Pandemic Influences Rule Revisions
Adopted by UIL Legislative Council
As expected, the pandemic heavily influenced the discussions and actions occurring during the Oct. 18-19 UIL Legislative Council meeting, held virtually.
- Note: Click here for the “meeting summary” document. Webcasts of UIL meetings are posted on the league’s YouTube channel.
The 32-member council, consisting mostly of ISD superintendents, approved a resolution extending the authority granted previously to UIL Executive Director Charles Breithaupt, or a designee of his choosing, to continue to be allowed to make adjustments and changes to UIL rules as needed due to the pandemic. The extension expires on
Options and Scenarios
Breithaupt, UIL Deputy Director Jamey Harrison and other UIL staff, at various times during the meeting, briefed the council on the options and scenarios that might occur moving forward.
Harrison, noting the vast number of football games that have been cancelled due to COVID-19 related issues, said the league will continue to allow local district executive committees to determine whether district games that can’t be played because of COVID-19 reasons are ruled as forfeits or “no contest” in the district standings, but said schools can appeal those decisions to the UIL’s State Executive Committee.
“We would love to find a one-size-fits-all answer for those, but we haven’t found one that fits all of the unique scenarios that are being thrown our way,” Harrison said.
Breithaupt added that it will be impossible to make everybody happy.
The football championships and state marching band competition are still on the schedule, although moved to six weeks later, staff said.
Various options are being considered for spring music and academic events, staff said.
Some activities — such as the UIL film contest and state awards ceremony — will be held virtually, staff said.
Postponed Activities
The council approved amendments to temporarily delay the scheduled introduction of these activities for a year due to the pandemic:
- Water polo (previously scheduled to begin in School Year 2021-22).
- The State Chamber Music Contest (previously scheduled to begin in School Year 2020-21).
- Sight reading explanation period changes in music (previously scheduled to begin in School Year 2020-21).
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Superintendent Mark Henry asked for, and received, assurances from staff, that none of the postponed activities would be forgotten about once the pandemic crisis ends.
The council approved surveying superintendents on whether districts should be given more flexibility in determining when the additional 60 minutes of strength and conditioning and the 60 minutes of skills training can be scheduled for student athletes.
The council adopted an assortment of contest rule changes (see “meeting summary” document) to be effective as of
Among activities that were suggested by the public that did not receive approval to be added as UIL sanctioned contests were e-sports and “space teams” competitions. The council did direct staff to “monitor” the e-sports proposal.
The meeting ended with the election of these superintendents as the council’s officers for the next year: 1) Jo Ann Bludau (Hallettsville ISD), chair; 2) Robin Ryan (Grapevine-Colleyville ISD), first vice chair, and 3) Cody Moree, (Apple Springs ISD), second vice chair. The meeting was chaired by Curtis Rhodes (Needville ISD), whose term as chair ended when the meeting concluded.