Winter 2004

Vol. XVIII No. 2 Mentor,Mentor, StripesStripes toto JoinJoin ForcesForces MHSAA Coaches & Officials: express and understand different per- spectives, philosophies and responsibili- As many of you are aware, the ties that officials and coaches bring to MHSAA has–since 1987–produced pub- our games. After all, the No. 1 goal for lications targeting its officials and coach- coaches and officials alike is to provide es: Stripes and Mentor. the best competitive environment possi- These publications served their con- ble for our student-athletes. stituents in a variety of ways, from The MHSAA hopes to enhance the emphasizing pertinent dates on the ath- content of the new publication by includ- letic calendar to important rules updates ing contributions from those in the field for officials and coaches alike. The in the form of testimonials and first-per- eight-page publications arrived three son accounts of current issues concern- times annually, striving to provide its ing interscholastic athletics. Input from readership with information relevant to Approved Officials Associations and officiating and coaching high school ath- Coaches Associations should provide letics. the bulk of the content for the publica- Our primary goal this spring is to cre- tion, as this publication exists for the ate a joint publication that would fuse membership. Articles and/or topics that the two original publications and unite might be of interest could include new coaches and officials via one publica- training tips, practice ideas, motivational tion. The new publication will continue to activities, sportsmanship, tournament provide significant dates, helpful hints, experiences, outstanding performances, and insightful information to both the and health and safety issues. It is our officiating and coaching communities. hope that athletic directors and sports The MHSAA also intends to return the medicine personnel get involved as well. publication to a printed format, rather We need your help to create a publi- than the "online-only" format implement- cation worthy of our members, and we ed in the fall of 2002. feel the best way to do that is to include Please e-mail name suggestions Coaches and officials share the stories from the perspective of those on to: [email protected] (type same fields and gyms during competi- the fields and in the gyms. “Publication Name” in the subject line tion, yet the relationship is too often The next step in this endeavor – of the e-mail). viewed as adversarial. We hope this other than cultivating content from our Thank you for your cooperation publication will serve as a vehicle to readers – is to name the publication. and support on this project. 2004 WINTER FINAL DATES Feb. 20-21 — UP Individual Wrestling March 12-13 — Girls Gymnastics; Feb. 21 — UP Swimming & Diving LP Boys Swimming & Diving Feb. 23 — Boys & Girls Skiing March 13 — Girls Competitive Cheer March 5-6 — Team Wrestling; March 18-20 — Girls Boys & Girls Bowling March 25-27 — Boys March 11-13 — Ice Hockey; LP Individual Wrestling Forsythe Award To Frankenmuth's Marco Marcet

