This is to inform you of the importance of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to our organization, the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association (NJSCA).
The NJSCA grew out of the old New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches Association and was formed with the help of the NJSIAA. Since our formation in the early ’90s, our association has grown and flourished. Our organization’s goals are fair play for all and the betterment of high school athletics. We try to accomplish this through coaches’ education and representation on the executive committee of the NJSIAA. The coaching education programs come from the National Federation of High Schools Coaches Association, which is under the umbrella of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
Competition and sport need rules and regulations to survive and the NJSIAA provides both very well. For your information, New Jersey offers the most state championships (32) in the United States. Without their guidance and help, chaos would reign. The NJSIAA has helped us to provide a coaches’ education program for new coaches, first aid and CPR training for all coaches, a coach’s handbook, and clinics for most sports. Additionally, they have helped to reestablish the coaches’ hall of fame program. The coaches of New Jersey are also recognized nationally, through the NFHS programs, which are supported by the NJSIAA and states throughout the country.
As you are aware, the NFHS is the national sports governing body for developing and enhancing rules for different sports. The need for the NJSIAA to function efficiently is paramount to high schools having direction from leadership in this area of student athletics. One can see that professional scandals from drug abuse and alcoholism have not only marred the sport scene but have filtered down into the high school arena as well. The NJSIAA is needed to deter this ever-growing problem.
In addition, our coaches’ education program has funded scholarships for outstanding high school athletes. This year alone, $30,000 was distributed during the NJSIAA annual student-athlete luncheon.
Without the guidance and support of the NJSIAA, all of these programs would be in jeopardy. It is our concern that with the current legislation that reduces the price of admissions to NJSIAAsponsored events, the association will no longer be able to provide the services necessary for our student athletes to thrive and excel. Therefore, since the NJSIAA has not received any complaints regarding ticket prices from the general public, we urge you to continue to support the NJSIAA and allow the NJSIAA to maintain ticket prices at the prevailing rate on the date that the legislation becomes law.
Board of Governors
NJSCA Robbinsville