Ballots for Representative Council nominees/elections will be mailed to principals of member schools from the MHSAA office September 2, 1998. The ballots will be due back in the MHSAA office September 18, 1998.

Eight positions for membership on the Representative Council will be up for election this fall. Vacancies for two-year terms beginning December 1998 will occur as follows: Class C-D Upper Peninsula; and Northern Section; Class A-B Southwestern Section L.P.; Southeastern Section L.P.; and Northern Section L.P.; State Wide At-Large, Junior High/Middle School, elected on a state-wide basis; and Private and Parochial Schools.

In addition to the above named Representative Council positions, there are two Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee
positions to be voted in September. A representative of the Class D schools, and an Athletic Coach, will be elected by the principals of the Upper Peninsula schools.

Look for the ballots and return them in time to be counted by the Board of Canvassers. Be sure you mark your ballot correctly and signatures are affixed in the proper places. Ballots must have two (2) signatures to be considered valid.
Details of the Representative Council composition may be found beginning on page 15 of the HANDBOOK.

Following the due date of September 18, 1998 the Board of Canvassers as provided in Article IV of the Constitution of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, will meet and declare the winners for the various vacancies.

In accordance with the approved nomination and election procedures, listed candidates have submitted their desire to run for a position by March 15, 1998. They have included an approval to serve from their respective Superintendent or Principal and have certified their qualifications to run for the office which they seek. No write-ins will be possible because each candidate must be approved by March 15 in order to run for a position on the Representative Council.

Following is a list of declared candidates and the vacancies which will occur in November 1998:

REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL CANDIDATES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1998 ELECTION
Northern Section, Lower Peninsula — Class A and B Schools — Robert Riemersma, Principal, Manistee High School

Southwestern Section, Lower Peninsula — Class A and B Schools — Karen S. Leinaar, Athletic Director, Delton-Kellogg Schools; Michael S. Shibler, Superintendent, Rockford Public Schools

Southeastern Section, Lower Peninsula — Class A and B Schools — Eric C. Federico, Athletic Director, Gibraltar-Carlson High School

Upper Peninsula — Class C and D Schools — Keith Alto, Athletic Director, Newberry High School
Northern Section, Lower Peninsula — Class C and D Schools — Tammy Jackson, Assistant Principal/AD, East Jordan High School; William D. Newkirk, Superintendent, Sanford-Meridian Public Schools

Statewide At-Large — Dennis F. Kniola, Principal, Stevensville-Lakeshore Middle School

Junior High/Middle Schools — Keith Eldred, Athletic Director, Williamston High School

Private and Parochial High Schools — Tom Rashid, Director of Health, Phys. Ed., Athletics & Safety, Archdiocese of Detroit

UPPER PENINSULA ATHLETIC COMMITTEE
Athletic Coach — Dick Koski, Athletic Director/Coach, Negaunee High School

Class D Schools — James Derocher, Superintendent, Brimley Area Schools; Joe Reddinger, Athletic Director, Iron Mountain-North Dickinson High School; Ron Warner, Athletic Director, Lake Linden-Hubbell High School

Class A and B Schools (1-Year Term) — Don Edens, Athletic Director, Kingsford High School; James E. French, Athletic Director, Escanaba High School; Tim Hall, Athletic Director, Sault Ste. Marie-Sault Area High School; Thomas J. Watson, Superintendent, Gladstone Area Schools.

President Robert Grimes opened the meeting by welcoming Christi Brilinski, faculty member from Boyne City, who was attending her first meeting as a Council member.

Associate Director Jerry Cvengros introduced Russ Bailey, Dick Koski and Ron Warner from the Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee whose members are invited to attend this meeting on an annual basis.

Accounts of Meetings — Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by William Newkirk, to approve the Representative Council Meeting minutes of December 10, 1997; and the minutes of the Executive Committee Meetings of December 10, 1997 (with one correction), January 14, 1998, and February 18, 1998; as well as the minutes of the Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee Meeting of January 16, 1998. Adopted.

Reports
Administration — The major portions of the executive director’s report focused on classification notifications sent by the MHSAA to schools recently and development of the MHSAA office park. It was reported that the MHSAA has made a counter-offer for the purchase of Unit #5 that would meet the conditions previously established by the Representative Council, and that Unit #4 is now available for development by the MHSAA, as the life lease has expired.

Legislation — Mike Hawks reported on Senate Bill 313, House Bill 4455 and House Bill 5629 and described the philosophy and approach of the MHSAA with respect to legislative liaison.
Litigation — Attorney Edmund Sikorski reported on the only litigation involving the MHSAA since its last meeting, which was an action brought by a suspended coach and two suspended players which was summarily dismissed by the court on the basis of prevailing law.

OLD BUSINESS
Transfer Regulation — The Council discussed three possibilities for revising the transfer regulation, expressed some concerns for certain applications, and made some suggestions for revisions that might make the proposals more satisfactory. The proposals will be discussed further by the Council at its May meeting.

Reclassification — At the Council’s May, 1997 meeting, it was requested that reclassification proposals be processed for three MHSAA tournaments: football, golf and ice hockey. Only for golf was there consensus of the membership, Golf Committee and Classification Committee to support reclassification of MHSAA tournaments on the basis of nearly equal divisions. Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Keith Eldred, to reclassify the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Golf Tournaments into four nearly equal divisions for boys and three nearly equal divisions for girls, effective with the 1998-99 school year. Adopted.

Noting that since the May meeting discussion with respect to football has changed in focus from reclassification to expansion, the Council discussed proposals and perceptions and the need for more information to be received by the membership regarding proposals, as well as more information being needed by the Representative Council regarding school administrators’ attitudes about some of the key issues of expansion proposals. Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Eric Federico, that the staff conduct before May a survey of football schools’ principals and superintendents regarding their attitudes toward expansion of the Football Playoffs, advancing the first date of competition for regular season football, and converting the 9th date of regular season to a Playoff game. Adopted.

It was also requested that the proposal to quadruple the qualifiers to the Football Playoffs and an alternative be sent to all Council members.

The 1997-98 MHSAA Cross Country/Track and Field Committee voted 23-3 to recommend reclassification of Lower Peninsula cross country and track and field into four equal divisions. Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Joyce Seals, to process this proposal for these sports through the membership and the MHSAA Classification Committee during 1998-99, for Council action in one year. Adopted.

Council members discussed their concern for an invitational team tournament in track and field being planned by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association for MHSAA Regional Tournament winners on Memorial Day weekend between the MHSAA Regional and Final Meets.

Officials — The Officials Review Committee had recommended to the Representative Council that no rating of “4” or “5” submitted for an official be included in determining that official’s three-year average if that rating is submitted without documentation. Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Randy Salisbury, to approve this recommendation for ratings of “5” only. Adopted.

The Athletic Equity Committee had recommended that the annual survey of all registering officials be conducted every three years, providing a written rationale for the survey. Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve this recommendation. Adopted.

NEW BUSINESS
Ann Arbor-Huron High School (Regulation V, Section 4[C]) — Request was made to waive the requirement that the contests be forfeited in which a 9th and 10th semester student participated during the 1994-95 school year under a preliminary injunction which the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated in an en banc decision July 23, 1997. At its October 23, 1997 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the following:
• Letter from the Ann Arbor-Huron athletic director dated September 14, 1997.
• Pleadings of the Ann Arbor School District in the US District Court in McPherson v. MHSAA.
• Transcript of the District Court proceedings in that case.
• Decision in that case by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit en banc.
• Final disposition of that case by the US District Court.
• Decision of the Supreme Court of Michigan in Cardinal Mooney High School v. MHSAA, 437 Mich 75 (1991).

The Executive Committee noted that the Michigan Supreme Court in 1991 found that “The MHSAA does not single out for sanctions only those violations of MHSAA rules that occur incidental to a court order.” The regulation at issue here “is merely one feature of a broader framework imposing sanctions for any accidental, intentional, or other use of ineligible players.” Section IV(C) “sanctions are, in actuality, triggered simply by violations of the MHSAA eligibility rules and do not, properly understood, penalize resort to the courts.” Section IV(C) “simply provides that resort to the courts may not, depending on the outcome, permanently immunize violations of eligibility rules.”

