BULLETIN
December 1998/January 1999 Volume LXXV Number 4

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
East Lansing, October 14, 1998

Members Present:
Robert Grimes, Battle Creek
Dennis Kniola, Stevensville
Tom Rashid, Detroit
Randy Salisbury, Britton
Robert Riemersma, Manistee

Staff Member Present:
Jack Roberts, East Lansing (Recorder)

Executive Committee Authority and Responsibility - The Executive Committee was reminded of its authority under Article VII of the MHSAA Constitution and specifically its responsibility to consider each application for waiver of an eligibility requirement on its individual merits, determining if the regulation serves the purpose for which it was intended in each case or if the regulation works an undue hardship on any student who is the subject of a request for waiver. (These underlying criteria may not be restated for every subject of this agenda.)

The Executive Committee was reminded that it was the responsibility of each member school involved to provide sufficient factual information about the specific request for the Executive Committee to reach a decision without further investigation. If information is incomplete, contradictory or otherwise unclear or has been received too late to be studied completely, the Executive Committee may deny the request for waiver or delay action. Such requests may be resubmitted to the Executive Committee with additional information at a subsequent meeting or appealed to the full Representative Council.

A determination of undue hardship is a matter addressed to the discretion of the Executive Committee within the educational philosophy and the place of voluntary extracurricular competitive athletics in the academic environment. The Executive Committee was cautioned to avoid making exceptions that would create precedent that effectively changes a rule without Representative Council action or local board of education adoption, which would exceed Executive Committee authority.
Students for whom waiver of a particular regulation is granted must be eligible in all respects under all other sections and interpretations of the regulations prior to participation.

Consistent with rulings of the Attorney General, schools are not bound by the decisions of the Executive Committee, but the Association may limit participation in the post-season tournaments it sponsors to those schools which apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education.

Hartland, Highland-Milford, White Lake-Lakeland and Linden High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - The Executive Committee previously reviewed the request to add Linden High School to the cooperative agreement in girls gymnastics that has existed with the other three schools since 1992. Hartland would be the primary school. At the Sept. 10, 1998 meeting of the Executive Committee, the application was approved with two conditions: (1) that there be no limit on the number of participants allowed to try out for or make the team from any single school; and (2) that in lieu of a conference resolution since no league exists for this sport, the primary school survey its scheduled opponents in girls gymnastics to obtain their endorsements for this expanded cooperative program. Because of the limited and negative response by scheduled opponents regarding the expansion of this cooperative agreement, the Executive Committee tabled this item.
Manistee and Manistee Catholic Central High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved the addition of girls soccer to the cooperative agreement that exists between these schools in boys and girls skiing and boys tennis. Manistee has sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school. The combined enrollment of 656 will keep the program in Division 3 of the MHSAA Girls Soccer Tournament.
Redford Union and Redford-Thurston High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Previously, the Executive Committee reviewed a cooperative program application in ice hockey between these schools, whose combined enrollment would be 2,136. Redford Union has sponsored the sport for two years and would be the primary school. At the Sept. 10, 1998 Executive Committee Meeting, the application was tabled with the intent that, before action is taken, Redford-Thurston High School must demonstrate that it could not support its own separate team and Redford Union High School must demonstrate that its program would have insufficient participants to be sustained without a cooperative program.
The Executive Committee reviewed additional materials, heard a presentation by Redford Union administration, and approved the cooperative agreement.
Ann Arbor-Huron High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who resided with his father in the Pioneer High School attendance area and this year is living with his mother in the Huron High School attendance area. He attends Community High School. The parents have been separated four years but are not divorced. At its Sept. 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the wording of exception #8 of the transfer regulation which specifically calls for a completed divorce and evidence of a dated divorce decree, and the committee discussed the reasons for such wording and abuses that could occur if less than final divorces were required. The committee determined that if separation of some length were to be equated with a divorce, such must be done by the full Representative Council through the regular legislative process and apply to all students. The request for waiver was denied.
At the same meeting, request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who has lived previously with his father and attended Ypsilanti-Willow Run High School and who has relocated to his mother's residence in the Huron attendance area. The parents have been separated but not divorced for five years. Citing its discussion of the previous item and determining that granting waiver would exceed its authority, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Both matters were resubmitted to the Executive Committee with the rationale that the periods of separation are sufficiently long to establish the same status as if the students' parents were subjects of divorce decrees.
The Executive Committee denied the requests for waiver.
Bloomfield Hills-Marian High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who attended Columbus School for Girls, a private, all-girls school in Columbus, Ohio, last school year and who moved with her family to Franklin, Michigan in late March. Marian is not the closest nonpublic school to that residence.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Burt Lake-Northern Michigan Christian Academy (Regulation I, Section 9[C]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Northern Michigan Christian Academy on behalf of a student who enrolled there March 10, 1998.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver, effective with the student's 91st school day of enrollment at Northern Michigan Christian Academy.
Carleton-Airport High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year on behalf of a 10th-grade student who has transferred from Riverview-Gabriel Richard High School where he did not participate in school sports.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver to allow sub-varsity participation only during the first semester of the current school year.
Dearborn High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the 1998-99 school year for a foreign student who has completed three years of secondary school in Ireland and has been placed in the 10th grade for this school year.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that immediate eligibility on any level for foreign students may only occur after proper placement by a CSIET-listed exchange program.
Detroit-U of D Jesuit High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student from St. Charles Prep, an all-boys diocesan run high school in Columbus, Ohio. The family had originally intended to rent a house close to U of D Jesuit High School, but the owners backed out; so the family rented a house in Franklin, which is closer to another nonpublic school.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Gaylord High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attends Alma High School where he has played football and basketball. The family owns in Alma their residence that will be vacant Oct. 30, 1998 and a rental house that has been listed for sale and has a purchase agreement on it. They will live in their lake residence within the Gaylord School District, with the student transferring Nov. 2, 1998. The father will spend many weeknights with his parents in Vestaburg until Jan. 15, 1999, when he retires from his teaching position in Alma.
The Executive Committee determined that the student becomes eligible under the transfer regulation when he and his parents have vacated their Alma residence and moved into the Gaylord residence and the student is properly enrolled at Gaylord High School, but that this student's eligibility will be terminated at all MHSAA member schools if the relocations do not occur as described and if the father is not residing full time with his wife and the student in Gaylord by the first day of the second semester of the current school year.
Grand Rapids-Catholic Central High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who attended Grand Rapids-West Catholic High School for two years while residing with her parents in the Kenowa Hills district until April of 1998 when she and her mother relocated to Grandville. In August, she enrolled at Catholic Central High School, which is one mile further than West Catholic from her new residence.
The Executive Committee noted that the student would have remained eligible at West Catholic which is closer and from which compelling reasons for transfer are not provided. The request for waiver was denied.
Grand Rapids-Union High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A 12th-grade student, who attended Union High School in 9th grade and attended Morley-Stanwood High School for 10th and 11th grades, transferred to Union High School for the start of the 1998-99 school year. An Educational Transfer Form utilizing the 18 year old exception was completed by both schools and the MHSAA office, after which the student participated briefly in one contest before his 18th birthday.
An administrator from Union High School and its league met with the Executive Committee, which found no essential facts in dispute. The Executive Committee determined that the Educational Transfer Form signed by both school principals contained no factual errors and, when signed by the MHSAA staff and confirmed by telephone, represented at the time of the student's participation an official, written decision of the MHSAA that the student was eligible.
Grosse Pointe North High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who previously attended Grosse Pointe South High School and, as an 11th-grader, was harassed there and was subject of a death threat by a student there. At its Sept. 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee granted the request for waiver contingent upon documentation being submitted which is satisfactory to the executive director to confirm that Grosse Pointe South High School substantiates the facts and supports the request.
The decision of Grosse Pointe South High School was to take no position and allow the request of Grosse Pointe North High School to stand on its own. Therefore, the executive director returned the item for the Executive Committee's review.
In the absence of any additional documentation, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Holland Christian High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request was made to waive the transfer regulation on behalf of a 12th-grade student who attended Holland Christian High School in 10th and 11th grades and started 12th grade there. He transferred to Holland-West Ottawa High School for one day.
Because the student returned after a brief time to his original school, the request for waiver was granted.
Jackson High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Jackson-Northwest High School last year and until Sept. 23 of this school year and participated in a cooperative program in swimming and diving with Jackson High School.
The Executive Committee noted that the Representative Council in May determined that the circumstances presented in this matter should not become the 16th exception to the transfer regulation and that now granting waiver of the transfer regulation would exceed the Executive Committee's authority, essentially establishing an exception which the Council rejected; therefore, the request for waiver was denied.
Jackson-Lumen Christi High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who has relocated from his parents in Miami, Florida to Jackson where his grandparents are in poor health, requiring frequent trips to Jackson by his parents. At its Sept. 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver. The request was resubmitted.
The Executive Committee found no new information and denied the request for waiver.
Jenison High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian High School last year and did not participate in any sports.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver to allow sub-varsity participation only during the first semester of the current school year.
Kalamazoo-Hackett Catholic Central High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student from Lawton who did not change his residence after witnessing a gang attack in the Kalamazoo area.
The Executive Committee found no compelling reason for this transfer from Lawton to the Kalamazoo school when the situation occurred in Kalamazoo and involved no other person from Lawton. The request for waiver was denied.
Kingsley High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year. The student began the school year at Traverse City Christian High School. He transferred to Kingsley on its 9th day of classes and without ever participating in practices or competition at Traverse City Christian High School.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver to allow sub-varsity participation only during the first semester of the current school year.
Parma-Western High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Jackson-Lumen Christi High School last year where he did not participate in any school sports.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver to allow sub-varsity participation only during the first semester of the current school year.
Petoskey High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year on behalf of a 10th-grade student who last year attended Petoskey-Concord Academy where he did not play any school sports.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver to allow sub-varsity participation only during the first semester of the current school year.
Pinconning High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Pinconning High School during the 1997-98 school year through part of the second semester when she transferred to Birmingham-Seaholm, living with her mother. She returned to live with her father at the start of the 1998-99 school year and reenrolled at Pinconning High School. The parents have never married. A birth certificate was provided identifying that she is relocating from one biological parent to the other.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver pending receipt of the Educational Transfer Form signed by both schools. The student may not later use the divorce exception to the transfer regulation.
Pontiac Northern High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Pontiac Central High School prior to May 12, 1998. He participated on the boys cross country team this fall in violation of eligibility rules, as the student moved from the residence of his parents to that of his sister. Both parents have a history of substance abuse.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver pending independent documentation satisfactory to the executive director to substantiate the status of the mother and father.
Romulus High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment was made on behalf of a student who previously attended Taylor-Truman High School and who attempted to transfer to Taylor-Kennedy High School to avoid racial conflict. He was not allowed to enroll there and asked to leave Truman. After students came to his neighborhood, he relocated from his father's residence in Taylor to his uncle's residence in Romulus.
The request for waiver was denied because the information presented was insufficient to reach any other conclusion.
Saginaw-Buena Vista High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who attended Buena Vista High School in 9th grade until being transferred to a Christian high school to avoid what his parents believed were gang activities and an unsafe environment at Buena Vista. He has been returned to Buena Vista because the parents believe he has matured and the school environment has been improved. At its Sept. 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver. The matter was resubmitted.
The Executive Committee found no new information submitted and denied the request for waiver.
Warren-Cousino High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who previously attended East Detroit High School. He was removed by Child Protective Services from his residence in that district because of an abusive stepfather and is now living with his aunt and uncle in the Cousino district.
The request for waiver was granted.
Jonesville High School (Regulation II, Section 15) - A late request to participate in the Boys Soccer Tournament was made on behalf of a 12th-grade foreign exchange student through the CSIET-listed program "Face the World." He was placed with a host family in Concord. He transferred to Jonesville in August from Concord High School, which would not accept his placement because it exceeded the number of foreign exchange students local policy allows it to enroll. As a result, the student's name was left off the Master Eligibility List which, by MHSAA policy, may not have additions after the District Tournament draw.
The request for waiver was denied.
South Haven-Baseline Middle School and South Haven-St. Basil School (Regulation III, Section 1[D]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in boys and girls basketball, girls volleyball, wrestling and football. Baseline Middle School forfeited a Sept. 16 football game for utilizing one or more St. Basil students prior to St. Basil becoming a member school and this cooperative program being approved.
Williamston Middle School (Regulation III, Section 3) - Request was made to waive the physical examination requirement on behalf of an 8th-grade student whose family members are Christian Scientists.
Noting that the Representative Council had thoroughly reviewed this topic and made no changes, the Executive Committee determined that the request for waiver must be denied.
Spring Lake High School (Regulation V, Section 3[A]) - On Sept. 3, 1998 in a varsity boys soccer game, the coach removed his team from the field.
The Executive Committee reviewed the school's response and determined no further follow-up would be required if continuing monitoring of the program showed no occurrences of sportsmanship problems by the coach.
Boys Soccer Tournament - Beaver Island High School, which never before entered the MHSAA Boys Soccer Tournament, has entered and intends to participate. In the draw for the eight-team District No. 64, it drew line 5, which means it hosts the first round game and, should it win, a second round game. This creates an extraordinary, impossible to have anticipated travel expense for its opponents.
The Executive Committee authorized an MHSAA payment of not more than $315 toward travel expenses for Beaver Island High School opponent(s) traveling to Beaver Island for the first-round games (and second, if necessary) in the MHSAA 1998 Boys District Soccer Tournament. The Executive Committee referred to the Soccer Committee and/or Finance Committee the responsibility to develop a policy for future soccer tournaments involving Beaver Island High School.
Representative Council - The Executive Committee reviewed a draft agenda for the Dec. 2, 1998 meeting.
Next Meetings - The next meetings of the Executive Committee are Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing and Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 8:30 a.m. in Traverse City.

