Handling Growth -- Technology and the Internet

By Brian Bolitho

Beginning with a need to promote its "Pursuing Victory with Honor (PVWH)" program in 1999, the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) has made several technological advances in its Web site to more adequately promote its mission.

The PVWH program was created to teach the six pillars of character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship) to athletic administrators and coaches, who would then teach those core elements to their students-athletes, parents and fans.

In order to promote the mission of the AIA, the PVWH program, and to handle the growth of the AIA membership, the AIA developed and launched its initial Web site, www.aiaonline.org, in 1999.

In the early 2000s, the initial site evolved from what the AIA is (such as its history, constitution and bylaws, staff, PVWH, etc.) to information on state tournaments (brackets and tournament guides), and how to become an official. In addition, the AIA, through its partnership with Cox Communications, created the Everyday Heroes Awards Gala in 2003.

"With the initial and continued success of the Everyday Heroes Awards Gala, the use of the Web site was expanding," said AIA Chief Operations Officer Chuck Schmidt. "There is a need now for the AIA to not only communicate with its membership, but also communicate effectively with the media, the students, the parents and the officials."

To do just that, the AIA partnered with a Web site development company, Contact Designs/McMurry, in fall 2004 to change the look and feel of the Web site. Since the fourth-generation Web site launched in fall 2005, member schools now have the ability to post schedules online for not only varsity sports, but games at the junior varsity and freshman levels.

To go along with the scheduling process, a helpful tool developed for the Web site is the officials' assignment system. After the schedules are created, the officials department assigns the more than 2,750 registered officials to more than 47,000 varsity-, junior varsity- and freshman-level games in the academic year. Once assigned, the host member school is able to view the officials assigned to their game through a secure area of the Web site. When a game is completed, the finance department of the AIA is then able to pull a report to pay mileage to the officials.

Also, when a game is completed, member schools input the results of their games, which are in turn used for the AIA Power Rankings Model that seeds most conferences' state tournaments. Brackets of state tournaments are also updated on the Web site as results are called in.

In June 2007, the AIA launched its fifth-generation Web site. The information pertinent to the schools can be found by accessing the links at the top of the page. Below the rotating photos highlighting AIA state tournaments, the homepage is split into three columns. On the left side of the page is a TV with AIA highlights of state championships. Below the highlights, the AIA honors its Everyday Heroes recipients and finalists. A student spotlight section is on the left side as well, highlighting students featured in an Arizona newspaper.

The center section directs viewers to newspaper stories from throughout the state and the Press Center, where the AIA news releases are posted. The slim column on the right highlights the partners of the AIA, in particular, Farmers, the Champions Partner. There is a direct link as well to the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching course.

With the launch, two new features made their way to the AIA Web site, including team rosters and the AIA Power Rankings. AIA member schools are now able to upload their team photos and varsity rosters. The photos will not be viewable to the general public, but allow the AIA to pull them for the programs once the state tournaments are formed.

In spring 2007, the AIA Power Rankings Model was created. The AIA Power Rankings Model is used in all team sports, dependent on the conferences, including badminton, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, team tennis and volleyball. This is a new feature that launched in September, and is viewable under the Athletics section of the AIA Web site.

With continued changes in technology, the AIA is already working to create an additional Web site that will house all the audio and video of AIA state championships and make it possible for viewers to watch both regular-season and state tournament games live. Games will also be archived to allow people to buy copies of the games. The site will house the schedules, results, rosters and power rankings. Also in development is the creation of standings for all conferences, divisions and regions.

Furthermore, the AIA will direct more than 300,000 students participating in sanctioned athletics and activities to the second Web site to complete the Student Pre-participation Program. The program will guide students through information about the AIA, including bylaws that are relevant to them, and information on leading a healthy, addictive-free lifestyle. Each student participating in sanctioned athletics and activities will be able to take the online program on an annual basis.

Brian Bolitho is the director of media marketing for the Arizona Interscholastic Association.