Cheerleading Safety Course Now Available Online! C Professional Development Coaching Education C The Standard in Cheerleading Legal Liability Training C Part of the NFHS Coach Certification Program C CEU and College Credits now available! Get Certified! Over 20,000 High School and College coaches have! Developed and produced in conjunction with the NFHS and is presented by AACCA Executive Director Jim Lord along with outstanding video content and additional resources such as a sample emergency plan. National Convenient start/stop at any point and continue later Federation of State High School from the same point in the course. Associations The online course is available at www.nfhslearn.com NFHS REPORT Sportsmanship Efforts Must Continue BY ROBERT B. GARDNER, NFHS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND NINA VAN ERK, NFHS PRESIDENT As we attended the NFHS Section Meetings this fall, there was a els. If proper behavior is not practiced in their immediate environment, persistent concern voiced by our member state associations – sports- it can become very easy for students to adopt more negative aspects manship. Whether it be sportsmanship issues related to fans, coaches of conduct seen at the collegiate and professional levels. or players, these leaders of high school athletics and activities programs As the leaders of high school sports programs, we need to provide expressed feelings that the overall environment was not as positive as the expectations for sportsmanlike behavior so that student-athletes, they would have hoped and liked it to be. coaches, parents and fans make the right decisions. With that history Of course, any concerns dealing with sportsmanship are taken very in mind, let’s consider some strategies to combat the issue of poor seriously. The building of character is more important than winning sportsmanship in our games. games in the process of instilling the values we want to see in our • Everyone involved has a role. Coaches should concentrate on coach- young people at the high school level. ing. Officials must stick to making the calls on the field. Players can But let us not mistake, either, that these difficulties and apprehen- only play the game between the lines. And parents need to know sions about sportsmanship are an ongoing theme that doesn’t seem to that their job is to support their kids in the best way possible. ever go away. Consider statements made by our three previous exec- • Trends in sportsmanship seem to indicate a tendency toward utive directors on the matter. parental misbehavior. A great tool to assist parents is a new, free, “The final concern is the lack of sportsmanship and the resulting in- online educational course offered by the NFHS. This course – The crease in disruptions at high school athletic contests,” Executive Secre- Role of the Parent in Sports – teaches strategies for dealing with tary Cliff Fagan said in 1976. “Fans attacked coaches and players. coaches and athletic directors, for avoiding yelling at players or of- Players squared off with each other.” ficials, and for interpreting sports as a fun way for young people to “Matched against [rising interest and participation], however, are learn life lessons. growing reports of sportsmanship problems at sporting events. These • Players must tolerate and respect their opponents. Even if the other are troubling reports,” said Executive Director Brice Durbin in 1988. team chooses to engage in mudslinging or verbal warfare, those Executive Director Bob Kanaby said this in 2002: “The sports world actions do not need to be reciprocated. Succeeding with dignity has once again been shaken by numerous displays of unsportsmanlike produces a far more rewarding feeling. behavior and deplorable violent actions against contest officials and • Fans should respect the spirit of competition and know that their players. The high school scene has not escaped these kinds of inci- entry fee is not the price of boorish behavior. dents.” • Athletic directors should be clear about expectations at the stadium So given evidence that this problem crosses decades, we can safely or inside the gymnasium. Let the student section, in particular, know surmise that good sportsmanship is a behavior in need of constant re- what lines they ought not cross. inforcement. Certainly, the failure to eliminate improper demeanor is • Finally, and perhaps most importantly, all involved should strive for not for a lack of trying. open communication and positive personal interaction. When peo- In the 1980s and ‘90s, the NFHS devoted many resources and en- ple gather closer together, it is easier for them to move in one di- ergies to its “Be A Sport” program – designed at promoting ethics and rection. For coaches, this means meeting and addressing parents. integrity in high school sports. For officials, this might mean presenting an open, preseason infor- We know, as do so many high school coaches and athletic directors mation session in which coaches and fans can learn the rules. across the country, that sportsmanship is a matter of education. High Naturally, human nature is imperfect, and sportsmanship cannot school athletes often emulate attitudes and actions of those individu- be mandated. What we can do is make it the most attractive and re- NFHS | www.nfhs.org/hstoday als in higher levels of competition that they regard as their role mod- spected choice possible by continuing to reinforce its importance. 