Members Present:
Robert Grimes, Battle Creek
Dennis Kniola, Stevensville
Tom Rashid, Detroit
Dan Flynn, Escanaba
Gerry David, Gaylord

Staff Members Present:
Jerry Cvengros, East Lansing
Jack Roberts, East Lansing (Recorder)

Executive Committee Authority and Responsibility - The Executive Committee was reminded of its authority under Article VII of the MHSAA Constitution and specifically its responsibility to consider each application for waiver of an eligibility requirement on its individual merits, determining if the regulation serves the purpose for which it was intended in each case or if the regulation works an un-due hardship on any student who is the subject of a request for waiver. (These underlying criteria may not be restated for every subject of this agenda.)

The Executive Committee was reminded that it was the responsibility of each member school involved to provide sufficient factual information about the specific request for the Executive Committee to reach a decision without further investigation. If information is incomplete, contradictory or otherwise unclear or has been received too late to be studied completely, the Executive Committee may deny the request for waiver or delay action. Such requests may be resubmitted to the Executive Committee with additional information at a subsequent meeting or appealed to the full Representative Council.

A determination of undue hardship is a matter addressed to the discretion of the Executive Committee within the educational philosophy and the place of voluntary extracurricular competitive athletics in the academic environment. The Executive Committee was cautioned to avoid making exceptions that would create precedent that effectively changes a rule without Representative Council action or local board of education adoption, which would exceed Executive Committee authority.

Students for whom waiver of a particular regulation is granted must be eligible in all respects under all other sections and interpretations of the regulations prior to participation.

Consistent with rulings of the Attorney General, schools are not bound by the decisions of the Executive Committee, but the Association may limit participation in the postseason tournaments it sponsors to those schools which apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education.

