Interscholastic Athletic Administration the Magazine for High School Athletic Directors • Fall 2005

IAAInterscholastic Athletic Administration The magazine for high school athletic directors • Fall 2005

Contents Volume 32, Number 1 — Fall 2005

PUBLISHER ROBERT F. KANABY NIAAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRUCE WHITEHEAD IAAInterscholastic Athletic Administration EDITOR JOHN C. GILLIS 2...... News From the NIAAA MANAGING EDITOR 3...... NFHS National Report BRUCE L. HOWARD EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 4...... Hazing Prevention: An Imperative for Contemporary Athletic Administrators With hazing CHRIS BOONE still a major issue in high school athletics, a student committee of Ohio University master's PRODUCTION MANAGER program researched how hazing is viewed and handled throughout the country, and how RANDALL ORR GRAPHIC DESIGN schools can be proactive in its prevention. KIM A. VOGEL 8...... Ten Guidelines to Consider When Introducing a Participation Fee to Your Interscholastic NIAAA PUBLICATIONS Athletic Program Dr. Scott Smith, CAA, of Central Michigan University and a former high COMMITTEE school administrator, examines participation fees and outlines 10 points to consider when TIM GRAHAM, CAA Chair, Washington implementing a fee for the first time. JOHN EVERS, CMAA 10...... Beyond the Barricades – Ensuring Audience Safety and Effective Participation at Sport- Vice-Chair, Indiana RUSTY LEE, CAA ing Events James Toner, CAA, a teacher in the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public School Sys- Vice-Chair, North Carolina RANDY BATES, CAA tem, details how crowds at athletic contests should be controlled and what to do in the Nebraska JIM CHAMBERS, CAA event of a disturbance. Ohio 14...... Criteria For Evaluating High School Coaches Grant Hill, a professor at California State JAY CORNILS, CMAA Texas University, Long Beach, and Michael Pluschke, a teacher and coach at Redmond (Washing- DR. JOHN FOLEY, CAA New York ton) High School, present criteria to use when evaluating coaches that can make the GLEN GILLESPIE, CAA process much more beneficial for coaches and athletic directors. Ohio PAIGE HERSHEY, CAA 16...... Advice: Disaster Before and After Texas DR. SCOTT SMITH, CAA 19...... Advice: Developing Parent and Coach Communication Michigan 20...... NFHS National Conference Information 25...... Nuts and Bolts 26...... Ideas That Work 27...... Techno Talk 28...... DVD Review 29...... NIAAA President’s Report 31...... NIAAA Membership Information 37...... Ask the Experts

The NFHS and the editors of IAA would like to credit photographers or photograph sources and sincerely INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION, an official publication of the National Federation of State thank them for their contributions. Cover photo credit: 20/20 Photographic, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. High School Associations, is published four times a year by the NFHS. IAA welcomes full-color action photos from all high schools and will attempt to run as many as possible. EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICES: NFHS, PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206; Phone: 317-972- Send photos to Bruce Howard, Managing Editor, IAA, National Federation of State High School Associations, 6900; www.nfhs.org. PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206. Photos can be submitted electronically to [email protected]. SUBSCRIPTIONS: To nonmembers, $15.00 for a one-year subscription. Canada add $6.00 per year surface The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and contributors to this document do postage. All other foreign subscribers, please contact the NFHS office for shipping rates. Back issues are $4.00. not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, viewpoints or official policies of the National Federation of State High School Associations or its membership. MANUSCRIPTS may be submitted by mail or e-mail to the editor. Reproduction of material published in INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION is prohibited without written permission of the NFHS Interscholastic Athletic Administration is a blind- and peer-reviewed professional journal intended to meet executive director. the needs of interscholastic athletic administrators. Copyright 2005 by the National Federation of State High School Assoc iations. All rights reserved. Bruce Whitehead Dennis Fries NIAAA Executive Director NIAAA President News from the NIAAA

he NIAAA staff is once again complete with the addition Athletic Administrators: Championing the right causes of Associate Executive Director Mike Blackburn. Mike and sending the right messages T brings a wealth of knowledge to the organization. As each of you get to know Mike on a personal level, you will find s I have traveled to 10 states and three section meet- him to have a tremendous work ethic, as well as a passion for ings these past two years, one thing is very apparent: the NIAAA. A athletic administrators across this great land are The Board of Directors has mapped a blueprint for the championing many important issues. organization through 2010 by adopting the second strategic plan. The Strategic Plan Committee presented 52 recommen- Character education, sportsmanship, nutrition education dations, and the Board adopted 48 of those recommendations (female triad syndrome, wrestling weight management, etc.), at the July meeting. The membership will receive the printed concussion awareness and second concussion syndrome copy of the plan in December at the national conference. In awareness, coaches education and evaluations, fundraising ini- addition, copies of the plan will be sent for use in each state. tiatives, building programs, hazing, gender equity, the defusing This strategic plan will provide a clear direction for the orga- of difficult situations, rules changes, supporting the recruit- nization for the next five years, just as the first plan has done ment and retention of quality officials, leadership education, for the past five years. budget and finance issues, and student-athlete chemical health It is exciting to report that the NIAAA will launch its first support and standards (especially around alcohol, steroids, ever online logo shop. The logo shop will be available online and other drug use) through codes of conduct are a few of in mid-September. You can access it by going to the NIAAA many. Web site and selecting “Logo Shop” on the home page menu. You will have the opportunity to purchase logo shirts, pull- It must be acknowledged with great pride, that it is the overs, light and heavy jackets and baseball caps. Yes, we do school athletic administrator who usually champions the caus- have ladies apparel available. Please check out the logo shop es noted above. When one looks at the big picture, it may after mid-September on the NIAAA Web site. seem extremely daunting and overwhelming, but taken one at I hope you are planning to attend the National Confer- a time and over time, at the very least, we can bring aware- ence of High School Directors of Athletics December 14-17 at ness and better understanding of these issues to our school the Marriott World Center in Orlando. The conference sched- communities. Whether it’s through the use of brochures, the ule, hotel reservation information and conference registration seasonal parents meetings, newsletters or public-address information can be found on the NIAAA Web site. The con- announcements at games, we must work to keep these initia- ference will also feature the teaching of 24 Leadership Train- tives alive. We must also constantly monitor ourselves to be ing Program courses. If you have not attended a national con- aware that these hot-button issues are received differently by ference, I would encourage your attendance. This is a reward- the various parents and students depending on their individ- ing professional experience and an opportunity to network ual background, values, upbringing and other factors. Like with athletic administrators from around the nation and world. many athletic directors, I am constantly changing my delivery You will not be disappointed. In addition, the NIAAA will pre- depending on the target audience and its level of understand- view a number of exciting initiatives that will benefit each ath- ing and interest. letic administrator as well as our state athletic administrator associations. In so many ways, the athletic administrators of today are As you begin another year providing quality participation the true champions of American society. In the sense noted opportunities for young people, I remind you that the NIAAA above, being the champion of important causes and initiatives, staff is available to provide resources that will make your task we must continue to fight the good fight and look to each easier. Please do not hesitate to call the office if you have a other and our various school community groups for support need. On behalf of the entire staff, we salute you for the work and encouragement. Good luck in all that you do, and have a you do and know you will serve your students well. Have a very successful, focused, rewarding and healthy school year. great year. IAA IAA

2 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 Robert F. Kanaby NFHS NFHS Executive Director national report “Making the Right Choice” n my last report, I addressed the problem of steroid use using photographs of a girl with back acne, as well as a shot of sweeping our schools and nation, urging that a course of a girl with facial hair. Superimposed over those two shots are I action must be taken. From Major League Baseball hear- written examples of possible negative side effects for girls. We ings to performance-enhancing supplements at the high school are hoping that by showing these negative side effects, students level, the NFHS recognizes that a quick fix isn’t the solution. will think twice about using steroids. Proactive education is the way to reach today’s students. Stud- We designed this campaign to be a turnkey operation for ies have shown that more than one million young people in the our member state associations and their high schools. We have United States have used non-prescribed steroids at least once. provided each participating state association with a copy of the Side effects range from mild to life-threatening levels. Can- DVD, and a sufficient number of posters and pamphlets for cer, enlarged prostate, acne, reduced sperm count, baldness, each member school. We would encourage the schools to hold breast growth in males, masculinization in females and post-use steroid awareness meetings for parents, coaches, administrators depression are only a few examples of what may happen to and students, in which they first present the video and then individuals who choose to abuse. These truths must be heard include a discussion forum with local experts. by our nation’s high schools students in order to have a mean- I would personally like to thank the 45 state associations ingful impact on this growing problem. that made this project a reality through their support. Contact- I am proud to report that the NFHS has taken a proactive ed at the outset of production, we were overwhelmed by the role in this effort and has developed a multimedia packet of 30 associations that decided to join our project immediately, educational materials regarding steroid abuse to be used by trusting that the final product would be a success. As a result of high school administrators, coaches, parents and students. We the presentation of the materials at the Summer Meeting, an hope this information will be a useful resource and will answer additional 15 states joined the effort. Our hope was to reach the questions students may have. Presented publicly for the first majority of the nation’s high schools, and we certainly accom- time at the NFHS Summer Meeting in San Antonio, our multi- plished that objective. The 45 state associations represent more media “Make the Right Choice” campaign received very strong than 16,000 high schools with a target audience numbering support from our state associations. more than six million student-athletes. Thank you for helping We have produced a DVD that contains two 12-minute make this goal possible. videos. One video is directed toward coaches and students, Also, thanks to Frank Uryasz of the National Center for while the other one is directed toward parents. The video high- Drug Free Sport (www.drugfreesport.com) for offering his lights include interviews with Indianapolis Colts head coach expertise with the production of our materials. His online Tony Dungy and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green. Resource Education Center is one of the most informative The videos also share Don Hooton’s story of his son, Taylor, online services for the student-athlete audience. who tragically took his own life after suffering from depression Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Vito Perriello for his following steroid abuse. Ric Dye also shares his story of long- contributions and technical expertise. Perriello, who is chair of term side effects, including 33 operations, resulting from the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, brings 34 steroid abuse. Lori Lewis shares with parents how she coura- years of medical expertise to this project. geously blew the whistle on her son and fellow teammates after For more information regarding this initiative, please visit finding anabolic steroids in her son’s room. the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org/steroids. We also have developed two brochures that encourage stu- The NFHS is proud of what it has produced with the sup- dents and parents to “Make the Right Choice.” The brochures port of the membership and hopes that this is just the start of include medical information about anabolic steroids, including what will become a nationwide movement addressing steroid quick facts and side effects. The parents version also includes awareness. We want to educate not only students, but also par- measures regarding how to deter steroid use. ents, administrators and coaches regarding the inherent dan- Our poster campaigns are specifically directed toward gen- gers of steroid use. We depend on you to help spread the prop- der. The boys version includes a photograph of a young man er message. What we do today can change a student’s life for- with a severe case of back acne that could result from steroid ever. Thank you for helping make a difference. Thank you for use. For the females, we took a slightly different approach by helping young people “Make the Right Choice.” IAA

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 3 The following article is a compilation of research on hazing CULTURAL NORM in high school sports programs conducted by a student commit- Hazing activities and initiations are generally conducted tee of the Ohio University master’s program in sports adminis- by older members of athletics teams. Often, these players tration. This information was presented to the faculty and the 13- achieved an accepted peer or team status by enduring simi- member class in December 2003 during the NFHS National lar treatment at an earlier time. In addition, adult communi- Conference of High School Directors of Athletics in Indianapolis. ty residents often report a history of older relatives and acquaintances enduring similar mistreatment over the course DEFINITION AND PERSPECTIVE of several years or even decades. Because these events occur azing in high school sports programs is variously without challenge over time, they are often deeply embedded defined as a rite of passage, initiation or test of within the culture of a school, community or team. As a H resilience that serves to authorize, permit or validate result, these practices have been accepted as “normal” or membership or status in athletics or activities. Other defini- “usual” until recent years. tions contained in various state law prohibitions include: More recently, courts and legislative enactments have Recklessly or intentionally endangering the health or safety rejected the usual justifications for hazing, such as “bonding, of a student, or inflicting bodily injury on a student in con- proving one’s courage or value to a team, suppression of ego, nection with or as a condition of membership in a club, orga- consent and no-harm initiations.” At both the collegiate and nization, association, fraternity, sorority or student body, high school levels, serious injuries, deaths and a worsening regardless of whether the student so endangered or injured pattern of degrading treatment have caused these justifica- participated voluntarily in the activity. tions to lose all credibility as defenses. Moreover, these justifications lose validity in light of contemporary legislation and Examples include: court findings. • Requiring candidates to steal, vandalize or commit law violations; INJURIES AND DEATH • Shaving, cutting hair or marking the body of candi- Regrettably, injuries and death have resulted from these dates; practices. As a result, these tragedies have resulted in public • Requiring public behaviors that provoke ridicule or protests, expressions of outrage and litigation. Among the sanctions by law enforcement and school authorities; more proactive efforts has been development of Web sites • Requiring candidates to dress or appear in a manner that are available to any person who desires to learn more that proves public ridicule; about current trends in legislation, litigation and public • Requiring consumption of noxious food substances, responses. The Web sites are: www.stophazing.com and drugs or alcohol; www.hazing.hanknuwer.com. • Physical punishments or extended exercises; • Requiring candidates to endure extreme temperature environments; LEGISLATIVE TRENDS • Requiring candidates to assume a painful position for Forty-two states have enacted legislation that prohibits an extended period; hazing and institutes a range of penalties and sanctions for • Sexual activity or simulated sexual activity; hazing violations. These include: • Deprivation of sleep; 1. Definitions of hazing and planning that contribute to • Simulations of dangerous acts that cause fear or men- hazing as a serious misdemeanor or felony, depend- tal anxiety, regardless of the intention or the actual ing on the severity of the incident and injury or loss danger inherent; suffered by the victim(s). • Creating any safety risk for a candidate including invol- 2. Mandatory fines of various levels related to the untary restraint; severity of the violation and court judgments. • Mandated servitude; and 3. Mandates to school districts to develop local policies • Demeaning or profane references to the candidate. designed to prevent or intervene hazing activities.

