Revised: June 2026 | Effective: August 11, 2026
Preamble
We, the member schools of the Pride of Iowa Conference, recognizing the value of interscholastic activities in the educational program, do hereby establish this Constitution to provide for the orderly administration of conference activities, to promote the principles of good sportsmanship, and to foster cooperation and fellowship among member schools and their communities.
Article I: Name
The name of this conference shall be Pride of Iowa.
Article II: Membership
A. Member Schools
Membership in the Pride of Iowa Conference shall consist of the following schools:
- Central Decatur / Leon
- East Union / Afton
- Lenox
- Mount Ayr
- Nodaway Valley / Greenfield
- Southeast Warren / Liberty Center
- Southwest Valley / Corning
- Wayne / Corydon
B. IHSAA / IGHSAU Rules
All member schools shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) in the conduct of all conference activities.
C. Application Process
Any school desiring membership in the Pride of Iowa Conference shall submit a written application to the Board of Control. The Board of Control shall review the application and make a recommendation to the member schools. Admission shall require approval by a majority of the current member schools.
D. Dues
Conference dues shall be established annually by the Board of Control. Dues shall be payable at the beginning of each school year. Failure to pay dues may result in suspension of conference privileges.
Article III: Administration of the Conference
Board of Control
The Board of Control shall consist of the principals from each member school. The Board of Control shall have authority over all conference matters and shall meet at least annually, or as needed, to conduct conference business.
Officers
The officers of the conference shall be:
- President — Presides over all Board of Control meetings; represents the conference in official capacities; appoints committees as needed; serves as the official spokesperson of the conference.
- Vice-President — Assumes the duties of the President in the President’s absence; assists the President as directed; assumes the Presidency upon vacancy.
- Secretary — Records minutes of all Board of Control meetings; distributes minutes to all member schools; maintains official records of the conference; prepares official correspondence as directed.
- Treasurer — Maintains all conference financial records; collects dues and other conference revenues; disburses funds as authorized by the Board of Control; presents a financial report at each annual meeting.
- Activities Director — Coordinates the scheduling of all conference activities; maintains the conference calendar and rotation schedule; serves as a liaison between member schools for activity coordination; files required reports with the IHSAA and IGHSAU.
Joint Meeting Rules
The Board of Control shall hold at least one joint meeting annually, typically in June, to review the upcoming year’s schedule, address policy matters, and conduct other necessary conference business. Special meetings may be called by the President or upon written request of a majority of member schools. All member schools shall be notified at least one week in advance of any Board of Control meeting.
Article IV: Amendments
A.
This Constitution may be amended, provided the proposed amendment is not opposed by five (5) or more member schools.
B.
Proposed amendments must be submitted to the President at least one (1) week in advance of the meeting at which they are to be considered.
C.
Following adoption of any amendment, the Secretary shall prepare new copies of the Constitution reflecting the change and distribute them to all member schools.
A. Conference Activities
The following activities shall be recognized as official Pride of Iowa Conference activities:
- Volleyball
- Cross Country (Boys & Girls)
- Basketball (Boys & Girls)
- Wrestling (Boys & Girls)
- Track & Field (Boys & Girls)
- Golf (Boys & Girls)
- Baseball
- Softball
- Student Council Forum
- Vocal & Band Music Festivals
- Academic Bowl I & II
- Speech Contest
- 7th & 8th Grade Iowa Assessment
B. Admission Prices
Uniform admission prices for all conference events shall be established at the annual June meeting of the Board of Control and shall be consistent across all member schools for all conference activities.
C. Admission Passes
Admission to conference events shall be granted by one of the following:
- Conference pass issued by the Pride of Iowa Conference
- IHSAA or IGHSAU pass (as applicable)
- Purchased ticket at the established admission price
Each member school shall be allotted twenty (20) conference passes per school year. Additionally, each school’s Board of Education shall receive seven (7) passes for use by Board of Education members.
D. Awards & Conference Handbook
The Board of Control shall determine the awards to be given for each conference activity. A conference handbook shall be adopted by the Board of Control and shall serve as the official guide for the conduct of all conference activities. The handbook shall be updated as necessary and distributed to all member schools.
E. Starting Times
The Board of Control shall determine the official starting times for all conference activities. Starting times shall be established at the annual June meeting and communicated to all member schools in the conference handbook.
F. Conference Correspondence
All official conference correspondence shall be routed through the conference Secretary and/or Activities Director, as appropriate. Schools wishing to raise issues for Board of Control consideration shall submit such matters in writing to the President or Secretary prior to the relevant meeting.
