Issuing Sanctions to Member Schools

The Board of Directors has the authority to issue the following sanctions to member schools and individuals.

Probation

The Board of Directors shall have power to place any member school on probation for violation of any of the rules of the Union or for other just cause.  Where the penalty is not fixed, the probationary period shall be left to the discretion of the Board of Directors. Upon successful completion of an established probationary period, a school will automatically return to the status of a member in good standing.

Should a school wish to be removed from probation before the automatic reinstatement date, that school may be reinstated by the Board of Directors upon application made in writing to the Executive Director by the Administrator 20 days in advance of the time it desires to be reinstated. The Executive Director shall present the application of the school on probation to the Board of Directors for its consideration. The Administrator shall agree in writing that the school will abide by all the rules of the Union in the future. The Administrator shall sign the statement on behalf of the school.

Violation of any of the rules of the Union or other form of misconduct by a member school during that school’s probationary period may result in said school’s suspension.

Probation will allow a school to continue interscholastic competition, conditional to the school’s adherence to all rules of the Union.

Suspension

The Board of Directors shall have power to suspend or otherwise penalize any member school for the violation of any of the rules of the Union or for other just cause. The period of suspension or other penalty shall be left to the discretion of the Board of Directors where the penalty is not fixed. Any school under suspension, if it has restricted its athletic program to intramural athletics for the period of suspension may be reinstated by the Board of Directors upon application made in writing, 20 days in advance of the time it desires to be reinstated, to the Executive Director by the Administrator. The Executive Director shall present the application of the suspended school to the Board of Directors for its consideration. The Administrator shall agree in writing that the school will abide by all the rules of the Union in the future. The Administrator shall sign the statement on behalf of the school. Suspension nullifies all existing contracts between the suspended school and other member schools.

Sanctioning for In-State Competition Hosted by Non-Member Schools/Organizations

  1. Any event in which more than two member schools participate and is not sponsored, organized or managed by a member school shall require an intrastate sanction.
  2. No same sport events will be sanctioned on the date of state governing organizations sponsored events.
  3. All rules, regulations and playing rules of the IGHSAU shall apply.

Schools choosing to participate in intrastate events not sponsored, organized or managed by a member school are responsible for making certain the event is properly sanctioned by the IGHSAU.  Sanctioning forms are available for intrastate events not sponsored, organized or managed by a member school by contacting either the IGHSAU.

Frequently Asked Questions

The McLeod Center at the University of Northern Iowa holds an eight-team basketball event. All participating schools are from Iowa. Each school only plays one game. Does this event require an intrastate sanction? Yes. The event is not organized by a member school.

Two member schools choose to play a regular season volleyball match at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. Does this require an intrastate sanction? No. The event does not involve more than two member schools.

A local civic organization sponsors an eight-team soccer tournament. The tournament is organized and managed by a member school. Does the tournament require an intrastate sanction?  No. The event has a sponsor; however, the organization and management of the event is the responsibility of a member school.

A professional group put together an eight-team softball event. Member schools are invited to move one of their regular season games to the event venue and be played as part of the event. Does this event require an intrastate sanction? Yes. The event is not organized and managed by a member school.

Intrastate Event Sanction Form