4 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 4. Mandatory fines for schools that fail to develop haz- IMPLICATIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS ing prevention policies. The athletic director has the responsibility to research 5. Mandatory requirements to report hazing and leg- and understand the anti-hazing laws that his or her state has islative immunity for those who report acts of hazing. enacted and to determine whether the Board of Education, 6. Loss of state financial assistance to schools or dis- state association or National Association of Independent tricts that do not enact local policies and measures to Schools has adopted any policy on hazing or sexual harass- prevent or curtail hazing. ment. Coaches handbooks, student and athletic handbooks, 7. Legislative permission and encouragement to insti- and codes of conduct for student-athletes should reflect these tute lawsuits in civil or federal courts. policies and implement strict prohibitions and consequences 8. Mandatory expulsions from high schools and univer- for participating in any hazing activities. Furthermore, the sities for violators found guilty of hazing. issue of hazing should be addressed in parent meetings and 9. Legislation that invalidates traditional defenses, such included in warning and prohibition statements that are as consent, willingness, tradition, unawareness and signed by parents and athletes to ensure understanding. no-harm. OTHER PROACTIVE MEASURES LITIGATION Anti-hazing experts suggest common sense to keep it out The legislative enactments cited above, coupled with the of schools through various educational efforts. In addition, following examples of legal judgments, strongly indicate that student victims of hazing indicate that implementation and hazing is no longer an accepted practice in high school sports enforcement of rigorous deterrent penalties is necessary. A programs. combination of both initiatives will help reduce the potential August 2003 – The North Bellmore (New York) Mepham for litigation in hazing incidents. High School football team attends camp at Preston Park, Pennsylvania, where three teens are charged with numerous Proactive Suggestions: felony counts for sodomizing younger teammates during the 1. Be proactive with policy prohibitions and develop- weeklong session. ment of reporting systems and mandates. May 2003 – At Northbrook (Illinois) Glenbrook North 2. Develop an anti-hazing policy. Define hazing and High School, two adults and 16 teens are eventually charged identify behaviors that are unacceptable. Communi- with offenses ranging from battery to contributing to the cate the policy to students, parents and administra- delinquency of minors for their role in a hazing incident that tors. took place before a powder-puff football game was to be 3. Educate and inform your coaches. Heighten the played. Younger girls from the school were kicked, punched awareness of their responsibility in prohibiting, pre- and pelted with mud and feces. Misdemeanor and felony venting and intervening incidents of hazing on their charges were issued in several student cases and for parents teams. who were aware of or assisted in the planning. 4. Assign adult supervision to those situations and loca- Winter 2002 – Three Attica (Indiana) High School bas- tions where hazing frequently occurs. This includes ketball players are tried for battery, battery resulting in bod- the locker room, back of the bus, during preseason ily injury and battery by bodily waste for hazing younger bas- camps and overnight trips. ketball players. Two of the players were tried as adults and 5. Survey alumni and graduates to see if hazing rituals one in juvenile court. The adult sentences were one year of were experienced when they were students. Gradu- probation and 25 hours of community service. The parents ates are generally less inhibited than currently of six of the younger players have filed a suit in federal court enrolled students. against Attica Consolidated School Corporation, accusing 6. Be attentive to details and current practices of teams school administrators of civil rights violations for allegedly that suggest a hierarchy where underclass players covering up hazing in the football and basketball programs. are subservient. During testimony in the trial of one of the convicted teens, it 7. React immediately, firmly and consistently to inci- was discovered that hazing at Attica has occurred since the dents of hazing, regardless of the team status or skill 1950s, and has been widespread since the 1980s. level of the violator(s). In a study of 40 high school sports cases of harassment and hazing between 1995 and 2002, 31 of the violations REPORTING WEB SITE involved sexual activity or sexual simulations, and several In an effort to deal with hazing, some schools have begun incidents involved involuntary restraint. In several of these to use a Web site called www.Report-it.com as an anonymous cases, federal proceedings were initiated for violation of sex- way to deal with hazing. It allows enrolled students to report ual harassment laws or for abridgement of the Fourth information about weapons, drugs, acts of violence and crimi- Amendment. It is important to understand that once cases are nal activities to school authorities. For an annual enrollment fee heard in a federal venue, there are no damage limits if the of $365, a school is given a home page that students can access defendant(s) is found guilty. to report a problem. The report is forwarded to school officials. IAAANTI-HAZING • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 5 ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES AS PREVENTIVE MEASURES SUMMARY Other studies on high school hazing recommend similar Hazing has long been tolerated as a “necessary evil” and or additional steps to prevent hazing: a community norm among university fraternal organizations and high school athletics teams. As a result of recent serious 1. Organize community opportunities to discuss hazing. injuries and deaths, this form of demeaning and dangerous Discuss it with students in classrooms, sports, bands, abuse of power has been largely rejected as incompatible choirs and other groups, activities or clubs. with human rights and educationally sound practices. 2. Provide information about the dangers of hazing that Moreover, traditional justifications and defenses are no contribute to the loss of civility and potential injury longer valid in light of contemporary legislation and litigation. or loss of life. In this regard, a majority of state legislatures have enacted 3. Make student behavior a part of the coach’s or group prohibitions against these practices and litigation has been leader’s evaluation. successfully initiated in civil, state and federal courts. Con- 4. Develop a contract for students and parents to sign temporary athletic administrators should consider this trend regarding the anti-hazing policy and a requirement a mandate to initiate local policy development and imple- to report any hazing incident to the proper authori- mentation and community-wide efforts aimed at prevention ty. IAA 5. Require students to adhere to a code of conduct that and intervention. prohibits hazing and other misconduct while maintaining academic standards as prerequisites to participation in extracurricular groups. “Hazing is bullying with 6. Identify, simplify and mandate reporting of hazing and harassment activities by any person who has a connection to a group” knowledge of or who experiences these activities. 7. Establish a record of taking strong disciplinary action in cases of hazing. REFERENCES 8. Immediately notify families and law enforcement of any suspected hazing incidents. Publications 1. Will Keim, Ph.D., (author of “The Power of Caring”) Dr. Norman Pollard, director of counseling and student 2. John Evers, CMAA, athletic director at Castle High School, development at Alfred (New York) University, told Education Newburgh, Indiana. Fall 2003 Interscholastic Athletic World that, “Hazing is bullying with a connection to a group Administration … Young people don’t know how to conduct initiation activ- 3. Rob Amen, Valley News Dispatch in Pittsburgh, PA, dated ities and often institute activities that are dangerous and Sunday, November 10, 2002 humiliating. Students need to be able to look to administrators, teachers, coaches and organization leaders to facilitate Web sites appropriate initiation activities.” 1. Myths & Facts About Hazing (Adapted from Death By Haz- Dr. Nadine Hoover, the designer and principal investiga- ing Sigma Alpha Epsilon. 1988) tor for the survey in the report, Initiation Rites in American 2. www.hazing.hanknuwer.com High Schools: A National Survey, agrees that, “schools need 3. www.stophazing.org to develop and provide good initiation rites for students – 4. www.osaa.org rites that are unique, meaningful, effective and capable of cre- 5. www.asbj.com/2000/08/0800coverstory.html ating a sense of bonding.” Hoover suggests that schools pro- 6. www.eduction-world.com/a issues vide opportunities and direction for initiation activities that 7. www.brainevent.com/be/Social_action/20001215 include food or recreation, such as banquets, picnics, pizza 8. www.hazinglaw.com/rights.htm parties, stress-challenge activities and community rehabilita- 9. www.kappaalphapsi.com/laws2.html tion efforts (e.g., Habitat for Humanity). Further, Hoover indicates, “Unprogrammed, relaxing recreation brings people Ohio University Sports Administration Program Graduate together in a natural and genuine manner, allows them the Research Committee: opportunity to become closer, and helps them form groups.” Robert Cole, Memphis, Tennessee Help people understand that hazing is not just about Karen Gill, Chicago, Illinois innocent pranks. Educate others about the serious and some- Cody Inglis, Suttons Bay, Michigan times fatal consequences of hazing. People won’t change their Jeff Mott, Overland Park, Kansas opinions or behavior to stop hazing if they don’t know the Tommie Neubauer, Middletown, Delaware facts. Create new ways to form bonds within your groups that Wade Okamura, Honolulu, Hawaii don’t involve activities that are embarrassing, violent or hurt- Matt Schelble, Shanghai, China ful in any way. Todd Stordahl, Bellevue, Washington ANTI-HAZING6 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005

1. Be sure the practice is legal in your state. Laws and court rulings change frequently. Most states allow such a fee, but there are a few that do not (Alexander, 1997). In many schools, the trend is to charge something other than a participation fee. One example is to charge a “transportation” fee, since all athletes typi- TEN GUIDELINES cally ride the bus to and from contests, even if they to Consider When Introducing a Participation Fee do not actually get to participate in the game. How- ever, caution should be used when charging a trans- to Your Interscholastic Athletic Program 10 portation fee. Be sure that the fee amount collected is Top Ten List Ten Top not more than the actual costs of the busses needed By Dr. Scott Smith, CAA for the season. 2. Examine fee structures that exist in other districts in n the not-too-distant past, interscholastic athletic partici- your state and region. If one is selected as a model, pation fees, or pay-to-play fees, were the exception rather call the administration at that school to find out how I than the norm. However, in today’s economic environ- well the plan works and a suggested list of “dos” and ment the presence of fee-based programs appears to be sky- “don’ts.” It is not necessary to “reinvent the wheel.” rocketing. In Michigan, the latest survey administered by the There are many different examples of fee structures Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), con- already in place. You can probably find one that will ducted during the fall of 2004, showed that 34.5 percent of work for you, even if it needs to be tweaked for your the high schools responding were charging a fee to participate particular situation. during the 2004-05 school year (MHSAA, 2004). This is an 3. Have a maximum yearly fee cap per student and per increase from only 10.4 percent of respondents to the same family. Try not to penalize those student-athletes who survey conducted during the 2003-04 school year (MHSAA, participate in multiple sports each year and those 2003). In the latest survey, 25 Michigan high schools indi- families with multiple children in the program. If there cated they charged a fee for the first time during the 2004- is no cap, athletes and parents may be forced to 05 school year (MHSAA, 2004). A similar study currently choose only their “favorite” sport and forego partici- being conducted in Ohio indicates that the number of Ohio pation in a second or third activity. high schools charging a fee may have increased from 22 per- 4. Establish a schedule to indicate when fees must be cent in 1999-00 to 43 percent in 2004-05. paid, to whom they are to be paid, and the conse- Even as the economy seems to slowly be improving, state quences of non-payment. If possible, keep coaches out budgets and consequently school budgets will lag behind. It of the actual “fee collection” business, although they appears certain that the number of pay-to-play programs will may certainly need to help with the paperwork on not diminish in the near future and may continue to increase. who has and has not paid. Most commonly, fees are This is true, despite the fact that research conducted on Ohio paid to the athletic director’s office or the principal’s high school athletic programs during the 1999-00 school office. One practice that also works well for some year indicated there was a relationship between charging a schools is to make the fee payable after the first prac- fee and participation rates. Those programs that charged a tice, but prior to the first contest. Payment of the fee fee to participate had statistically significant lower participa- is mandatory for participation in the first game. tion rates overall (Smith, 2001). 5. Establish a criteria for refunds. Use common sense, Some schools are able to successfully overcome the prob- but refund sparingly. Take into account those athletes lems and concerns involved with pay-to-participate fees and who are injured early in a season and cannot contin- experience little or no drop in the number of participants. ue to participate, as opposed to those who “quit” for How a fee affects any particular athletic program depends on other reasons. Fee collection for those sports that cut a myriad of factors – some measurable, others not. Some of should be after the tryouts are completed. the more important factors would be the socioeconomic lev- 6. Establish criteria for those unable to pay the fee. els of the school and its participants, the importance of the Many districts use free and reduced lunch qualifica- high school athletic program within the school and commu- tion as a means of identifying students and families nity culture and the manner in which the fee structure is needing assistance. “Assistance” takes many forms developed and administered. from waivers to differential sliding scales to “working Based on research I have conducted and my personal off the fee.” Remember to maintain the confidentiali- experiences with pay-to-play programs, I have developed the ty of those students who qualify for assistance. following “Top 10” list of recommendations and suggestions 7. Establish a specific purpose for the funds. Parents that administrators and school boards may consider when a want to know how the fees are being used, e.g. uni- decision has been made to implement a fee structure at the form replacement, travel, game operations, etc. Many high school level. schools make it a point not to use the funds for coach-

8 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 ing salaries and clinics. Fewer problems arise when a may not participate after the fee is implemented. Implement- parent cannot legitimately make the statement that, ing and maintaining a successful participation fee is not an “My fee pays your salary.” It is also a good idea for easy task. But if the scenario exists that a fee structure is the parents not to suspect their fee payment goes toward last resort before downsizing or eliminating a program, par- paying expenses at a coaching clinic. ents may be willing to help fund the program to keep it intact. 8. Clearly state that the fee is a “participation” fee. It Developing and implementing a fee program that is as user- only guarantees participation on a team, not playing friendly as possible might make the difference between main- time in a contest. Coaches have always, and should taining your athlete participation numbers or experiencing a continue to, determine who plays and when. For this declining participation rate once the fee is introduced. IAA reason, many schools call their fee a “participation” fee, and not “pay-to-play.” References: 9. Put the rules and guidelines of your program in writing Alexander, R.H. (1997). The legality of high school athletic fees. Journal of and thoroughly publicize them to your students, par- Legal Aspects of Sport, 7, 118-121. ents and community. Many schools require students Michigan High School Athletic Association. (2003, October 3). MHSAA and parents to sign a form acknowledging their participation fee survey-senior high results. Lansing, Michigan: Author. Michigan High School Athletic Association. (2004, October 27). More awareness of the policy and its rules. In many dis- schools utilizing participation fees in latest survey. Lansing, Michigan: Author. tricts, the fee program is a “Board of Education Smith, S. J. (2001). An investigation of athletic participation fee practices in Approved Policy.” Ohio public high schools. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Mis- 10. Be sure to include all potential constituents of your souri-Columbia. program as the fee is developed. This would include administrators, coaches, parents and the athletes ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Scott J. Smith, CAA, is an themselves. It is human nature that people will more assistant professor in sport management and director of the sport readily accept change if they are able to play a part in management program at Central Michigan University in Mt. how the new policy is developed. Participation in the Pleasant, Michigan. He has worked in athletic administration in process allows people to take ownership in the final Missouri, Kansas and Ohio, including stints in Wichita, Kansas, product. Athletes, parents and the community are as the district director of athletics and in Dayton, Ohio, as an more likely to accept the fee program if they believe assistant superintendent in charge of health, physical education they were represented in the process and it was not and athletics. While in Kansas, he served as the state coordina- forced upon them. tor of the Leadership Training Course program for the Kansas Interscholastic Athlet- District administrators and school boards need to be ic Administrators Association. Smith has extremely cognizant of the many factors at work that may or been a state presenter in several states and may not allow a pay-to-participate program to succeed. In a national presenter twice. His current particular, the prediction of how much revenue will be pro- research topics at Central Michigan Uni- duced by the fee must be weighed against any negative pub- versity are centered on interscholastic ath- lic relations that can result, and the fact that some students letic administration.

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 9 By James M. Toner, CAA The Virginia High School League sportsmanship rule 27- 13-2 reads: “Any situations where spectators during or after On February 14, 1995, a girls basketball game in Mary- the game engage in fights or other altercations with players, land between Seton High School and Good Counsel High officials or other spectators are to be reported. Where the School was suspended in the fourth quarter because of a fight number of spectators is expected to be large in relation to the in the stands that spilled out onto the basketball court, result- facilities for seating the crowd, uniformed police available for ing in one arrest. control should be provided. Whereas the provision of uniformed police is not required by this rule, it is expected that On February 21, 1995, a boys basketball game in Mary- the host school shall have taken reasonable and proper con- land was suspended when an altercation between coaches trol of spectators under any foreseeable conditions if uni- caused fans to spill out onto the court. The game, played at formed police are not provided.” Gwynn Park High School against Parkdale High School, was The American Civil Liberties Union of Baltimore, Mary- cancelled. land, has established “A Bill of Rights for High School Stu- dents.” This literature states in Article I, D, “Students shall be free to assemble, demonstrate and picket peacefully, to peti- xtracurricular activities are as much a part of student tion and to organize on school grounds or in school buildings, life and the curriculum as any of the regular courses. subject only to reasonable limitations on time, place and man- E And incidents like these illustrate that they require the ner designed to avoid significant physical disruption of school same guidelines for discipline and sportsmanship as well. The activities.” basketball court and arena, the football field and stadium, and the swimming pool and natatorium are all part of the CROWD CONTROL classroom environment for the coach and athletic administrator. The security crew and the ushers who direct and seat the With this in mind, school officials and coaches must crowd are jointly responsible for the flow, seating and disper- develop contingency plans for crowd control at all events. sal of spectators. The success of seating a large group often Safety plans for school events should be developed as part of depends upon the arrangement of aisles and ramps in the a comprehensive school plan. Ensuring safe and meaningful sports facility. If unauthorized people are kept out of athletic experiences, with respectful behavior, must be placed reserved, restricted and special seating areas, trouble may be prominently on the educational agenda. avoided. Reserved seat holders become unhappy fans when Carole Quan, assistant superintendent, Oakland (Califor- they must remove people from their seats. The unauthorized nia) School District, says, “Violence at school athletic events person usually moves to another unauthorized seat until is a community problem, not just a school issue. Schools are forced to move again. a reflection of the community in which they serve. Creating a General admission areas do not present the same prob- partnership among the school, community and law enforce- lem; although they present other problems, such as people ment can help curtail the problem.” racing for particular seats. General-admission ticket-holders should not be admitted to the reserved seat area. It is imper- RULES ative that the ushers be selected because of their tact and friendly attitude toward people. They should make an effort A copy of the league and school sportsmanship rules to learn the seating arrangement of the facility in order to should be posted at each athletic facility. In addition, all spec- help people get to their seats promptly. Traffic lanes should tators should be aware that regular school policies and pro- never be permitted to cross the field or court, even in the end cedures regarding code of conduct remain in effect during zones. Aisles need to remain clear to meet fire and safety student activities and sporting events. standards and codes.

10 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 GAME DISRUPTIONS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Those who are responsible for events that attract large The following are possible solutions to help prevent dis- groups of people must prepare to cope with disruption. In ruptions at sporting events. dealing with this problem, there are four realistic goals to be achieved. These goals are: 1) to terminate any disruption as Education of the audience quickly as possible, using the least amount of force necessary; Dennis Johnson, assistant professor at Wingate (North Caroli- 2) to prevent injury to persons or damage to property; 3) to na) University, says, “Physical educators should take respon- safely resume and complete the contest as soon as possible; sibility and educate their students on the topic of proper fan and 4) to identify the individual(s) causing the disturbance for behavior. I would suggest that coaches require parents ... to disciplinary or legal action later. attend a parent seminar at the beginning of the season ... (that includes) a session on proper spectator behavior.” GUIDELINES Encouraging sportsmanship Spontaneous disruptions can be minimized with a plea to Promote sportsmanship by reading a statement to the crowd the coaches, athletes, fans and cheerleaders to modify their prior to the game. The following statement is printed in the behavior in the light of an impending explosive situation. National High School Sports Record Book to discourage poor Oversold seats, crowded conditions, poor ventilation, poor sportsmanship on the field. officiating and bickering coaches can all contribute to a possible disruption. Handling them properly can prevent legal “The National High School Records Committee is pleased to action in the future. A well-conducted, well-planned program recognize outstanding achievement by teams and individuals reduces the opportunity for disruptions. Key people should be ... running up scores or embarrassing an opponent for the pri- visible and available to ensure a smooth-running operation. mary purpose of inclusion in the record book is not consistent There are several guidelines to follow for any disruptions that with the ideals of good sportsmanship.” may occur. These guidelines are: 1. Prepare a statement for the public-address announcer that requests the spectators to remain seated and Teamwork from many individuals not participate in or try to stop a disruption. This is the responsibility of trained security personnel. A) Public-address Announcers: 2. Ask the person(s) causing the disruption to cease and Brad Rumble, former NFHS administrator, and author of desist. Identify those taking part. If film is available, “The Voice Above the Crowd” states, “The role of the public- date the pictures. address announcer is to deliver timely information to the 3. If the disruption continues, instruct the disruptors to crowd that contributes to a safe and secure event with a high leave the event; issue them a refund for ticket costs. athletic entertainment value. 4. If the disruptors do not leave willingly, have the security forces remove them with the least amount of B) Coaches: force required. The NFHS 2003-04 Basketball Points of Emphasis states 5. The athletic director or athletic administrator may that coaches must demonstrate leadership by immediately have to suspend play during the disruption. He or putting an end to athletes playing to the crowd, taunting and she will notify the game officials who will then noti- baiting of opponents. fy both coaches. Require that players and coaches refrain from taking part in either the disruption or C) Facility Designers and Facility Managers: the restraint of participants. Former Oakland Coliseum Director Bob Quintilla says, 6. If the disruption cannot be brought under control “Determining a crowd’s mood is an important step in keeping and it becomes necessary to terminate the event, the a crowd-management situation from turning into a crowd- security chief and the athletic administrator should control problem. A lot can be done during the architectural meet and make the decision, announce that decision design of the facility; an important component of crowd man- and direct the crowd to vacate the premises. agement is building design.”

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 11 SUMMARY Johnson, James. Introduction to the Foundations of American Education. Allyn & Bacon, Boston 1994. Ensuring audience safety and effective participation may Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. “In the hope of reducing vio- be summarized into the following categories: lence, should more schools require spectator silence at interscholastic sport competi- tions?” March 2001 72:3 p. 16-17. • Crowd control (flow, screening) Kanaby, Bob. NFHS News, “Viewpoint”, 21:4 January 2004. • Physical space management (flow, barriers, lighting, Miller, Lori. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, “Crowd Control”. climate) 64:2 February 1993 p. 31-32. NFHS Basketball 2003-04 Points of Emphasis, www.nfhs.org, 1/13/04. • Policies and rules (development, content, communi- Reed, William. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, “Lifestyles”, Vol 79 Nov 22, 1993. p. 74. cation) Resick, Matthew. Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Athletics for Men and Women. • Prevention (student and community engagement, Addison Wesley Publishing, Reading, Massachusetts. 1975. Snapper, Greg. NFHS News, 21:4 January 2004, “Public-address announcers play conflict management, peer leadership, behaviors of vital role at high school sporting events.” leaders, visible presence of uniformed security) Special Events Magazine, “At facing the crowd, effective crowd control for special • Management of disruptions or violence once they events”, Dec. 1, 2001 p. 30. Suggs, Welch. “College officials discuss how to stop mayhem after big games.” Chron- occur (protecting bystanders, evacuation, suspension icle of Higher Education. March 7, 2003 issue 26 p. A43. of event) Virginia High School League Handbook 2003-04 Charlottesville, VA. Waddell, Ray. “Oakland Coliseum Director Quintella talks crowd management.” Having a thorough plan that covers these categories can Amusement Business 6/30/97 109:26 p. 2. limit the incidents that happen and minimize the chance that WASHINGTON POST NEWS ARTICLES, February 1, 1995 C1; February 8, 1995 IAA A3: February 15, 1995 C1; February 17, 1995 C8; February 21, 1995 C1; February any do occur. 23, 1995 D8. BIBLIOGRAPHY Crowd photos provided by Ed Wolff, Seven Hills, Ohio.

Barnhouse, Wendell. “Crowd violence a major issue on college scene. Feb. 20, 2003 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: James Toner, Knight-Ridder Newspapers. CAA, is a teacher and student activities volunteer Education Digest, “A Game Plan for Game Safety”, 58:5 p. 52-56. Geraghty, Mary. “Protecting the Fans”, Chronicle of Education, Nov. 23, 1994. with Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools. 41:13, p. A35-36. Toner has served as director of athletics with Fort Haynes, Richard. “Scoring a touchdown for security (planning security systems for Myer Military Community and as director of ath- school sporting events)” Security Management 12/91 v. 35, p. 35. Hoover, Eric. “Reading and rioting-colleges struggle to find ways to prevent letic services with Georgetown University. He postgame rampages”, Chronicle of Higher Education, 12/13/02 49:16, p. A40. may contacted at [email protected].