Bellaire & Alba High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved cooperative programs between these schools in baseball, boys track and field and girls track and field commencing in the spring of 1999. Bellaire has sponsored these sports previously and will be the primary school. The combined enrollment of 245 places the program in Division 4 for baseball and Class D for track and field with respect to MHSAA post-season tournaments.
Hartland, Highland-Milford, White Lake-Lakeland and Linden High Schools (Regulation I, Sec-tion 1[F]) - The Executive Committee previously reviewed the request to add Linden High School to the cooperative agreement in girls gymnastics that has existed with the other three schools since 1992. Hartland would be the primary school. At the Sept. 10, 1998 meeting of the Executive Committee, the application was approved with two conditions: (1) that there be no limit on the number of participants allowed to try out for or make the team from any single school; and (2) that the primary school survey its scheduled opponents in girls gymnastics to obtain their endorsements for this expanded cooperative program. Because of the limited and negative response by scheduled opponents regarding the expansion of this cooperative agreement, the Executive Committee tabled this item at its October meeting.
Because the league endorsement was not provided and several of the league members indicated they do not support the expansion of this cooperative program, the Executive Committee did not approve the addition of Linden High School.
Bloomingdale High School (Regulation I, Sections 4 & 5) - Request was made to waive the maximum semesters regulation for a student who began his fourth first semester and his seventh semester overall in the fall of 1997. He competed in one varsity football scrimmage before being suspended from school Sept. 25, 1997. He did not return to school during the 1997-98 school year but is now enrolled in his fifth first semester and eighth semester overall.
On the basis of the information provided, the Executive Committee denied the requests for waiver.
Adrian High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation for sub-varsity competition only was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who transferred to Adrian High School from Tecumseh High School on Oct. 15, 1998 when his mother was incarcerated. The student's father lives in Grand Rapids and has not sought to have the student live with him, whereas the student's grandmother in Adrian has done so. The student did not play sports at Tecumseh High School.
The Executive Committee granted the request, allowing the student immediate eligibility only at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year.
Athens High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of two students— an 11th-grade male and a 10th-grade female—who had attended Athens Schools for many years. They both enrolled at Howell High School for the start of the 1998-99 school year, both living at the residence of the parents of the 10th-grade female student. They re-turned to Athens Oct. 21, 1998, each living in the grandparents' residence he/she had left. Neither participated in athletics at Howell.
The Executive Committee denied the request for immediate unrestricted eligibility for either student. Provided she has not participated in any sport at any high school, the 10th-grade student may participate only at the sub-varsity level during the second semester of the current school year.
Battle Creek-Harper Creek High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who lived with his grandmother and/or his aunt and uncle from 5th grade (when his mother abandoned him) until the second week of the current school year when he moved to Rockford to live on his own. He seeks to return to Battle Creek to reside with his relatives again and participate in wrestling at Harper Creek.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Carson City-Crystal High School (Regulation I, Section 9[C]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Carson City-Crystal High School was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who enrolled there Oct. 5, 1998. He continues to reside out of the district. He previously attended Pewamo-Westphalia High School.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver effective with the student's 91st school day of enrollment at Carson City-Crystal High School.
Dearborn High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the 1998-99 school year for a foreign student who has completed three years of secondary school in Ireland and has been placed in the 10th grade for this school year. At its October meeting, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that immediate eligibility on any level for foreign students may only occur after proper placement by a CSIET-listed exchange program.
Upon further review, The Executive Committee determined that this student was born of American citizens in the United States, has been living with his parents in Ireland, and cannot participate in CSIET exchange programs to the United States. The student's placement in the 10th grade is appropriate both in terms of his age and his years in school. The request for waiver was granted, allowing the student immediate eligibility only at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year.
Detroit-Urban Lutheran High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level only during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who previously attended Tree of Life Christian Alternative School in Detroit where she did not participate in high school sports.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Farwell High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who has relocated from the residence of her stepfather's aunt in Lapeer to her mother's parents in Farwell. The student's parents divorced when she was in 1st grade. The student's biological father is an alcoholic who she rarely sees and lives in Mt. Pleasant. The student's mother remarried when the student was in 4th grade. The student lived with her mother when she was separated from her second husband, but the student found it necessary to relocate when her mother reconciled. She relocated first to her stepfather's aunt, then to her mother's parents.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver with the condition that if the student were to relocate to a new school district to reside with her mother or father, she would become ineligible for one full semester.
Flint--Carman-Ainsworth High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a student whose father died three years ago and whose mother has cancer. He moved from Flushing to his uncle's residence and then to his grandmother's residence, both within the Carman-Ainsworth attendance area.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Grosse Pointe North High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who previously attended Grosse Pointe South High School and, as an 11th-grader, was harassed there and was subject of a death threat by a student there. At its Sept. 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee granted the request for waiver contingent upon documentation being submitted which is satisfactory to the executive director to confirm that Grosse Pointe South High School substantiates the facts and supports the request.
The decision of Grosse Pointe South High School was to take no position and allow the request of Grosse Pointe North High School to stand on its own. Therefore, the executive director returned the item for the Executive Committee's review on Oct. 14, 1998. In the absence of any additional documentation, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
After a presentation from and discussion with an administrator of Grosse Pointe North High School, the Executive Committee determined that the request for waiver should be denied, noting (1) that there is not only no substantiation of the facts by Grosse Pointe South High School administration, but also much concern from the Grosse Pointe South community regarding this student's transfer; (2) the student can participate in non-school hockey for the health benefits it provides him; and (3) the student may participate in high school hockey competition effective with the first day of the second semester of the current school year.
Hillsdale High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made to permit immediate eligibility at the sub-varsity level for a 9th-grade transfer student who did not participate in any high school sports when living in Minnesota. He resides with his aunt and uncle.
The Executive Committee granted the request, allowing the student immediate eligibility only a the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year.
Jackson-Lumen Christi High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who has relocated from his parents in Miami, Florida to Jackson where his grandparents are in poor health, requiring frequent trips to Jackson by his parents. At its Sept. 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver. The request was resubmitted for the Oct. 14 meeting, but the Executive Committee found no new information and denied the request for waiver. The matter was resubmitted with additional information from the student's parents.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Jackson-Lumen Christi High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Jackson High School administration alleged that an 11th-grade student transferred from Jackson High School to Lumen Christi High School primarily for athletic reasons and should remain ineligible for two semesters under Sec-tion 9(D) of the transfer regulation. After receiving the response of Lumen Christi administration, MHSAA staff concurred with the allegation, noting that sub-parts 1, 2 and 3 of Section 9(D) are particularly applicable to this student's situation.
An administrator of Lumen Christi High School accompanied by the student, one or his brothers and his father, met with the Executive Committee. The Catholic tradition of the family and the importance of academics were stressed in their presentation and discussion with the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee denied the request to waive the second semester of ineligibility, noting that the transfer for Catholic education was delayed two years and occurred only after the student had expressed concern for the basketball program, which was admitted to be the source of the student's academic difficulties.
Jackson-Northwest High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level only during the current school year for a 9th-grade student who transferred from Brooklyn-Columbia Central to Jackson-Northwest, when the student and his mother moved from the residence of his father in Brooklyn to the residence of his grandfather in the Northwest district in October. The student did not participate in school sports at Columbia Central.
The Executive Committee granted the request, allowing the student immediate eligibility only a the sub-varsity level during the 1998-99 school year.
Request to waive the transfer regulation to allow eligibility at the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the current school year was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who has not participated previously in any high school sport.
The Executive Committee granted the request, allowing the student immediate eligibility only a the sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1998-99 school year.
St. Clair Shores-Lakeview High School (Regulation I, Section 9[C]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Lakeview High School was made on behalf of a student who previously attended Harper Woods-Notre Dame High School and enrolled at Lakeview on March 9, 1998.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver effective with the student's 91st school day of enrollment at Lakeview High School.
Westland-Lutheran High School Westland (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who attended Lutheran High School Westland for both semesters of 9th and 10th grades and the first semester of 11th grade when she moved to Australia with her parents, one of whom is involved in a year-long teacher exchange pro-gram. The family will return to the same residence in Southfield, but Lutheran High School Westland is not the closest nonpublic school.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Troy School District (Regulation II, Section 11) - At its Sept. 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee approved the request by the two Troy high schools to practice in girls swimming and diving in the same pool at the same time due to construction at one of the district's pools. Now the request comes to extend this waiver to boys swimming and diving through completion of the project.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Wyoming-Godwin Heights and Wyoming-Kelloggsville Middle Schools (Regulation III, Section 1) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in boys and girls swimming between these schools.
New School - The Executive Committee approved the application for MHSAA membership for Grand Rapids-North Hills Classical Academy, a private Christian school which at the time of the MHSAA staff visit consisted of 16 7th and 8th-graders and 32 students in grades 9-12, but anticipating 75 to 100 students in high school grades eventually. It anticipates offering cross country and track and field for boys and girls. Because the school's Membership Resolution was received after the fourth Friday after Labor Day, the school may not participate in MHSAA tournaments during the 1998-99 school year.
Football Playoff Finals - The 10-year contract for the MHSAA Football Playoff Finals at the Pontiac Silverdome expires at the conclusion of the 1999 Finals. Uncertainty exists regarding the future of the Silverdome and the availability, features, terms and conditions of the new stadium in Detroit; so staff has inquired if terms of the agreement might be extended an additional five years.
The Executive Committee advised staff to continue negotiations with the Silverdome but not to agree to the conditions being presented by the Silverdome at this time.
Next Meeting - The next meeting of the Executive Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1998, at 8:30 a.m. in Traverse City (Representative Council Meeting at 11 a.m.). Thereafter, the Executive Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, in East Lansing; 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999, in East Lansing (Finance Committee Meeting to follow); and 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 25, 1999, in East Lansing.

