AHSAA Moving Volleyball State Tournament to Birmingham

MONTGOMERY - Sites for the new volleyball Super Regional playoff format, the move of the 2012 Elite Eight state tournament to the new CrossPlex Arena in Birmingham and the move of the 2013 South Regional basketball tournament to the Dothan Civic Center were approved Tuesday by the AHSAA Central Board of Control at its annual spring meeting.

"Our girls will have the very best volleyball experience," AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said.

Huntsville and Montgomery were awarded the North and South Super Regional sites, respectively. The Super Regional format, which was approved earlier this school year, will send 16 schools in each classification to each site Oct. 26-27 with the top four advancing the Elite Eight state tournament Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

Huntsville's Von Braun Center will host the North Super Regional for volleyball and the new Montgomery multi-purpose arena at Cramton Bowl the South Super Regional.

Birmingham's CrossPlex, which will host the state volleyball tournament for the next five years, has already hosted the AHSAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in February. The Pelham Civic Complex hosted the state volleyball tournament since 1998.

The City of Dothan and will be the host for the South Regional basketball tournament beginning next season (Feb. 19-23) under a three-year contract.

The tournament is moving from Mobile and the University of South Alabama's Mitchell Center and had previously been held at Troy University.

The Central Board also approved Auburn University as the site for the State Swimming and Diving Championships for the next three years with the 2012 state meet Nov. 30-Dec 1.

Current Central Board president Luke Hallmark of Demopolis was re-elected for 2012-13 and Terry Cooper of Mountain Brook was elected vice president.

In other board action:

Approved the recommendation of the AHSAA Medical Advisory Board to require four hours between two-a-day football practices and prohibit two-a-day practices on consecutive days.

Approved the recommendation of the AHSAA Medical Advisory Board to require any student-athlete diagnosed with a sign or symptom of a concussion not be allowed to return to practice or competition that day and only if cleared by a medical doctor.

Approved the district assignment of contest officials for championship play in all sports beginning in 2012-13. The pilot program was used in football this past season.

Approved the 2011 Football Playoff audit and the financial reports for the 2012 State Wrestling, Indoor Track and Final 48.

Approved St. Patrick Middle School of Robertsdale and Cornerstone Christian Academy Middle School of Rainsville for 2012 membership.

Approved July 1 as the date new member schools must begin complying with all AHSAA rules and regulations and also restricted new member schools from competing in summer competition until the school has been a member for one year.

Approved the AHSAA's 2012-13 Calendar of Events, 2012-13 Sports Calendar and the AHSAA Five-Year Calendar.

Approved the Bi-District Board member rotation and amended the Female Board member rotation.