t's not often anymore that someone devotes nearly of lifetime of return from service duty, Marcet service to a single high school, let alone be on the ground floor attended Central Michigan College Iwhen that school started sponsoring interscholastic athletics. (later Central Michigan University ), For Marco Marcet, the recipient of the Michigan High School Athletic where he graduated in 1950. He did Association's Charles E. Forsythe Award for 2004, it was a labor of additional studies in CMU, the love starting 50 years ago that goes on to this very day. and Michigan This annual award is in its 27th year of existence and is named State University between 1950 and after former MHSAA Executive Director Charles E. Forsythe, the 1977. Association's first full time and longest-serving chief executive. One “The Tom Brokaw book, The or two recipients are selected each year by the MHSAA Greatest Generation, is filled with suc- Representative Council, based on an individual's outstanding contri- cess stories, and a chapter about bution to the interscholastic athletics community. Marcet will be pre- Marco Marcet would have fit well into sented the award on March 27 at the Breslin Student Events Center that publication,” said MHSAA in East Lansing at halftime of the Boys Basketball Class A Final. Executive Director John E. "Jack" Frankenmuth High School had only been in operation a couple of Roberts. “The true leaders of that generation knew the meaning of years when Marcet arrived there in the fall of 1954 after brief teach- hard work, team work and community service. These true leaders ing stints in Kingsley and Manton. But from that school year until the helped build a post-World War II American from the ground up and spring of 1988, as the school's first athletic director, he built a pro- Marco Marcet did just that in his lifetime of dedicated service to the gram based on a credo of being there for the kids. community of Frankenmuth and Frankenmuth High School . A man Marcet was also Frankenmuth's first boys basketball and who gave his life to a school that was just starting up when he coach, guiding the latter team to a 100-49 record over a 16-year peri- arrived, and who still gives with equal vigor on a regular basis 50 od, a time when schools played only a fraction of the games each years later. We're pleased to honor Marco Marcet with the Charles E. season compared to today, and the first MHSAA postseason tourna- Forsythe Award.” ment had yet to be played. Past recipients of the Charles E. Forsythe Award are: The building of athletic facilities, the establishment of an athletic 1978 - Brick Fowler, Port Huron; Paul Smarks, Warren program for girls, the organization of an athletic booster club and 1979 - Earl Messner, Reed City; Howard Beatty, Saginaw serving as the host of numerous MHSAA postseason tournaments all 1980 - Max Carey, Freesoil took place on Marcet's watch. That was at the same time as he was 1981 - Steven Sluka, Grand Haven; Samuel Madden, Detroit serving as the chair of Business Department at Frankenmuth High 1982 - Ernest Buckholz, Mt. Clemens; T. Arthur Treloar, Petoskey School for 36 years and as a driver's education instructor for 20 1983 - Leroy Dues, Detroit; Richard Maher, Sturgis years. 1984 - William Hart, Marquette; Donald Stamats, Caro After 40 years as a full-time teacher, Marcet reduced his sched- 1985 - John Cotton, Farmington; Robert James, Warren ule, but only a bit. He still serves as a substitute teacher on a regular 1986 - William Robinson, Detroit; Irving Soderland, Norway basis at Frankenmuth, and is a regular fixture in game management 1987 - Jack Streidl, Plainwell; Wayne Hellenga, Decatur at home athletic events. 1988 - Jack Johnson, Dearborn; Alan Williams, North Adams Marcet's reach extended beyond Frankenmuth. He helped form 1989 - Walter Bazylewicz, Berkley; Dennis Kiley, Jackson the Thumb B Athletic Association and the Tri-Valley Conference. In 1990 - Webster Morrison, Pickford; the community, he was a member of various service organizations, Herbert Quade, Benton Harbor was the town's first recreation director. As a tribute to his contribu- 1991 - Clifford Buckmaster, Petoskey; Donald Domke, Northville tions to the area, the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankmuth has dedicated 1992 - William Maskill, Kalamazoo; its Marcet Room in his honor. Thomas G. McShannock, Muskegon In high school, Marcet captained the baseball and basketball 1993 - Roy A. Allen Jr., Detroit; John Duncan, Cedarville squads for three seasons at what was then called Flint Tech (now 1994 - Kermit Ambrose, Royal Oak Flint Southwestern Academy ). It is said that he was the first high 1995 - Bob Perry, Lowell school basketball player in the Flint area to use the one-handed set 1996 - Charles H. Jones, Royal Oak shot. He graduated from Flint Tech in 1943, but stayed active in the 1997 - Michael A. Foster, Richland; area in sports beyond his high school days as a fastpitch Robert G. Grimes, Battle Creek player, and was recently enshrined with his 1946 Weller's Service 1998 - Lofton C. Greene, River Rouge; team in the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame which won a state Joseph J. Todey, Essexviille championship. 1999 - Bernie Larson, Battle Creek Like many others of his generation, college was delayed for 2000 - Blake Hagman, Kalamazoo; Jerry Cvengros, Escanaba Marcet by World War II. He served his country proudly as a member 2001 - Norm Johnson, Bangor; George Lovich, Canton of the U.S. Air Force's 500th Bomb Squadron – the Rough Raiders – 2002 - John Fundukian, Novi which fought in the Pacific Theater from 1943 to 1945. Upon his 2003 - Ken Semelsberger, Port Huron

MENTOR appears online three times per year by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc., 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing, Michigan 48823 (phone 517-332-5046). Editor: Rob Kaminski, Publications Coordinator MENTOR welcomes contributions of articles, information or photos which focus on coaching in Michigan.

