Abbreviation NIAA Legal status Association Founded 1922 Type of business Nonprofit organization | Formation 1922 Purpose Athletic/Educational Staff 20 | |
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Similar National Federation of State H, Alaska School Activities, Wyoming High School A, New Mexico Activities, Arizona Interscholastic Association | ||
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) is the governing body of athletic programs for high schools in the state of Nevada. In addition, five schools in the state of California (Coleville, Needles, North Tahoe, South Tahoe, and Truckee) are also members as the schools are geographically isolated from other California schools. It also serves one school in Arizona, Beaver Dam High School, as it is geographically isolated from the rest of the state.
Contents
- NIAA sanctioned sports
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf Girls
- Track and Field
- NIAA Award of Excellence
- References
It is a non-profit organization founded in 1922 as the Nevada Interscholastic League and became affiliated with the National Federation of State High School Associations in 1939. The league changed its name to the current form in 1967. The NIAA governs eligibility of student athletes, resolves disputes, organizes levels of competition by divisional separation of schools according to attendance population, and conducts state championship competitions in all the NIAA-sanctioned sports.
NIAA sanctioned sports
The NIAA sponsors 24 sports, 13 for boys and 11 for girls. The seasons are broken down into three seasons (Fall, Winter, and Spring). One sport, girls' soccer, awards two championships per year as the girls' soccer season in Northern Nevada is during the Fall sports season, while the girls' soccer season in the Clark County School District in Southern Nevada is during the Winter sports season. The 24 sports are:
1-Only schools in Southern Nevada compete in this sport.
2-Only schools in Northern Nevada compete in this sport.
3-Only schools in Northern Nevada compete in girls soccer in the Fall season.
4-Only schools in Southern Nevada compete in girls soccer in the Winter season.
5-Girls may participate in the boys only sanctioned sports (football and wrestling), as there is no corresponding sport for them. However, they will play against males athletes if they do so.
Cross Country
The 2009 NIAA State Cross Country Championship Meet for all divisions occurred on November 7 at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, Nevada. In the 2A meet the individual girls' champion was Briana Drago of Incline and the boys' individual champion was Wade Meddles of Sierra Lutheran. Sierra Lutheran won the boys' team title and Incline won the girls' team title. In the 3A meet the individual girls' champion was Mariah Anthony of Fernley and the individual boys' champion was Josh Thompson of Moapa Valley, Lowry won the boys' team title and girls' team titles. In the 4A meet the girls' individual champion was Kelsey Smith of South Tahoe and the boys' individual champion was Richard Shroy of Carson. Carson won both the girls' and boys' team titles.
Football
The 2009 Class 4A championship was between Sunset Region champion Bishop Gorman and Sunrise Region finalist Del Sol and was played on December 5 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bishop Gorman had defeated the Northern Region champion Reed in the state semifinals, while Del Sol defeated Basic. Bishop Gorman won the state title 62–21. Bishop Gorman completed a perfect 15-0 season, while Del Sol finished 12-2. The Class 3A championship was between Southern Region top seed Moapa Valley and Northern Region top seed Truckee and was played on November 21 at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno, Nevada. Moapa Valley had reached the final after defeating the Northern Region second seed Fernley 43–0 in the state semifinals, while Truckee defeated the Southern Region second seed Boulder City 35–8. Truckee won the state championship game over Moapa Valley 27–0.
Golf (Girls)
The Class 4A state championship was completed on October 21 at Battle Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada, while the Class 3A state championship was held from October 21 through the 22nd at Boulder City Municipal Golf Course in the Boulder City, Nevada.
Track and Field
The 2011 NIAA State Track and Field Meet was held from May 20 to May 21 at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, NV.
NIAA Award of Excellence
The NIAA Award of Excellence, which began in 2001, is an award program that awards NIAA-affiliated schools points based on their varsity teams' performances in academics, athletics, and through the Citizens Through Sports program. Each of the three major categories in high school activities – academics, athletics and sportsmanship – are weighted equally, and boys and girls programs are combined in the standings table. Spirit points are added after the conclusion of the winter season and points are deducted for ejections and other unsportsmanlike conduct. The NIAA honors the winning school in each classification by presenting it with a championship banner and commemorative trophy. The NIAA considers the Award of Excellence in Academics, Athletics and Citizenship to be its top overall program.
The past champions include: