“Items of Interest”

GHSA “Items of Interest” October 2006 Coaches Can ‘Win’ By Being Better Educators Educators are uniquely positioned to touch the lives of people. However, it seems that we have to dig through a mountain of statistical data in order to find education these days. Educators are being given more responsibility than ever before; they are being held to higher levels of accountability than ever before – but I am convinced that Mark Hopkins’ definition of education given many years ago still holds true: “Education is a teacher on one end of a log and a student on the other end.” The knowledge base has multi- plied exponentially over time, pedagogy has a never-ending cycle of fads, and demographics seem to be out of control, but educators have to connect with students. Educators who coach are still primarily educators. The “classroom of the coach” offers many advantages over other classrooms, but it also has many challenges. Coaches must define their coaching role, and then commit them- selves to it. Is your primary function to teach athletic techniques – or is there more? In order to fulfill the role properly, the coach must balance the competitive drive that is inherent within most coaches with the desire to touch lives of students effectively. There will be some (perhaps many) in your community who will judge your success solely by competitive victories. We must try to educate those people to a bigger view, or we will allow them to define the coaching role for us. All educators must develop a philosophy of education, and coaches are no exception. Are you a Potter – who shapes lumps of clay into useful or beautiful objects? Are you a Gardener – who plants seeds, nurtures, and sometimes prunes living beings? It is OK to be a potter when it comes to teaching athletic techniques, but I think gardeners are more effective for teaching life-long lessons to students. The more you strengthen the lives of your athletes for the long-run, the more benefits accrue in the short-term to your team. Team building is important to the development of the individual members as well as to the collective group. This begins by acquainting your athletes with their uniqueness and then convincing them to invest their uniqueness in group goals. When you are trying to be a winning coach and a coach who touches the lives of your athletes, remember the following general axioms: a. Talk often about the lifelong values that can be learned through athletic participation b. Explain to your athletes what you want and why you think that is important. c. When people know you care, they overlook a lot of your weaknesses No matter how complicated the business of education may become, there will always be the important element of “touching a life in a meaningful way” that has to be considered. I hope that we can all work together for the benefit of our students in athletics and competitive activities. – Ralph Swearngin, Executive Director Page 2 GHSA “Items of Interest” October 2006 State Softball Finals Housing GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Newsletter Issued monthly, September through April, by the Georgia High Coaches of teams advancing to the State Softball Cham- School Association, P.O. Box 271, Thomaston, GA 30286 pionships October 26-28, at the South Commons Complex in Columbus are instructed to contact Laura Walker or Alison Telephone: 706-647-7473 FAX: 706-647-2638 Hayes via e-mail to arrange motel accommodations. Teams Web site: www.ghsa.net are NOT to make their own team reservations in Columbus. They can be reached at The Columbus Convention & Visi- OFFICE HOURS: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday tors Bureau at the following addresses: Laura Walker – [email protected] or Alison Hayes – Vol. 25 October 2006 No. 2 [email protected], or by phone at (706) 322-1613. - GHSA STAFF - Areas of Responsibility Softball Sectional Site Change Due to a scheduling conflict, the Class A-South Fast Pitch RALPH SWEARNGIN (extension 7) - Executive Director - Sectional Softball Tournament originally scheduled for Paulson Administration, Interpretation of GHSA Rules, Complex in Savannah has been moved to North Glenn Com- Hardship Appeals, Lacrosse, Volleyball plex in Brunswick. Class AA South will remain at Paulson. GARY PHILLIPS (extension 6) - Assistant Executive Director - GHSA Dues by October 15 Student Eligibility, Community Coach Program, Cross Country, Wrestling, Track, Golf Member schools are reminded that GHSA Membership Dues must be paid by October 15th. You will find an invoice for JOYCE KAY (extension 5) the dues in the GHSA Forms Notebook. - Associate Executive Director - Finances, Entry Notification, Agendas, Literary, One-Act Play, Debate, Cheerleading, Riflery GHSA Official Balls STEVE FIGUEROA (extension 4) - Director of Media Relations - Coaches and school administrators are reminded that Press Releases, Media Coordination for State Events, Newsletter, the Georgia High School Association State Executive Com- Football Schedules, Constitution, Calendar, Tennis mittee has approved “Official” balls for all GHSA state