2 Kathy Vruggink Westdorp Receives 2004 WISL Award athy Vruggink Westdorp, principal As a teacher, coach, game official, athlet- at Grand Rapids Forest Hills ic administrator and principal, Westdorp has KCentral High School, has been long been active in advancing females in named the recipient of the 2004 Women In high school sports. She encouraged student- Sports Leadership Award by the athletes to pursue coaching and officiating Representative Council of the Michigan High following high school, and has been active in School Athletic Association. recruiting and promoting female officials as a Each year the Representative Council member of the West Michigan Volleyball considers the achievements of women Officials Association. coaches, officials and athletic administrators A West Michigan native, Westdorp is a affiliated with the MHSAA who show exem- 1976 graduate of Central Michigan plary leadership capabilities and positive University, where she participated in field contributions to athletics. The award will be hockey. Her educational career then started ing an athletic task force for the school dis- presented during a banquet at the 2004 in the Grand Rapids Public Schools as a trict and serving as president of the Ottawa- Women In Sports Leadership coach in girls volleyball at Kent Conference, a league consisting of 41 Conference on Feb. 1, in Central High, where she also schools. Lansing. served as an English and As a game official, Westdorp has worked Westdorp was recently Physical Education teacher; softball at the high school level and girls vol- named to an assistant direc- and a girls track and basket- leyball at the high school and collegiate lev- tor’s position on the MHSAA ball coach at Creston High. els. staff, where she will be phas- After eight years, she was Westdorp also holds a Master’s Degree ing into those duties over the named director of health and in Secondary Education from Michigan State course of the 2003-04 school wellness programs for Grand University, and has served as an adjunct pro- year, among which will be Rapids Public Schools, where fessor in graduate studies at Grand Valley administering the coaches she had staff supervision and State University. education program. training duties, and authored Westdorp is the 15th recipient of the “It is through an entirely grants and curriculum for the Women In Sports Leadership Award. Past different process that Kathy district. recipients are: was selected for this award In 1987, Westdorp after being named to serve schools as a returned to Creston as an assistant principal 1990 – Carol Seavoy, L’Anse member of the MHSAA staff, demonstrating and director of athletics, where she adminis- 1991 – Diane Laffey, Harper Woods how widespread the respect is for her in tered the athletics and activities program 1992 – Patricia Ashby, Scotts Michigan,” said John E. “Jack” Roberts, exec- until 1995, when she moved into an adminis- 1993 – Jo Lake, Grosse Pointe utive director of the Association. “The award trative position at Grand Rapids Forest Hills 1994 – Brenda Gatlin, Detroit recognizes her past service, while her hiring Central High School. 1995 – Jane Bennett, Ann Arbor recognizes her potential for future service. Westdorp first served as an assistant 1996 – Cheryl Amos-Helmicki, She was nominated for the award by the principal at Forest Hills Central, where she Huntington Woods West Michigan Volleyball Officials directed several academic departments, and 1997 – Delores L. Elswick, Detroit Association and chosen by the supervised a variety of student extra-curricu- 1998 – Karen S. Leinaar, Delton Representative Council from among seven lar activities. In 1999, she was named princi- 1999 – Kathy McGee, Flint candidates after a thorough screening by the pal at the school, and implemented a number 2000 – Pat Richardson, Grass Lake MHSAA Awards Committee. As our newest of new programs. While principal, Forest Hills 2001 – Suzanne Martin, East Lansing administrative addition, the staff selected her, Central was named a Governor’s Cup recipi- 2002 – Susan Barthold, Kentwood with the blessing of the MHSAA Executive ent from the State of Michigan for achieving 2003 – Nancy Clark, Flint Committee, from a field of more than 60 can- academic excellence. Westdorp also didates.” remained active in athletic issues, co-chair-

ENTRY DUE DATES Feb. 5 — Boys & Girls Skiing OFFICIALS RATINGS DUE Feb. 11 — Boys Basketball, Boys & Girls Bowling, Ice March 26 Hockey,Team Wrestling Feb. 17 — UP Boys & Girls Swimming & Diving Boys Basketball, Ice Feb. 18 — Girls Volleyball Hockey, Girls Volleyball, Feb. 20 — Girls Competitive Cheer Wrestling Feb. 23 — Boys Basketball, Boys & Girls Bowling Feb. 27 — Girls Gymnastics March 9 — LP Boys Swimming & Diving