The Michigan Supreme Court determined that the regulation in question “is reasonably designed to rectify the competitive inequities that would inevitably occur if schools were permitted without penalty to field ineligible athletes under the protection of a temporary restraining order, pending the outcome of an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge to one or more eligibility rules.” The Supreme Court found relevant that the regulation “does not purport to authorize interference with any court order during the time it remains in effect, but only authorizes restitutive penalties when a temporary restraining order is ultimately dissolved and the challenged eligibility rule remains undisturbed in force.” The Supreme Court also found relevant “that member schools of the MHSAA have voluntarily agreed to submit to the MHSAA’s regulation, including Rule 3(D) (now 4[C]), as a condition of their membership.”

The Supreme Court held “that the interests of uniformity and predictability justify even-handed application” of Section 4(C), which the Supreme Court found to be “a valid regulation which neither infringes the authority of the courts nor improperly restricts access to the judicial system.”

It was the Executive Committee’s opinion that it was only because live issues remained — forfeitures of contests in which the student participated — that the McPherson case was finally determined by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit en banc not to be moot. Therefore, it would make no sense now not to apply the regulation.

The Executive Committee observed that it is impossible to determine the motives of school personnel when one of their students initiates a legal challenge to an MHSAA and school eligibility rule. Consequently, even-handed application of the forfeiture rule, which the Supreme Court acknowledged is a valid regulation for interscholastic athletics, is necessary.

Therefore, based on the legal rationale for the rule, the role played by the rule in the litigation involving Ann Arbor-Huron High School, the uniform application of the rule in previous cases, and the futility of making case-by-case decisions that would require discerning the motives of school administrators, the Executive Committee denied the request to waive the regulation.

The school appealed this decision to the Representative Council in December, pursuant to MHSAA Constitution Article VII, Section 4(E) but postponed the item until this meeting.

School district attorney Tony Duerr reviewed the background of the case, early decisions in the litigation, and the reason for the school’s decision not to participate in appeals of the decision. He took issue with the reliance on the Cardinal Mooney litigation and opined that there was no collusion on the part of any school personnel with respect to the litigation brought against the MHSAA and the school. Mr. Duerr asked the Representative Council to correct the injustice, suggesting that application of the forfeiture rule in their case was unfair and unnecessary.

Ann Arbor-Huron High School athletic director Jane Bennett agreed with this request, indicated that the school did not support the litigation, believed it had to play the student under initial court orders, and opined that application of the rule in their case was vindictive.

The Representative Council’s discussion focused on the even-handed application of this rule in this and nine other cases, validating that imposition of forfeitures in this case is not retaliatory or vindictive, but predictable. Forfeiture is required when an ineligible athlete participates accidentally, intentionally, by deceit of the student, or under court order which is vacated, stayed or reversed. There is no additional penalty assessed because of the court order, only the same penalty.

The following portion of the Supreme Court’s Opinion in Indiana High School Athletic Association v. Reyes, the most recent litigation regarding a similar rule, was reviewed:

“We presume the judgments of our trial courts are correct and valid — but sometimes they are wrong. If a school wants to enjoy the benefits of membership in the IHSAA, the school agrees to be subject to rule that permits the IHSAA to require the school to forfeit victories, trophies, titles and earnings if a trial court improperly grants an injunction or restraining order prohibiting enforcement of IHSAA eligibility rules. Such an agreement shows no disrespect to the institution of the judiciary.

“Member schools voluntarily contract to abide by the rules of the organization in exchange for membership in the association. One of those rules is the Restitution Rule. Undeniably, the Restitution Rule imposes hardship on a school that, in compliance with an order of a court which is later vacated, fields an ineligible player. On the other hand, use of an ineligible player imposes a hardship on other teams that must compete against the teams fielding ineligible players. While schools will contend that it is unfair when they have to forfeit victories earned with an ineligible player on the field because they complied with a court order, competing schools will reply that it is unfair when they have to compete against a team with an ineligible student athlete because a local trial judge prohibited the school or the IHSAA from following the eligibility rules.”

Council members believed that the school did have a choice not to play the student and did have a choice to support the MHSAA in its appeals, and that the courses of action chosen by the school were not the only courses of action available.

Motion by Keith Eldred, supported by William Newkirk, to deny the request to waive application of the regulation in this case. Adopted.

Baseball — Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Margra Grillo, to approve the Baseball/Softball Committee recommendation to implement for the 1998 MHSAA Baseball Tournament the baseball pitching limitation that would allow a player, regardless of scheduled games, a maximum of 30 outs in each of the following rounds of the tournament: District Quarterfinal Round; District Semifinal and Final Rounds (if preceded by at least two days rest); Regional Semifinal and Final Round; Quarterfinal Round; Semifinal and Final Round. Adopted.

Competitive Cheer — Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by Keith Eldred, to approve the Junior High/Middle School Committee recommendation that a committee be authorized to begin work in April to review competitive cheer stunt limitations and develop more specific recommendations concerning non-school competition at the junior high/middle school level. Adopted.

Cross Country — Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Randy Salisbury, to adopt the Cross Country/Track and Field Committee recommendation to return to the Michigan Speedway in 1998 for all classes/divisions, both genders and both the team and individual competition in cross country, and thereafter to conduct a school survey of cross country schools regarding options for formats and sites. Adopted.

Vern L. Norris Award — The Council was presented with the three finalists for the Vern L. Norris Award which had been screened by the MHSAA Awards Committee from 17 nominees. The Council selected the recipient of the award, which will be presented at the Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet on April 25, 1998.

Code for Athletic Officials — Motion by Margra Grillo, supported by Dennis Kniola, to approve the second revision of the Code for Athletic Officials which will appear in the MHSAA HANDBOOK and officials’ publications beginning this spring. Adopted.
Meetings — The Representative Council approved expenses for the March Council Meeting and the schedule for the May Council Meeting, May 3-5, 1998.

Motion by Dennis Kniola, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve expenses to the National Federation Annual Meeting in June-July as follows: room for up to six days at the specified hotel rate, per diem for up to six days at the IRS limit, conference registration as required by the National Federation, and unrestricted coach airfare for one person. Adopted.
Finance Committee Report — Motion by Dennis Kniola, supported by William Newkirk, to approve the Finance Committee’s recommendation for ticket price increases commencing in 1998-99 in the sports of baseball, football, softball, volleyball and individual wrestling, amounting to an estimated total of $211,000. Adopted.

Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Gerry David, to approve the Finance Committee’s proposals to adjust MHSAA tournament managers’ honoraria, as well as a $50 increase for the Upper Peninsula Track and Field Meet and a $75 increase for the Upper Peninsula Individual Wrestling Meet, commencing with the 1998-99 school year. Adopted.

Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Christi Brilinski, to approve the Finance Committee proposals to increase MHSAA tournament officials’ fees commencing in 1998-99, totaling approximately $8,725. Adopted.

Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Keith Eldred, to approve the Finance Committee’s recommendation to increase the basic fee for MHSAA Basketball Tournament scorers and timers from $10 per game to $20 per game at the District, Regional and Quarter-Finals levels, totaling approximately $23,040, commencing with the 1998-99 school year. Adopted.

Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Eric Federico, to approve the following Finance Committee recommendations: (1) to provide member schools, in addition to their expenses, $300 or 10% of the gross, whichever is greater, when they host District, Regional and Quarterfinal Baseball and Softball; District, Regional and Semifinal Soccer; Lower Peninsula District, Regional and Quarterfinal and U.P. Regional and Final Girls Volleyball; Regional and Final Competitive Cheer; Regional Diving; Lower Peninsula Regional and Final and U.P. Final Golf; District, Regional and Quarter-Final Ice Hockey; and Regional and Final Skiing; and (2) to double the formula to $600 or 10% of the gross, whichever is greater, for Lower Peninsula Regional and U.P. Final Track and Field; Lower Peninsula Regional and U.P. Final Cross Country; Lower Peninsula Regional and L.P. and U.P. Final Tennis; Lower Peninsula District and Regional Final and U.P. Final Individual Wrestling; and Lower Peninsula Regional and Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula Final Girls Gymnastics; commencing in 1998-99 and resulting in approximately $306,000 additional payments to host schools each year. Adopted.

Motion by Keith Eldred, supported by William Newkirk, to approve the Finance Committee’s recommendation of a 2.55% salary increase for the Executive Director for 1998-99 and the deferred compensation plan as presented. Adopted.
Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by Randy Salisbury, to approve the total increase in compensation for other executive staff for 1998-99 as recommended by the Finance Committee. Adopted.

Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Gerry David, to approve the total increase in compensation for support staff for 1998-99 as recommended by the Finance Committee. Adopted.

Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the proposed addition to the severance pay policy for retiring support staff who began their employment prior to August 1, 1987. Adopted.

Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Dennis Kniola, to approve the recommendation of the Finance Committee for a limited policy providing for compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay for support staff. Adopted.

Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the recommendation that on 8/1/98 the payment in lieu of medical insurance be increased as presented. Adopted.

Members Present:
Robert Grimes, Battle Creek
Dennis Kniola, Stevensville
Tom Rashid, Detroit
Dan Flynn, Escanaba
Keith Eldred, Williamston

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 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 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.

Ann Arbor-Rudolf Steiner High School & Ann Arbor-Washtenaw Technical Middle College (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) — The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program between these two public school academies in boys golf, boys and girls basketball and boys and girls track and field, commencing with the 1998-99 school year. The primary school will be Rudolf Steiner. The combined enrollment will be 387.

Bellaire, Central Lake & Mancelona High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1) — Request to extend the deadline for a cooperative program in fall soccer was made on behalf of these three schools.
The Executive Committee granted the extension to not later than June 1, 1998.

Bridgman, Buchanan and Berrien Springs High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1) — Request was made to extend the deadline for adding Buchanan and Berrien Springs High Schools to the cooperative program in girls and boys swimming and diving that also includes Three Oaks-River Valley, New Buffalo and Stevensville-Lakeshore.
The Executive Committee granted the extension to not later than June 1, 1998.

Burton-Atherton and Burton-Bentley High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1) —Request was made to dissolve before two years the cooperative program that began with the 1996-97 school year between these schools in boys tennis because no students from Bentley High School are participating in the program. The cooperative program is already Division IV in boys tennis, so this will have no effect on the school’s placement in the MHSAA tournament in 1998.
Because the request will not result in disturbance of 1998 tournament plans, the request for waiver was granted.

Kingsford and Iron Mountain High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) — Request was made to waive the maximum enrollment for cooperative programs in boys and girls cross country. The schools’ combined enrollment is 1,127; but in the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Cross Country Run, Classes A and B compete together.
The Executive Committee granted the waiver provided application materials include the endorsement of all Upper Peninsula Class A and B schools which participate in boys and/or girls cross country. In addition, waiver is granted only if Classes A and B remain combined in an Upper Peninsula Final Meet conducted separately from the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Regional and Final Meets.

Kentwood-East Kentwood High School (Regulation I, Section 7) — Request to waive the previous semester record regulation was made on behalf of a 10th grade student who withdrew on December 9, 1997 from a public school in Arkansas after being absent 17 days, most while institutionalized. She received no credit for first semester courses.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver but noted that the first semester of 1997-98 shall count toward the maximum of eight semesters allowed.

St. Clair High School (Regulation I, Section 7) — Request to waive the previous semester record regulation was made on behalf of a 12th grade student who will graduate June 7, 1998. She had to withdraw for medical reasons from first semester classes on November 3, 1997, at which time she was passing all courses.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver but noted that the first semester of 1997-98 shall count toward the maximum of eight semesters allowed.

Ann Arbor-Huron High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request was made to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Huron High School by an 11th grade student who previously attended school in Florida and enrolled at Huron October 13, 1997.
Waiver was granted effective with the student’s 91st school day of enrollment at Huron High School.

Ann Arbor-Huron High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th grade student who enrolled at Huron High School on February 11, 1998. She attended school previously in the Virgin Islands where her mother remains with two younger siblings, one of whom has a medical condition that required surgery which caused her mother to miss work and lose her job and insurance benefits. Because of these conditions, this student was sent to live with an aunt and uncle.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver effective with information being submitted which the Executive Director finds satisfactory to document the sibling’s illness and the mother’s loss of earnings and benefits.

Auburn Hills-Oakland Christian High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th grade student who attended Oakland Christian School for the 1994-95 through 1996-97 school years, enrolled at Avondale High School for the start of the 1997-98 school year, and returned to Oakland Christian School January 5, 1998. She is under medical supervision.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Birch Run High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th grade student who was living in the Atherton School District with his mother, who was incarcerated September 2, 1997. The student remained in school there, living with a friend. One of the parents of that family became ill and care for her created space limitation in the home. So the student moved to Birch Run to live with his aunt and uncle.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Cass City High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request was made to waive the transfer regulation on behalf of an 11th grade student who attended Cass City Schools for 11 grades until enrolling January 16, 1998 at Bay City-John Glenn High School. He had moved from the residence of his mother to the residence of his father who had divorced in 1983. He attended John Glenn High School one day, was unhappy, convinced his mother to delay a job transfer until summer, returned to live with her and reenrolled at Cass City High School.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Charlevoix High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th grade student who attended Charlevoix schools for grades 1 through 9 before enrolling at Petoskey High School for the start of the 1997-98 school year, where she attended through December 10, 1997, where it was thought she would have a greater academic challenge.
The request for waiver was denied.

Chelsea High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th grade student who previously attended Ionia High School where she lived with her mother and father. Her father has new employment in Taylor and has rented an apartment in Chelsea until the Ionia home sells, which continues to be occupied by the student’s mother. The house was put on the market October 8, 1997. The student is living with her father and enrolled at the start of the second semester at Chelsea High School. The student played in four contests with the boys soccer team at Ionia last August.
The request for waiver was denied. The student may gain eligibility when her mother has joined the student and her father in Chelsea and the conditions of MHSAA HANDBOOK Interpretation #63 are satisfied. If that should occur this semester, the student must be withheld from the first four soccer contests after all other conditions of eligibility are met.

Fraser High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Fraser High School was made on behalf of a student who attended elementary and junior high school in Fraser before enrolling at Midland High School where her family had moved. She enrolled at Fraser on October 9, 1998.
Waiver was granted effective with the student’s 91st school day of enrollment at Fraser High School.

Hazel Park High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th grade student who is moving from his father to his mother, who were never married, although both are identified on the birth certificate. He enrolled January 20, 1998 after previously attending Warren Mott High School.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Imlay City High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days at Imlay City High School was made on behalf of an 11th grade student who started the school year at Imlay City where he had attended since kindergarten, moved to Arizona with his family in October, and returned to live with an older brother in Imlay City, reenrolling March 13, 1998.
Waiver was granted effective with the student’s 91st school day of enrollment at Imlay City High School.

Ludington High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th grade student who relocated from the residence of her mother in Pentwater to the residence of her father in Ludington who were never married. A police report investigating abuse by the mother and the student’s stepfather was included, as was a February 2, 1998 court order which acknowledges the biological father’s previous child support obligations and a February 7, 1983 court order in which this man acknowledges paternity.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Midland-H. H. Dow High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th grade student who has moved from Wales and enrolled at Dow High School at the start of the second semester of the 1997-98 school year. She is living with grandparents while her parents prepare to move from Wales to Midland in the summer.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at Dow High School and stated that the student will be ineligible anywhere for both semesters of the 1998-99 school year (and no other exceptions to the transfer regulation will apply) if her parents do not reside in the Dow High School attendance area prior to the first day of class of the 1998-99 school year.

Midland-H. H. Dow High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th grade student who began the 1997-98 school year at Midland High School. He was involved in a fight, charged with assault, did not enter a plea, and was ordered by the court to stay away from the victim, who also attended Midland High School. Difficulties continued between the students without fault assigned; meetings occurred between the school, parents and court; and on January 26, 1998, this student enrolled at Dow High School.
The request for waiver was denied.

New Boston-Huron High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th grade student who transferred from Flat Rock-Woodhaven High School as he relocated to his grandparents’ house to help care for them. At the Executive Committee’s February 18, 1998 meeting, the request for waiver was denied on the basis of the limited information provided. The matter was resubmitted with additional information about the condition of the grandparents.
Waiver was granted effective with the student’s 91st school day of enrollment at Huron High School.

Owosso High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th grade student who attended Owosso Public Schools until November, 1997 while living with her mother. She moved to live with her father in Mt. Pleasant. An Educational Transfer Form was completed but the student never participated. On January 19, 1998, the student returned to live with her mother and reenrolled at Owosso High School.
The Executive Committee noted that the student’s time away from Owosso High School was brief, she did not participate in school sports during that time, she returned to the same residence and school, and she was a 12th grader. The Executive Committee determined that the Educational Transfer Form that had been filed but not utilized should be replaced with a new form and, when completed, that the student should be deemed eligible for interscholastic athletics at Owosso High School.