play- JIM BULLINGTON (extension 33) off events. Listed below are the balls that will be provided - Technology Specialist - by the Georgia High School Association and its corporate Web Page Supervision, Database Management, Technical Support partners for GHSA state playoff events. This is effective through June 30, 2008. PAM THOMPSON (extension 30) - Officials' Registrar - Officials' Registration, Test Scoring and Records Sport Make/Model DENNIS PAYNE (extension 23) Baseball WILSON - Associate Director - A1010 B-Pro Football, Baseball, Swimming ERNIE YARBROUGH (extension 27) Basketball WILSON - Associate Director - EVOLUTION Basketball, Soccer, Softball Boys: B0516 TANYA ANDERSON (extension 2) Girls: B0586 - Administrative Assistant - Sanctioning of Events, School Passes, Directory, Coaches’ Clinic Attendance Football WILSON F1003 or F1005 JULIE JONES (extension 1) - Administrative Assistant - Dues, Community Coach Program Soccer BRINE “Championship” SHERI COKER (extension 0) - Receptionist - Lifetime Passes, School System Passes, Softball - SP WILSON Ejection Reports, Publication Orders (optic yellow 11”) A9202B New GHSA Store Online Now Softball - FP WILSON You are invited to check out the GHSA Store and Licensees (optic yellow 12”) A9011 BSST for a full list of products and services at www.ghsa.net. To preorder or purchase surplus championship t-shirts, please Volleyball SPALDING contact All-Star Outfitters, the official event merchandise supplier TF4000 of the GHSA at 770-590-0075 and www.asoapparel.com. October 2006 GHSA “Items of Interest” Page 3 Sponsor Spotlight: MIZUNO Mizuno begins a fourth season as a GHSA corporate part- ner with emphasis on softball, volleyball, cross-country, baseball, golf and track & field. Mizuno has been an active presence at GHSA championships with past special appearances by Olympian brand ambassadors, Jenny Finch and Natasha Watley, at the state softball championships. The Mizuno sport vans and tent displays have been a regular attrac- tion for fans and athletes providing giveaway items at several major events. Mizuno also supports the GACA Georgia Peach Golf Tour- nament and champion t-shirts in all their core sports. For more information, go to www.mizunousa.com or contact Paxton Briley at [email protected]; 404-993-0559. ”Being associated with Georgia High School Athletics has been a tremendous opportunity for Mizuno. As a Georgia company, we feel it is very important to give back to the local communities and their participating athletes. We are proud to be a sponsor of the GHSA,” said Bram Krieger, Vice President of Sales for Diamond Sports. Mizuno brand ambassador Jenny Finch pitching for Team USA. GHSA SPORTSMANSHIP STATEMENT ATTENTION: Football Coaches Please insure that the following statement is read as a With so many high school games now being televised, a public address announcement prior to the start of every GHSA reminder is necessary that use of video (including a TV moni- sanctioned contest: tor) during a game is prohibited by National Federation rules. Rule 1, Section 6, Article 1 of the NFHS Football Rules “The GHSA and its member schools have made a commit- states: “Electronic communication equipment, other than an ment to promote good sportsmanship by student/athletes, audio tape recorder, including but not limited to computer, film, coaches, and spectators at all GHSA sanctioned events. television and videotape or any type of still or moving pictures, Profanity, degrading remarks, and intimidating actions directed shall not be used for coaching purposes during the game or at officials or competitors will not be tolerated, and are between periods.” grounds for removal from the event site. Spectators are not Please be aware that the interpretation of this rule has been allowed to enter the competition area during warm-ups or made so that a coach watching a TV monitor or similar telecast while the contest is being conducted. Thank you for your of his own game while the game is going on would be in violation, cooperation in the promotion of good sportsmanship at today’s and that team would be subject to fine and/or more severe event.” penalties if reported to the GHSA office. Scholar/Athlete and Scholar/Manager Awards Programs The Scholar/Athlete Awards Program Secretary no later than November 1, 2006. Whitey Zimmerman Scholarships. and the Whitey Zimmerman Scholarships There will be 40 scholarships for There will be 12 winners selected (two Program will be in place again this year, Scholar/Athletes (one winner from each from each classification and two at-large) sponsored by Chevron/Texaco, the At- region) of $1,000.00 each and the overall with a $1,000.00 scholarship going to lanta Falcons Youth Foundation, Gallagher winner will receive an additional $1,000.00 each. The honorees will be selected on Electric & Engineering Company, Inc., scholarship. the basis of 40 percent academic achieve- and the National Football Foundation & The winners will be selected on the ment, 40 percent football managing College Football Hall of Fame, Inc.

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