G. All-Conference Selection
All-conference honors shall be awarded to athletes who have excelled above their peers in conference competition. Selection criteria and procedures for each sport shall be outlined in the conference handbook. All-conference selections shall reflect outstanding performance and sportsmanship throughout the conference season.
H. District Football Elimination
District Football elimination criteria shall be governed by the rules and procedures established by the IHSAA. The Pride of Iowa Conference shall cooperate fully with the IHSAA in the administration of district football competition and follow all applicable IHSAA guidelines for eligibility and bracket placement.
I. Postponed Varsity Events
Postponed varsity events must be made up if the result of such event affects the conference championship standings. Exceptions to this requirement may be granted only upon approval of seventy-five percent (75%) of the Board of Control members.
J. Championship Determination — Basketball, Baseball, Softball
The conference champion in Basketball, Baseball, and Softball shall be the team with the highest winning percentage in conference play. In the event of a tie in winning percentage, the tie shall be broken by the result(s) of the head-to-head game(s) played between the tied teams during the conference season.
Champions & Awards
Conference champions are determined either by direct competition (tournaments, meets) or by the best cumulative score across the conference season. All-conference certificates are awarded to athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their respective activities throughout the season.
The following table details the medals and certificates awarded for each conference sport and activity:
| Sport / Activity | Awards |
|---|---|
| Boys’ Cross Country | 7 Team Champion Medals; 15 Individual Place Medals |
| Girls’ Cross Country | 6 Team Champion Medals; 15 Individual Place Medals |
| Volleyball | 15 Team Champion Medals |
| Music Festival | All participants receive a certificate and pin |
| Boys’ Basketball | 15 Team Champion Medals |
| Girls’ Basketball | 15 Team Champion Medals |
| Boys’ Wrestling | 14 Team Champion Medals (tournament); 42 Individual Place Winner Medals (1st–3rd, all 14 weight classes); 14 Individual Champion Medals |
| Girls’ Wrestling | 42 Individual Place Winner Medals (1st–3rd, all weight classes); 14 Individual Champion Medals |
| Speech Contest | All participants receive a certificate; 28 Outstanding Performance Medals |
| Academic Bowl I | All participants receive a certificate; 32 Team Medals (8 teams – 1st–4th place) |
| Academic Bowl II | All participants receive a certificate; 32 Team Medals (8 teams – 1st–4th place) |
| Boys’ Outdoor Track | 24 Team Champion Medals; 84 Relay Medals (7 relay events – 1st–3rd place); 72 Individual Event Medals (12 events – 1st–6th place) |
| Girls’ Outdoor Track | 24 Team Champion Medals; 84 Relay Medals (7 relay events – 1st–3rd place); 72 Individual Event Medals (12 events – 1st–6th place) |
| Boys’ Golf | 6 Team Champion Medals; 10 Medalist Medals |
| Girls’ Golf | 6 Team Champion Medals; 10 Medalist Medals |
| Baseball | 15 Team Champion Medals |
| Softball | 15 Team Champion Medals |
Academic All-Conference
Eligibility Requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.500 (on a 4.000 scale)
- GPA must be cumulative for grades 10–12 (most recent complete cumulative GPA, rounded to 3 decimal places)
- Athlete must have participated at the varsity level and earned a letter in the sport
- Eligible grades: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only (9th graders are not eligible)
Selection Process
The head coach of each sport is responsible for nominating eligible athletes for Academic All-Conference consideration. Coaches shall verify that nominated athletes meet all eligibility requirements before submitting names.
The most recent complete cumulative GPA shall be used for evaluation. GPAs shall be rounded to three (3) decimal places for comparison purposes.
Submission Deadlines
Nominations must be submitted by the deadline established for each sport in the conference handbook. Deadlines are generally set within two (2) weeks following the conclusion of the respective sport’s season. Late submissions may not be accepted.
Tabulation
Each school’s guidance counselor shall tabulate and verify the GPAs for all nominated athletes from their school. The guidance counselor’s verification shall be the official GPA record for Academic All-Conference purposes.
Certificates
Academic All-Conference certificates shall be prepared by the conference and delivered to the respective school’s principal for distribution to the honored athletes. Certificates represent a significant academic and athletic achievement and reflect the Pride of Iowa Conference’s commitment to scholar-athletes.
Activity Rules
The following rules govern each Pride of Iowa Conference activity. Click any activity to expand its details.
Revised July 31, 2025
Objective
To provide an opportunity for student government members to meet and discuss current issues, develop leadership skills, and practice problem-solving in a cooperative environment with peers from across the conference.
Date & Site
The site and date shall be determined by the Board of Control one (1) year in advance.
Awards
None.
Responsibilities of Host School
- Contact IGHSAU/IHSAA as required
- Coordinate registration for all participating schools
- File a final report with the conference within two (2) weeks of the event
Budget
The conference shall pay actual costs associated with the forum.