3 Fall Tournament Good Sports Are Winners! Award Recipients Announced The recipients of the top Michigan High honored at the District level in their respec- Regional level of a tournament becomes School Athletic Association's Good Sports tive tournaments. For Beal City and ineligible for the award at higher levels of Are Winners! Awards for the recently-com- Rochester Adams, this is the second time that same tournament. pleted 2003 fall sports season have been each school has received the Good Sports In all, 157 teams in girls basketball, named, with each school to receive com- Are Winners! Award at the football and boys soccer are memorative banners and crystal trophies Finals level of MHSAA tourna- being recognized for their from MEEMIC Insurance, the Association's ment play. Beal City was the outstanding sportsmanship corporate partner in sportsmanship efforts. 1993 recipient in baseball, and at Fall tournaments. Those Saline in boys soccer, Beal City and Rochester Adams won the teams will be recognized Rochester Adams in football, and Flint award in 1992 in girls soccer. through the publication of Northern in girls basketball, were selected The Good Sports Are their names in the MHSAA by the tournament management at their Winners! Award made its Bulletin, the MHSAA Finals respective Finals for displaying the most return in 2002-03 with the cor- program series, and on the exemplary sportsmanship by their coach- porate underwriting of MHSAA Web site. During es, student-athletes and spectators. MEEMIC Insurance. The pro- the course of the school Presentation dates at all four schools will gram had previously been offered from year, over 1,000 teams will be recognized be announced at a future date. 1989 to 1996, and again during 2000-01. in 11 activities for their sportsmanship Saline was the runner-up in the At the District and Regional level of efforts during MHSAA tournaments. Division 1 boys soccer tournament; Beal MHSAA tournaments, all schools which A complete list of Good Sports Are City was the runner-up in the Division 8 meet a set of sportsmanlike standards will Winners! Award recipients at pre-Finals football playoffs, while Rochester Adams be recognized. There will continue to be levels of the tournaments as submitted by was the champion in the Division 2 tourna- standards in the program which would tournament managers for the recently ment; and Flint Northern was a finalist in automatically disqualify a school from con- completed Fall sports season appears as the Class A girls basketball tournament. sideration from the award. Any team follows. In addition to receiving the finals which is disqualified for the Good Sports award, Beal City and Flint Northern were Are Winners! Award at the District or 2003 Fall Award Recipients Based on reports received at the MHSAA offices as of 1/22/04. NOTE: There can be more than one winner at each site, and not all site managers responded. BOYS SOCCER Richmond Taylor Kennedy Saginaw Nouvel Division 3 Division 4 Chelsea District Awards Adrian Lenawee Christian Division 4 Division 1 Kalamazoo Heritage Christian DeWitt Sterling Heights Marcellus Linden Division 2 Paw Paw No Managers Reports Received Semifinal Awards Three Rivers Division 3 Division 1 Division 5 Frankenmuth No Managers Reports Received Frankenmuth Goodrich Division 2 Saginaw Swan Valley Lake Fenton No Managers Reports Received Division 6 Division 4 Division 3 Fennville Glen Arbor The Leelanau School No Managers Reports Received Kingsley Leland Division 4 Quincy Maple City Glen Lake Lutheran Westland Schoolcraft Northport Suttons Bay Traverse City Christian FOOTBALL Vermontville Maple Valley Division 7 Regional Awards Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard Division 1 Pre-District Awards Burton Bendle Royal Oak Kimball Division 1 Manchester Division 2 Detroit Catholic Central Merrill Fruitport East Kentwood Newberry Grand Rapids Christian Jackson Reading Holland Christian Division 2 Sand Creek Petoskey Adrian St. Ignace Division 3 Farmington Union City Frankenmuth Muskegon

