Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association facts for kids

The Florida Interscholastic Athletics Association (FIAA) was an important organization for high school sports in Florida. It was created during a time called segregation. Segregation meant that Black people and white people were kept separate in many parts of life, including schools. So, the FIAA was specifically for Black high schools in Florida.

The FIAA helped organize sports programs for these schools. It made sure that schools of similar sizes could play against each other. It also helped set up game schedules. The FIAA started in 1932 because before then, there weren't enough Black high schools to form such an organization. It continued until 1968, which is when schools in Florida began to integrate, meaning students of all races could attend the same schools.

What Was Segregation?

Segregation was a system where people were separated based on their race. In Florida, and many other parts of the United States, this meant that Black students had to go to different schools than white students. Even though they were separate, Black schools still wanted to have sports teams and competitions, just like other schools. The FIAA helped make this possible.

Why Was the FIAA Important?

The FIAA played a big role in sports for Black students. It gave them a chance to compete and show their talents. It also helped build a sense of community and pride among the schools and their students. The FIAA made sure that these athletes had organized games and championships, even when they faced challenges due to segregation.

When Did the FIAA Operate?

The FIAA was active for many years. It started in 1932 and continued until 1968. Its end came when schools across Florida began to integrate. This meant that Black and white students could go to school together. As schools became integrated, the need for a separate athletic association for Black schools ended.

Member Schools of the FIAA

Many high schools were part of the Florida Interscholastic Athletics Association. These schools were located all over Florida. They competed in various sports organized by the FIAA.

Here are some of the schools that were members:

• Bates Avenue, Eustis
• Belleview Senior High, Belleview
• Blanche Ely High School, Pompano Beach
• Booker T. Washington High School, Inverness
• Booker T. Washington High School, Miami
• Booker T. Washington High School, Pensacola
• Campbell Street High School, Daytona Beach
• Carver High School, Miami
• Carver Heights High School, Leesburg
• Carver-Hill School, Crestview
• Chamberlain High School, Tampa
• Crispus Attucks High School, Hollywood
• Dillard High School, Ft. Lauderdale
• Gibbs High School, St. Petersburg
• Matthew Gilbert High School, Jacksonville
• Howard High School, Ocala
• Howard High School, Orlando
• Jones High School, Orlando
• Middleton High School, Tampa
• Kennedy High School, Riviera Beach
• Lake County Training School, Lake County
• Lincoln Park High School, Clermont
• Lincoln High School, Tallahassee
• Mays High School, Miami
• Murry High School, St. Augustine
• Northwestern High School, Miami
• William M. Raines High School ,Jacksonville
• Rochelle High School, Lakeland
• Roosevelt High School, West Palm Beach
• Shadeville High School, Crawfordville
• Tivoli High School, DeFuniak Springs
• Union Academy, Bartow