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12 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005

By Grant M. Hill and Michael Pluschke counties: Imperial (7), Los Angeles (159), Orange (60), River- side (36), San Bernardino (38), San Diego (56), Ventura (18). valuation of coaches is an important responsibility of Initially, 376 surveys were mailed, but two of the mailings high school athletic directors. Since high school athlet- were returned indicating that the schools were no longer in E ic events are highly visible activities in school commu- existence. Consequently, the sample size was 374. The num- nities, they have a significant effect on both public relations ber of completed questionnaires was 210 for a return rate of and overall school climate. In addition, coaches have a strong just more than 56 percent. For each of the 17 criteria, a Lik- influence on young athletes in terms of the values they com- ert scale was used to allow respondents to rate each in terms municate and the behavior they model. Consequently, it is of importance. essential that athletic directors regularly provide coaches with 5 = Very Important both supervision and evaluation in order to monitor whether 4 = Somewhat Important they are conducting themselves in a competent, professional 3 = Neutral and caring manner. 2 = Low Importance Comprehensive evaluation of high school coaches pre- 1 = Little or No Importance vents the utilization of win-loss records as the primary basis for retention and dismissal. Evaluating coaches primarily on More than 88 percent of the respondents rated all 17 of wins and losses puts pressure on coaches to excessively drive the coaching evaluation criteria as either somewhat or very their athletes to win. When that is the case, the athletes may important. The coaching criteria included: become a means to an end (job security) for coaches, rather 1. Holds current CPR/First Aid Card than an opportunity to nurture their personal development. 2. Exemplifies high moral and ethical qualities Furthermore, since there are inequities in terms of talent in 3. Maintains appropriate discipline and control of ath- different schools, not all coaches have an equal chance to letes achieve competitive excellence. Finally, comprehensive eval- 4. Follows correct procedures in regard to safety, injury uation helps coaches to formulate strategies that will help prevention, care of injuries and injury reporting them to improve the various parts of their program that are 5. Complies with administrative directives considered to be weak. Hopefully, as these areas improve, 6. Properly supervises facilities more competitive team play will be a natural byproduct. 7. Makes decisions that are in compliance with established policies and procedures Designing and Validating a Coaching 8. Systematically plans for practices and games 9. Demonstrates support for entire athletic program Evaluation Form 10. Works efficiently within the adopted school budget In order to identify specific criteria to include in a coach- process ing evaluation form, a questionnaire was designed by a panel 11. Clearly defines expectations of assistant coaches of three retired and two current athletic directors, and 10 12. Provides proper care of equipment high school coaches. In addition to considering coaching eval- 13. Utilizes appropriate and effective motivational strate- uation forms currently used in high schools, published gies for players sources of coaching evaluation criteria were reviewed for 14. Provides accurate inventories of equipment and sup- additional evaluative criteria (Belinko, R. [1999]; Duncan, S. plies [2000]; Figone, A. G. [1999]; Gratto, J. [1983]; Kuga, D.J. 15. Communicates appropriately with the media to pro- [1993]; Leland, T. [1988]). The questionnaire was field-test- mote their sport, athletic department and school ed with a group of 10 other athletic directors who offered 16. Is able to articulate a philosophy that is consistent suggestions regarding content and clarity. The survey was with athletic department goals then mailed to all athletic directors at public schools with 17. Attends clinics and seminars to increase knowledge more than 500 students in the following Southern California of current coaching practices

14 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 This finding served to validate the questionnaire items how action plans may be utilized include: 1) developing a and provided strong evidence that athletic directors perceive better system to file injury reports; 2) establishing safeguards that coaching evaluation should be comprehensive and multi- to ensure better compliance to athletic budgetary procedures; faceted. Given the number of factors that should be included 3) creating a better security and inventory system to keep in coaching evaluation, athletic directors, particularly those in track of all equipment; and 4) identifying specific coaching large high schools, will need to devote significant time to pro- clinics to attend. For coaches who have been evaluated the vide accurate, yearly, formal evaluations for each coach. previous year, it should be possible to determine the extent The coaching evaluation form illustrates that coaching is to which their action plans were successful over a 12-month an extremely complex endeavor. That is, coaches must pro- period. vide a positive role model to athletes, communicate effective- ly with athletes, parents and school personnel, keep accurate Final Thoughts records, operate within a prescribed budget, provide a safe Athletic directors should view evaluation as a process environment, and demonstrate technical and tactical exper- that helps coaches to be more successful with their teams. tise in their sport. All of these behaviors must be exhibited Athletic directors should support coaches in their efforts to within the pressure of a public forum in which they are also achieve higher evaluation scores by helping them secure under pressure to demonstrate competitive excellence. important resources, such as videotapes, journal subscriptions, conference funds, fitness equipment and adequate prac- Using the Form as Part of tice facilities. While formal evaluation provides documenta- the Evaluation Process tion of coaching performance, athletic directors should also Athletic directors should distribute copies of their evalu- provide ongoing informal evaluation to both encourage ation form to coaches at the beginning of the year or season, coaches and to help them make timely corrections. along with an athletic handbook that specifies policies, expec- Athletic directors who conduct coaching evaluations in a tations and the steps that are to be followed in the evaluation kind, supportive and professional manner will find that the process. While athletic directors should be held accountable process will become more meaningful and appreciated by IAA for providing written evaluations of all head coaches, head everyone involved. coaches should, in turn, evaluate their assistant coaches. Prior to a coach’s evaluation, written feedback may be Sources solicited from players, parents and other community mem- Belinko, R. (1999). Established evaluation process needed to determine bers. This process will allow any disgruntled individuals to coaches effectiveness. Interscholastic Athletic Administration, (26) 14-17. vent in a private venue and provide athletic directors with Duncan, S. (2000). Tips for evaluating coaching staff. Interscholastic additional information to address in the formal evaluation. Athletic Adminstration, 27 (Fall), 25. Figone, A. G. (1999). A systematic approach to the evaluation of the In addition to providing a formal evaluation of coaches, coach and his program. Coach and Athletic Director, February, 54. athletic directors should have coaches evaluate themselves. Gratto, J. (1983). Competencies used to evaluate high school coaches. Areas on the evaluation form where there are low scores or JOPERD (May), 59. discrepancies between the ratings of coaches and athletic Kuga, D.J. (1993). Evaluating high school coaches: perceptions of coach- directors may become the focus of action plans. Formulating es and student-athletes. JOPERD, August, 84-87. Leland, T. (1988). Evaluating coaches: formalizing the process. JOPERD, an action plan is a much more elaborate process than goal- Nov/Dec., 21-23. setting, because it should include con- crete steps to be taken to improve a Coach photos provided by 20/20 Photographic, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. particular area. Some examples of ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Grant Hill is a professor in the department of kinesiology at Cali- fornia State University, Long Beach. He was formerly the vice principal at Kings High School in Shoreline, Washington.

Mike Pluschke teaches physical education and is the head football coach and head boys track coach at Redmond High School in Red- mond, Washington.

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 15 ADVICE: athletic directors sharing thoughts and actions

By Randy Bates, CAA place. Perhaps, by following a simple outline based upon our experience, you can avoid some of the potential problems Disaster can strike any school at any time. The disaster involved in disaster recovery. may come in the form of a fire, flood, tornado, hurricane or malfunction of a sprinkler system. As an athletic administrator, your athletic department could be affected. Do you have PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES: a plan in place? How will you and your coaching staff con- 1. Who will be the lead person? Who will be the per- tinue to function? son to lead a recovery? On May 21, 2004, our school dismissed for the summer. 2. Who will contact the insurance company? Calls need At 8:45 p.m. on May 22, our school was in the direct path of to be made to the insurance carrier within hours of an F-4 tornado. The school facilities sustained more than $20 the event. million in damage. All of our outdoor athletic facilities were 3. Who will be responsible for reconstruction of facili- destroyed. ties? All three gymnasiums were heavily damaged, with one 4. Who will handle building contents? completely leveled. Our weight room facility was completely 5. Who will lead the crisis management team if there destroyed. has been loss of life? At 6:00 a.m. the follow morning, I looked upon our facil- 6. Who will handle statements to the media? ity in utter disbelief. We had no recovery plan in place. We 7. Who will communicate with staff and by what had never discussed what we would do if something cata- means? strophic took place. We were thankful that lives weren’t lost, 8. How will you gather information about the loss? but in less than three months, we needed to be back in school and our athletic department needed to be up and running. SET PRIORITIES BEFORE THE DISASTER We needed a plan, fast. 1. Set some general priorities. Which buildings would I am happy to say that we did start school only two be most important? weeks late in our own facilities and opened fall athletic prac- 2. Set priorities in specific areas. What areas are most tices on time. It was not easy. It took a great deal of effort and important? cooperation from many people. Looking back, I realize how 3. Set priorities for contents. Which need to be much easier it would have been if we would have had a dis- removed first? aster plan in place. Much heartache and sleepless nights 4. Set reconstruction priorities and timelines. would have been prevented if a disaster plan had been in

16 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE to know the predetermined priorities for such areas. INSURANCE COVERAGE What content items are most important to recover Insurance carriers vary along with the amount of cover- first? age purchased by a given school. A good understanding of 3. Plan ahead concerning where and how contents will the insurance coverage will be important once a loss has be inventoried and stored. Your key personnel have occurred. Someone on the administrative team needs to the best knowledge of the contents and inventory. In know the following and be able to work with the insurance most cases, they are the people responsible for com- carrier directly. piling your inventory. Your key personnel might be 1. Does the insurance coverage include replacement of the best persons to record the inventory as items are facilities? If so, to what extent? removed from your facilities. Storage of contents is 2. Does the insurance coverage include replacement of very important. Items that have been salvaged need contents of the facilities? Does the coverage include to remain dry and safe until such time as they can be loss of personal items? placed back into your facilities. Knowing where such 3. Does the insurance coverage include code upgrades items are stored can go a long way toward an efficient to the facility? return to the facilities. 4. Who will be responsible for determining content loss? The insurance company will designate someone THE ENTIRE SCHOOL TEAM MUST who will be ultimately responsible for determining ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY loss. Ask if an administrator can assist. All employees of the school must be made aware of the 5. Plan for how contents will be returned to your facili- importance of assuming responsibility for their role in the ty once reconstruction is complete. By having a plan, predisaster plan. All employees need to understand their role you will know who will do the work and which areas each year. If reviewed each year, the following can go a long will be restored first. Everyone will want to be first on way in making the recovery effort easier for everyone, as well the list and there will be emotion with this phase of as raising the possibility of a full recovery of both the facili- the experience. In most cases, you will be working ties and contests. under a timeline to restore full function to your 1. Keep detailed yearly inventories of everything school as fast as possible. owned by the school. Do not store this information 6. Ensure that the staff understands the meaning of the on campus. term, “like kind and quality.” Anytime something is 2. Shoot video inventory of all facilities, including audio lost due to a disaster, some believe it’s an opportuni- descriptions. Do not store this information on campus. ty to purchase something new that is of better quali- 3. Discard unused inventory yearly. Do not keep items ty than what was lost. Insurance companies are more not in use. Unused items only add confusion when than willing to pay for the same kind and quality. contents are removed from the facility. However, insurance companies will take a dim view 4. Inventories need to have complete and accurate of items that are clearly not on your inventory or are specifications for everything. Never store any inven- of a much higher quality. tory information on campus. Bank safety deposit boxes are a good place to store such information. The contents of the facilities become vital once a disaster PURCHASING OF NEW EQUIPMENT has occurred and the insurance company has assigned a con- Once the loss has been determined in your area of struction management company to do demolition of damaged responsibility, start purchasing replacement equipment. The areas and start reconstruction of facilities. Depending upon the following are some things to keep in mind: extent of the facility damage, contents will, in most cases, need 1. Your insurance carrier will allow you to replace only to be removed and stored until such time as the facility can be what you previously owned. Your loss will not allow repaired. Most insurance companies employ a firm that will be for a “wish list” of items to be bought. responsible for removal, inventory and storage of building 2. Be honest and follow exact insurance company direc- contents. If extensive water damage has been suffered, drying tions. The relationship you maintain with your insur- and recovery of documents will be high priority. ance carrier will be vital in the entire process. By fol- Some important questions need to be asked before any lowing directions and demonstrating an honest effort content removal takes place. Inquire with the insurance com- to restore in good faith, the insurance carrier will pany the following: respond in kind. 1. Inquire if school personnel can be involved. School 3. Document everything. Ensure that good records of personnel, such as department heads and head your loss are kept and those items that are being coaches, are people most familiar with key areas of ordered for replacement. Do not order anything until your facility. Such personnel know where items are given permission by the insurance carrier. Be assured stored and can quickly direct the removal effort. that for each and every purchase order placed, the 2. The school personnel assigned to specific areas need insurance carrier will be covering to cost.