4 Division 8 No Managers Reports Received Saginaw Nouvel AuGres Sims Division 6 Tawas Area Bay City All Saints No Managers Reports Received Class C Mendon Division 7 Brethren Vestaburg No Managers Reports Received Brown City Division 8 Cass City District Awards Frankfort Deckerville Division 1 Ithaca Clinton Township Chippewa Valley Semifinal Awards Kent City East Kentwood Division 1 Lake City Holland West Ottawa No Managers Reports Received Leroy Pine River Division 2 Division 2 Manton Adrian Hudsonville Marlette Bay City Western Division 3 Mayville Hudsonville No Managers Reports Received Montague Midland Division 4 Muskegon Catholic Central Division 3 Big Rapids Muskegon Western Michigan Christian Battle Creek Lakeview DeWitt Ravenna Charlotte Richmond Class D Fowlerville Division 5 Allen Park Cabrini Gaylord No Managers Reports Received Allen Park Inter-City Baptist St. Johns Division 6 Camden Frontier Division 4 No Managers Reports Received Freesoil Grand Rapids South Christian Division 7 Hillsdale Academy Division 5 No Managers Reports Received Jackson Christian Benzie Central Division 8 Kimball New Life Christian Academy Capac No Managers Reports Received Newport Lutheran South Central Montcalm North Adams Jerome Essexville Garber GIRLS BASKETBALL Taylor Baptist Park Frankenmuth Taylor Light & Life Goodrich Wyandotte Mt. Caramel District Awards Grayling Class A Division 6 Regional Awards Allen Park No Managers Reports Received Class A Benton Harbor Division 7 No Managers Reports Received Clio East Jordan Class B Davison Manchester DeWitt Dearborn Heights Crestwood Mio AuSable Hemlock East Detroit Sand Creek Saginaw Nouvel Flint Central Division 8 Vassar Flint Kearsley Baraga Class C Flint Northern Beal City Lincoln-Alcona Holland West Ottawa Carsonville-Port Sanilac Traverse City St. Francis Hudsonville Class D Lansing Sexton Regional Awards No Managers Reports Received Lansing Waverly Division 1 Lapeer West No Managers Reports Received Quarterfinal Awards St. Johns Division 2 Class A Warren Cousino Detroit Mackenzie No Managers Reports Received Zeeland Hudsonville Class B Class B Lowell Flint Beecher Bay City John Glenn Division 3 Freeland Beaverton Charlotte Class C Cheboygan Farmington Hills Harrison Rapid River Essexville Garber Stevensville Lakeshore Republic-Michigamme Farwell Division 4 Class D Gladwin Bay City John Glenn No Managers Reports Received Midland Bullock Creek Mt. Morris Ogemaw Heights Division 5 Pinconning