From the Executive Director

This message begins with a confession and apology. No, not like those of the nation's highest office-holder.

My confession and regret is that the featured topic of this Update Meeting really isn't all that important. A hot topic? You bet it is. But an important topic? No, not really. How schools qualify for the Football Playoffs is not a defining issue of school sports.

More important is what we did last month when more people gathered in Lansing than at any other time and any other place to discuss sportsmanship. That's important; that's a defining issue of school sports.

More important is what we're going to do about baseball and softball bat performance and participant safety; what we're going to do about head protection for pole vaulters, skiers and even soccer players; what we're going to do about creatine, over-the-counter drugs and legal nutritional supplements that sometimes enhance athletic performance but at unknown risks to growing adolescent bodies. Health and safety. That's important; that's a defining issue of school athletics.

More important is what we're going to do about some of our eligibility regulations that occasionally frustrate more than facilitate schools' and students' goals and objectives. Scholarship; that is, scholarship in high school, not scholarships to college. That's important; and that's a defining issue of school sports.

More important is what we're going to do about those who keep pushing the envelope in terms of length of season, number of contests, extent of travel, including our own National Federation of State High School Associations which seems obsessed with conducting national competitive programs and promotions for schools in order to enhance its own prestige. The scope of school sports. That's important; that's a defining issue.

There are many conflicts and controversies that press in on us. But I urge all who care about school sports to find time, even make time, to focus on these fundamental issues.

If we do, educational athletics will be better in Michigan than in other places. School sports in Michigan will be better next year than this year, better next decade than this decade, better for the sons and daughters of our sons and daughters than the experience was for us.
School sports and this association are not perfect. School sports and this association have a lot we can do to improve.

But I am proud of what you do, and proud of where we are headed together.

Pure, wholesome, amateur (even in tennis), educational, inexpensive, local school athletics. That's what's entrusted to us. That's our niche in the world of sports.

Watching the September chase to break Babe Ruth's home run record, I noticed in the crowd Hall of Famer Stan Musial. This reminded me of the time when a rookie pitcher faced "Stan the Man" for the first time.

The young pitcher looked in for the sign, and his catcher signaled for a slider. The pitcher shook him off. Next, the catcher signaled for a curve, and the young hurler shook him off. Then the catcher signaled for a fast ball, and again the young hurler shook him off. Finally the catcher signaled for a change-up, and his pitcher again shook him off.

So the catcher called time-out and walked to the mound. "Look, kid," he said. "You've shaken off every pitch you have. What are you trying to do?"

The young pitcher looked at Stan the Man and then looked at the ball, and said, "I'm just trying to hold onto the ball as long as I can."

Ladies and gentlemen, that's not bad advice. We face intimidating opposition in school sports. Let's hold onto what's pure and precious about school sports for as long as we can.

In this space in the next four issues of the Bulletin, we'll spend some time discussing the four critically important and defining issues outlined in this editorial.

Health & Safety

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Board of Directors, acting on a recommendation from the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, has stated that pre-participation physical evaluations for high school student-athletes are a necessary and desirable precondition to interscholastic athletic practice and competition.

Since state laws and local conditions vary, however, the NFHS Board of Directors determined that the creation of a standardized national pre-participation physical evaluation procedure would not be practical.

Although a standardized national pre-participation procedure was not recommended at this time, the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee suggested that there are some common goals being pursued by organizations that require pre-participation physical evaluations. Because the athletic, medical and legal purposes served by such evaluations continue to evolve, the committee believes that such forms should be reviewed and revised on a regular basis.

Following is a portion of the statement formulated by the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and adopted by the NFHS Board of Directors:

"In the opinion of the NFHS, promulgating organizations should review their student-athlete evaluation procedures not less often than every three years. Such reviews are often conducted in consultation with specially constituted sports medicine advisory committees or with physicians practicing in the fields of pediatrics, orthopedics or cardiology.

"The NFHS believes that each such review should include an assessment of the applicability of any recent statutory and regulatory actions. In addition, the reviewers may consider the proper frequency for such evaluations, whether use of a specific pre-participation physical evaluation form should be required, the appropriateness of any sport-specific assessment of a student-athlete's musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and body maturation status, and who should be authorized to perform such evaluations."

Jerry Diehl, assistant director of the NFHS and staff liaison to the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, noted that the committee formulated its statement after thorough consultation with physicians across the country.

"Physicians have strongly advised the NFHS that a comprehensive inquiry into each student-athlete's medical history is a key indicator of potential health problems," Diehl said. "The NFHS believes that this type of inquiry should be part of every pre-participation physical evaluation."

Member schools of the Michigan High School Athletic Association voted in October to revise the MHSAA Constitution with respect to the Detroit Public School’s Participation on the MHSAA Representative Council and in elections thereto.

Presently, the MHSAA Constitution assumes that all of the high schools of the Detroit Public Schools are Class A and B schools. In recent years, however, new smaller schools have been opened by the Detroit Public Schools, including at present seven Class C and D MHSAA member schools.

Because of the current wording of the MHSAA Constitution, faculty of those seven schools are not eligible to be candidates for, or vote in, the election for Representative Council members for the City of Detroit.

The change adopted by the October vote of the MHSAA member schools does not create a second position on the Representative Council for the City of Detroit, but allows one representative from the City of Detroit to come from schools of any classification and allows those schools, regardless of classification, to vote.

Of the 509 legal and complete ballots received, 401 (79%) voted in favor of the amendment while 108 schools (21%) voted to not approve the amendment. Sixty-six incomplete ballots were received.

The change is effective Aug. 1, 1999.

The only blemish on the MHSAA's litigation record of the past 12 years has been the Kirby case of 1995. On Nov. 3, 1998, the Michigan Supreme Court removed that blemish in a unanimous reversal of the judgment of the Court of Appeals and the Genesee County Circuit Court.

Lake Fenton High School was eliminated in the District level of the 1995 MHSAA Team Wrestling Tournament by New Lothrop, which subsequently reported the use of an ineligible participant. A student, joined by Lake Fenton High School, sued the MHSAA over its policy of not advancing defeated teams in MHSAA tournaments.

The Circuit Court granted injunctive relief to the plaintiffs only after the Semifinals of the Regional Tournament were completed and the first match of the Regional Finals was underway. Tournament management was directed to continue the Regional Finals. For this action, the Circuit Court found the MHSAA executive director in contempt and fined the MHSAA. The Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court.

The Michigan Supreme Court has published a 23 page opinion that provides outstanding precedent on which the MHSAA can depend in the face of future controversies, especially those arising out of MHSAA administration of its post-season tournaments. According to the Supreme Court,

". . . the schools have agreed that tournaments will be run by the MHSAA. Inevitably, this agreement empowers the MHSAA to deal reasonably with situations outside its rule book as they arise."

