Florida High School Athletic Association

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is an organization whose purpose is to organize sports competition for high school It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Florida uses NFHS contest rules in its sports.

History

The Florida High School Athletic Association was founded on April 9, 1920 by a group of 29 high school principals which met at Peabody Hall on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. The organization was founded as the Florida High School Athletic Association in 1920. The name was changed to Florida High School Activities Association in 1951. The name was changed back to Florida High School Athletic Association in 2002.

The 29 schools who became charter members were: Summerlin (Bartow), Clearwater, Mainland (Daytona Beach), Seabreeze (Daytona Beach), DeLand, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Duval (Jacksonville), Osceola (Kissimmee), Columbia (Lake City), Lakeland, Leesburg, Suwannee (Live Oak), Miami, Ocala, Orlando, Putnam (Palatka), Pensacola, Plant City, Quincy, Seminole (Sanford), Ketterlinus (St. Augustine), St. Petersburg, Leon (Tallahassee), Hillsborough (Tampa), Wauchula, West Palm Beach and Winter Haven.

The first Constitution limited membership to public schools. However, in 1930, it was amended to open membership to private and parochial schools as well.

In 1951, the member schools voted to change the word "athletic" to "activities" in the organization name...
Read More