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 17 ESTABLISHING RECONSTRUCTION TIMEFRAMES If significant damage has been sustained to your facilities, normal operation of your athletic program may not be possible on site. The interruption of activity may not be significant, but prepare for a delay for an indefinite period of time. 1. Determine if and when alternative sites will be needed for camps, practices and contests. Contact neighbor- ing schools, YMCAs, parks depart- ments or any facilities that will allow the athletic program to continue to function. Students need to stay in a routine and learn that nothing will eliminate their opportunity to participate. Begin making such arrange- ments immediately. 2. As soon as possible, begin to make orders for replacement equipment. 3. Attempt to get an exemption of state law concerning the bidding process. Such an exemption will save valuable time in replacement of needed items. 4. Set exact delivery dates with vendors. 5. Get coaches involved in the replacement process. Coaches have the best knowledge of equipment. Use their time and expertise to your advantage. Coaches are “take-charge” people and will want to be involved. Make it a team effort.

We all hope that our schools will not be the site of a disaster that threatens life and great property damage. However, if and when such occurs, it is vitally important to have a plan in place from which to operate. Some simple planning can save great time and frustration. Such losses are emotional situations and advanced planning goes a long way toward clear think- ing during the early emotional times of recovery. IAA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Bates, CAA, is an assistant principal and athletic director at Firth (Nebraska) Norris High School. He is in his 22nd year of athletic administration . A former president of the Nebraska Interscholas- tic Athletic Administrators Association, Bates is a member of the NIAAA Publica- tions Committee. 18 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 DEVELOPING PARENT AND COACH COMMUNICATION

By Dave Bell, CMAA

The key component to a successful athletic program is lete and coach in establishing a good line of communication. good communication. We all realize this, but it is sometimes We must all be concerned with building better programs for very difficult to establish a communication network for the the students of each of our middle or high schools. parent and coach that both can relate to. I feel this publication has been a great tool for our We must be continually aware that parent- department, as well as the individual sports, to ing and coaching are both extremely difficult open up positive lines of communication. It vocations. This is just our effort to gener- should be noted that since the implemen- ate understanding for each position tation of this publication with our and, therefore, do what will benefit coaches, athletes and parents, dis- the student-athlete and not create an agreements have almost vanished. I embarrassing situation. feel this is due to the guidelines During our annual student- that are discussed in the publica- athlete/parent orientation meeting tion. IAA in August, we outline our communication expectations for all cur- ABOUT THE AUTHOR: rent and prospective athletes and Dave Bell, CMAA, has been the athlet- the parents. Our head coaches and ic administrator for the Zanesville City their staffs are required to attend Schools in Zanesville, Ohio, for the past this meeting as well. The meeting is 16 years. Bell is a former chair of the in addition to the preseason meeting NIAAA Awards each coach is required to conduct with Committee and is cur- his or her athletes and parents. To help in rently serving as the vice this explanation, we distribute our Parent/Coach chair of the NIAAA Creden- Communication bulletin to each parent and athlete. tials Committee. He is a member of the The tri-fold publication is reviewed in detail during the National Faculty for Leadership Training, is meeting and ample time is allowed for questions and com- the course chair for LTC 508, and has served ments from the parents, athletes and coaches. The publica- as a moderator and a presenter at two nation- tion is separated into six categories that assist the parent, ath- al conferences. DEVELOPING PARENT AND COACH COMMUNICATION DEVELOPING PARENT

Authenticating Mark Program

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IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 19 ORLANDO, FLORIDA make plans to attend THE 2005 NATIONAL ATHLETIC DIRECTORS CONFERENCE

The National Federation of State High School Associations Workshop Topics (NFHS), Florida Host Committee and NIAAA are excited to A special thank you is extended to attendees completing bring the National Conference of High School Directors of Ath- the spring workshop survey. Workshop topics have been iden- letics to the fabulous city of Orlando, and in particular, the Mar- tified during the four workshop sessions. Each session will fea- riott World Center Hotel on December 14-18, 2005. The 36th ture several choices for attendees. The various workshop top- annual conference will host an expected crowd of more than ics will be listed in the conference registration brochure due to 2,200 athletic administrators, spouses, guests and exhibitors. be printed and mailed to all NIAAA members on or about Sep- tember 15. Marriott Located in the heart of Orlando, near the Walt Disney World parks and resorts is the Marriott World Center Hotel. NIAAA Functions Attendees will be near the heart of it all – wonderful restau- The NIAAA will hold its 29th annual meeting in conjunc- rants, shopping and entertainment. The Marriott is one of the tion with the National Conference of High School Directors of largest convention hotels in the city of Orlando. The hotel, Athletics. Many Leadership Training courses will be offered located along World Center Drive, is beautifully designed with during the conference, beginning Thursday, December 15. In amenities including Champion’s Sports Restaurant, new health addition to these courses, a state LTP coordinators session will club and beautiful outdoor pool. It is also near the world be conducted, and three new Leadership Training courses will famous parks and attractions that Orlando has to offer. be introduced – 518, 523 and 524. NIAAA business meetings will be held throughout the conference as in the past. The cer- Program Highlights tification exam will be given on Sunday, December 18, with a The NFHS and its Athletic Directors Advisory Committee session the previous evening for state test administrators who are pleased to present an outstanding cast of feature speakers will provide the CAA exam on the state level in 2006. this year, along with a wide variety of workshop topics. While the Publications Committees will begin meeting at Tim Gard will kick off the conference as the keynote 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 14 and the Certification speaker on Friday, December 16. Gard has a great message Committee will begin meeting at 8:00 a.m. Friday, December that incorporates humor and communication in the workplace. 16, all other standing committees are scheduled to meet from His clever message is one that you won’t want to miss. 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 15. Bob Kanaby, NFHS executive director, will be the featured The entire membership is encouraged to participate in the speaker during the Second General Session, and provide atten- NIAAA sectional meetings, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. Fri- dees with important information regarding the NFHS. Round- day, December 16, as well as the NIAAA Annual Meeting at ing out this session will be the introduction and brief presenta- 3:30 p.m. Sunday, December 18. The Annual Meeting will also tions of three NIAAA at-large candidates. (Refer to the at-large afford the opportunity for members to cast their votes for the candidate articles in this issue.) at-large candidate of their choice from Region C, Sections 6, 7 Attendees will not want to miss the Conference Luncheon and 8. The popular 50/50 raffle drawing will be conducted at on Sunday, December 18, when the NIAAA will honor 10 the close of the Annual Meeting, followed by the colorful state individuals with Distinguished Service Awards, as well as the door prize drawings. Award of Merit and Thomas E. Frederick Award of Excellence A list of NIAAA meetings is included in the tentative con- during a very moving ceremony. ference program which is part of this issue. The Third General Session on Sunday, December 18, will welcome Christine Cashen. Cashen’s presentation is on com- Spouse/Guest Activities municating and working in a team environment. She will The Florida Host Committee is playing a major role in the explore how we communicate without speaking a word. She is organization of an outstanding breakfast program that will fea- a nationally ranked speaker, and we are fortunate to have her ture an entertaining presentation, as well as gifts and favors. As at our conference this year. always, registered spouses and guests are encouraged to attend The Conference Banquet on Saturday, December 17, the Opening General Session, and tickets to the conference lun- serves as the highlight of the week, and this year will be no cheon and banquet will be available for purchase. Remember, exception. Eight athletic administrators will be recognized with only registered spouses and guests will be admitted into the NFHS Citations for their contributions to our profession. exhibit hall.

20 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 Conference Social Activities November 11 will be accepted on a space-available basis. The For early arrivals in Orlando, the NFHS and Florida Host conference fee includes the delegate’s name badge, registration Committee have tried to identify several activities prior to and gift, and one luncheon and one banquet ticket. during the conference that will provide a taste of Orlando. Retired NIAAA members (upon verification of member- Hello Florida has been selected as the official tour company ship) may register for $72, which includes a name badge, reg- and will be offering the following tours. Please check the regis- istration gift and the retired members breakfast. The tration brochure for dates, times and prices. spouse/guest registration fee is $38 and includes the I Ageless Airboat Tour spouse/guest breakfast, as well as a name badge for entrance I Kennedy Space Center into the exhibit hall. Luncheon and banquet tickets for retired members, as well as spouses/guests, may be purchased for $29 I Orlando Museum of Art and Leu Botanical Gardens and $56, respectively. I Pleasure Island and Portobello’s Restaurant I Cirque du Soleil Marriott Room Reservations The Marriott World Center is offering meeting attendees NIAAA Golf Tournament room rates of $136 for single/double occupancy; 11.5 percent The NIAAA will host an Endowment Golf Tournament at must be added on to each room for all applicable taxes. An 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 15. The tournament will be advance deposit is necessary by an approved credit card (which at Hawk’s Landing Golf Course, which is located on the prop- will be charged upon receipt of the reservation). Reservations erty of the Marriott World Center. canceled up to 72 hours prior to arrival will be charged a first night’s deposit penalty. Children 17 and under sharing a room with their parents may stay at no charge. Rates will be honored Exhibits three days prior and three days following our conference dates, The conference again will provide an excellent opportuni- based on availability. Please call 800-564-3181to make your ty for athletic administrators to view the latest products on the reservation today. Specify that you are with the National Fed- market and visit with the individual company representatives. eration of State High School Associations 2005 Athletic Direc- The exhibit hall will be located in the Palms Ballroom, at the tors Conference to ensure you get the conference room rate. Marriott Hotel. The hall will open on Thursday, December 15, You may also book room reservations online. Go to www.mar- at 5:30 p.m., and close at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 17. riottworldcenter.com and click on the BOOK NOW! link. Once Anyone wishing to enter the exhibit hall must be registered there, enter your dates of the reservation, scroll down and enter for the conference and have the proper name badge. No excep- the proper group code in the group code box. Then click the tions will be made to this rule. check rates and availability box, fill in the blanks and follow the prompts. Group codes are as follows: Conference Registration I For single or double occupancy, the code would be Conference registration brochures are scheduled to be NFSNFSA mailed to all current NIAAA members on or about September I For triple occupancy, the code would be NFSNFSE 15 via first-class mail. The registration material will include the I For quad occupancy, the code would be NFSNFSF necessary forms to be completed, as well as program, trans- Please clarify any arrival/departure date changes to the portation, car rental and tour/activity information. In addition, hotel’s reservations department by calling the hotel as soon as the information will be posted on the NFHS Web site at possible. www.nfhs.org. Anyone not currently an NIAAA member may secure reg- State/Section Hospitality Suites istration materials by writing the NFHS, PO Box 690, Indi- Those states or sections wishing to reserve a hospitality anapolis, IN 46206, or by calling Bruce Whitehead or Katy suite should call or write the NFHS (attention: Katy Quigley), Quigley at 317-972-6900, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., requesting a suite reservation form and pricing on the various CST, Monday through Friday. suites available at the hotels. This information will be available around September 15. Conference Registration Fee The conference registration fee is set at $220 for 2005- Registration Refund Policy 06 NIAAA members and state athletic/activity association A refund of advance registration payment, minus a $25 staff, and $280 for non-members who register prior to Novem- cancellation fee, will be made to any registrant who must can- ber 12. After November 11, the registration fee for all attendees cel, provided notice of cancellation has been received by the will be $280. Registrations and hotel room reservations after NFHS no later than Friday, December 2. IAA

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 21 ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Wednesday, December 14 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. LTC 501 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. NIAAA Leadership Training Booth 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. NIAAA Committee Chair/Vice Chair Meeting 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. LTC 505 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. LTC 500 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. New NIAAA Board Orientation 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. LTC 510 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. LTC 503 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. NIAAA Publications Committee 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. LTC 512 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. LTC 504 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. NIAAA Board of Directors 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. LTC 516 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. LTC 511 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. NIAAA Endowment Committee 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. LTC 519 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. LTC 517 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. NIAAA Section Meeting Agenda Review 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Certification/LTC Coordinating Committees 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. LTC 590 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. CAA Test Administrators Meeting 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. NIAAA Delegate Assembly – observers welcome Thursday, December 15 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. NIAAA State AD Executive Directors Meeting 5:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Catholic Mass 7:30 a.m. NIAAA Endowment Golf Tournament 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. NIAAA Hall of Fame Committee 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. CONFERENCE BANQUET 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. NIAAA Sports Turf Seminar 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Conference Registration 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. NIAAA LTP Coordinating Committee 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. First-time Attendee Orientation Sunday, December 18 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. NFHS Practicum for Instructors (continental breakfast) 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. NIAAA Board Breakfast 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Part 1: NFHS Coaches Principles Course 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Exhibits Open 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. NIAAA State Coordinators Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. NIAAA Publications Committee 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Florida Host Committee Hospitality 7:15 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. Chapel Service 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Florida Host Committee Hospitality and Information Desk 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. CAA Exam & Information Desk 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. National Emergency Network 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m. THIRD WORKSHOP SESSION 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Conference Registration Coordinating Committee 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Blue Ribbon Panel 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. NIAAA New Committee Member Orientation 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. State Athletic Directors Association 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Retired Members Breakfast 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. NIAAA Leadership Training Booth Presidents/Executive Directors Luncheon 9:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. State High School Association Roundtable 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Part 2: NFHS Coaching Principles Course 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. State Award Chairpersons Meeting 9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Coffee Break 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. NFHS Sport First Aid Course 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. OPENING GENERAL SESSION – Christine Cashen 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. FOURTH WORKSHOP SESSION 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LTC 502 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. FIRST WORKSHOP SESSION 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CONFERENCE LUNCHEON 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LTC 509 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. NIAAA Section Meetings 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. THIRD GENERAL SESSION – Tim Gard 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LTC 514 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. NIAAA Annual Meeting (50/50 raffle drawing) 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LTC 515 Saturday, December 17 and State Door Prizes 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LTC 520 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Banquet Table Reservations 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. NIAAA Leadership Training Information Booth 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LTC 522 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. SECOND GENERAL SESSION – Robert Kanaby 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. AD Advisory Committee 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. LTC 523 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Spouse Breakfast 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. LTC 506 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Retired AD Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Florida Host Committee Hospitality 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. LTC 507 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. NIAAA Committees and Information Desk 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. LTC 518 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. NIAAA Past Presidents Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. LTC 524 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Reception 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Coffee Break – Donut Derby 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. LTC 525 9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. SECOND WORKSHOP SESSION Friday, December 16 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. NIAAA State Liaisons Luncheon Meeting Monday, December 19 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. NIAAA Leadership Training Booth 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Gatorade Luncheon 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. NIAAA Board of Directors Meeting