The recent decision provides reaffirmation of three earlier cases: a unanimous 1991 Supreme Court's decision which upheld the MHSAA's forfeiture rule, a 1986 Court of Appeals decision which upheld the transfer rule, and a 1985 Court of Appeals decision which upheld the maximum age rule.

Michigan's largest daily newspaper, the Detroit Free Press, will partner with the Michigan High School Athletic Association to promote its events and to provide printed special editions at four MHSAA championships during the 1998-99 school year.

Beginning with the MHSAA Football Playoff Finals at the Pontiac Silverdome on Nov. 27-28, and the Girls Basketball Semifinals and Finals at Mt. Pleasant, Dec. 3-5, the Free Press will print and distribute a special edition of the newspaper at each finals venue on a daily basis.

The special edition will include previews of upcoming games, coverage of games already played and features. The special edition will be available in limited quantities to spectators at each event.

Special editions of the Free Press will also be provided for the Lower Peninsula Individual Wrestling Finals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, March 11-13, 1999; and the Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, March 25-27.

In addition, the Free Press will provide the Association with advertising space to promote upcoming tournaments during the months of November, December and March.

"As a result of this partnership, fans coming to selected MHSAA championships will be able to read about their favorite teams, and those teams will be provided with additional recognition for reaching the finals of those tournaments," said John E. "Jack" Roberts, executive director of the MHSAA. "The promotional value of the package will also make everyone across the state more aware of the Association's tournaments."

"We've always felt high school sports are extremely important, so we're delighted with the partnership with the MHSAA," said Heath Meriwether, publisher of the Detroit Free Press. "These special editions are a natural extension of Mick McCabe's award-winning coverage and our annual Scholar-Athlete section honoring the state's top student athletes."

The first fall sports recipients have been selected to be honored through the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Sports Nutrition Award program, underwritten by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.

For the past three years, the Sports Nutrition Award focused on wrestling, and awarded over $75,000 in grants, scholarships and prizes during that time. For the first time in 1998-99, the program has been extended to honor schools in the 24 sports in which the MHSAA sponsors postseason tournaments.

Six of the schools were selected in a drawing from all of the entries received in their respective sports to receive a $1,000 cash grant for their program, and a $500 scholarship for a student-athlete chosen by their own criteria. In addition, a seventh school was honored after being judged to have conducted the most creative nutrition education program of all the entries submitted. The merit award will present a $2,000 cash grant to a school's sports program and a $1,000 scholarship to a student-athlete of its choosing.

The Sports Nutrition Award program is part of UDIM's sports nutrition education campaign, which is the focus of its partnership with the MHSAA. Schools in all sports were invited to participate in a program where they could implement a nutrition education program from a variety of options. Schools only needed to provide verification of participation in the program, to become eligible for the prize drawing.

The fall sports scholarship recipients will be honored at ceremonies at halftime of the Class C championship game of the MHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament at the Rose Arena in Mt. Pleasant on Dec. 5.

The schools chosen to receive fall Sports Nutrition Awards are: Girls Basketball -- Saranac High School, Head Coach Robert Koerner, nutrition liaison Cindy Koerner; scholarship recipient Jodie Huver. Boys Cross Country -- Sandusky High School, Head Coach Wayne Roberts, nutrition liaison Sandra Roberts; scholarship recipient Ryan Brown. Girls Cross Country -- Northville High School, Head Coach Chris Cronin, nutrition liaison Karin Nelson; scholarship recipient Alexis Troschinetz. Football -- Saginaw Swan Valley High School, Head Coach Chuck Koons, nutrition liaisons Greg Whitney and Mark Sanger; scholarship recipient Andy Ramirez. Girls Swimming & Diving -- Mt. Pleasant High School, Head Coach Deb McAlpin, nutrition liaison Nate Tomson; scholarship recipient Regan Goodrich. Girls Tennis -- Davison High School, Head Coach & Nutrition Liaison Jennifer Hall; scholarship recipient Jessica Sprovtsoff.

All of the applications were considered for the Merit Award, given to the school judged to have the most creative sports nutrition education program. A committee of UDIM and MHSAA representatives selected the girls cross country application from Warren Mott High School. The head coach is Mark Urquhart, the nutrition liaison is Michele Urquhart, and the scholarship recipient is Kathy Harenski.

All schools which participated in Sports Nutrition Award program will be recognized with a certificate. Information for winter sports will be mailed soon to head coaches at each MHSAA member senior high school, and with the award recipients to be named in March, and the scholarship recipients to be honored at the Boys Basketball Finals in East Lansing on March 27. The spring sports recipients will be honored by the Girls Soccer Finals at Canton on June 12.

With headquarters in Okemos, UDIM is a non-profit, member-driven association that conducts a total promotion program for Michigan produced milk and other real dairy products.

Members Present:
Charmaine Balsillie, Whitmore Lake
Carol Brewis, Dearborn-Divine Child
Lorin Cartwright, Ann Arbor-Pioneer
Delores Elswick, Detroit-Renaissance
Linda Ishmiel, Flint-MI School for the Deaf
Earl Jaramillo, Bay City-Handy Intermediate
Karen Leinaar, Delton--Delton-Kellogg
Terry Mileski, Escanaba
Joyce Seals, MI Department of Education
Ruth Watson, Benton Harbor

Staff Member Present:
Nate Hampton, East Lansing (Recorder)

Following the welcome and introduction of committee members, the committee was reminded of its authority and responsibility. Noting that all recommendations will be directed to the Representative Council or a specific sport committee for action.

The meeting continued with a review of the 1997 committee minutes, the recommendations made to the Representative Council and Council's actions on those recommendations. The 1997 recommendations to the Representative Council included:
a) Conduct the officials' ethnicity and gender survey of registered officials every third year. (Adopted)
b) Add girls' pole vault to the order of track and field events. (Adopted)
c) Regarding change in sport seasons: should the Representative Council consider change of sport seasons, the rationales for change presented by the Kent Intermediate Superintendent's Association, should not be a part of the considerations. (Noted)
d) Form study group to consider MHSAA sponsorship of tournaments for sports that may not meet the current policy of 70 schools sponsoring. (Noted)
e) Continue to intensify efforts in fostering and encouraging women and minority women and men to become athletic officials, coaches and athletic administrators. (Adopted)

MHSAA executive director John E. Roberts provided an update regarding litigation initiated by a non-school group that attempts to require the MHSAA to require its member schools to change the sports they sponsor, align high school sports seasons with college seasons, follow college rules for some sports and change times, days and sites of some regular season contests and postseason tournaments.

Following the update by executive director John E. Roberts, discussions centered on Title IX and school compliance issues. Several members of the committee shared their experiences with OCR audits and other compliance complaints that referenced cheerleaders for girls teams, pep bands for girls teams, establishing new sports for girls and the financing for the additional efforts made for girls teams.

Discussions continued with topics that included: survey results sampling the ethnic make up of registered officials from 1995-October, 1998; National Federation Equity Committee update; Title IX issues of compliance; girls pole vault; Women in Sports Leadership Conference; use of non-bias gender free language; and selection of women officials for girls tournaments and inclusion of women in the selection process for traditionally male sports.

Discussion continued, with traditional language used by athletes, coaches, officials and spectators that may be considered inappropriate and ethnically and gender insensitive. The committee further discussed ways that the MHSAA could better initiate "awareness" to all concerned in using inclusive, bias-free language.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
1) To assist member schools with increasing questions and complaints involving Title IX, the committee strongly urges the MHSAA to hold a one-day conference with the OCR involved in the presentations.
2) Continue to evaluate sport interest of member school students as well as the current regulation that requires MHSAA tournament sponsorship when 10 percent of member schools sponsor a sport.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MHSAA STAFF
1) Via articles in MHSAA publications bring to the awareness of the membership issues involving language use that may be considered inappropriate in educational sport. Language to be addressed includes, but is not limited to cursing, insensitivity to gender, ethnicity and cultural concepts and in general disrespect for fellow human beings.
The committee adjourned following lunch and the viewing of the videotape "You Got Next".

