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8-man high school football coming to Indiana in 2022 for pilot season

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8-man high school football coming to Indiana in 2022 for pilot season


Waldron and Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian are excessive colleges that seem to have little in widespread on the floor.

Waldron, a rural public highschool in Shelby County with 161 college students, has been round because the horse and buggy days of greater than a century in the past. Blackhawk Christian, a non-public faculty of 245 college students in metropolitan Fort Wayne, opened within the early Seventies.

One similarity the colleges share: no soccer.

However that’s about to vary.

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Extra:IHSAA classifications set for subsequent two-year interval: Who’s shifting up, who’s shifting down?

Waldron and Blackhawk Christian are two colleges planning to take part this fall in a pilot season of eight-man soccer provided by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Affiliation and supported by the Indiana Excessive College Athletic Affiliation. The faculties eligible to take part, presently, are people who would not have soccer.

“It was one thing we needed to analysis from our personal households — does this make sense for Blackhawk Christian? And we felt we might add to our program with out subtracting something,” mentioned Blackhawk Christian athletic director Joel Cotton.

Insider:How small-school soccer can survive with dwindling numbers

Blackhawk Christian is certainly one of eight to 10 colleges planning to play eight-man soccer within the pilot season, mentioned IHSAA assistant commissioner Robert Faulkens, who oversees soccer for the IHSAA. Faulkens attended the IFCA annual clinic final month, the place eight-man coaches from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio mentioned the intricacies of the sport, in addition to the funds of beginning a soccer program.

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“The curiosity is there,” Faulkens mentioned. “However going from curiosity to actuality in soccer is a troublesome transfer. Beginning a soccer program is an enormous monetary dedication, from services to gear to lastly taking part in the sport. However having eight to 10 colleges which might be on the cusp of taking part in eight-player soccer is an effective quantity. After they have success, I believe we’ll see extra colleges have curiosity shifting ahead.”

Eight-man soccer may appear to be a international idea in Indiana, the place all 314 groups within the 2021 state event performed conventional 11-player soccer. However eight-man soccer is distinguished in a number of states, significantly within the Midwest. Missouri and Iowa crown state champions and the sport is fashionable in Kansas and Nebraska, the place small cities with low enrollments area groups. Eight-man soccer is an rising sport in Illinois, which now has practically 30 colleges taking part in the sport.  

There’s some historical past of eight-man soccer in Indiana, although it’s doubtless largely forgotten. The Pocket Athletic Convention in southwest Indiana began an eight-man league (an outgrowth of the six-man sport began within the Nineteen Thirties) in 1948 with Rockport, Richland, Poseyville, Oakland Metropolis, Mt. Vernon, Owensville, Cannelton, Inform Metropolis, Dale and Petersburg collaborating. The Wabash Valley League — made up of Cayuga, Covington, Ladoga, New Market, Perrysville and Veedersburg — performed eight-man soccer till 1963. Others, like Kentland, Morocco and DeMotte in northwest Indiana, performed eight-man till the Nineteen Sixties.

A number of native colleges, together with Middle Grove, Beech Grove, Lawrence Central, Pike, Greenwood, Speedway, Decatur Central, Plainfield, Danville and Franklin Central, performed six-man soccer for a quick time within the late Nineteen Thirties and/or early ‘40s earlier than transitioning to the 11-man sport. Within the post-consolidation years of the Nineteen Sixties, following the Indiana College Reorganization Act of 1959, the small colleges that have been nonetheless taking part in eight-man soccer now not existed and the sport light away in Indiana.

However now could be the correct time to convey reduced-player soccer again. There’s potential, sooner or later, for colleges presently with soccer however battling numbers to maneuver to eight-man soccer. In recent times, there have been situations of groups canceling video games as a result of low numbers and even dropping the game fully.

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“We talked with some coaches in different states and so they made a powerful argument for eight-man soccer so we went to work on who would have an interest round right here,” mentioned Fort Wayne Snider coach Kurt Tippmann, who’s offering management for the IFCA on eight-man soccer. “The thought is give extra youngsters the chance to play soccer within the state of Indiana, whether or not that’s colleges in peril of not having sufficient to play or a brand new faculty rising.”