5 Grosse Pointe North, Saginaw Heritage Honored as MIAAA Exemplary Programs

ichigan's professional organiza- sports, which is the maximum number of room, on the field and in life.” tion of high school athletic direc- teams a Heritage athlete can participate on Since opening its doors 35 years ago, Mtors, the Michigan Interscholastic during a school year. Education is also very athletics have been an integral part of Athletic Administrators Association important to the athletic program at Grosse Pointe North High School. The ath- (MIAAA), recently recognized Saginaw Heritage as evidenced by athletes having a letic program at Grosse Pointe North prides Heritage and Grosse Pointe North high cumulative GPA of 3.21 over the last five itself on excellence and is a reflection of a schools as having Exemplary Athletic years, which is .35 higher than non-athletes community that prides itself on bringing out Programs. Representatives of each school are. According to Pete Ryan, Athletic the best in its students, parents, school and were recognized by the MIAAA and the Director at Heritage, “The staff at Heritage community. The mission of Grosse Point Michigan High School Athletic Association has worked very hard to increase the GPA North athletics is to offer a program in edu- (MHSAA) at halftime of the MHSAA Class A of our student-athletes.” cational athletics that provides opportunities Girls Basketball Final in Mt. Pleasant on With a tradition of athletic excellence, for student growth and development through Dec. 6. Heritage, which was formed by the merger competitive interscholastic sports. The MIAAA, in partnership with the of Saginaw Eisenhower and Douglas Athletics at North is a highly structured MHSAA, conducted the extensive review MacArthur high schools in 1988, has been a program that seeks to provide a wide vari- program this fall prior to ety of opportunities for student involvement. recognizing Saginaw Many desirable outcomes can be expected Heritage and Grosse from a student's involvement in the athletic Pointe North as two of program at North including: the develop- Michigan's model high ment of lifelong friendships; learning team school athletic programs. work; learning to set goals; learning to strive The schools went through for excellence; learning to handle victory as a rigorous screening well as defeat; learning that dedication and process, which included hard work usually produce positive results; an application and a writ- learning how to manage time; and develop- ten documentation of the ing the qualities of good sportsmanship as a program's strengths. Both participant and a spectator. schools also hosted a Despite being one of the smallest Class two-day, on-site visit by a A schools in the 32- MIAAA evaluation team team Macomb Area made up of veteran athlet- Conference, Grosse ic administrators. Pointe North is proud The MIAAA of a tradition of com- Exemplary Athletic Award Members of the Grosse petitive success that Program recognizes that Pointe North and includes 281 confer- outstanding school athlet- Saginaw Heritage ath- ence championships, ic programs greatly serve letic departments dis- 94 conference meet students, families, com- play Exemplary champions, 45 munities and schools. Athletic Program MHSAA District The philosophy of the Award banners pre- Championships, 76 athletic program at sented by the MIAAA MHSAA Regional Saginaw Township at the Girls Basketball Championships, eight Community Schools is Finals in Mt. Pleasant MHSAA Runner-Up that it is an integral part of on Dec. 6. Teams, nine MHSAA the total education pro- 20-20 Photographic Championship Teams gram. The purpose of and several individual interscholastic athletics is to make a posi- member of the Saginaw Valley League MHSAA champions. tive contribution to the development of the since 1994. During that time span, Heritage When Athletic Director Chris Clark was participants, spectators, school and commu- teams have captured 49 conference cham- informed his high school had been named nity. Athletes should strive for educational pionships, 32 District championships, and one of two exemplary schools he stated, excellence and playing excellence, as well 15 Regional championships and also had “We are grateful that the hard work and as staying within the boundaries of good 21 MHSAA Final appearances, capturing commitment of the athletes, parents, coach- sportsmanship. seven MHSAA titles. Heritage has claimed es, staff and administration at Grosse Heritage's athletic program offers 24 three boys and three girls Richard Leach Pointe North has been recognized through varsity sports, 12 for girls and 12 for boys, trophies, which are given to the most suc- such a distinguished award.” and the subvarsity offers 17 different oppor- cessful school in the Saginaw Valley Principal Jim Steeby added, “All of us at tunities for girls and 14 for boys, bringing a League based on both Saginaw Valley Grosse Pointe North High School are hon- total of 55 school sponsored teams. League standings and MHSAA tournament ored to receive this award in recognition of Approximately 40 percent of Heritage stu- performances. “Our coaches are dedicated our school's commitment to educational and dents participate in at least one sport, with to giving student-athletes the best opportu- athletic excellence.” 37 percent playing in two different sports nity possible to succeed,” says Ryan “They and nine percent participating in three encourage the athletes to excel in the class-

6 TOURNAMENTTOURNAMENT TTALKALK Policy For Team Sports Alternate/Backup Sites During MHSAA Tournaments In May 2003, the Representative Council authorized MHSAA staff to supplement the site selection committee process by develop- ing and administering alternative/backup sites policies to more effectively address excessive travel that sometimes results at MHSAA Regional and Quarterfinal Tournaments. The new policies and procedures were to be implemented during 2003-04 and this topic was to be reviewed further by the Council in December 2003. The policy was reviewed and recommended by site selection committees in hockey, volleyball and boys basketball during the fall of 2003, which provided these comments:

1. Policy is written with "may be used" to afford flexibility among sports and to cover a variety of situations. It is possible another site is not available. 2. It was felt that being non-specific on mileage was best rather than setting a specific number of miles wherein the backup site was activated. 3. Volleyball and Hockey Site Selection Committees did not want to relocate a site simply because a team would have home court or home ice. Relocating in hockey is especially problematic given the costs of ice rental and non-school facilities. In addition, many ice rinks are home to multiple teams. 4. The Basketball Site Selection Committee felt that the past practice should continue of relocating a Quarterfinal site if a team would play on its home floor. 5. Baseball and Softball Quarterfinals are held at fields "out of class." Soccer does not compete in a Quarterfinal round but may have application at the Regional level. Other sports are multiple-team events. 6. When possible, the staff would anticipate one of the two scenarios above and have "what if" plans available prior to the Regional Final.