Members Present:
Keith Alto, Newberry
Russ Bailey, Ewen-Trout Creek
Dan Flynn, Escanaba
Dick Koski, Negaunee
Don Poshak, Calumet
Ron Warner, Lake Linden-Hubbell

Staff Member Present:
Jerry Cvengros, East Lansing (Recorder)

1. Boys Basketball District Tournament Sites - The following sites were selected to host 1999 District Basketball Tournaments:
Class A - Marquette; Class B - Ishpeming-Westwood; Class C - Newberry, Negaunee, Ironwood and West Iron County; Class D - DeTour, Engadine, Mid Peninsula, North Central, Ewen-Trout Creek and Ontonagon.

2. Regional Basketball Tournaments -
A. Class C & D Regionals 24 & 32 will be held at Northern Michigan University

Thursday, March 18--C - 6 p.m.; C - 8 p.m.
Friday, March 19--D - 6 p.m; C - 12 noon
Saturday, March 20--D - 8 p.m.; D - 3 p.m
B. Class D Regional 31 with Lower Peninsula teams will be held at Pellston High School.
C. Class B Regional will be played at downstate site.

3. Class D Quarterfinal - If the Regional winner 31 is from the Upper Peninsula, the game will be held at Escanaba High School. If the Regional winner is from the Lower Peninsula, the game will be played at Gaylord High School.
4. Volleyball - Three separate tournaments will be held in 1999. In Class A-B, all seven teams will compete in the single final tournament at Escanaba High School on Saturday, March 20, 1999. Class C Regionals will be held at: Manistique, Munising, West Iron County, and Houghton high schools.
Class D Regionals will be held at: Brimley, Bark River, North Dickinson and White Pine high schools.
Regionals are scheduled for either Saturday, March 13 or Monday, March 15.
Final tournaments are scheduled for: Rudyard, Class C and Rapid River, Class D. Start times for finals at all sites will be at noon EST.
Pairings at the Finals:
Class C: Manistique Region 33 vs. West Iron County Region 35; and Munising Region 34 vs. Ironwood Region 36.
Class D: Brimley Region 37 vs. White Pine Region 40; and Bark River Region 38 vs. North Dickinson Region 39.

5. Wrestling - Officials for the 1999 Individual Finals at Menominee will be made by the UP Committee after the 1998-99 Wrestling Rules Meeting.

6. Golf - Bark River-Harris was selected to host the 1999 UP Class D Golf Finals.

7. Track & Field - Kingsford High School was selected to host the 2000 and 2001 UP Track & Field Finals.
UP schools hosting 1999 Track & Field Regional tournaments will be allowed to conduct competition on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, May 26, 27, or 28, rather than May 21-22 as previously scheduled.

8. The committee reviewed the results of the recent survey of UP schools to determine preferences of participation in statewide tournaments in various sports now conducted on a UP basis only. Survey results indicated that a majority of schools, 22, favored statewide competition in girls volleyball while 15 schools preferred continuing a U.P. only tournament. By an 18-13 margin, schools favored a UP only cross country tournament. All results will be reviewed by the Representative Council in December.

9. The next meeting of the UP Athletic Committee will be at the Pioneer Motor Inn in Escanaba, 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 1999.

Members Present:
Keith Alto, Newberry
Keith Eldred, Williamston
Paul Hornak, Ithaca
Bernie Larson, Battle Creek Pennfield
Jean LeClair, Pinconning
Melanie Miller, Lansing-Sexton
Bill Newkirk, Sanford-Meridian
Bill Scaletta, Stevensville Lakeshore

Staff Members Present:
Sally Fisher, East Lansing
Jerry Cvengros, East Lansing (Recorder)

The Awards Committee met on Monday, Oct. 19, 1998, and reviewed the procedure for nominating and selecting candidates for MHSAA awards including the Charles E. Forsythe Award and the Women In Sports Leadership Award.
John Johnson explained the National High School Sports Hall of Fame Award and presented two candidates for the committee's approval. Bill Newkirk made a motion to nominate both candidates for the award. The recommendation was unanimously passed.
The committee agreed to add the National Nomination information be added to our current Awards Nomination Form.
The committee reviewed nominations for the Forsythe and WISL Awards and discussed the length of time a nomination form should be used before a renewal form was required. It was decided, since there are so few nominees on each list, the forms should be used indefinitely.
The committee selected finalists for the Awards for presentation to the Representative Council.

Members Present:
Jim Bartlett, Harbor Springs
Randy Bingham, Harbor Springs
Bob Bonetti, Negaunee
Heidi Clark, Bellaire
Tom Halsey,B.H. Cranbrook Kingswood
Nancy Malinowski, Farmington Hills Mercy
Sue Miller, Charlevoix
Kent S. Reynolds, Grayling
John Sonnemann, Traverse City (MIAAA)
Rick VanTongeren, Grand Rapids

Staff Members Present:
Gina Mazzolini, East Lansing (Recorder)

The 1998-99 Ski Committee met on Oct. 27, 1998 at the MHSAA office in East Lansing. After a brief welcome, the committee was reminded of the purpose of the meeting and the process for proposing rule changes.

1. The committee reviewed the proposals from the 1997 Ski Committee and subsequent action of the proposals by the Representative Council.

2. The committee approved the school assignments to regionals and the assigned regional sites and host schools.
Region 1 - Crystal Mountain, Cadillac High School
Region 2 - Mt. Holly, Flushing High School
Region 3 - Mt. Brighton, Brighton High School
Region 4 - Nub's Nob, Harbor Springs High School
Region 5 - Schuss Mountain, Bellaire High School
Region 6 - Cannonsburg, East Grand Rapids High School
Final Sites: Class A - Boyne Mountain, Traverse City Central
Class BCD - Marquette Mountain, Kingsford/Iron Mountain High Schools

3. Discussion and Items of Concern:
A. Amateur Status - A quick review of the MHSAA Amateur Status Regulation and Interpretations of the Regulation was provided as a point of information.
B. Non-School Competition - A reminder of the MHSAA Limited Team Membership Regulation and a discussion of the difference for individual sport participants versus team sport participants took place. The MHSAA sanctions a number of non-school events that may be used as school team events. This has happened since the late 1970's. It was reinforced that when an individual participates in a non-school event, they must be listed as an individual not as a member of a non-schoolteam.
C. Safety Concerns - There was limited discussion about requiring all participants to wear helmets. The feeling was that a local school could make that requirement or a participant could choose to wear such equipment. At this point, there isn't a national body which approves ski helmets. There isn't any piece of equipment standardized for protection. In addition, there is no scientific data which demonstrates that a helmet would protect a participant going faster than seven miles per hour.

4. Proposals from the Michigan Ski Coaches Association:
A. Add a fourth region to each class. (No action) The committee then decided a more viable proposal would be to advance four teams from each regional to the Final Meet; the reason is to allow more athletes to participate at the finals. (9-0) The ski management would be in favor because there would be more athletes on the hill. When the ski hill closes down for the day, they would prefer more participants to be involved in the event.

5. Proposals from the Ski Committee:
A. Allow participants who qualify in one discipline at the regional to ski in both disciplines at the final. (9-0)
B. Increase the number of medals provided to each winning team at the regional and the winner and runner-up at the final from six to twelve. (9-0) (In the interim, have extra medals available at the site for coaches to purchase in order to accommodate team members.)

6. Recommendations from the Ski Committee to MHSAA:
A. Use the best sites in the state for regional and final tournaments.
B. In Region 1, where there is extreme travel, do not use sites at the extreme ends of the region, try to find a mid-point site.
C. Rotate the finals between three ski sites: Boyne Mountain, Nub's Nob and Marquette Mountain.
D. The composition of the MHSAA Ski Committee should include a ski hill manager and a CUSSA/MHSAA person.
E. Set up a rotation for ski finals; in Class A - Boyne Mountain, Marquette Mountain, Nub's Nob and in Class B-C-D - Marquette, Nub's Nob and Boyne Mountain.

7. Points to Ponder:
A. Track Presidents Day for the next 5-7 years in relation to the ski regionals. This date is problematic for ski hills in that President's Day weekend is one of the biggest of the season.
B. Reporting participation in sanctioned non-school meets - 83 students responded, only six athletes listed 15 contests. The remaining individuals had fewer meets.