Revised July 31, 2025
Date & Format
- Vocal: Tuesday of Week 19 per the UIHSAFC calendar, 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Band: Tuesday of Week 34 per the UIHSAFC calendar, 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Each school shall send 3–4 band members and 7–8 choir members
- Directors from member schools serve as clinicians
Awards
All participants receive a certificate and a pin.
Responsibilities of Host School
- Provide adequate rooms for rehearsal and performance
- Arrange meals if needed
- Handle publicity for the event
- Coordinate program assembly
Budget
- Clinician fee: $300
- Accompanist fee: $150
- Other expenses: $50
Revised March 12, 2026
Date & Format
First Wednesday of November, beginning at 9:00 AM. Open to students in grades 9–12. Each team may have a maximum of 8 students, with 6 competing at one time. Competition uses a bracketed format.
Awards
All participants receive a certificate. Medals are awarded to the top three (3) placing teams.
Responsibilities of Host School
- Secure official questions and electronic buzzer/scoring devices
- Provide adequate scoring equipment and personnel
Budget
The conference shall pay actual costs.
Revised March 12, 2026
Date & Format
Wednesday of Week 30 per the UIHSAFC calendar, beginning at 9:00 AM. Same format as Academic Bowl I: grades 9–12, maximum 8 students per team (6 compete at once), bracketed competition.
Awards
All participants receive a certificate. Medals are awarded to the top three (3) placing teams.
Responsibilities of Host School
- Secure official questions and electronic buzzer/scoring devices
- Provide adequate scoring equipment and personnel
Budget
The conference shall pay actual costs.
Revised November 2, 2011
Date & Format
Thursday of Week 33 per the UIHSAFC calendar, 9:00 AM – Noon. Features 14 categories. The contest is non-competitive in nature. Up to seven (7) judges may be used.
Awards
All participants receive a certificate.
Responsibilities of Host School
- Contact and secure judges
- Disperse entry blanks to all participating schools
- Order and distribute certificates to participants
Revised June 15, 2026
Date & Format
Tuesday/Wednesday of Week 44 per the UIHSAFC calendar, beginning at 9:00 AM. Governed by IHSAA, IGHSAU, and USGA rules. Each school may enter 6 golfers and score the best 4.
Awards
- Individual medals: 1st through 10th place, both Boys and Girls
- Team medals: awarded to the team with the lowest total stroke count
Responsibilities of Host School
- Provide complete information packet to all schools
- Establish and distribute the time schedule
- Secure and prepare facilities and equipment
- Keep official score and report results
Revised June 15, 2026
Date & Format
Monday of Week 44 per the UIHSAFC calendar, beginning at 4:00 PM. Each school may enter 2 athletes per individual event (score 2) and 1 team per relay event.
Awards
- Individual event medals: 1st through 5th place
- Relay event medals: 1st through 3rd place
- Team medals: awarded to the team with the highest total points
Responsibilities of Host School
- Provide complete information packet to all schools
- Establish and distribute the time schedule
- Secure and prepare facilities and equipment
- Keep official score and report results
Revised February 12, 2026
Date & Format
Saturday before Christmas, beginning at 10:00 AM. Governed by IHSAA rules. Weigh-ins conducted on-site per IHSAA guidelines.
Awards
- Individual medals: 1st through 3rd place in all 14 weight classes
- Team medals: awarded to the team with the highest total points
Responsibilities of Host School
- Provide complete information packet to all schools
- Establish and distribute the time schedule
- Provide weigh-in facilities and equipment
- Keep official score and report results
Revised December 9, 2025
Date & Format
Monday of Week 15 per the UIHSAFC calendar, beginning at 4:00 PM. Boys: enter 7, score 5. Girls: enter 6, score 4.
Awards
- Individual medals: 1st through 15th place for both the boys and girls races
- Team medals: awarded to the team with the lowest total score
Responsibilities of Host School
- Provide complete information packet to all schools
- Establish and distribute the time schedule
- Secure and prepare course facilities and equipment
- Keep official score and report results
Revised March 11, 2015
Date & Format
The top two (2) teams from each division (East & West) host the first round, beginning at 6:00 PM. Seeding is based on five (5) conference dates per side.
- First round / quarterfinals: Best 3 of 5 sets (5th set played to 15 points)
- Semifinals: Best 2 of 3 sets
- Finals: Best 3 of 5 sets
Awards
15 Team Champion Medals awarded to the tournament champion.
Responsibilities of Host School
- Provide complete information packet to all schools
- Establish and distribute the time schedule
- Secure and prepare facilities and equipment
- Keep official score and report results