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Available Only Through Quality Team Sports and Park & Rec Dealers This feature in the IAA magazine is a column on the basics of athletic administration for those athletic directors who are just beginning. We recognize the number of new athletic leaders annually in our nation’s schools and it is our intent to offer assistance to those individuals. Please contact us if there is an area that you would like to see addressed. In addition, share with us any checklist, itinerary or plan that you believe may be of benefit to those starting out. Edited by Jay Cornils, CMAA, Cleburne, Texas. Sophomore Advice to Freshman Administrators

By Kirk Koennecke If I could give a new administrator any advice that I did not receive before my first year, it would be these three ideas: The first year as an athletic administrator seems to fly by, even if some days seem to last forever. For most athletic 1. Listen to others. Then go back to your office, shut directors, the first year is navigated without the assistance your door, and reflect on what you just heard before and guidance of a veteran athletic director. At Richmond you respond. Letting someone know that you need Heights High School, a small school in Cleveland, I quickly time to think about an issue does not show weak- realized that I would have to create my own resources, bor- ness, but maturity. row ideas from my contacts and spend most of my time socializing my staff about the organizational changes I want- 2. “Walk the Talk.” Tell people what you believe if you ed. What Richmond Heights High School needed quickly can demonstrate it. No one wants to hear how other overwhelmed my wants. districts do it better. Sometimes this has nothing to The biggest lesson I learned was that in order to get what do with your values, but requires waiting, or holding I wanted, I had to learn how to adjust to my new culture and back, due to a lack of infrastructure or resources build a foundation of support from which to launch my ini- available to you in your district. tiatives, which is easier said than done. With the staffing issues, fiscal constraints and physical 3. Build your network. Do not rely on your network. facilities one must be concerned with, managing an athletic Attend professional development events, join associ- department can seem anti-climactic to some new administra- ations and make cold calls to respected administrators. tors to ask for advice. There is no successful athletic It is important to remember that change or progress usu- director who has not borrowed a good idea from ally takes place very slowly over time. Some administrators another, more-experienced veteran. do not want to take the time to process what this really means. Patience, while important, is only part of the equation. Hopefully, this advice can help you survive the first year, Political perseverance is the other part. Putting the parts in and keep you looking forward toward the second year. IAA place for change on a larger scale requires small victories along the way. Genuine rapport with the community, booster organizations, other administrators and coaches must first be ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kirk Koennecke is the athletic present. director at Richmond Heights (Ohio) High School.

It is important to remember that change or progress usually takes place very slowly over time.

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 25 Ideas That Work

Edited by Tim Graham, CAA worse and a postponement or delay is required, we can be prepared to contact the appropriate people. ADMINISTRATION While you cannot control the little weather surprises, this Don’t Let Bad Weather Ruin form does reduce the chance for a communication error or Your Weekend (Tim Slauter, ath- breakdown regarding weekend athletic contests. letic director, McCutcheon High School, Lafeyette, Indiana) All athletic directors struggle with the communication problems that inclement weather can create for athletic contests, especially those held on a weekend. I created a system that helps me compile all the pertinent information that we need regarding our weekend opponents and put it on a form that our coaches can keep with them.

We start by sending our information form (shown to the right) to our opponents by fax or e-mail on the Tuesday or Wednesday prior to the weekend event(s). If we are traveling to our opponent school, we fill in the following information before we send to them:

• Sport • Date of contest TECHNOLOGY • Event start time • Opponent • Bus driver • Bus driver’s phone Using Voice Mail Correctly • Coaches’ names • Coach’s cell phone (Jay Cornils, CMAA, NIAAA • Bus departure time • Coach’s home phone Publications Committee Mem- ber) If we are hosting the event, we fill out only the information that applies to the situation. Our opponents would fill in Voice mail is an important the information on the second part of the form, which tool for athletic directors. While includes the following, and then be asked to fax or e-mail most people prefer speaking to a back: human being, the correct use of voice mail can greatly enhance the availability and accessibility to the athletic direc- • Opponent’s athletic director’s name tor. I have found that the following hints are helpful in the use • Opponent’s athletic director’s cell/home/school phone of voice mail: • Opponent’s Coach name/cell phone/home phone 1. Set your voice mail up in such a way that if you are not • Bus departure time there and it is important for a caller to be connected to a person, it can be done; At the bottom of the form is a listing of our school’s main 2. Keep the message short; office and athletic office phone numbers. It also includes 3. Always access and answer your voice mail messages on home and cell numbers for the athletic director and their a regular basis; assistants. 4. If you are using it as a vehicle to update events and can- cellations, try to do that on a separate voice mailbox to The forms must be faxed back to us by the Thursday pre- avoid having to erase calls being strictly made for event ceding the weekend event(s). If we do not receive them by information; that time, we call to remind the school for the information. 5. If possible, set up your coaches on their own voice mail On Friday, we make copies for each coach, assistant and the boxes; and athletic director. We each keep these copies with us through- 6. Always update the message so information is as current out the weekend, so that if the weather takes a turn for the as possible.

26 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 Techno Talk

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Junior Green Bear Club (Timo- Monitoring for thy Erickson, CAA, Athletic Direc- tor, Ottawa Hills Junior/Senior Severe Weather High School, Toledo, Ohio) Submitted by Paige Hershey, CAA At our annual booster club Edited by Dr. Scott Smith, CAA meeting, we were looking at involving more of our elementary Thunderstorms pop up seem- students with community and ingly out of nowhere and lightning school spirit. can strike on a sunny, blue sky day. It is crucial that athletic We assign members to go out to our local businesses and directors and coaches be aware obtain t-shirts, school pennants, pencils with our school name of the possibility of severe on them, coupons for free popcorn at a home event, coupons weather and are prepared to for free video rentals, and free pizzas at a local pizza shop. get student-athletes, and in We sold memberships to these elementary students for $10. some cases, spectators, out of With this membership they received some or one of the harm’s way. One way to be donated items. constantly connected to the changing weather is through alerts We print all the names of the Junior Green Bear Club in sent to a cell phone or personal data assistant (PDA). our winter sports program. We also have a minimum of three special nights; one at a home football game and one each at Web-based weather services such as Meteorlogix’s a home boys and girls basketball game. During these games, “WeatherSentry” program can provide your school or district we set up photo opportunities with our mascot. This has been with the weather tools needed to monitor incoming severe especially popular with our younger fans. weather and the location of lightning strikes via a computer or Web-connected PDA. The program can also be used to We have seen increased attendance through these send text messages to a cell phone or pager. events. Our boosters have seen increased concession revenue as well as increased gate receipts. The Junior Green Bear For example, if a lightning strike occurs within a certain Club members feel a special sense of pride and spirit. The radius of your location, a message will be sent to you almost booster club, athletic department and community have all instantly. This would give you warning of a storm containing gained by these events. IAA lightning moving toward you. Another use for the tool is to note the time of the last lightning strike within your danger area so that you will have the information to decide if or when to resume a contest.

Other companies offer programs such as Weather Data’s “Storm Hawk” for Web-connected PDAs that can provide detailed radar information at any location. Storm Hawk gives you live radar, lightning detection, temperature, heat index and severe weather warnings – all in the palm of your hand. It’s continuously centered on your exact location, so you can track weather at home, away or en route to the event.

Although nothing can take the place of personal obser- vations and common sense, these tools can be very useful in helping athletic directors and coaches make critical, weather- related decisions quickly and accurately. IAA

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 27 Pamphlets, Posters and DVD Review

By Dr. John Foley, CAA program features two parents talking about their sons that they found were MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE using steroids. It was too late to help one of them, a baseball player who commit- The National Federation of State ted suicide, but in the other case the High School Associations has just mother found the steroids in her son’s released a package of materials for use closet and notified authorities. by schools in confronting steroid use by The NFHS is to be commended for students. These materials have been moving this hot topic to the front burn- named “Make the Right Choice,” and er in the world of high school sports. encourage students to make the right The problem has been around for many choice when considering using steroids. es, students and parents about this prob- years, but it is becoming a much bigger With articles on steroids appearing con- lem. It is stated in the DVD that seven problem when students see high-profile stantly on the sports pages as well as in percent of boys and five percent of girls athletes suspended from play and testi- the news section of most newspapers, sampled admit to using steroids, a stag- fying in front of a congressional commit- and also on television, this initiative by gering total projection of over one mil- tee. the NFHS is most welcome. lion students. The first program on the Additional information is available The package consists of two posters, DVD features Trent Green, quarterback on the NFHS Web site by clicking on each 18” x 24”, which portray steroid of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Tony the “steroids initiative” banner at abuse in a manner that would make the Dungy, coach of the Indianapolis Colts. www.NFHS.org. To order any of these results unattractive to students. One of They both make the point that there is materials you may call: 800-776-3462 the posters sarcastically states that “As no substitute for hard work. The second or order at www.NFHS.com. IAA everyone knows, anabolic steroids make you more attractive” and then shows a photo of a person with a case of severe acne on the back. The second poster asks the same question, and then addresses side effects on girls: severe case of acne, facial hair, bad breath, deepening voice, appear- ance of a male, and increasing chances of being childless. Also included in the package are two, tri-fold, four-color pamphlets, with one directed to students and the other directed to parents. Both pamphlets provide facts about anabolic steroids, as well as the side effects from use of anabolic steroids. Both pamphlets empha- size “the steroid-free choice”, but address the choice from the point of view of a parent or of a student. Both pamphlets have references to assist students and parents in learning more about the steroid problem. Both pamphlets may be downloaded from the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org. The final piece of the package is an excellent DVD with two programs, one for coaches and student-athletes and the other for parents. Both programs on the DVD last a total of 25 minutes and will be a great help in educating coach

28 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 NIAAA president’s report

Dennis Fries

My life as president of the NIAAA

What a great experience these past eight months have my West Irondequoit School District north of Rochester, New been for me. After receiving the gavel from President Joel York. Eskelsen on December 15, 2004, my feet hit the ground and On April 15, the NIAAA Board conducted a conference I haven’t looked back yet. We had a number of very impor- call to complete some loose ends from the February meeting tant issues to tackle quickly. Our new executive director, and to begin planning our summer meeting. We approved the Bruce Whitehead, was to be officially installed and prepara- hiring of Mike Blackburn as the new NIAAA associate exec- tions had to be made for his replacement as a new associate utive director and continued to discuss changing the location executive director. Our office space was, and continues to be of our national office. an issue. What to do? Should we stay where we are, sharing While the month of May was rather uneventful, in June space with the NFHS or look to move? it was my privilege to attend the Section 7 meeting. Did I In the middle of January, President-elect Larry Munks- mention that this meeting was on the Island of Kauai in gaard, Bruce Whitehead and I met with the NFHS leader- Hawaii? Well, someone had to go. Blane Gaison and the ship, including Executive Director Bob Kanaby, Chief Oper- Hawaii Athletic Administrators Association acted as our host, ating Officer Bob Gardner, President Dave Stead and others and the meetings and location were excellent. to discuss and share our perspectives, as well as to look at July brought the summer NIAAA Board meeting in Indi- ways to strengthen the NFHS/NIAAA partnership. Interest- anapolis. It was the longest scheduled board meeting in his- ingly, this was the first time that NFHS and NIAAA leader- tory, lasting six days. We looked at properties for relocating ship had ever formally met together. This meeting was not our office, reacted to numerous committee recommendations, only extremely informative, but has become the cornerstone had eight hours of subcommittee meetings, did an in-depth to our continuing efforts to support each other through this study of and approved the second strategic plan in prepara- growth period in our closely knit organizations. tion for its presentation in December at the national confer- The February NIAAA Board meeting was four, agenda- ence, and made numerous recommendations on submitted packed days of work. The issues we discussed included: bud- proposals. get and finance, Athletic IQ proposal, the second strategic At the end of July, with the cooperation and support of plan, various committee recommendations, perusing the pre- the Massachusetts Secondary School Athletic Directors Asso- liminary national conference agenda, discussing personnel ciation and Executive Director Walter Sargent, we successful- issues, and scheduling our coverage of the spring section ly completed our second annual Section 1 Leadership Train- meetings across the country. During this meeting, we formed ing Summer Institute at the Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster, three subcommittees: Personnel/Office, Endowment and Massachusetts. Sponsorships. These subcommittees will continue to meet to In closing, I want to thank all of you for your continued discuss and make recommendations to the Board and mem- support of your NIAAA. I, along with my 13 other Board col- bership regarding those three very important areas. The Feb- leagues, am so proud to be part of this organization and to be ruary Board meeting was truly exhausting but, at the same working to serve you for the improvement of interscholastic time, re-energizing. athletic programs around this country. We hope you will con- In March, I was able to attend the state athletic adminis- sider joining us in December at the NFHS National Confer- trator conferences of Vermont, New York, New Jersey and ence of High School Directors of Athletics in Orlando. Massachusetts. I believe my school district may have considered me on loan because I certainly wasn’t there much. It is great to work for and with such supportive people as those in Thank you.

