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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Oct. 12 – The Michigan High School Athletic Association created its Student Advisory Council four years ago to serve not only as the voice of high school student-athletes in the state, but also as a service arm of the organization. This month, the Council again provides leadership to its peers with the release of a publication written by its members and aimed at sports team captains.
Captains 101 – A Curriculum For Success, is a 24-page booklet designed for team captains to prepare them for their leadership role. The publication will encourage team captains in the proper way to communicate ideas with team members and others.
The book contains seven units – What Is A Team Captain?; Relationship With Your Coach; Relationship With Your Team; Relationship With Other Groups; Team Building; Start A Student Advisory Council At Your School; and a Self-Assessment unit. Each unit challenges team captains to take action in a way that helps set the tone for a successful educational athletic experience.
“A team captain gets thrust in their leadership role, and they don’t always know how to embrace it,” said Andy Frushour, the MHSAA’s Marketing and Special Program Coordinator who works with the Student Advisory Council. “Captains 101 offers some general thoughts on being a team captain and how to become an effective leader.”
Student Advisory Council members from the Classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011 contributed to the publication. From the Class of 2009: Abby Cohen, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood; Willie Cruz, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse; Michelle DeMuro, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer; Adam Dingman, Cedarville; Matt Herman, East Kentwood; Molly Lockwood, Fife Lake Forest Area; Jeff Petsch, Montague; and C.C. Weber, Goodrich. From the Class of 2010: Mackenzie Lawler, Okemos; Andrea McIntosh, Ann Arbor Greenhills; Elyse McKenna, Marine City Cardinal Mooney; Ryan Moore, Central Lake; Taylor Schultz, Richland Gull Lake; Nicole Trevarthen, Iron Mountain; Alex Van Tiem, Detroit U-D Jesuit; and Daniel Yats, Clare. From the Class of 2011: Alexa Bean, Livonia Clarenceville; Dustan Craig, Buchanan; Elizabeth Gupton, Lapeer West; Charles Hengesbach, Pewamo-Westphalia; Jay Miller, Ionia; Benjamin Olson, Troy; Amanda Smith, Bellevue; and Chloe Weaver, Climax-Scotts.
The publication, which will be distributed in quantity to each MHSAA member senior high school, was underwritten by the Ruster Advisory Board, the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the Michigan High School Coaches Association.
Here are comments from some of the Student Advisory Council members about the publication:
- Dan Yats, Clare High School: “After working for almost a year on this book, we are excited for the release and we’re hoping for a great response from the recipients.”
- Jay Miller, Ionia High School: “Coming into this council as a new member, I wasn’t involved with this process until the editing, but I could tell how passionate the seniors were about this book, and once I read it, I could tell why.”
- Elizabeth Gupton, Lapeer West High School: “After all of the work that our council put into the book, I am excited to see the reaction of future readers and the change in high school captains.”
Two years ago, the Student Advisory Council created a belief statement which is shown during every MHSAA televised event on FSDetroit and the MHSAA Network. The Council is a 16-member body made up of eight seniors and eight juniors, who each serve two year terms. The Council acts as the voice of Michigan's student-athletes; serves as a student sounding board for the MHSAA's Representative Council; assists in planning Sportsmanship Summits, Captain's Clinics and other student leadership events; participates in a yearly focus group about the state of high schools sports for Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports; and assists with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events.