit that surrounds the event, then being at the finish line and seeing fans being gracious and supportive of the first runner as well as the last runner.
The most difficult aspect? Handling the massive diversity we have in the state, the difference between rural and urban schools, between private and public schools and trying to fairly apply and interpret a set of rules that really don't fit the needs of all constituents.
Is there a volleyball controversy stirring? This is an example of how people look at things differently, even in the same school. Our new plan is to complete regional and sectional tournaments in one day to avoid travel and travel expenses and having to open a facility for an extra night. There is an administrator's view and a coach's view. We don't see playing two matches in one night as being detrimental. We think it is a practical, common-sense answer to a problem.
What about four-class basketball? I hope people will give it a chance. I'll be the first to advocate for change if it is a disaster and universally disliked. I think it will be unbelievable for schools that have never had a chance to qualify for the state finals before.
Is Illinois ready for random drug testing? New Jersey, Florida and Texas have it. California is close. We are close. It is one of the issues that we have to address up or down this year. I think the IHSA board of directors is on board. Personally, I think it would be a good thing for us to get involved. It is a community health issue. Research says 6 percent of our kids have been involved with drugs. There are far more positives than negatives in testing. We need to find a way to get it done.
If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be?
I would like to instill in all of our people that, first and foremost, we do this wonderful thing because we want people to be better citizens and not because we want them to get college scholarships or play professionally.