The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Board of Directors met June 14-16 at the MSHSAA office for its regularly scheduled board meeting.
During the three-day meeting, the Board began its strategic planning process, discussing priorities and future initiatives aimed at guiding the Association in the years ahead.
Championship Factor Update
As outlined in By-Law 5.1.7, after classification is completed in a certain sport, non-public schools that achieve specified points based on advancement in the district and state series over the six years prior to the current school year in the applicable (gender-specific) sport or competitive activity will be re-classified upward. The Board approved three recommendations from the Ad Hoc Committee on Competitive Equity to modify this model.
1. The Board adopted a depreciating model for the accrual of Championship Factor points. See Below:
| Year | State Championship | Runner-Up | Final Four | District Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 2 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2. The Board removed the two-class maximum shift. This will allow a school to continue to be moved up classes if it continues to accumulate points.
3. The Board implemented new thresholds to address the previous two changes.
- 0-4 points: remain classified by raw enrollment classification.
- 5-10 points: reclassified one class above raw enrollment classification.
- 11-17 points: reclassified two classes above raw enrollment classification.
- 18-22 points: reclassified three classes above raw enrollment classification.
- 23-26 points: reclassified four classes above raw enrollment classification.
- 27+ points: reclassified five classes above raw enrollment classification.
The MSHSAA website will reflect these changes no later than July 15.
“This is a first step toward continuing to examine competitive equity more closely in an effort to be responsive to our member schools,” MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad said. “Our conversations will continue this fall as we explore additional ways to provide fairness and equity within a diverse membership.”
The Ad Hoc Committee on Competitive Equity will meet again in August.
Basketball Shot Clock
The Board approved a recommendation from the Basketball Advisory Committee to allow the use of a 35-second shot clock in preseason jamborees involving varsity teams, expanding the current allowance beyond regular season varsity tournaments and shootout-style events.
The Board also approved a provision allowing tournaments or shootouts that utilize a secondary facility without a shot clock to operate games both with and without a shot clock, provided all participating teams assigned to the secondary facility agree to play without a shot clock.
Basketball Replay
The Board approved a recommendation from the Officials Advisory Committee to allow the use of NFHS Basketball Rule 2-2-1 Exception at the MSHSAA Basketball Show-Me Showdown. The rule allows the use of replay to determine whether a basket scored at the expiration of time in the fourth quarter or any overtime period should count and, if so, whether the basket is worth two or three points.
The rule provides replay authority only in these specific situations and helps ensure the correct call is made during the Show-Me Showdown (semifinals, championships and third place games).
2026 Annual Ballot Results
The Board certified the results of the 2026 Annual Ballot, which were released in April. The Board also approved an amendment to Proposal No. 1.
Student Leadership Summit
The Board approved a recommendation from the Student Advisory Committee to host a Student Leadership Summit in November 2027. The committee’s goal is to provide students from across Missouri with opportunities to connect, listen and learn from one another.
New Board Member
The Board approved Dr. Lori Wilson, superintendent of the Ozark School District, as the incoming Southwest District representative on the Board of Directors.
Dr. Wilson was appointed by outgoing board member Josh Scott and will officially begin her service July 1. She will complete the remainder of Scott’s term, which expires in July 2027.
Audio Rights Fees Eliminated
The Board approved a recommendation from the Media Advisory Committee to eliminate audio rights fees for approved media outlets for all postseason contests. Additional information will be provided to media members later this summer.
Additional Board Actions
In addition, the Board approved other recommendations from the Basketball, Media, Music, Officials, Speech & Debate, Sports Medicine, Theatre and Student Advisory Committees. Specific information on those Board actions will be available here later this summer.
The Board is scheduled to meet again in September.
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