Faulkens mentioned there is no such thing as a actual timetable for expectations past the pilot season and there are nonetheless many questions going into the primary season.

“We’re in no hurry,” Faulkens mentioned. “Two of the largest hurdles are the monetary half and the journey. If we solely have 10 groups throughout the state taking part in, these colleges are going to be fairly far aside. They could have to satisfy within the center or play a staff twice and even go to play a staff in one other state. The purpose is to have a (postseason) event in some unspecified time in the future, however we’re not going to drive a timeline as a result of what in the event you don’t meet these timelines? We need to give this an opportunity to work.”

The preliminary plans are for the groups planning to play eight-man video games this fall to play on Saturdays, doubtless with at the least a kind of in a jamboree fashion occasion.

“The primary few video games will have to be educating alternatives,” mentioned IFCA government director Bob Gaddis. “We don’t have to reinvent the principles. As a focal point, in Iowa, they use common highschool fields and paint a short lived sideline as a result of the sphere in eight-man is narrower. Our imaginative and prescient on the finish of the yr could be to convey them to a spot like Grand Park and have all of the groups there collectively in a single place.”

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Gaddis mentioned there round 18 colleges which have expressed curiosity, however there won’t be that many concerned the primary yr. A type of, Lakewood Park Christian, helps the eight-man thought and has curiosity for the long run however doesn’t plan to play this fall.

Evansville Christian athletic director Paul Dunham mentioned his faculty, which is on observe to turn into a full IHSAA member this summer season, is in the identical wait-and-see state of affairs. “We’re going to maintain off on soccer for proper now,” Dunham mentioned, including soccer might diminish progress made in established applications like soccer, cross -country and tennis.

Trinity Lutheran, a faculty of 146 college students close to Seymour, is within the means of constructing its elementary faculty program, however athletic director Brad Dickey mentioned the varsity isn’t prepared so as to add soccer “for an additional couple of years.”

“As for eight-man, it’s an attention-grabbing various,” Dickey mentioned. “It solely takes 16 to scrimmage and 20 to 22 youngsters can get you began.”

A mannequin for future applications exploring the eight-man sport may schedule a go to to Waldron. Corey Barton began a youth soccer program at Waldron in 2015 and switched the youth program to eight-man soccer final yr. He additionally began an eight-man soccer program final yr at neighboring Morristown, which might have curiosity in taking part in eight-man relying on the success of the Waldron program.

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“We do want to lift cash,” Barton mentioned. “The varsity isn’t going to pay to fund this primary yr, so we’re on our personal to lift cash for shoulder pads and observe gear. However I believe we’re in a great spot as a result of we’ve established our youth program right here and know what we want for our program.”

Barton estimates it could price about $19,000 to get the soccer program off the bottom, although he expects that price may very well be offset by grants, a summer season golf outing and different fundraisers. Barton isn’t a instructor on the faculty, however does have assist from instructor Chandler Miller. Barton mentioned greater than 30 boys on the faculty have expressed curiosity in taking part in soccer, most of these with expertise taking part in within the Waldron youth league.

Small schools like Caston have struggled with numbers. There are only four players on the sideline with Caston coach Tony Slocum at any time.

“Our hope is that we might play between 4 and 6 video games this yr,” Barton mentioned. “We’ve got a area (at Waldron), however don’t have goalposts. However the colleges we met with on the (IFCA) clinic made it sound like further factors have been so uncommon (groups often go for 2-point conversions) that you would in all probability get via a sport with out goalposts.”

Barton mentioned eight-man soccer is the correct match at Waldron, a faculty the place “basketball is king, however isn’t for everybody.” He mentioned it’s doubtless the varsity may retain or appeal to college students it has misplaced previously who wish to play soccer at the highschool degree.

“Soccer is America’s sport,” Barton mentioned. “You’re speaking about extra folks in the neighborhood popping out to look at not solely their youngsters play, however cheerleaders and different youngsters, too. It turns into a group occasion. I do know there are some groups ready and 2023 to get began, however I’d fairly see us on the forefront of it and get began this yr.”