Saline High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th grade student who reenrolled at Saline High School on March 11, 1998, after attending Saline High School until February 27, 1998 and Dundee High School for 3-5 days in March as a result of a family problem that caused him to leave the residence of his father in Saline to the residence of his mother in Dundee.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Sterling Heights-Adlai Stevenson High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th grade student who attended Henry Ford II High School in the same district before enrolling in
Stevenson High School. There was no change of residence. He had chosen Henry Ford II High School because his older sisters provided transportation to school and provided a support group for him there following his mother’s death. Those sisters have graduated and his support group is now friends at Stevenson High School. His academics and attitude improved after his transfer. At the February 18, 1998 meeting of the Executive Committee, the request for waiver was denied on the basis of the limited information provided. The matter has been resubmitted with additional information and the request that eligibility be granted after 90 school days of enrollment at Stevenson High School.
Waiver was granted effective with the student’s 91st school day of enrollment at Adlai Stevenson High School.

Troy-Athens High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th grade student who had attended Troy Schools until the start of this school year when she enrolled at Madison Heights-Bishop Foley High School. She enrolled at Troy-Athens High School at the end of the first semester because she wasn’t receiving the support hoped for in her coping with a disease for which she was receiving regular medical treatments.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Warren-Cousino High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — On March 9, 1998, two students of Cousino High School were transferred within the district because of a problem that occurred during winter break. The students will not participate in athletics but it is intended they return to Cousino, their original school, in the fall and hoped that exception #14 would allow the students to participate in athletics at that time.
The request was denied on the basis of available information.

Carney-Nadeau Public School (Regulation III, Section 1) — Request was made to waive the enrollment regulation and specifically Interpretation #205 to allow 6th grade boys and girls to participate on 7th grade teams during the 1998-99 school year.
The request was granted for the 1998-99 school year only.

Southfield-Faith Christian Academy (Regulation III, Section 1) - Request was made to waive the enrollment regulation and specifically Interpretation #205 to allow 6th grade students to participate on 7th and 8th grade girls track teams.
The request was granted for this school year only. The Executive Committee asked that consideration be given to a cooperative program in the future.

Watersmeet Township School District (Regulation III, Section 1) — Request was made to waive the enrollment regulation and specifically Interpretation #205 to allow 6th grade girls and boys to participate in the 7th/8th grade girls and boys basketball programs in 1998-99.
The request was granted for the 1998-99 school year only.

Detroit-St. Martin De Porres Catholic High School (Classification) — The school requested that it participate in Class CC of the 1998 Football Playoffs even if its enrollment would fall in Class C.
The Executive Committee denied this request for change in division within Class C, but authorized the staff to approve a move to a full classification higher (Class B) if the school should request that.

Representative Council — The Executive Committee reviewed the agenda and schedule for March 27 Council Meeting. The committee also reviewed a draft agenda and schedule for the May meeting.

Next Meetings — The next meeting of the Executive Committee is Wednesday, April 15, 1998, at 9:00 in East Lansing. Thereafter, the Executive Committee will meet May 2 and June 10, 1998.

Members Present:
Robert Grimes, Battle Creek
Dennis Kniola, Stevensville
Tom Rashid, Detroit
Dan Flynn, Escanaba
Paul Ellinger, Hartford

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 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 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.

Kalamazoo-Comstock and Kalamazoo Central High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) — Request to waive the cooperative agreement deadline was made on behalf of these schools which are developing interest in a cooperative program in boys and girls swimming and diving.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver until not later than June 1, 1998.

Lansing-Waverly and Lansing-Catholic Central High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) — The Executive Committee approved a cooperative agreement in boys swimming and diving and girls swimming and diving commencing in 1998-99. Only Waverly has sponsored the sports, and it will be the primary school for both.

North Muskegon and Muskegon-Western Michigan Christian High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) — The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in football commencing with the 1998-99 school year. North Muskegon, which has sponsored the sport previously (Western Michigan Christian has not), will be the primary school. The combined enrollment will move the program from Class D to Class C.

Powers-North Central and Carney-Nadeau High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1) — Request was made to waive the application deadline for a cooperative agreement in football if the Representative Council adopts in May the proposal of the Classification Committee to give the Executive Committee the authority to not elevate to Class C certain cooperative programs involving Class D schools.
Inasmuch as this involves a policy matter before the Representative Council, the Executive Committee tabled the request.

Wyoming-Godwin Heights and Wyoming-Kelloggsville High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1) — Application was made for a cooperative program commencing in 1998-99 in boys soccer, girls soccer, girls swimming and diving, boys swimming and diving, and girls golf. Coed soccer, coed swimming and girls golf have been sponsored previously by Godwin Heights, which would be the primary school. The application presented the problem that the combined enrollment (1,111) exceeds the maximum for Class B in 1998-99 (991), but falls within Division II for boys soccer (up to 1,308) and Division II for girls soccer (up to 1,274).
The Executive Committee approved the agreements for girls and boys swimming and diving and girls golf under Regulation I, Section 1(F), but tabled the proposed agreements for boys and girls soccer, which are covered by Section 1(E).

Grand Rapids-Creston High School (Regulation I, Section 7) — Request to waive the previous semester record regulation was made on behalf of a 9th grade student who failed to pass 20 credit hours of course work during the first semester of the 1997-98 school year. The deficiency is being attributed to a change in medication for symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. He was in a regular education program during the first semester; an IEP dated 1/20/98 recommends a combination of regular and special services.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that the option exists under the regulation for a student to make up deficiencies of the previous semester and be made eligible by the school when sufficient credit is granted by the school. Waiver of the statewide regulation should not be considered when local authority has not been exercised.

Detroit-Mumford High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a student who enrolled at Mumford High School on October 21, 1997. He previously attended Benedictine High School, whose administration will no longer permit this student’s attendance.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Flat Rock High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th grade student whose father died when the student was 9 years old and who attended Flat Rock High School for 9th grade in 1995-96 and played baseball while living with his mother in that district. She moved to Southgate; the student enrolled at Southgate Anderson High School; and the student’s sister, her husband and their children moved into the Flat Rock residence. On December 29, 1998, the student was required to leave his mother’s Southgate residence and shortly thereafter he returned to the Flat Rock residence with his sister’s family. He continued to commute to Southgate Anderson High School until he reenrolled at Flat Rock High School on April 1, 1998. He had not tried out for the Southgate Anderson baseball team this year; serious ear and neck injuries made it impossible to play baseball there in 1997. The athletic director, the student and his brother-in-law met with the Executive Committee to discuss thoroughly this student’s previous and current home and school situations.
The Executive Committee noted the lack of opportunity to live with his mother and the student’s return to his original residence and school, and the request for waiver was granted.

Flint-Kearsley 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 9th grade student who is currently enrolled at Kearsley High School but whose administration believes the student may be better served at another school as a result of negative reactions by teammates, teachers and others to this student’s mother’s public verbal assault toward a Kearsley coach. The athletic director met with the Executive Committee to describe the parent’s act and the school and community reaction.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver on procedural bases.

Harbor Springs-Harbor Light Christian School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days at Harbor Light Christian School was made on behalf of an 11th grade student who enrolled November 3, 1997, having left Northern Michigan Christian Academy for academic and religious reasons.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Livonia-Stevenson High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Stevenson High School was made on behalf of a 12th grade student who was suspended September 12, 1997 and expelled from Detroit Catholic Central High School on September 26, 1997. An October 6 appeal was denied on October 14 and the student enrolled at Stevenson High School the next day, attending his first class on October 20.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Saginaw-Nouvel Catholic Central High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th grade student who was the victim of assault by another student/athlete. A police department incident report was provided.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Westland-Huron Valley Lutheran High School (Regulation I, Section 9) — Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th grade student who attended Livonia-Stevenson High School until February. The family preferred the smaller, religious setting for their son’s needs.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Confidential (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request was made to waive the transfer regulation for a student who spent seven weeks enrolled in a different high school while involved in therapy following assault.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver pending the submission of documentation satisfactory to the executive director to document the circumstances which the school requested remain confidential.

Stephenson High School (Regulation II, Section 9[B]) — Request was made to waive the regulation so that Stephenson High School may play the first of its allowed football games one week early in 1998 in order to play a school in Wisconsin, which begins its season before Michigan, and to start practice a full week early.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver and gave permission for the school to start practice without pads on Wednesday, August 5, 1998.