8. Recommendations to the Representative Council:
A. Allow four teams from each regional to qualify to the final.
B. Allow an individual who qualifies in one discipline at the regionals to participate in both at the final.
C. Increase the number of medals provided to each winning team at the regional and the winning and runner-up team at the final level. Currently six medals per team are provided. The proposal would increase the total to 12 medals per team.

Members Present:
Mel Atkins, Grand Rapids
Jane Bennett, Ann Arbor
Wayne Brady, Bad Axe
Doug Braschler, Hamilton
Bill Brisson, St. Clair Shores
Jim Cooper, Harrison
Dottie Davis, Pinckney
Alan DeMott, Sandusky
Joe Droski, Stockbridge
John Eggert, Saint Joseph
Chris Ervin, Carson City
Tim Flynn, Athens
Dennis Fulk, Lansing
Marla Grant, Jackson
David Hahn, Milan
Joe Hamilton, Carleton
Buddy Kimura, Flint
Maureen Klocke, Capac
Jack Kramer, Houghton Lake
Todd Kulawiak, Benzonia
James Lilley, Pontiac
Vic Michaels, Detroit
Craig Nartker, Allegan
Charles Nichols, Detroit
Richard Niesen, Kalamazoo
Michael Quinn, Vicksburg
Al Schrauben, Portland
John Shepich, Hart
Larry Shilling, Deerfield
Jolyn Vita, Flint
Daniel Zang, Cedar Springs

Staff Members Present:
Bill Bupp, East Lansing (Recorder)
Nate Hampton, East Lansing

The Committee was presented with the entire list of approved officials in Girls Basketball who had completed availability forms at the MHSAA rules meetings in the fall. Assignments were made for the tournament on the basis of recommendations and availability of the officials.

Minimal ratings required for consideration were 2.1 for Final officials; 2.5 for Semifinal and Quarterfinal officials; 2.7 for Regional and District officials. Officials recommended by one or more leagues/conferences and/or officials associations were qualified to be considered for the next higher tournament level.

Officials are assigned to work only one game per day in any tournament competition. The District, Regional and First-Round Management were sent copies of Official Response Forms for those officials assigned to their site. At Regional Tournaments, officials are assigned to work one game of the three available.

Seven hundred and fifty-five (755) officials indicated their availability for Tournament assignments. Of this number, 575 were assigned to the Districts. Regional assignments for officials this year totaled 192 for the Lower Peninsula. Fifty-one (51) officials were selected to work the First-Round games (Quarterfinals). Twenty Four (24) Semifinal officials and Twelve (12) Final officials were selected for the Championship Games.

MHSAA and National Federation Sanctioning Procedure

The following situations must be approved by the MHSAA before any meet or tournament held:
1. Those events which are sponsored by other than member schools and held within the state.
2. Those events between member schools of Michigan and bordering states (regardless of the number of schools involved) and hosted by a member school. The bordering state association must also grant approval for such event through the MHSAA.

National Federation Sanctioning is required for:
1. any interstate contest involving three or more states or four or more schools where one or more of the schools is from a state which does not border Michigan; and
2. any interstate contest sponsored by a non-school organization;
3. any international contest.

Application for sanctioning of such meets must be made through the MHSAA at least 30 days prior to the contest. All sanctioned or approved meets are listed below. (Includes requests received and approved by November 1998 for events to be held in December and January.

*Dates preceded by an asterisk are National Federation sanctioned.
**Dates preceded by two asterisks are border state approved.

DECEMBER
12 USA Volleyball C-D Holiday Cup, Grand Rapids
12 SVSU Varsity Volleyball, University Center
12 Detroit Recreation Department/PSL Volleyball, Dearborn
12 Citizen Patriot Wrestling, Jackson
** 18 Culver Invitational Boys Basketball Tournament, Culver, Ind. (Mich., Ind.)
19 USA Volleyball A-B Holiday Cup, Grand Rapids
19 SVSU Junior Varsity Volleyball, University Center
26 13th Annual West Michigan Volleyball Officials Tournament, Grandville
28-29 Boys Basketball Tournament, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids
28-30 Roundball Classic, Detroit (Mich., Ohio)
28-30 Citizen Patriot Holiday Classic Basketball, Spring Arbor
29-30 Grand Rapids Press Boys Basketball Tournament, Grand Rapids

JANUARY
2-3 Ski Ability Class/Age Class at Schuss/Shanty Creek
9 Varsity Volleyball Tournament, USA Volleyball Center, Grand Rapids
9 Macomb Community College Volleyball Invitational
9 Timberwolf JV Volleyball Invitational, Northwood University, Midland
16 Freshman Volleyball Tournament, USA Volleyball Center, Grand Rapids
16 Northwood Varsity Volleyball Invitational
16 Oakland-Macomb Open Championship Competitive Cheer, Utica
16 SVSU Freshman Volleyball Invitational, University Center
16-17 Ski, Availability Class, Sugarloaf
*23 St. Charles Tri-Swim Meet, (Mich., Ill.)
23 JV Volleyball Invitational, USA Volleyball Center, Grand Rapids
23 SVSU Varsity Volleyball Invitational, University Center
23 Oakland-Macomb Competitive Championship, Carleton
23-24 Ski-Age Class, Ability Class, Sugarloaf
28-30 Wisconsin School for the Deaf Boys and Girls Basketball, Delavan, Wisconsin
30 SVSU Freshman Volleyball Invitational, University Center

GENERAL PUBLIC SALE OF RESERVED SEAT TICKETS FOR SEMIFINAL AND CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
1. The general public sale of reserved seat tickets for the championship games Saturday, March 27 WILL OPEN ON MARCH 1, 1999, provided tickets are available at the time. All requests for reserved seat tickets other than requests by schools or officials as indicated above, must be sent directly to the Breslin Student Event Center. There will be no sale or distribution of reserved seat tickets to the general public through the MHSAA. A maximum of six reserved seat combined three-session finals tickets will be sold to any one individual and the full remittance of $18 per three-session ticket must accompany each request. Tickets WILL NOT be returnable after purchase.

2. All Semifinal sessions include two games, and all Semifinal tickets are $5 per session.

3. Semifinal and Final ticket requests are to be sent to Bruce Earhart, Ticket Manager, Breslin Student Event Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

4. Requests for reserved seat tickets from the general public received by the Ticket Manager prior to March 1, 1999 will be drawn by lot on that date and filled in the order drawn to the limit of the supply available. Requests for reserved tickets received after March 1 will be filled in the order received to the limit of the available supply.

5. On the date of the Final Tournament Championship Games (Saturday, March 27), there will also be a maximum limit of six reserved seat tickets sold to any one individual for each session in the event reserved seat tickets still are available at that time.

RESERVED SEAT TICKET DISTRIBUTION PLAN FOR SCHOOLS WHOSE TEAMS ARE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALISTS
1. For the Saturday morning session championship games in Classes D and C, 4800 reserved seat tickets at $6 will be set aside for possible purchase enbloc by the four finalist schools for that session only. (Class D schools -- 1200 each; Class C schools -- 1200 each.)
2. For the Saturday afternoon session Championship Game in Class A, 2400 reserved seat tickets at $6 will be set aside for possible purchase enbloc by the two finalist schools (1200 each) for that session only.
3. For the Saturday evening session Championship Game in Class B, 2400 reserved seat tickets at $6 will be set aside for possible purchase enbloc by the two finalist schools (1200 each) for that session only.
4. Tickets reserved for competing schools for the Final Games in which their teams are competing may be purchased by making arrangements as follows:
All reserved seat tickets desired by finalist team schools, up to their maximum allotment, must be purchased and paid for at one time. There will be no individual sales of such tickets. Tickets will not be returnable after purchase. Reserved seat tickets for finalist schools will be allotted for the session only during which their team is competing as follows:

Each Class D finalist school -- maximum of 1200 reserved seat ticket for the morning session.
Each Class C finalist school -- maximum of 1200 reserved seat tickets for the morning session.
Each Class B finalist school -- maximum of 1200 reserved seat tickets for the evening session.
Each Class A finalist school -- maximum of 1200 reserved seat tickets for the afternoon session.