Greenwood Christian is one other faculty that may very well be in for eight-man soccer, presumably as a bridge to taking part in 11-man soccer. Athletic director Devin Grey mentioned the varsity is within the means of hiring a soccer coach within the subsequent few weeks.

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“Beginning soccer is one thing I’m tremendous captivated with,” Grey mentioned. “We hope to know whether or not we’re committing to eight-man or making the push to 11-man within the subsequent few weeks (following the teaching rent). The benefit to eight-man could be to not threaten the numbers of different fall sports activities, like soccer, and to section in youngsters who’ve by no means performed soccer. The benefit of 11-man could be to leap right into a sport that’s already acknowledged. Taking part in eight-man could be extra like a membership sport at first, however it could enable us to instill a tradition of soccer inside our college, too, and get households conversant in the game with out fulling leaping in instantly.”

Blackhawk Christian’s Cotton mentioned the upfront price of beginning soccer “is a bit of intimidating.” He mentioned it was doubtless the varsity would use refurbished gear from different applications within the Fort Wayne space at first. However past the monetary piece, the unknowns of the groups taking part in eight-man and potential schedules for this fall create some points.

“I believe the largest hurdle is attempting to image it as a result of we don’t have already got it in Indiana,” Cotton mentioned. “What does this seem like with schedules? One of many issues coaches from different states inspired us to do was have the chance to play at the least one residence sport, even when that’s at one other (close by) faculty. You need to have that have to your group to see what it truly is like with the pep band and cheerleaders and households. As a result of in all probability this primary yr, we’re going to need to journey to play some video games.”

Whereas there could be some trepidation at first, Faulkens is assured “as soon as folks see it, they are going to be believers.” Gaddis mentioned the long-term imaginative and prescient for eight-man soccer is to not decide it based mostly off the pilot season, however after 4 years. It’s doubtless smaller colleges presently taking part in 11-man soccer will be part of, or at the least discover, eight-man soccer after this season.

“Our purpose for doing it’s to present youngsters a chance in the event that they need to play,” Gaddis mentioned. “We have had a number of colleges struggling to maintain numbers as a result of sport specialization and people sorts of issues. For colleges which might be right down to 16 or 18 gamers, it could make sense to discover eight-man soccer sooner or later.”

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Name Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

What does 8-man soccer seem like?

>> The most important distinction in eight-man soccer from conventional 11-man soccer is the offensive numbers. It’s common for the video games to be performed within the 40s, 50s and 60s – even larger generally. Formations require 5 gamers on the road of scrimmage and in sure formations the three offensive linemen are eligible to catch passes.

>> The sector sizes range for eight-man soccer. The size of the sphere may be 80 or 100 yards, although the width is 40 yards as an alternative of 53 1/3 (the size for Indiana remains to be in dialogue).

>> Eight-man soccer is a rising sport. The Alabama Impartial College Affiliation unveiled an eight-man division in soccer final month. Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin are states the place eight-man soccer makes up the majority of the greater than 1,000 eight-man groups taking part in within the nation. Six-man soccer is fashionable in Texas, together with Montana and Nebraska, whereas nine-man soccer is performed in Minnesota, Oregon and the Dakotas, predominantly.



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Indiana

Indiana School for the Blind planning for next 100 years

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Indiana School for the Blind planning for next 100 years


INDIANAPOLIS (MIRROR INDY) — When the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired relocated to Indy’s far east side this year, there were naturally a lot of questions.

Would the new facilities accommodate the students’ needs? How would the students get to the new campus from the current one on 42nd Street? And would they lose some students in the transition?

But for Jazmine Nelson, a junior who has attended the school since 2018, the move to the school’s temporary location in a former IPS school has brought unexpected benefits.

“At the last campus that we were all at, it was all separated — like elementary was in a building, middle school, high school was in a building,” she said. “Having everyone put together kind of brings us closer as a school and as more of a community.”