Howell-McPherson and Howell-Highlander Way Middle Schools (Regulation III, Section 1) — The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in boys and girls cross country commencing with the 1998-99 school year. McPherson Middle School will be the primary school.

Flint-Beecher High School (Regulation V, Section 3[C]) — A March 13, 1998 MHSAA Boys District Basketball game between Beecher and Flint-Powers Catholic was ended early by the officials because of the conduct of Beecher coaches.
The Executive Committee directed the executive director to require a response from the school by June 1, 1998, regarding this incident and a letter from a member school, urging that the response include an action plan describing what has and will be done by the school district to address these concerns and to avoid similar situations in the future.

Next Meetings — The next meeting of the Executive Committee is Saturday, May 2, 1998, at 6:00 p.m. in Thompsonville. Then June 9, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. in East Lansing; August 12, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. in East Lansing; and September 10, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. in East Lansing.

The longest-serving employee in the history of the Michigan High School Athletic Association will retire this summer.
Shirley Hytinen came from the Upper Peninsula’s Trenary, arriving in Lansing in 1955, when she went to work for MHSAA State Director Charles Forsythe. She saw the end of his tenure in 1968, the full term of leadership for Allen Bush from 1968 to 1978, and Vern Norris from 1978 to 1986, and the first 12 years for current Executive Director Jack Roberts . . . 43 1/3 years in all!

She arrived at the MHSAA before the Mackinac Bridge connected Michigan’s two peninsulas, but she has served as an historical bridge across four directors, for more than four decades.

As the MHSAA has changed in response to program growth, members’ needs and advancing technology, so have Shirley’s duties. She once worked primarily with the Benefit Plan, a student insurance program of the MHSAA. Now she does the foundational work for the classification of schools and the preparation of the SCHOOL DIRECTORY, coordinates major mailings such as school supplies, and assists the bookkeeper.

“Charles Forsythe was fond of saying ‘no one is indispensable,’” said Jack Roberts. “But Shirley Hytinen will be greatly missed.

“The greatest compliment I can give her is that she gave us all she had. She gave us an entire career and she set the standard at the MHSAA for hard work and conscientiousness.

“We can learn to trust people in large things by observing how they handle the littlest things. Shirley would spend forever finding an accounting discrepancy of ten cents. I would trust her with every penny of the MHSAA.”

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WHAT THE MHSAA DOESN’T DO

As all organizations must, the Michigan High School Athletic Association gives considerable attention to describing and promoting its activities to the public. The role, services and programs of the MHSAA are not the subject of this article.
Rather, the purpose of this column is to describe what the MHSAA does not do, and to clarify what its role is not intended to be and cannot be.

The need for these comments is apparent from the calls and letters often received from conscientious and concerned citizens of our state. They assign responsibility to the MHSAA for matters over which the MHSAA has little or no authority, because they confuse the MHSAA’s role with those of the major professional sports leagues and local school districts.

Criticism softens when people understand better how much more vast the interscholastic athletic program is in Michigan than any professional sports league nationwide. On any given Friday, for example, the National Basketball League might have 14 games, while there will be more than 1,400 basketball games at the sub-varsity and varsity levels throughout Michigan. The NBA has a large staff to review a small number of games, while the MHSAA has a small staff which can’t possibly be held responsible for reviewing the conduct of players, coaches, management, spectators and officials in all these games.

Moreover, basketball is just one of the sports involving MHSAA schools. Unlike the NBA, the MHSAA has two dozen sports. There are more than 140,000 contests involving MHSAA member schools each year in these sports.

Obviously, if there is a problem at a local contest site, in all but the most unusual situations, it will have to be addressed and corrected at the local level. On occasion, a league might get involved. Rarely should the statewide organization be involved.

When citizens call or write the MHSAA office about the quality of facilities, the competency of officials, or the conduct of players, coaches or spectators — and we have heard nothing about these matters from game management, contest officials or the administration of participating schools — the citizens will be referred to their local school administrators. They serve as the funnels and filters for their constituents’ concerns.

Usually, school administrators will determine the concerns do not need to be addressed to the MHSAA but should be settled internally or between the two schools which scheduled and played the event. This is consistent with each school’s

Resolution of Membership in the MHSAA which states the local school district voluntarily joins and accepts the responsibility for enforcing rules and standards of conduct for their own people.

If the concern is for officiating, schools have at least three not mutually exclusive courses of action. One is their rating of each official which will contribute to the official’s three-year average which affects MHSAA tournament assignments.

Second, the school(s) may determine no longer to hire an official for regular season contests. And third, the schools may outline their criticisms of an official in a letter to the MHSAA which will be shared with the official in the interest of improving his/her future performance.

Officials are requested (and required under some circumstances) to submit written reports to participating schools and the MHSAA office when they have concerns about facilities or conduct.

The MHSAA registers officials, requires rules meetings for them, helps to train the trainers of local officials associations and gives special privileges to associations with substantial training programs. But, under law, officials are independent contractors, ultimately responsible for their own training and their own schedules. Most officials are proud and competitive and want to improve and to become so good that they will be highly respected and hired for the big games and MHSAA tournaments. The vast majority of officials take responsibility for their actions, study the rules and practice their mechanics every bit as conscientiously as the students who play and the faculty who coach.

MHSAA staff cannot review videotapes from schools or individuals. Again, there are dozens of cameras at most of the thousands of events played each week, and it is humanly impossible to observe and analyze tape of plays or entire contests which upset people. This is not the Big Ten or NBA with their limited teams and small pools of officials — this high school sports with 100,000 plus contests and 11,000 officials.

Finally, the MHSAA HANDBOOK, which is adopted by all MHSAA member schools, does not allow the MHSAA office to entertain protests of contests, even when the protest is based on judgment decisions of officials or misinterpretation or misapplication of playing rules. The sheer volume of contests requires that concerns be addressed on the spot at the local level. This is what MHSAA membership requires, and this is what the MHSAA membership must communicate to its public.

This is not the Big Ten, NBA, NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball, where a small number of contests, participants and officials can be thoroughly scrutinized from a central office every week. This is high school sports — a massive program that can only be run at the local level, and is only successful when expectations are communicated and enforced locally.

“What Makes A Champion”
by Allissa Hoffman

What is a champion, I do not know.
But I know it’s not a fancy show.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re the strongest or the best,
Or where you live from east to west.

One thing I do know is to give it all you’ve got,
When the back of your mind is saying, “No I cannot.”

Trying your hardest to work your way to the top,
Putting in 100% effort, nothing can make you stop.

When you finish a long or short race,
Remember to put a smile upon your face.

Just remember you gave it your all,
You accepted the challenge, big or small.

Being a champion doesn’t depend on your score,
But what you are giving, and just a little more.

Alissa, is a freshman at St. Johns High School, St. Johns. She is a distance runner who wrote this poem before their first track meet.

Let the Coaches Coach and the Players Play
by Bernie Larson, A.D., Pennfield High School

A simple unfaltering love for the game . . . the exhilaration brought on by an atmosphere of competition . . . the satisfaction of having had a hand in the physical and athletic maturity of student athletes. These are just a few of the many things that drive high school coaches to do what they do. Most pour an extraordinary amount of time and energy into their work in hopes of making each season as enjoyable and successful as possible for athletes and fans alike. The overwhelming majority mean well and would love to please everybody if they could. But they can’t.

And we all know it. It’s as obvious as the nose on our faces. But somehow when the child that takes center court is no longer “some kid” — but flesh of our flesh — our objectivity somehow gets obscured. Therein lies the biggest problem facing high school coaches today.

Many coaches across the state of Michigan — indeed across the entire country — are great leaders of young men and women. At all levels of competition, coaches must know and abide by the rules of the contest, and train, teach, and develop athletes in their respective programs. They do the best they can with what they have to work with on a daily basis. All too often, however, these same coaches are put into awkward situations in which a disgruntled parent or group of parents knowingly or unknowingly sabotages the program. The end result? No one is happy. Not the coach. Not the parent. And certainly not the athlete upon whose behalf the battle may have been waged.

The ultimate result is that all too many good coaches — male and female — are terminating their careers way too soon. These people accepted their position as coach, expecting to be “under the microscope” as they attempt to develop and direct to a productive level whatever talent they happen to get. After several years in the ranks, however, they are overwhelmed by the disrespect, by the verbal abuse, and by the overall interference — not of the athletes — but of the parents. This to me is sad.