1 HighSchool™ THE VOICE OF EDUCATION-BASED ATHLETIC AND FINE ARTS ACTIVITIES TODAY Contents 8 Welcome We hope you enjoy this publication and welcome your feedback. You may contact Bruce Howard or John Gillis, editors of High School Today, at [email protected] or [email protected]. VOLUME 4, NUMBER 3 COVER STORY EDITORIAL STAFF Schools Develop New Strategies to Retain Sponsors in Publisher.......................Robert B. Gardner Editors ..........................Bruce L. Howard Tough Economy: Athletic directors discuss the personal touch .....................................John C. Gillis Production.....................Randall D. Orr necessary to keep sponsors and remain competitive. – Mike Dyer Advertising....................Judy Shoemaker Graphic Designer...........Kim A. Vogel Online Editor .................Chris Boone PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Superintendent..............Darrell Floyd, TX 10 Principal........................Ralph Holloway, NC High School Today, an official publica- SUBSCRIPTION PRICE tions Committee, but the publisher cannot be re- State Associations..........Treva Dayton, TX tion of the National Federation of State One-year subscription is $24.95. Canada add sponsible for loss or damage. $3.75 per year surface post age. All other foreign Media Director ..............Robert Zayas, NM Reproduction of material published in High High School Assoc ia tions, is published subscribers, please contact the NFHS office for School Today is prohibited with out written per- Fine Arts........................Steffen Parker, VT eight times a year by the NFHS. shipping rates. Back issues are $3.00 plus actual mission of the NFHS executive director. Views of Athletic Director ............David Hoch, MD postage. the authors do not always reflect the opinion or Coach ...........................Don Showalter, IA EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING OFFICES Manuscripts, illustrations and photo graphs may policies of the NFHS. Legal Counsel................Lee Green, KS National Federation of be submitted by mail or e-mail to Bruce Howard, Guidance Counselor ......Barb Skinner, IN State High School Associations editor, PO Box 690, Indianapolis, IN 46206, Copyright 2010 by the National Fed eration of Contest Official..............Tim Christensen, OR PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 <[email protected]>. They will be carefully State High School Associa tions. All rights re- Telephone 317-972-6900; fax 317.822.5700 considered by the High School Today Publica- served. High School Today | November 4 FEATURES HST ONLINE 12 ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION Athletic Director’s Position Structured in Various Ways: Sometimes due to budget considerations, the athletic director often handles other duties. –Dr. David Hoch, CMAA You can access previous issues online 18 at www.nfhs.org/hstoday. PHILOSOPHY Student-centered Programs DEPARTMENTS Goal of High School 1 NFHS Report Athletics: While fans enjoy winning seasons, goal should 6 Quick Hits be on lifelong values for Interesting Facts and Information students. –Joe Santa 10 Top High School Performances 16 Legal Issues New ADA Regulations Impact School Sports Programs 28 20 Above and Beyond ADMINISTRATION • Illinois Softball Team Helps Rival Team’s Player in Fight for Life Pennsylvania Football Coach • Tennis Player Delivers On and Off the Court Doubles as Superintendent: Don Bailey of Forest Hills High 26 Fine Arts School has had many memo- Iowa Mentorship Program Helps First-year Arts Educators rable moments in dual role. –Lauren Fellmeth 30 Ideas That Work Sponsorship Signs Support North Carolina School 32 In Their Own Words Running Made Favor Hamilton Feel Like a Superstar – Then She Became One 16 22 32 36 Sports Medicine Developing Emergency Action Plans 38 In the News 40 Voices of the Nation NFHS | www.nfhs.org/hstoday 5 QUICK HITS The Cost Unusual Nicknames ICE HOCKEY EQUIPMENT Helmet with $125 The Horicon Marsh is the Face Shield largest freshwater cattail marsh in Dental Guard $15 the United States. Formed by large Jersey $108 glaciers that swept across Wiscon- sin and the rest of the Midwest Shoulder Pads $74 thousands of years ago, today the Elbow