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The move took place at the start of the school year as part of a $655 million project to combine the campuses of the state’s school for blind and low vision learners and the Indiana School for the Deaf.

Together, both schools will see the construction of new, state-of-the-art facilities tailored to the needs of their students. For example, educators have requested dimmable lighting to accommodate kids with light sensitivity and high-contrast floor and hallway designs to help low vision students easily identify their place in a building.

It will be the first time either school has seen significant renovations in 25 years.

“Sometimes it’s a little pressure thinking about how we’re trying to build this building for the next 100 years,” Principal Jay Wilson said, “but it’s been a good and interesting process.”

Designing a new campus

The Indiana School for the Blind enrolls more than 100 kids a year in pre-K through 12th grade. The school serves students from across the state and about 30 of its students, this year, live on campus.

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Indiana lawmakers have dedicated $465 million to the project through state appropriations. Another $190 million is being financed through federal pandemic relief dollars. Officials broke ground on a combined campus in August.

Plans call for moving the Indiana School for the Deaf from its 42nd Street campus just north of the Indiana State Fairgrounds to a shared location at the 75th Street and College Avenue campus where the Indiana School for the Blind has taught students since 1930.

Both schools house students from across the state in on-campus residential buildings and will see the construction of new dorms.

Additionally, a new academic center, fieldhouse, athletic fields and greenhouse will be built on the sprawling, 67-acre campus. Other existing structures, such as the school’s administration building and bell tower, will be renovated.

Though the two schools will share a campus, each will have its own dedicated space. Students and staff from both schools have met with architects to describe what they would like in the new campus.

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Local firms Ratio Design and American Structurepoint also have enlisted the help of two renowned accessibility experts — architects Chris Downey, who is blind, and John Dickinson, who is deaf.

James Michaels, superintendent of the Indiana School for the Blind, said he appreciates the understanding the two architects bring to the project. The team, for example, has brought tactile versions of their drawings to meetings with Michaels, who is blind, so he can better follow along as they describe their work.

“They have perspective from their own experiences,” Michaels said. “They really have done a lot of things to help me understand what the campus is going to look like.”

Settling into temporary space

Indiana School for the Deaf students are able to attend classes as they normally would through the construction.

But students of the Indiana School for the Blind are taking classes at IPS’ former George Buck School 94. Some support offices have been moved to another closed IPS school, Floro Torrence School 83. Residential students are staying in dorms on the Indiana School for the Deaf campus.

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The transition to the temporary space required some adjustments. Braille lettering was placed outside each door, cane holders were installed in classrooms and high contrast markings were added to doors frames to increase their visibility. However, Principal Jay Wilson said, overall changes were minimal.

“Our overall philosophy is that our students, once they leave us, go into a world that is a sighted world,” Wilson said. “So actually it’s a good, real-life lesson.”

To accommodate students, Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired classes typically have far fewer students assigned to each classroom. That means the spaces at School 94 felt especially roomy to the students and teachers.

They might be relocated for three to five years — depending on how long construction takes — so school leaders are taking steps to make School 94 feel like their own. A greenhouse was built in an enclosed courtyard and school leaders say they’re also excited to offer new classes this spring in a recently finished adaptive kitchen.

The kitchen features countertops of varying heights, no-burn cooktops and tactile markings on appliances. School leaders say they will take some of the donated materials when they move back to the original campus.

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The biggest challenge so far, Wilson said, has been a lack of office space.

With occupational and physical therapy programs on site, the school employs far more adult staff than a traditional school. That means converting classrooms to temporary offices was an early priority during the temporary relocation.

“It’s a new normal for us,” Wilson said. “Sometimes kids can be more adjustable than adults, but I think everybody has done a good job of assimilating to a new normal.”

Listening to students

Nelson, who is a residential student from northwest Indiana, said she’s grown more accustomed to the daily commute from the dorms on 42nd Street to the Indiana School for the Blind’s eastside school building.

The 15-year-old has some vision but struggles to make out colors and details. She described her experiences with vision as being like “you’re watching a really old movie that doesn’t have color yet.” Those differences, she said, stand out in a traditional classroom.