Ticket Categories -- Deadline Dates -- Cost

1. All-Tournament -- Member schools and officials may purchase up to their per-school maximum or approved official's maximum All-Tournament tickets that will admit the bearer to all seven sessions of Semifinal and Final contests. The All-Tournament ticket will allow the bearer to have the same concourse reserved armchair seat or upper deck reserved armchair seat throughout all the tournament games. Officials must be on the Approved Boys Basketball List.
The school classification maximums and officials maximum:
Cost: $38 per All-Tournament ticket. The per-school maximums and officials maximum (Class A - 16; Class B - 16; Class C - 12; Class D - 12; Junior High - two; Approved Officials - two. Deadline Date -- Feb. 12, 1999
OR

2. Combined three-session Finals tickets @ $18 x (official's maximum or per-school maximum). Deadline Date -- Feb. 12, 1999

3. Semifinal game tickets -- Tickets per session @ $5 x (officials maximum or per-school maximum). Deadline Date -- Feb. 12, 1999
Session 1 - Class C @ $5 x (official's maximum or school maximum)
Session 2 - Class D @ $5 x (official's maximum or school maximum)
Session 3 - Class A @ $5 x (official's maximum or school maximum)
Session 4 - Class B @ $5 x (official's maximum or school maximum)

OR

4. A combination of All-Tournament tickets, three-session Finals tickets, and Semifinals tickets that does not exceed specified maximum(s). Deadline date Feb. 12, 1999.
An official or school may not exceed the specified maximum(s) for any category of tickets purchased. Example:

A Class C school may elect to purchase:
Up to 12 All-Tournament Tickets @ $38 = $456
or a combination of tickets that may include:
7 All-Tournament Tickets @ $38 = $266
7 Three-Session Finals Tickets @ $18 = $126
7 Session 1 Semifinals Tickets @ $ 5 = $ 35
7 Session 2 Semifinals Tickets @ $ 5 = $ 35
7 Session 3 Semifinals Tickets @ $ 5 = $ 35
7 Session 4 Semifinals Tickets @ $ 5 = $ 35
Total = $532

Deadline Date -- Feb. 12, 1999
(Parking is not included in price of tickets.)

All-Tournament Tickets (seven sessions) $38
OR
Combination Three-Session Finals Reserved Seat Tickets (D/C - A-B) - $18
(Parking Not Included)

1. High schools classified with the Michigan High School Athletic Association for the 1998-99 school year may purchase combined reserved seat tickets in advance for the morning, afternoon and evening session games at $18 (does not include parking) for all sessions for the Saturday, March 27, Final Tournament games in accordance with the following maximum allotment schedule (see order blank):
Class A schools maximum of 16 reserved seat tickets each for each session
Class B schools maximum of 16 reserved seat tickets each for each session
Class C schools maximum of 12 reserved seat tickets each for each session
Class D schools maximum of 12 reserved seat tickets each for each session
Junior High Schools maximum of two reserved seat tickets each for each session

2. Member schools may request (up to the established per-school maximum) All-Tournament tickets that will allow for the same reserved armchair seat in all seven sessions of Semifinal and Final sessions. Cost @ $18 (see order blank).

3. School requests and remittances are to be forwarded to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc., 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing 48823, in order to be received NOT LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 1999. School ticket requests received after Feb. 12, 1999 will not be accepted. Those orders received late in the period ending Feb. 8 may be returned if the available supply of tickets has been exhausted.

4. Full remittance (check or money order made payable to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc.) must accompany all school reserved seat ticket requests. All school requests must be signed by the superintendent of schools or the high school principal. Reserved seat tickets WILL NOT be returnable after purchase.

SEMIFINAL GAMES -- Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26, 1999
ALL GAMES AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Session 1 - Two Class C games (1 p.m. and 2:50 p.m.) Thursday
Session 2 - Two Class D games (6 p.m. and 7:50 p.m.) Thursday
Session 3 - Two Class A games (1 p.m. and 2:50 p.m.) Friday
Session 4 - Two Class B games (6 p.m. and 7:50 p.m.) Friday

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES -- SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1999
SESSION 5 -- MORNING
10 a.m. -- Class D Championship Game………………………………………….MSU-Breslin
Noon -- Class C Championship Game………………………………………….MSU-Breslin
SESSION 6 -- AFTERNOON
4 p.m. -- Class A Championship Game………………………………………….MSU-Breslin
SESSION 7 -- EVENING
8 p.m. -- Class B Championship Game………………………………………….MSU-Breslin

NOTE: PLEASE INCLUDE THE SCHOOL I.D. NUMBER ON THIS APPLICATION FORM. (SEE MHSAA SCHOOL DIRECTORY FOR CORRECT NUMBER.)

Class ________

School ______________________________________________(I.D. No.) ____________

Street ______________________________ City _________________ Zip Code __________

Date __________/__________/99 (Signed) ________________________________________
(Superintendent or Principal)

Enclosed is CHECK or MONEY ORDER made payable to the Michigan High School Athletic Association for total amount of tickets indicated below on this form only. In accordance with the School Ticket Limits explained on reverse side of this Blank. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Not more than a school's classification allotment limit of tickets may be requested.

Combined Three-Session Finals Tickets @ $18 x ( ) per quota = $______________
(parking not included)

IMPORTANT: This APPLICATION BLANK, together with correct remittance (no currency please) for the number of reserved seat tickets requested up to the maximum allotment for any one session, is to be forwarded to Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc., 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing 48823, IN ORDER TO BE RECEIVED AT THE MHSAA OFFICE NOT LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEB. 12. School requests for reserved seat tickets will open shortly after that date if tickets are still available.

All-Tournament Tickets (seven sessions) -- $38
OR
Combination Three-Session Finals Reserved Seat Tickets (D/C-A-B) $18
(Parking Not Included)

1. The Representative Council has adopted the general policy of allowing a limited number of registered basketball officials on the Approved List for the current school year to request advance purchases of reserved seat tickets for the 1999 Final Tournament Championship Games.

2. Approved basketball officials may request:
a.) a maximum of two All-Tournament tickets that will allow for the same reserved armchair seat in all seven sessions of Semifinals and Finals sessions. Cost is $38 (see order blank),
or
b.) a maximum of two combination three-session reserved seat tickets at $18 may be purchased (see order blank).

3. This opportunity, however, is modified as follows: 800 reserved seat tickets (two for each official for each session) will be set aside for the 400 officials whose requests are drawn by lot at the MHSAA office following the closing date of advance ticket sales to schools and officials. After all school ticket requests are filled which are received at the MHSAA office by Feb. 12, and provided reserve seat tickets are still available, the remaining requests for tickets filed by the above officials will be filled to the limit of the supply.

4. Requests by approved basketball officials and remittances are to be forwarded to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing 48823, in order to be received NOT LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 1999.

5. Full remittance (check or money order made payable to the MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, INC.) must accompany all requests for reserved seat tickets by the above officials. Reserved seat tickets WILL NOT be returnable after purchase. Second party checks will not be accepted.

1. Please Include I.D. Number.
2. Requests for tickets will not be honored unless the approved official sends a check or money order in his/her name. Second party checks will not be accepted.

Name of Official _________________________________________(I.D. No.) ____________

Street ______________________________ City _________________ Zip Code __________

Official's Signature _________________________________________ Date _____/_____/99

Enclosed is CHECK or MONEY ORDER made payable to the Michigan High School Athletic Association for total amount of tickets for ONE OFFICIAL ONLY in accordance with the Ticket Limitations for registered officials explained on reverse side of this Blank.

Combined Three-Session Finals Tickets @ $18 (maximum two) $______________
(parking not included)

IMPORTANT: This APPLICATION BLANK, together with correct remittance (no currency please) for the number of reserved seat tickets requested up to the maximum of two for any one session is to be forwarded to Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc., 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing 48823, IN ORDER TO BE RECEIVED AT THE MHSAA OFFICE NOT LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEB. 12.

Applications will NOT be accepted from officials not on the Approved Boys Basketball List.