Coaches don’t come into parents’ homes or workplaces and tell them what to do or how to do it. By the same token, parents should not interfere with a coach’s job by making demands or questioning decisions. If any parent really wants to be in the “hotseat” and call the shots, there are plenty of opportunities to coach. He or she should “get qualified” and be hired by someone. Until that time, the best advise is to not stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.

When parents lash into coaches or teammates around the dinner table, in the bleachers or anywhere else, their venom can have nothing but an ill effect on everyone connected with that team.

A few suggestions. It’s not a perfect world. Let the kids be kids (Remember, in most cases, they are 18 years old and younger!). And realize that as kids they will sometimes make mistakes. If you find yourself putting too much pressure on them . . . lay off.

Let the coaches be coaches. They too will make mistakes. They will make decisions that won’t turn out the way everyone maybe wanted. Brace yourself for when that situation arises and — here’s the hard part — bite your tongue! You and the team will be far better off for it. Wait for those times when you can catch both kids and coaches doing something right and reinforce it!

Unfortunately it’s the extreme minority that seems to destroy a lot of good in our athletic programs and bruise the reputation of interscholastic athletics. We all know that there are many, many parents who have shown nothing but a positive attitude and support for the athletic programs in which their sons and daughters compete. As an athletic director, I truly thank God for people like this, for sportsmanship really does begin at home. If only more people would come to realize this, maybe there would be far fewer problems in athletic programs and far more coaches choosing to do what they love to do and what they should do. . . work with young people.

REVIEWING THE REGULATIONS
PURSUING AND PENALIZING UNDUE INFLUENCE

Two students and two coaches were withheld from the 1998 MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament, drawing unprecedented media attention. Ironically, some media who had appeared previously to be frustrated by the lack of penalties from the MHSAA for others they perceived to be rule violators, took unkind shots at the MHSAA.

• Several gave the suspended parties time and space to criticize the MHSAA or its personnel before, during and after the tourney.

• One said “Big deal. The coach will sit in the fourth row and still coach.”

Not true; the coaches could not be anywhere in the venue of any MHSAA tournament game.

• Another thought the MHSAA must “be kidding” for not having the coach barred from practices as well as games.

Such is not within the MHSAA’s authority: the association has complete authority over its tournaments, some authority over regular season games, and almost no authority over who’s at practices.

• Another criticized the MHSAA for inaction 11 years earlier when a student signed a letter stating he was asked by a basketball coach to attend his school.

Eleven years earlier the matter was handled exactly as the more recent one: this school district was given the opportunity to investigate itself in 1995, and the MHSAA accepted the result of the school’s self-investigation; but when similar and additional allegations were heard in 1997, the MHSAA did not get quick or thorough enough response, and therefore further inquiry was required by the MHSAA.

In 1986-87, the MHSAA HANDBOOK had one paragraph in the transfer regulation about “undue influence” and it only dealt with tangible incentives to encourage enrollment at a particular school. Someone could actually write a letter or make a call to encourage a transfer and not violate MHSAA HANDBOOK language.

But In 1997-98, “undue influence” has its own separate section in the MHSAA HANDBOOK with 12 amplifying interpretations that deal not only with tangible incentives but also with encouragement in the form of written word, conversations, meetings, and promotional efforts for athletes which are in excess of efforts for other students.

There is a lot more for investigators to work with today than a decade ago to get at undue influence. And as a result, there can be more serious consequences for violators.

Suspensions from MHSAA tournaments were not unprecedented before the two-coach, two-player suspension this year. On one occasion, a school was suspended from MHSAA winter tournaments in all sports. On two previous occasions in basketball, coaches were suspended from their first District Tournament games, one for gifts to his players, another for returning a telephone call to a student at another school. On several occasions where athletic-motivated residential changes were in-complete, students have been withheld from MHSAA tournaments.

Generally, suspensions are worked out by the MHSAA executive director and the school involved. They are not appealed, and therefore do not get reported in MHSAA Executive Committee Meeting minutes and receive very little media attention.

This most recent situation, which resulted in the four suspensions from the entire Boys Basketball Tournament, resulted from inappropriate expenditures of school-related funds at a summer basketball tournament, after which two students who benefited from those expenditures transferred to the school. It received great media attention in part because of the team’s high ranking and in part because of the school’s slow responses that made it a topic of four Executive Committee Meetings and the published minutes. Some believe the penalty was too severe; some think it too lenient. A legal challenge to the actions was summarily dismissed by the judge on the basis of prevailing law.

It is important to realize that four suspensions were not the only actions taken. As it stands, the school will not be allowed membership in the MHSAA for 1998-99 until a series of remedies are enacted and the administration and school board meet with the MHSAA Executive Committee in August to show cause why the school should not be suspended from membership.

The more recent suspension of the school district superintendent by the district’s board of education and its hiring of special counsel to investigate booster club finances suggest how seriously the board of education is taking its tenuous membership status in the MHSAA.

It is likely that schools-of-choice policies and win-at-all-costs attitudes will create pressures to influence student enrollment for athletic purposes. The MHSAA expects that the membership will police, report and penalize itself. But, as the most recent matter demonstrates, the MHSAA is prepared to wade deeply into matters when evidence of violations mounts and local school district control appears lacking, no matter who is involved or how high (or low) a team may be ranked.

Members Present:
Bob Grimes, Battle Creek
Tom Rashid, Detroit
William Newkirk, Meridian
Paul Ellinger, Hartford

Staff Members Present:
Jerry Cvengros, East Lansing
Tom Minter, East Lansing
Jack Roberts, East Lansing

1997-98 Year-To-Date — The Finance Committee reviewed the year-to-date performance of financial operations in comparison with the previous year.

1998-99 Budget — The Executive Director presented budgets for revenue, expenses and capital improvements for the 1998-99 fiscal year. The Finance Committee approved the proposed budget for presentation to the Representative Council on May 3 with the understanding that slight adjustments may be made in both revenue and expenses as additional information is received regarding the year-to-date budget and estimates and bids for 1998-99.

Members Present:
Amy Dickinson, Athletic Director, Muskegon Reeths Puffer H.S.
Marty Ewing, Professor, MSU Youth Sports Institute
Jim Glazier, Athletic Director, Grandville H.S.
Joe Guyski, Athletic Director, Durand H.S.
Al Kastl, Wrestling Coach, Fraser H.S.
Bob Sager, Athletic Director, Chesaning H.S.
Jann Stahr, Cheer Coach, Flat Rock H.S.
Marc Throop, Athletic Director, Gull Lake H.S.

Members Absent:
Alice Benefield, Athletic Director, Warren-Lincoln H.S.
Gary Edwards, Softball Coach, Sanford-Meridian H.S.
Dewayne Jones, Athletic Director, Ferndale H.S.
Stephanie Kramer, Assistant Director of Intramural Sports, MSU
Matt McDonald, Baseball Coach, McBain H.S.

Staff Member Present:
Suzanne M. Martin, East Lansing (Recorder)

As a result of Executive Director Jack Roberts’ initiative, an MHSAA ad hoc committee has been formed to investigate and discuss trends and changes in our society and schools. The intent of the endeavor is to view, possibly in advance, how such trends might impact students in their selection of school activities and also affect the policies and procedures of the MHSAA in its attempt to serve member schools.

The first meeting of the Future Issues Ad Hoc Committee convened in the MHSAA Building on Tuesday, March 31, 1998. Committee members were made aware that this is considered a long range project and therefore a need for their long range commitment. Also the committee was given the opportunity to create its own agenda in an attempt to allow an adventuresome spirit, as the MHSAA is seeking guidance rather than carving out its own path.

With this is in mind, committee members discussed several topics to explore. Recognizing that many agencies outside the school setting influence student interests, the committee has chosen to seek in depth information of the following topics:
How Technology Might Change our Society and Schools

Psychology of the Family Unit
The Value of Sports for our Children
How sports programs relate to school programs

Citizenship and sportsmanship

Long range health and nutrition

Impact of NCAA recruiting timeline
Impact of other athletic organizations

The influx of sports agents

Drugs in Sports
Alcohol use, tobacco use, how pervasive is it
What is the long-range effect within the school setting

Litigation
What wide range beliefs allow us to think litigation is appropriate
What is the reason for suing

Corporate Funding
How will it impact schools and interscholastic sports

Michigan School Climate
Length of school year
Special education laws
Voucher systems
Schools of choice

Facility Usage/Transportation/Equipment

Media
Obsession to winning
Portrayal of men and women in sports
Is everything fair game
What is promoted or not promoted
What is driving the print media

What are the Issues According to the Students

The committee has chosen several methods to expand its knowledge of each topic. Committee members intend to conduct library searches, internet searches, review existing surveys and gather more data and invite experts in several different fields of study to make presentations. When possible, preliminary information in written form will be provided to committee members before each topic is presented and afterward related material will be suggested for further study. With such a large number and vast array of topics to explore, the committee intends to find its path as each presentation is delivered and related material is examined.