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She tried returning to her traditional public school for a brief period this year, but found the Indiana School for the Blind could better accommodate her needs for specific materials. And, the school’s high contrast hallways were easier to navigate.

“There’s still times where the lights in the classroom are too bright,” Nelson said, “But, here, I feel like the teachers understand you a lot more.”

At the Indiana School for the Blind, she also is able to participate in cheer, track and forensics. Nelson is interested in becoming a teacher or psychologist, and she’s getting experience working with elementary students at the school, teaching them about braille and voiceover technology.

That’s all become easier now that students of all ages are in the same building.

“I’m just able to, like, walk down a hallway and turn a corner, and it’s right there,” she said.

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The junior will graduate long before the campus redesign is finished, but she had a chance to share her ideas with architects as they began designing new buildings.

Her requests? More dimmable lighting, common areas and suite-style dorms in student residence halls.

“I’m sad that I won’t be able to experience it,” Nelson said. “However, I’m grateful that I’m able to contribute to other students’ experiences and being able to be in a school that was designed with their ambitions and dreams in mind.”

The Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the school, will have a fundraiser March 1. The 2025 No Limits Celebration at Butler’s Schrott Center for the Arts will feature a performance by Lachi, a globally touring performing artist who was born legally blind.

Doors open for a reception at 6 p.m. A one-hour concert will begin at 8 p.m. followed by deserts and a Q&A with Lachi. Tickets start at $50 and are available online.

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Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.





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Indiana Township Association concerned with bill to dissolve townships

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Indiana Township Association concerned with bill to dissolve townships


FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The Indiana Township Association is against efforts to dissolve all Indiana townships.

Debbie Driskell, the executive director of the Indiana Township Association, said efforts to take away township governments will harm Hoosiers by taking away services.

“You’re removing those that were elected further from the people,” Driskell said. “So, that’s actually diminishing democracy.”

Driskell said townships have been around for centuries to protect the poor and public safety.

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“Originally, township trustees were called overseers of the poor in Indiana, and we did just that,” Driskell said. “Took care of the poor, and then over time, we evolved, and now, we offer life-saving services in fire protection and EMS services.”

Townships can offer rental and mortgage assistance to residents and provide services for the homeless.

“It’s the trustee that gets our homeless folks off the street and sheltered,” Driskell said. “But, at any rate, a family can come in and make an application to have help with their rent.”

Driskell said this bill does not say which agency, if any, would be responsible for those services. The county emergency management director would manage fire and EMS services.

“That’s a big job to lay on top of a department that is already charged with some pretty important duties,” Driskell said.

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Driskell said fire and EMS consolidation can be more expensive in the long run despite the effort to make government more efficient.

The bill was referred to the Committee of Local Government. It has not been heard yet.

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Pacers Notes: Luka Doncic Lakers Debut, Indiana Rival Makes Massive Trade, More

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Pacers Notes: Luka Doncic Lakers Debut, Indiana Rival Makes Massive Trade, More


All eyes in the NBA has been on the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, sending Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers and Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. Now, fans have one question: who will be Doncic’s first opponent as a Lakers? Well, it looks like the answer is the Indiana Pacers.

According to a recent report, there is “optimism” that Doncic will debut in the purple and gold this Saturday against the Pacers. This will be the first time the Lakers and Pacers face off this season.

Additionally, an Eastern Conference rival has pulled off a massive move ahead of the trade deadline, sending away a former NBA Champion, multi-time All-Star, and Olympic gold medalist.

Here are some stories about the Indiana Pacers that will help you get all caught up. Click the title to see the entire story:

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‘Optimism’ Luka Doncic Could Play First Lakers Game vs Pacers

Pacers Rival Pulls Off Huge Trade Ahead of Deadline

Pacers Star Named East Defensive Player of the Month

Pacers May Be Forced to Do Something For First Time In Over 20 Years

Pacers Being Linked to $94M Forward Again Before Trade Deadline

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Pacers Forward Could Be Odd Man Out Heading Into Trade Deadline



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