Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association
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| Abbreviation | OSSAA |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Sportsmanship is everyone's responsibility" |
| Formation | 1910 |
| Type | Volunteer; NPO |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | Athletic/Educational |
| Headquarters | 7300 N. Broadway Extension Oklahoma City, OK 73113 |
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Region served
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Oklahoma |
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Membership
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482 schools |
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Official language
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English |
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Executive Secretary
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Ed Sheakley |
| Affiliations | National Federation of State High School Associations |
|
Staff
|
15 |
| Website | ossaa.com |
| Remarks | (405) 840-1116 |
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), is an organization which organizes secondary school athletics and activities competitions at the state level. Derald Glover is its president. The OSSAA is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations. 482 public and private schools are members of the OSSAA.
In 1910, H.L. Hall, the principal of Shawnee High School, initiated the move to organize an athletic association to help schools to develop and administer interscholastic athletics. He was joined by Dr. H.H. Cloudman, Physical Director of Oklahoma City Schools. In the spring of 1911 at the meeting of the Oklahoma Education Association held in Muskogee representatives of several state schools organized the Oklahoma High School Athletic Association. They included George Norris of Guthrie, Mr. Katz of Tulsa and A.J. Lovett of Blackwell. Hall and Cloudman served as officers. The OHSAA began overseeing state high school athletics in the following fall.
In 1913 University of Oklahoma President Stratton D. Brooks was given the authority to appoint a secretary-treasurer for the organization to serve with no pay. Then at the February meeting in 1925 the membership authorized the board of control to elect a full-time secretary with salary. P.A. Wallace was elected to this position but because there was not enough money to pay him he continued as a school employee. The office of treasurer was then created to handle the OHSAA's business.
In September 1927 the business office of the Association was moved to Oklahoma City and Lee K. Anderson was named Secretary. DeWitt Waller of Enid began as treasurer and served until 1953 when the duties of secretary and treasurer were combined under the title of commissioner.
The Association's constitution and rules were distributed to the schools, certificates of eligibility were furnished and a system of checking certificates inaugurated. The only statewide activity sponsored by the Association was the basketball championships. The tournament in March 1928, with 16 boys and girls district representatives, was held at the Stockyards Coliseum in Oklahoma City under the direct supervision of the OHSSA staff for the first time.
Also in 1928, a training program for football and basketball officials was established. Compulsory enrollment of officials, examinations and rules meeting attendance were made requirements. An Athletic Benefit Plan was provided by the Association and later commercial companies were asked to give insurance coverage for athletic accidents.
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Wikipedia