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 29

NIAAA membership information NIAAA At-Large Candidates

Michael Maghan, CMAA in that capacity, has hosted Texas University Interscholastic Keizer, Oregon League (UIL) regional meets for soccer, track, softball and Photo not Section 8 tennis, and helped implement new sports programs for soft- available ball, volleyball and middle school golf. Michael Maghan has spent his entire career Marshall has been a member of the Texas High School in education as an athletic director. Begin- Athletic Directors Association for 17 years, during which she ning his career at Sacred Heart Academy in has served a term as secretary on the Board of Directors, as Salem, Oregon, as an athletic director, coach and teacher, chair of the Awards Committee, and since 2001, has been a Maghan has 26 years experience as an athletic administrator. part of the teaching faculty for leadership training. After leaving Sacred Heart in 1979, Maghan became ath- A standout softball player for the University of Texas at letic director and acting vice principal at Gervais (Oregon) Arlington from 1975 to 1978, Marshall was inducted into the High School. He is now the athletic director at Keizer (Ore- Corpus Christi Softball Hall of Fame, and in 1998, was gon) McNary High School, a position he has held since 1995. inducted into the University of Texas at Arlington Hall of Maghan earned his CAA in 1996 and became a CMAA Honor. in 2004, the same year he was named Oregon Athletic Direc- tor of the Year. He also is a 2005 recipient of the NIAAA State Award of Merit. Joni Pabst, CAA In addition to the NIAAA, Maghan is a member of the Tucson, Arizona Oregon Athletic Directors Association, of which he has been Section 7 a board member since 1996. He is also an executive board member of the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association and the Joni Pabst, a lifetime member of the Oregon School Activities Association. NIAAA, is the assistant principal in charge A 1975 graduate of Oregon State University, Maghan of athletics and activities at Santa Rita High has coached basketball, softball, boys soccer and track, win- School in Tucson, Arizona. After graduating from the Univer- ning two state championships in girls basketball and softball sity of Central Arkansas in 1975, Pabst began her career as a while at Gervais High School. In 1988, he was named the physical education teacher at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Oregon High School Coaches Association Class A Coach of Arkansas. Pabst has been at Santa Rita since 1998 and man- the Year and the Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. ages the entire athletic, fine arts and activities program for the school. Brenda Marshall, CMAA At the national level, Pabst is a member of the NIAAA Corpus Christi, Texas Awards Committee, serving two years as vice-chair. She is a Section 6 member of the NIAAA Strategic Planning Committee and has been the Arizona delegate to the National Assembly five Currently the administrative officer for the times. In 2003, she earned the NIAAA Distinguished Service Corpus Christi (Texas) Independent School Award. District, Brenda Marshall has an extensive Pabst is also very active in the Arizona Interscholastic background in athletics as an athlete, coach and athletic Athletic Administrators Association (AIAAA). Since 1995, administrator. She has been an NIAAA member for 15 years, she has served on the AIAAA Conference Planning Commit- attended 10 national conferences and was certified as a tee and is also currently a member of the AIAAA Sponsor- CMAA in 2001. Among her many honors, Marshall was ship Committee. In 2001-02, Pabst served a term as the asso- selected as a NIAAA State Award of Merit winner in 2000. ciation president and continues to serve as its treasurer. In 1986, Marshall became the first woman hired in the Also an accomplished official, Pabst was named the department of athletics of Corpus Christi ISD as an athletic NFHS Girls Cross Country Official of the Year for Arizona in specialist. In 1993, she became an administrative officer and 2001. IAA

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 31 Proposed Bylaw Changes

At its July meeting, the NIAAA Board of Directors took discretion of the Board of Directors. action to forward to the NIAAA Delegate Assembly the fol- An officer must begin his or her term of office as a regu- lowing bylaw changes. These are proposed changes to the lar member of the Association in good standing. The Board bylaws and require Delegate Assembly action in order to be of Directors may elect or appoint other officers, including one enacted. These will be action items on the December 2005 or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant trea- Delegate Assembly agenda. Rationales are listed for each pro- surers. These officers have the authority to perform the duties posed bylaw change. If you have any input to these bylaw prescribed herein, and such other duties prescribed from time changes, please convey your thoughts to the delegates from to time by the Board of Directors. Any two or more offices your state who will be voting at the Delegate Assembly in may be held by the same person, except the offices of Presi- December. dent and Secretary-Treasurer. No individual may hold more than one of the officer positions simultaneously. ARTICLE IV. Directors and Officers Any officers or agent elected or appointed by the Board • Section 1: The administration of this Association shall be of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors vested in a Board of Directors comprised of eight (8) section whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Corporation representatives, each of whom shall represent one of the eight would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without geographic sections of the United States; three (3) at-large prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so members, each of whom shall represent one of the three removed. regions of the United States; the President of the Association if serving after his/her section/at-large board term has • Section 7: A vacant, unexpired term of the elected officers expired; the immediate Past President of the Association; and shall be filled by the Board of Directors in the following man- the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association; the National Inter- ner: scholastic Athletic Directors Association National Director; 1. The office of President shall be filled by the President- and a representative of the National Federation of State High Elect for the remainder of the unexpired term. Note: This School Association’s Athletic Directors Advisory Committee. person will complete the vacant, unexpired term as well as their elected term as President. Rationale: The NIAAA now has an executive director employed by 2. The office of President-Elect shall be filled by the candi- the board and there no longer is an NFHS liaison to the NIAAA. Sec- date who received the second-highest number of votes in ondly, the communications between the leadership of the NFHS the most recent President-Elect election. If the most and the NIAAA is such that there is no longer a need for a member recent election for President-Elect had only one candi- of the NFHS Advisory Committee on the NIAAA Board. date, the Board shall hold a special election for the sole purpose of filling the President-Elect position. This special • NEW: Section 4: All secretary candidates for the Board of election shall replace the regular election in that given Directors must provide no later than July 1 preceding the year and shall be held within sixty (60) days of the date date of election, endorsement letters from his/her state high the vacancy was created. Note: If the vacancy was creat- school association, state athletic directors association, and ed due to the President-Elect assuming the duties of Pres- his/her chief school officer. The secretary shall be elected at ident, the new President-Elect will complete the vacant the National Conference Delegate Assembly and assumes unexpired term as well as serve another full term. If the his/her seat on the board at the conclusion of the annual vacancy was created through any other means, the new meeting. President-Elect will complete the vacant, unexpired term and then assume the Presidency. Rationale: The office of secretary should be an elected position • The office of immediate Past President shall remain with a limited term, rather than an appointed position with an vacant until the next regular election. unlimited term if that person is going to be a voting member of the Board as are all other Board positions. •NEW:4.The office of secretary shall be filled by the candidate who received the second-highest number of votes in the • Renumber sections 5-17 respectively to sections 6-18. most recent Secretary election. If the most recent election for • Section 6: The officers of this Association shall be President, Secretary had only one candidate, the Board shall hold a spe- President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer and immediate Past Pres- cial election for the sole purpose of filling the Secretary posi- ident. The office of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected tion for the remainder of the term. This special election shall by the Delegate Assembly. an appointed position rather than be held within sixty (60) days of the date the vacancy was an elective office. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve at the created.

32 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 Rationale: There must be a provision to fill an unexpired term as ARTICLE IX. Duties and Qualifications of Officers there are provisions for all other officer positions. This is consis- • Section 4: Secretary-Treasurer tent with filling other elected unexpired terms. A. Duties: 1. Chief correspondence and financial officer responsible • Section 8: The selection of officers, except the office of Sec- for: retary-Treasurer, shall be determined by the Board of Direc- a. Overseeing the recording of all proceedings of the tors. Association; • Section 9: each officer, with the exception of the Secretary- b. Initiating notices, publications, reports and other Treasurer, who is appointed by and serves at the discretion of items necessary for proper operation of the Associa- the Board of Directors, shall be one year beginning with the tion; conclusion of each annual meeting. The term of the Presi- c. Overseeing the receiving and disbursement of funds dent, President Elect and the immediate Past President shall as authorized by the Board of Directors; be one year. The term of the secretary shall be three years. d. Submitting a financial report at the Annual Meeting and any other time as requested by the President; Rationale: Necessary if other bylaw changes are adopted. 2. Overseeing the up-to-date membership list; 3. Board of Directors’ representative to the state liaison ARTICLE VII. Funds membership; • Section 1: The Board of Directors shall have charge of the 4. Preparing agenda for State Liaison meeting and presides funds of this Association. A financial statement shall be given at same; at the annual meeting of the Delegate Assembly by the Sec- 5. Preparing standing committee appointment/termination retary-Treasurer Executive Director, or if absent, by a person information. designated by the President. • Renumber 3-5 as 2-4. Rationale: The budget is administered by the office staff, and in particular, the executive director. Report should come from the staff. IAA

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 33 IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ON A BUDGET

By Lynda Wightman safety for foot traffic and stainless steel risers, which ensure positive retraction after watering. Adjustable In today’s high school athletic programs, fields of all types arcs give efficient coverage when part-circle areas are being used more and more frequently. With this addi- are being irrigated. tional play, the grass needs to be maintained for the safety of • Backflow prevention device – Most states have legal the athletes and preserved for aesthetics at the same time. requirements for this specific component and it can- More often than not, when fields are first created, an auto- not be ignored. Check with local distribution outlets matic irrigation system is not considered or installed. When or city offices to determine which device is required the first round of summer heat and field play starts in motion, in the area. the turf starts to suffer due to lack of water. Grass is very • Pipe, fittings, wire, etc. – Irrigation distributors sell much like a human body in that it needs daily replenishment these materials and can offer excellent advice as to to live and stay healthy. Water is our most important which type of pipe and components should be used resource, and by understanding how to apply it efficiently is for varying flows and pressures. key to keeping the turf healthy. Hand-watering does not apply water evenly. It’s labor-intensive, time-consuming (during the Most importantly, a professional who understands irriga- night hours) and it’s a tremendous waste of precious water. tion hydraulics and overall design must create a good plan Many athletic administrators think that automatic irriga- that lays out the components of the system. There are spe- tion systems are cost-prohibitive. In reality, they can be easi- cialized irrigation consultants in different areas throughout ly designed, installed and maintained for minimal costs if the country, and also excellent design-build contractors who research is done and professionals are consulted. can offer the design and installation in one package. Irrigation specialists should understand the following: There are basic components of an irrigation system • Site-specific basics – flow, pressure, water quality that must be considered. A few are: and quantity, elevation changes, backflow and con- • Electric control valves – These allow the water to troller locations flow to the sprinklers. Different types of valves offer • Equipment selection good performance at low and high pressures. Plastic • Zoning of sprinklers valves are now being built to withstand rigors of any • Scheduling of systems system. • Following specifications and creating installation • Automatic controller/timer – This sends electric sig- guidelines nals to the valves and also determines how long the • Compliance to local ordinances sprinklers will water the turf. Some controllers have • Site inspections many bells and whistles that most turf managers do not need. A good controller will offer multiple pro- After the design has been competed, the installation can grams, runtimes and lightning protection. take place. Check for certifications, licensing (where applicable), and references when choosing a contractor. • Sprinklers – There are many different varieties avail- When the installation is complete, have the contractor able at varying prices. The athletic director should leave two sets of as-built designs drawings with exact location be aware of what is used in other high school fields of all components. Place one of these drawings inside the con- and check with local irrigation distributors for rec- troller box so it can be easily accessed if necessary. If possi- ommendations. Most sprinkler manufacturers offer ble, ask the contractor to laminate one set to keep it water- large turf rotors that are customized for all types of proof. athletic fields. Look for rubber covers that will offer

34 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 If there are future plans for installing additional fields at By installing a properly designed system, the plant mate- a site, plan ahead. Make sure there is sufficient water avail- rial will give good, strong resilience to any type of foot traffic able and also electrical supplies where needed. during games and practices. The return on investment can be There are many cost-saving measures that can be taken determined immediately, especially if there are water use when considering the system. As stated before, research is measurements in the area. By having this system designed, important as much as networking with other administrators. installed and maintained correctly, a school can actually save Some companies will donate many of the components, as will money in the long run. IAA distributors and manufacturers. Certain local associations, such as the NIAAA Sports Turf Committee, the Sports Turf Managers Association, contractor groups and university turf or irrigation programs all have workshops and programs that Finally, factors for good turf management are: help upgrade fields with automatic systems. • Aerification Alumni groups can be approached to assist with monetary • Fertilization donations, as well as with installation assistance. Often, parents • Drainage have contacts within the area for equipment, components, etc. • Efficient Irrigation Systems and Practices In the end, if a proper irrigation design and installation is completed and there is no knowledgeable staff member to maintain the entire field, it is a total waste of money. Check into local educational opportunities to learn how to manage the system and the turf it’s watering. Many turfgrass associations and local irrigation distributors offer a wide variety of ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lynda Wightman has worked for workshops and irrigation-specific classes throughout the year. Hunter Industries, an irrigation equipment manufacturer since Irrigation systems are very basic and can be easily main- 1985. During that time, she has held positions in sales, educa- tained with simple education. tion and training. Wightman currently is Remember that, as with our own bodies, we need to Hunter’s National Specifications Manager, replenish the loss of water in the turf. It not only keeps the grass overseeing the company’s specification alive, but it also creates a cooling effect along with syringing the efforts worldwide. Her education back- surface to help reduce biological agents. Even with today’s new ground is in ornamental horticulture, land- synthetic turf fields, the need for irrigation if vital for cooling scaping and irrigation. She is involved in down the surface area and for keeping the turf clean by the various industry associations, including occasional syringing. Healthy turf means safer play. ALCA, ASLA, IA, ASIC and STMA.