In addition, committee members have requested the following:
1. Results of the Immerging Sports survey recently concluded by the MHSAA.
2. Results of the Sports Participation Survey conducted by MHSAA each spring.
3. Conduct interviews or survey students to determine the popularity of or desire to participate in some type of sport.

In documenting this meeting, it is important to relay to readers the positive position the committee has chosen to take. As the list of topics were discussed, they recognized that each could be viewed as a stumbling block, a nearly impossible hurdle that could paint only a negative picture of the future for students. Instead they have vowed that each topic, as it is explored, should open doors to learning what positive steps schools and the MHSAA can take to create the best atmosphere and opportunities for student-athletes in the future.

The next meeting of the Future Issues Committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 23 in the MHSAA building and will begin at 8:00 a.m. The meeting will adjourn at 12:30 p.m. to leave the afternoon open for school and athletic commitments. The third meeting of the Future Issues Committee is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 1998.

For this meeting, staff is requested to schedule speakers who will address School Climate. Staff is directed to invite potential speakers from the Michigan Department of Education, State or National School Board Association, a professor in the College of Education, and possibly Jim Ballard, Director of the MASSP.

Golf in the Lower Peninsula will raise to nine the number of tournaments in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association classifies by divisions of nearly equal number of schools, in action taken at its annual Winter meeting, March 27, in East Lansing.

The Council voted to divide the schools which participate in the Lower Peninsula boys golf tournament into four divisions of approximately 129 schools beginning with the 1998 tournament. Girls golf will expand to three divisions of approximately 65 schools in 1999. The MHSAA Upper Peninsula golf tournaments are unaffected by this action.

The changeover to divisions should make regional and final round play more manageable for tournament hosts. The number of Class A schools had been proportionately higher than other classes, which was another reason cited for the push to more equal divisions.

Other sports which the MHSAA breaks schools sponsoring a sport into nearly equal divisions for tournament play are baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, Lower Peninsula boys and girls tennis and wrestling.

The Council also approved the recommendation of the MHSAA Cross Country/Track and Field Committee to return to Michigan Speedway near Brooklyn for the Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals in 1998. The Speedway will be hosting all races in both boys and girls competition in all classes for the third straight year. The Council also directed the MHSAA staff to conduct a survey of cross country schools regarding future options for formats and sites after this year’s finals, which will take place on November 7.

Football playoffs also occupied a spot on the Council agenda, with discussion of proposals for expansion and the need for more information to be given to and received from schools on key issues. The Council directed the MHSAA staff to conduct, prior to its May 3-5 meeting in Thompsonville, a survey of all football schools’ principals and superintendents regarding their attitudes towards playoff expansion; including advancing the first date of competition for regular season football, and the converting of the ninth regular-season date to a playoff date.

The Representative Council is the 19-member legislative body of the MHSAA. All but five members are elected by member schools. Four members are appointed by the Council to facilitate representation of females and minorities; and the 19th position is occupied by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,330 public and private high school schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments conducted in 12 sports for boys and 12 sports for girls which attract approximately 1.3 million spectators each year.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - April 3 - There's a different look to the tournament classification for members of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, as nine of the Association's tournaments will be classified in nearly equal divisions in 1998-99.

The enrollment breaks, which historically have placed all schools in Classes A, B, C, and D for Representative Council elections and MHSAA tournaments in all sports, are now complemented by breaking schools into divisions in nine sports, where the number of divisions is contingent on the number of schools actually sponsoring the sport.

Classifications for the upcoming school year are based on a second semester count date, which was February 25. The enrollment figure submitted for athletic classification purposes may be different from the count submitted for school aid purposes, as it does not include students ineligible for athletic competition because they reached their 19th birthday prior to Sept. 1 of the current school year and will not include alternative education students if none are allowed athletic eligibility by the local school district.

After all the counts are submitted, the 729 member schools are ranked according to enrollment, and then split as closely into quarters as possible. This year, it works out that 181 schools are in Class A, 182 in Classes B and C, and 184 schools in Class D.

Effective with the 1998-99 school year, schools with 992 or more students will compete in Class A in MHSAA competition. The enrollment limits for Class B are 502 to 991; Class C is 250 to 501; and schools with enrollments of 249 and under are Class D. The break rose 16 students between Class A and B; decreased six students between Class B and C, and there was a five-student decline for the break between Class C and D.

Schools were recently notified of their classification. MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts said that schools may not appeal their classification if the appeal is to play in a lower class. However, if revised enrollment figures indicate that a school should be playing in a higher class, that school would be moved up.

The new classification breaks will see 20 schools move up in class for 1998-99, while 16 schools will move down.

Schools have the option to play at any higher classification for a minimum of two years, but must exercise the option by April 15 for fall sports, August 15 for winter sports, and October 15 for spring sports.

Sports which will compete in nearly equal divisions in 1998-99 are: Baseball, Lower Peninsula Boys and Girls Golf, Boys and Girls Soccer, Softball, and Lower Peninsula Boys and Girls Tennis, and Wrestling.

Here is a complete list of the schools changing classification for 1998-99:

Moving Up From Class B To Class A Allen Park Fenton Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern Oak Park Oxford Moving Down From Class A To Class B Battle Creek Lakeview Coldwater Grand Rapids Creston Trenton Moving Up From Class C To Class B Armada Bad Axe Ishpeming Westwood Midland Bullock Creek Pontiac Notre Dame Saginaw Nouvel Shelby Wyoming Kelloggsville

Moving Down From Class B To Class C Albion Detroit Crockett Technical Goodrich Hemlock Montague Negaunee Moving Up From Class D To Class C Brethren Colon Crystal Falls Forest Park Detroit Loyola Ottawa Lake-Whiteford St. Ignace Whitemore Lake Moving Down From Class C To Class D Johannesburg-Lewiston Mohawk Keweenaw Academy Muskegon Western Michigan Christian New Lothrop Redford Bishop Borgess Wyoming Lee

Schools Opting To Play At A Higher Class/Division (As of 4/1/98)
Birmingham Seaholm (From II to I - Boys and Girls Soccer Only)
Bridgeport (From III to II - Wrestling Only)
Charlotte (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Detroit Southwestern (From B to A - All Sports)
Flint Kearskey (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Flint Northwestern (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Flint Southwestern Academy (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Grand Rapids Central (From B to A - Boys Basketball Only)
Grosse Ile (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher (From IV to III - Baseball and Softball Only)
Inkster (From B to A - All Sports)
Lansing Catholic Central (From IV to I - Boys Tennis Only)
Lansing Sexton (From II to I - Girls Tennis Only)
Midland Dow (From II to I - Boys Tennis Only)
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (From C to B - All Sports)
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (From IV to III - Wrestling Only)
Mt. Clemens (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
New Boston Huron (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
Orchard Lake St. Mary (From B to A - Boys Skiing Only)
Riverview (From IV to III - Girls Tennis Only)
Romulus (From B to A - Girls Basketball, Boys Golf, Boys and Girls Cross Country Only)
Romulus (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Saginaw (From II to I - Wrestling Only)
Saginaw Buena Vista (From C to B - Boys and Girls Basketball, Football, Girls Cross Country, Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Track Only)
Sault Ste. Marie (From B to A - Ice Hockey Only)
Trenton (From II to I - Boys Tennis Only)

Enrollment Breaks By Classes - 1998-99 (Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A 992 and above (181)
Class B 502 to 991 (182)
Class C 250 to 501 (182)
Class D 249 and below (184)

Enrollment Breaks By Divisions - 1998-99 (Number of schools in parenthesis)

Sport	Baseball	Softball	LP Boys Golf	LPGirls Golf	Boys Soccer	Girls Soccer	LPBoys Tennis	LP Girls Tennis	Wrestling
Div. I	1053 & above (158)	1053 & above (159)	1201 & above (129)	1385 & above (65)	1309 & above (92)	1275 & above (95)	1416 & above (87)	1417 & above (81)	1234 & above (111)
Div. II	568 to 1052 (158)	568 to 1052 (157)	704 to 1200 (129)	901 to 1384 (65)	864 to 1308 (91)	790 to 1274 (96)	991 to 1415 (86)	1022 to 1416 (82)	743 to 1233 (111)
Div. III	299 to 567 (158)	299 to 567 (158)	400 to 703 (129)	900 & below (65)	502 to 863 (91)	789 & below (95)	643 to 990 (86)	710 to 1021 (81)	479 to 742 (111)
Div. IV	298 & below (159)	298 & below (156)	399 & below (130)	--	501 & below (91)	--	642 & below (86)	709 & below (81)	478 & below (112)

Six of the seven scheduled UPDATE Meetings will be luncheon meetings held during the month of October. The final UPDATE Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee on Friday, November 6th in Marquette.