Here is the policy approved by the Representative Council Dec. 5, 2003:

Sites other than the originally selected location may be used in one of two scenarios at the discretion of the staff member in charge of that sport: 1. A team will be playing on its own home floor at the Quarterfinal level. 2. Two teams slated to play each other have inordinate travel to a Regional Final or Quarterfinal site. In some instances, an appropriate alternate site may not be found and the original site will be used. This policy does not supersede previously existing arrangements designed to reduce travel in specific Districts and Regionals.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS OF MHSAA TOURNAMENT ASSIGNMENTS

Q Why is our team assigned to the District Tournament X when our school is clearly located closer to the District Tournament Y? A District assignments are based on geographical groupings of schools. The host school may or may not be near the center of that grouping, as all schools which have adequate facilities and wish to host will be included in any rotation of host sites. Therefore, a school that is the easternmost of one District Tournament grouping may be further from the host site of that District Tournament than the host site of the District Tournament grouping adjacent to the east. One sometimes must look at the entire state and all the District Tournament groupings for a class to see how this fits together. Q How is it possible our team is assigned to the District Tournament at X when the other high school of our school district is assigned elsewhere? A As the nearly equal number of schools are grouped for District Tournaments, school district boundaries are not considered. Farmington, Troy, Rochester, Livonia and many other multi-school districts, especially of highly populated areas, may frequently see their schools going in different directions for MHSAA District Tournament play. Q Why do the schools in our District or Regional Tournament change from year to year and sport to sport? A New schools join the MHSAA, existing schools relocate, and the sports offered by schools change, all of which affect District and Regional assignments. Changes in school enrollments cause many schools each year to change classification. This not only will affect the school groupings for District or Regional Tournaments of each of those school's old and new classifications or divisions, it may also cause a chain reaction, bumping other schools up or down in classification or division and in or out of vari- ous District or Regional Tournaments.