The Toro Company www.Toro.com

Hunter Industries www.hunterindustries.com

Lebanon Turf Products www.lebturf.com

Industry leaders Toro, Hunter Industries, Lebanon Turf Products, LESCO, Sodex- LESCO ho and Profile Products are the sponsors of the NIAAA Sports Turf Education www.lesco.com Program for the upcoming year. Sponsors help defray the costs associated with LTC 515 and NIAAA Sports Turf Committee operations. Being able to provide GCA SERVICES www.gcaservices.com new initiatives and maintain existing programs and services would not be possible without their support. Profile Products LLC. Manufacturer of Turface www.turface.com SPORTS TURF SPONSORS

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 35

In an effort to provide additional assistance to NIAAA ANSWER: Mowing is my favorite subject to discuss, members concerning the maintenance of athletic fields, ath- because I think it is very misunderstood. However, I think letic directors can pose questions to the experts. Questions will your turf manager is doing things right. First of all, I assume be assigned to the appropriate NIAAA Sports Turf Committee you have a Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass field. If so, member or NIAAA Sports Turf Education sponsor. An the mowing height should be between 1½ and 2½ inches. attempt to answer all questions will be made. Some will be Too often, athletic fields are mowed at three inches or above, included in the “Ask the Experts” column in IAA or posted on and this can create a thin or “leggy” stand of grass. Converse- the “Sports Turf” link at www.niaaa.org. ly, if you mow too low, there is a tendency to have shallower The expertise represented by the NIAAA Sports Turf roots systems and more turf diseases. A cut of 1½- to 2½-inch Committee and its sponsors is vast. The areas for which the height provides the best balance of top growth to root growth committee has expertise include: 1) design and construction, and overall plant health. 2) renovation, 3) soil analysis, 4) irrigation, 5) drainage, 6) As for how often to mow, your turf manager is right again. mowing, 7) core aerification, 8) top-dressing, 9) seeding, 10) Turfgrass should be mowed when it needs to be mowed, not fertilizing, 11) sand-based fields, 12) herbicide and pesticides, on a predetermined schedule. The rule of thumb is to never 13) equipment, 14) field-marking materials, 15) stenciling, 16) cut off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade in any landscaping, 17) synthetic turf, 18) field usage, 19) sport-spe- one mowing. That may mean mowing four times a week, or cific issues, e.g., baseball mound maintenance, use of infield maybe only once or twice per week, depending on a multitude mixes, laying out fields, etc. of variables. Mowing is a stress on turf, and research has Please e-mail your questions to NIAAA Sports Turf Com- shown that if more than 40 percent of the length of the grass mittee liaison Brad Rumble at [email protected]. blade is cut off at any one time, the grass can stop root pro- Please include your city and state, because in some cases, geo- duction for two to six days while it tries to recuperate. graphic conditions may have a bearing on the answer. Please Your final question was in regard to raising the mowing include your phone number as well. height during the summer or in adverse weather, then mowing it lower in the fall. While some research has shown that raising the height of cut during the summer is beneficial, I prefer not to do so, especially for fall sports, such as football and QUESTION: My field manager mows the field once or soccer. Let’s say you raised the height from 2½ to 3 inches twice a week, depending on the growth. He does not want it after school let out to give it a little break. You would have to to get so tall that it leaves “trash” on the field. The field always begin to take the height down lower during August to get the looks great. However, I thought it might not hurt to get an field into playing condition for late August or early September. expert opinion. August is the most stressful month of the year in terms of heat If you would be so kind to answer the following questions, and humidity. Instead, if you simply follow the 1/3 rule when I would be most appreciative: it is very hot, the grass will not grow too fast so you will not 1. At what grass height should the field be mowed? be mowing it as often. The grass will adapt to the height of cut 2. To what height should the grass be mowed? you choose and you will have healthier turf. IAA 3. Is there a difference in these numbers from inseason to off- season? Dale Getz, CSFM 4. Do the weather conditions (or anticipated conditions) affect Sports Fields and Grounds the height at which it should be mowed and to what height? Sales Manager - US The Toro Company Kevin Reiman Athletic Director Auburn (Nebraska) High School

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 37 Individuals Meet Certification Requirements From January 2005 through July 2005 the following athletic administrators successfully completed the NIAAA certification process:

CMAACMAA Missouri Cris E. Everett David J. Robinson Sharon S. Cole Gil Ramirez Christopher P. Young Arizona David “Brent” Cooper Gary W. Stathas John D. Carlson Michigan Nevada Georgia David Boeskool California Larry B. Goins DeWayne Cupples Stephen M. Budzinski Bruce Q. Ward Robert B. Northridge Jonathan N. Ward Michael R. Dellapina Daniel B. Edmunds Connecticut New Mexico Hawaii Robert S. Francis Fred P. Balsamo Robert B. Abney Georges G. Gilbert Gregory A. Gallas Robert A. Kovach Gerald D. Haggerty Florida New York Reid R. Shigemasa Abraham G. Leaver William H. Massey Todd M. Heimer Jeffery T. Pitman Susan Y. Silvernail Illinois Gregory S. Sieszputowski Georgia Craig D. Anderson Michael H. Teagan Rusty Hudson North Carolina Michael A. Miller Thomas M. Willette Michael R. Phillips W. Dean Monroe Michael G. Skowronski Tim L. Vick Roy D. Turner Jr. Minnesota Indiana Matthew K. Schock Idaho North Dakota Michael A. Miller John C. Remington Peggy J. Stibbe Gary W. Ottinger Missouri Robert J. Hebrank Kansas Oregon Georgia Steve J. Miller Lane E. Green Kevin M. Bryant DeWayne Cupples Jonathan N. Ward Nevada Kentucky Pennsylvania Lynn A. McCann Danny E. White Steven M. Polonus Kentucky Joe S. Roberts III New Jersey Maine Vermont John J. DiColo Gary G. Hoyt Brian P. Trottier Louisiana Scott D. Liptzin Steven A. Costa William M. McKee Maryland Virginia Harold Richardson Robert F. Sabota Kimberly Ann Chorosiewski Paul M. Jansen Kimberly A. Hutcherson Maine New York Jill P. Masterman Wisconsin Timothy E. Johnson Doric Capsis Linzi O. Gronning Edward A. Cinelli Massachusetts Maryland James G. Graczyk Michael J. Correia CAACAA Lori L. Batts Patricia L. Marvin David M. Lezenski Robert E. Leonard Carl R. Normandin William Y. Walker Jr. Alabama Richard F. O’Donnell John Piropato Scott A. Bonds Jeffrey L. Rose Kevin F. Rosko Michigan David L. Morris Jeffrey L. Spielman Donald F. Webster Thomas Mecsey James C. Tapley Arizona North Carolina Minnesota Timothy J. Colgate Massachusetts Richard (Hank) Bullard Jr. David J. Hartmann Richard A. Berger Edward N. Gilroy Daniel L. Johnson California Steven J. Boone Christopher W. Roehner Jaime C. Sherwood Damon T. Chase Peter J. Maki

38 IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 Specific questions on the certification program should be direct- Steve Bridge, CMAA ...... Elma, WA...... 360-482-3121 ed to members of the certification committee or the NIAAA Office. Patricia B. Briscoe, CAA ...... Washington, DC ...... 202-698-3326 Dan Comeau, CAA ...... Deltona, FL ...... 407-688-9500 2005 Certification Committee Ted D’Alessio, CMAA ...... Millburn, NJ...... 973-564-7165 Steve Duncan, CMAA...... West Des Moines, IA...... 515-633-4259 Steve Berseth, CMAA Scott Lindgren, CMAA Toby Ingersoll, CMAA Danielle Foley, CAA...... New Orleans, LA...... 504-940-4213 Chairperson Vice-Chairperson Vice-Chairperson Brookings, SD Kenosha, WI Houston, TX Melvin K. Imai, CAA...... Kailua, HI...... 808-266-7910 605-696-4111 262-653-6385 281-985-6100 Bobby Jackson, CMAA ...... Madison, AL ...... 256-464-8370 Glen Kelly, CMAA...... Flint, MI ...... 810-423-8841 Blane Gaison, CAA...... Honolulu, HI ...... 808-842-8938 Richard Kemper, CMAA...... Richmond, VA...... 804-282-3185, ext. 332 Board Liaison Ken Shultz, CMAA ...... Flossmoor, IL...... 708-799-3000, ext. 1194 Alice MacInnis, CMAA ...... Melrose, MA...... 781-979-2206 Board Liaison Marquis Ross, CMAA ...... Star, ID ...... 208-286-7013 Ken Semelsberger, CMAA...... Port Huron, MI .....810-984-2611, ext. 232 NIAAA Office: Fran Flannery ...... 317-822-5717 Sheri Stice, CAA ...... Houston, TX ...... 281-897-4089

Ohio Washington Maryland Michael S. Dean Stephen M. Castator Rhondi M. Adair Greg M. LeGrand Brian Farrell Bradley D. Ehrman David E. Cullen Teresa Youngblood Hartman Grant R. Innocenzi Dell J. Dittus Massachusetts Carl C. Mackey Linda J. Neal Darin G. Dollemore Thomas P. Arria III J. David Moss Chris R. Potts Raymond P. Funk William E. Burkhead Anthony W. Royse Curtiss E. Hall Jeff A. Strong Larry E. Stewart Pennsylvania Barbara Ann Dzuricsko Wisconsin Michigan Washington Mark J. Farnan James E. McClowry Paul M. Yestrepsky Kyle J. Dodge Michael A. Gavlik Michael K. Snow Allen G. Holtzer RAARAA New Jersey Robert E. Kurzweg III David C. Fisher George S. Linck Arizona Bryan P. McNamara Ed D. Garrett North Carolina 2005 CAA Michael L. O’Brien Ernest G. Blough Jr. Jeff C. Roth California Jonathan S. Powell III Test Sites Donald F. Short Jr. Eric L. Johnson Remaining John C. Stout Ohio Colorado Kelly L. Byers Phoenix, Arizona South Dakota William G. Remick Richard O. Martin September 11, 2005 Bert P. Falak Jennifer J. Schaer Georgia Pennsylvania Harvey, Louisiana DeRick V. Dunnigan Michael J. Colligan September 13, 2005 Tennessee Bill Settle Joseph M. Gironda Joseph M. Fulkerson William C. Yount James R. Hudson Grand Island, Nebraska Charles J. Kiss October 2, 2005 Utah Hawaii Lloyd C. Price Sharon Christensen Robert A. Kovach Jacob E. Slagle Columbus, Ohio Jane T. Jensen Reid Rikio Shigemasa October 10, 2005 Richard C. Valdez Texas Illinois Brent H. Jaco Appleton, Wisconsin Vermont Suzanne L. Cooke Lesa K. Master November 6, 2005 Jennifer C. Earls Mary Franklin Utah Clinton, Mississippi Virginia Indiana Hunter Barrus November 17, 2005 Charles T. Dodge Robert J. Shank Chad A. Knowles Virginia Orlando, Florida Connie B. Minnick Kansas Bernard S. Davis III December 18, 2005 Janet L. Rice Clint W. Albers Justin B. Bolfek

IAA • Volume 32, Number 1, Fall 2005 39