The purpose of these meetings is to keep MHSAA’s membership apprised of current issued regarding rules, regulations and Representative Council action as well as to receive input from the attendees. All superintendents, principals, athletic directors and school board members are strongly urged to attend the meetings in order to learn of pertinent action for the 1998-99 school year. Representative Council and MHSAA staff members will also be in attendance.

The meetings are listed below with the date, time and place. The first six meetings listed below will begin with a luncheon and will commence promptly at noon with the UPDATE Meeting following, approximately 1:00 p.m. Those wishing to attend the meeting, but not planning to participate in the luncheon, can plan to arrive approximately 1:00 p.m.

The Representative Council urges all member schools to make every effort to attend one of the scheduled UPDATE Meetings. If you have specific items you feel should be covered, please forward these suggestions to the MHSAA office prior to June 1, 1998. The schedule of meetings is as follows:

All Luncheon Meetings Begin at 12:00 Noon
Thursday, October1 --KALAMAZOO-Holiday Inn West
Monday, October 5 --GAYLORD-Hidden Valley Club & Resort
Wednesday, October 7-- EAST LANSING-USA Cafe
Monday, October 12--COMSTOCK PARK-English Hills Terrace
Wednesday, October 21--FRANKENMUTH-Zehnder’s
Wednesday, October 28--PONTIAC-Silverdome’s Main Event

Non-Luncheon Meeting Begins at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, November 6 U.P. Athletic Directors Meeting (Marquette)

Meal prices and reservation forms will be published in the August issue of the BULLETIN.

The MIAAA has joined forces with the MHSAA to co-sponsor the NIAAA Leadership Training Program 504, “Legal Issues and Strategies in Athletics” at three separate sites in August. The three hour course will be offered at Frankenmuth, Bloomfield Hills, and Kalamazoo and will begin at 12:15 p.m., immediately following the AD In-Service workshop. A $25 registration fee, separate from the $15 fee for the AD workshop is reduced from the national fee of $49. Attendees may attend both programs for $40.

“Legal Issues and Strategies in Athletics” will cover the standards that have evolved regarding legal duties of the athletic administrator. The course will be taught by Michigan high school athletic administrators who have been trained as instructors through National Federation training courses. A textbook and reference materials are provided.

The MHSAA-MIAAA AD In-Service program will continue as in previous years with workshops beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding with lunch at 12:30 p.m. Programs at the three sties hosting the Leadership Training Programs will adjourn for lunch at 11:30 a.m. The cost for this program remains at $15 and includes lunch.

Please call Jerry Cvengros/Sally Fisher at the MHSAA (517) 332-5046 for registration information.

One of the best-liked speakers in the Annual Meeting history of the Michigan High School Athletic Association — Al Burr of St. Louis, Missouri — returns to Michigan to join the headliners for the MHSAA’s second Statewide Sportsmanship Summit on September 23, 1998, at the Lansing Center.

Dr. Burr spent six years as a teacher, coach and assistant principal before 30 years as a principal of Parkway West and Clayton High Schools in Missouri. He has served as president of the National Federation of State High School Associations and has received its highest award. In 1990, he was named as one of the nation’s 100 most outstanding school executives.

Dr. Burr joins Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Jo Jo White and legendary Nebraska Football Coach Tom Osborne, who have been previously announced as keynoters, on the 1998 program.
Tracy Warren of Fox Sports Net and ESPN will emcee the Summit luncheon.

During a special afternoon session for students and coaches, the speakers will be Laura Bush-Farina, Assistant Volleyball Coach at Michigan State University; Sharon Stoll of the University of Idaho; and Jennifer Beller of Eastern Michigan University.

MHSAA Official Mike Terwilliger of Saginaw and — back by very popular demand — attorney Al Bush of Escanaba, will lead a session for boosters, board members and parents.

Administrators will be divided into three groups for free-wheeling discussions of issues and ideas of sportsmanship.

Registration materials for the Summit will be sent to all member school, as well as associations of officials, coaches, administrators, board members and others in the spring. The registration deadline will be September 16 or the first 1,200 registrants, whichever is earlier.

Cost for the day-long conference will be $20, which includes lunch and all meeting materials. Schools are invited to reserve places now and provide names of their delegates later so that they won’t miss out on the opportunity to bring as full a delegation as they would like to the Summit. According to comments following the 1997 Summit, those schools which received the most benefit were those which brought several adults and several students who then worked together to plan and implement sportsmanship initiatives in their own schools and communities.

At the March 27, 1998 meeting of the Michigan High School Athletic Association Representative Council, proposals were approved to provide more member schools more compensation for hosting MHSAA tournaments in more sports.

It had been approved two years ago to begin providing reimbursement beyond expenses and concessions to member schools hosting Lower Peninsula Regional and Upper Peninsula Final Track and Field, Lower Peninsula Regional and Upper Peninsula Final Cross Country, Lower Peninsula Regional and Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula Final Tennis, Lower Peninsula District and Regional and UpperPeninsula Final Individual Wrestling, and Lower Peninsula Regional and Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula Final Girls Gymnastics. In those five sports, the reimbursement this year has been $300 or 10% of the gross, whichever is greater — marking the first time that these sports have shared in tournament revenue.

This past March, the Representative Council voted to double the reimbursement for these five sports so that, beginning in 1998-99, they will receive $600 or 10% of the gross, whichever is greater, in addition to their expenses and whatever concessions they can generate locally.

These five sports were targeted by the MHSAA Finance Committee in 1996 because of the larger effort required by host schools and the smaller potential to generate revenue from ticket sales than other sports.

This year, the Finance Committee recommended and the Representative Council adopted the formula of $300 or 10% of the gross, whichever is greater, for the following additional MHSAA tournaments:

District, Regional and Quarterfinal Baseball and Softball (combined)
District, Regional and Semifinal Soccer (boys and girls)
Lower Peninsula District, Regional and Quarterfinal and Upper Peninsula Regional and Final Girls Volleyball
Regional and Final Competitive Cheer
Regional Diving (boys and girls)
Lower Peninsula Regional and Final and Upper Peninsula Final Golf (boys and girls)
District, Regional and Quarterfinal Ice Hockey
Regional and Final Skiing (boys and girls)

The increase in revenue returned to host schools as a result of all of these actions will exceed $306,000 during 1998-99. Revenue sharing plans already exist for boys and girls basketball, football, and team wrestling; so all MHSAA tournaments are now involved in a plan to share gate receipts with member schools.

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 nonschool 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 April 3, for events to be held in May.)
*Dates preceded by an asterisk are National Federation sanctioned.
**Dates preceded by two asterisks are border state approved.

MAY—
2— Central States Schools for the Deaf, Indianapolis
2— 22nd Annual Dearborn Softball Tournament
8&9— Tri-State Softball Invitational, Butler, IN (MI, IN, OH)
21— West Michigan Track Invitational, Muskegon
22— Bay City Times Classic Track Meet
26— 26th Annual Thumb Track and Field Meet of Champions, Carom

1998-99 NATIONAL TEST DATES

ACT Assessment
October 24, 1998
December 12, 1998
February 6, 1999
April 10, 1999
June 12, 1999

SAT
October 10, 1998
November 7, 1998
December 5, 1998
January 23, 1999
March 20, 1999 (Sat. 1 only)
May 1, 1999
June 5, 1999

Advanced Placement — May 10-21, 1999

SUMMER SCHEDULE FOR MHSAA OFFICE

There will be business as usual at the MHSAA during the summer months.
Summer hours will begin on Monday, June 29, running through Friday, August 7. The time schedule for summer hours will be 8:00 am to 4:00 pm