7 WORKING WITH THE MEDIA FOR A POSITIVE EXPRIENCE ne of the things that defines high has counter space for notebooks, laptop a telephone call. Television stations often school sports as unique from all computers and broadcasting equipment; send a single camera out on a given night Oother levels of youth sports is the electrical outlets; and access to tele- with the assignment of getting footage of daily media coverage of our games. phones. Press boxes are called that for a several games. You can't assume they For most of our participants, this is the reason. Don't turn what should be a work- were there at game's end. only time in their lives their name will be in ing area into a skybox for school adminis- • Be sure the call is made to your local trators, boosters and other non-workers. media in a timely manner. The closer you the newspaper, or the only time their name • Be sure you provide visiting media access call to deadline, the less coverage your will ever be called by a local radio or televi- to your facilities on a reasonable team is likely to receive due to time and sion announcer for playing the games they timetable. This includes marking off seats space constraints. Call as soon as the love. for media who have made advance game is over. As athletic administrators and coaches, arrangements with you, so they are not • Be sure you have accurate information we have a role in seeing that our student- made to arrive early to be guaranteed about both teams. This includes first and athletes are recognized for their efforts by working space; and providing them the last names for key players, season providing the details of our athletic records, and key statistics. Schools events to the media, and by prop- which make up such information erly accommodating media when quickly get found out by their local they attend our events. media. First, it should be stated that • Be sure the coach is available for no single school or single sport interviews. After a brief cooling-off period, the coach should be pre- has a right to receive media cover- pared to meet with the local media. age. Even in the smallest commu- Some coaches oblige interviews as nities, automatic coverage is not a they're walking off the playing sur- given. Media outlets are driven by face, but it would not be impolite to advertising dollars, circulation, ask a reporter to wait until after the viewership/listenership numbers, coach has had a brief postgame and by providing coverage of what meeting with the team. interests most of the community • Be sure you call, win or lose. they serve. Regardless, schools Don't earn a reputation with you need to service all sports equally local media for calling only when in terms of their promotion to the you win; the only losers in that case media. are your kids. In discussing coverage issues with the time following a contest if they are on MEDIA RESPONSIBILITIES media each summer, we have found the deadline to write their report, and transmit This is a two-way street in many same themes to be sounded, themes which it by telephone back for the following day's respects. However, with dozens of schools will help schools receive the maximum cov- paper. Every effort should also be made in its coverage area sometimes, it is difficult erage possible. to accommodate those media who do not for a media outlet to get out and cover all the call in advance; but it would not be inap- schools and teams. Some of the media's BEFORE THE SEASON propriate for you to request that courtesy responsibilities when covering your events: • Be sure you provide a list of schedules, if they plan on making return trips to your • Calling in advance. You can best plan for including starting times, for all sports for school. servicing media at games when you know the upcoming season well in advance of • Providing rosters and statistics about your they're coming. In your preseason com- the first event. Some smaller newspapers team is an appreciated courtesy. munication with your local media, request may also run subvarsity schedules -- • While not required, complimentary coffee, their help by asking them to call you in check with your sports editor to see if the soda, or bottled water in the press area is advance when they know they're coming outlet is interested in the information. You appreciated. to your venue. should also check to see if e-mailing the • Some photographers may wish to set up • Compliance with game management. The information is preferred. strobe lighting in your indoor venues. more you can do to communicate in • Once team rosters are available, provide Such lighting, properly set up, does not advance with the media what the do's and that information to your local outlets. affect play. Be sure the strobes are not don'ts are at your athletic venues, the Having a roster handy will increase the set up in a manner which creates a safety more you reduce the likelihood of ques- chances of your students' names being hazard with cords and light stands being tions being raised or confrontations taking spelled correctly in stories. in the way of spectators. Camera-mount- place. The media does have the respon- • Find out the timetable your local outlets ed strobes and wall/ceiling-mounted sibility to respect game management have for receiving event reports on game strobes are allowed at MHSAA postsea- when such requests are initially made in a nights. Be sure the individuals responsi- son tournament venues in several sports. respectful manner. ble for calling in results know the dead- • Be sure photographers visiting your venue The school-media partnership, providing lines, and the consequences if they don't are aware of where they can – and cannot student-athletes and teams with recognition meet them. Find out if submitting results – work. For example, photographers for their once-in-a-lifetime participation in for information-intensive sports like swim- should always be positioned outside the educational athletics, is what helps make our ming and track can be done by e-mail. free-throw lane in basketball. games unique. Cooperation and good sportsmanship on both sides of this partner- FOR HOME EVENTS FOLLOWING AN EVENT ship will give our youngsters memories for • Set up a working press area that is pro- • Unless you are absolutely certain a media their scrapbooks which will last forever. tected from the elements. Make sure it outlet was at the event, be sure it is given 8 Heroic Effort Brings Coaches & Officials Together aul Christiansen knew what he needed to do at that Taberski said the event served as an excellent opportu- Pmoment on Thursday, Sept. 18, and he did it. nity for coaches and officials to gather outside the competi- When a sixth-grade student at Maple City Glen Lake tive venues they usually share. Middle School collapsed on the running track, Christiansen applied CPR to revive the boy as fellow teacher Dick Hilton made an emergency call. By the time the medical unit arrive, the student was semi-conscious. He was back in school a few days later, which most certainly was reward- ing enough for Christiansen, who is a teacher, high school girls track coach and middle school girls basketball coach at Glen Lake. But, MHSAA registered official Dave Taberski felt that such a deed demanded special recognition. After learning of the incident in casual conversation with Christiansen prior to working a Glen Lake girls basketball game in the fall, Taberski began to plan a outing for area coaches Above, coaches and offi- and officials. cials gathered for a day The outing took place on Oct. 19 at The Crown in of golf and fun at The Traverse City, where Taberski is director of golf. More than Crown in Traverse City on 50 area coaches and members of the Northern Sports Oct. 19. Right, Northern Officials Association participated in the event, which culmi- Sports Officials nated with a surprise for Christiansen. After being recog- Association member and nized for his feat of one month earlier, Taberski presented Crown Director of Golf him with a 2004 golf membership to The Crown. Dave Taberski presents The outing was so well received that Taberski antici- Maple City G len Lake’s Paul Christiansen with a pates more than 100 golfers this coming October for what 2004 membership for his he now plans to make an annual event. Invitations will be heroic deed last fall. extended to other area officials associations and a greater number of schools.

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