From the Director


Sportsmanship

 

03

If at all these levels, we do not find willing respect for excellent efforts and execution and graceful sportsmanship in winning and losing, leaders of sports on all levels are failing their principal duty.

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27
We embraced this idea of our Student Advisory Council because a “Battle of the Fans” is something we can do, and most other youth sports cannot.

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Posted in: Sportsmanship
16
Post-event celebrations have led to property damage, and they will lead to personal injuries unless we give the problem more careful attention and supervision.

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13
I was born and raised in Wisconsin; and I hope that I’m forgiven for cheering for our Lions in all but two games each year . . .

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04

These are examples of the ugly side of competition.  While it’s not like the dark side of the moon that we on Earth never see, it’s a side seen more often than we’d like in sports. 

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Posted in: Sportsmanship
17

Here’s a piece from the Athletic Business Newswire (Aug. 19, 2010) that underscores the importance of our sportsmanship efforts.

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Posted in: Sportsmanship
14

We need to put our foot back on the gas pedal of good sportsmanship in this decade. It’s not corny; it’s not trite; it’s not trivial.  It’s essential to educational athletics. 

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Posted in: Sportsmanship

About the Author

Jack Roberts

Jack Roberts has been at the helm of the MHSAA as its Executive Director since 1986, implementing programs and overseeing tournament administration and regulations for the Association which boasts 1,600 member schools, 13,000 registered officials and 13,000 head coaches.

During the last 38 years, Roberts has spoken to educator and athletic groups, business leaders and civic groups in more than 40 states and five Canadian provinces as one of the nation's most articulate advocates for school sports.

Roberts has served on several national association boards and is board president for the Refugee Development Center, and chair elect for the board of directors of the Michigan Society of Association Executives.

He is a 1970 graduate of Dartmouth College, where he was a three-year starter for the Ivy League's winningest football team during that span.

His wife, Peggy is coordinator of the Power of We Consortium. They are passionate world travelers and have two grown sons: John, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in education policy at Harvard; and Luke, who - with his wife, Alison - are teaching in China.