EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
East
Lansing, August 18, 1999
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 postseason tournaments it sponsors
to those schools which apply rules and penalties as promulgated
by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education.
Summary
of 1998-99 Waiver Requests - During
the 1998-99 academic year, there were 255 requests by member schools
to waive regulations (versus 237 in 1997-98) of which 61.9 percent
were granted by the Executive Committee (versus 67.5 percent in
1997-98). Of the total, 155 requests involved the transfer regulation
(versus 146 in 1997-98), of which 58.7 percent were granted by
the Executive Committee (versus 67.5 percent in 1997-98).
Rationale
for Transfer Regulation -
Because of the frequency and variety of requests to waive the
transfer regulation, the Executive Committee reviewed and reaffirmed
the rationale for the transfer regulation established by the Executive
Committee on Aug. 6, 1985, and most recently reaffirmed on Aug.
12, 1998:
A. The rule tends
to insure equality of competition in that each school plays students
who have been in that school and established their eligibility
in that school.
B. The rule tends
to prevent students from "jumping" from one school to
another.
C. The rule prevents
the "bumping" of students who have previously gained
eligibility in a school system by persons coming from outside
the school system.
D. The rule tends
to prevent interscholastic athletic recruiting.
E.
The rule tends to prevent or discourage dominance of one sport
at one school with a successful program, i.e., the concentration
of excellent baseball players at one school to the detriment of
surrounding schools through transfers and to the detriment of
the natural school population and ability mix.
F.
The rule tends to create and maintain stability in that age group,
i.e., it promotes team stability and team work expectation fulfillment.
G.
The rule is designed to discourage parents from "school shopping"
for athletic purposes.
H. The rule is consistent
with educational philosophy of going to school for academics first
and athletics second.
I. It eliminates family
financial status from becoming a factor on eligibility, thus making
a uniform rule for all students across the state of Michigan (i.e.,
tuition and millage considerations).
J. It tends to encourage
competition between nonpublic and public schools, rather than
discourage that competition.
K. It tends to reduce
friction or threat of students changing schools because of problems
they may have created or because of their misconduct, etc.
Regulation I, Section
1[F]) -
The regulation allows cooperative programs without regard to a
maximum combined enrollment of the schools involved for sports
that are sponsored by 250 or fewer schools. There are currently
257 schools which sponsor girls golf, including 36 in the Upper
Peninsula and several in the Lower Peninsula which historically
have not completed the season or entered the MHSAA postseason
tournament.
The
Executive Committee determined that cooperative program applications
in girls golf would continue to be accepted for processing without
regard to the Class B enrollment maximum until the Oct. 15, 1999
deadline for spring sport cooperative programs; and at its Dec.
1, 1999 meeting, the Representative Council should consider if
girls golf coops should be processed in the future for schools
whose combined enrollment exceeds the Class B maximum.
Canton-Plymouth
Salem High School (Regulation I, Sections 1 & 9) - Request was made to
waive applicable sections on behalf of a 12th-grade student who
in 10th and 11th grade was assigned by his Individual Education
Program Committee to Redford-Union High School where he played
football in 10th grade. The academic program prescribed was not
provided by the Plymouth-Canton School District. He has completed
the program and is being returned to Plymouth Salem.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Bloomfield
Hills-Andover and Bloomfield Hills-Lahser High Schools (Regulation
I, Section 1[F]) - The
Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in ice hockey
between these schools. Both schools sponsored the sport previously.
Lahser will be the primary school. The combined enrollment will
be 1,908.
Brighton and Howell
High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request was made to waive the
Aug. 15 deadline for a cooperative program application for these
schools in girls gymnastics.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver until Sept. 8, 1999.
Brighton,
Howell, Fowlerville and Hartland High Schools (Regulation I, Section
1[F]) - The
Executive Committee reviewed an application to add Fowlerville
High School to the cooperative program that exists between Brighton
and Howell High Schools in boys swimming and diving (combined
enrollment would be 4,815). Also received was a request to waive
the Aug. 15 deadline for the addition of Hartland High School
to this program (combined enrollment would be 6,026).
The Executive Committee
granted waiver of the deadline until Sept. 8, 1999, and indicated
it would consider the status of both Fowlerville and Hartland
only when all application materials are complete and clearly understood
by the MHSAA and all four schools.
Chassell High School
(Regulation I, Section 1[E]) -
Request was made to waive the Aug. 15 deadline for cooperative
program applications for winter sports to allow paperwork to be
completed for (1) adding Calumet-Copper Country Christian High
School to Chassell's cooperative program with Painesdale-Jeffers
in girls volleyball, and (2) creating a new cooperative program
with Copper Country Christian in boys basketball.
The
Executive Committee granted the request to waive the deadline
until Sept. 8, 1999, and indicated it would consider the application
for girls volleyball only when all application materials are complete
and clearly understood by the MHSAA and all three schools.
Farmington
and Farmington Hills-Harrison High Schools (Regulation I, Section
1[F]) - The
Executive Committee approved a cooperative program by these schools
in boys swimming and diving. Farmington High School would be the
primary school. Combined enrollment would be 2,246.
Hartland and Linden
High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request was made for an extension
of the Aug. 15 deadline for winter sports cooperative program
applications so that these schools may complete preparation of
an application in girls gymnastics.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver until Sept. 8, 1999.
Hudsonville
and Hudsonville-Unity Christian High Schools (Regulation I, Section
1[F]) -
The Executive Committee tabled the request for a cooperative program
in boys swimming and diving between these schools pending receipt
of the league resolution of support. Hudsonville has sponsored
the sport previously and would be the primary school. Combined
enrollment would be 1,902.
Kalamazoo-Loy Norrix
and Kalamazoo-Hackett Catholic Central High Schools (Regulation
I, Section 1[F]) - The
Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in ice hockey
between these schools. Loy Norrix has sponsored the sport previously
and will be the primary school. The combined enrollment of 1,743
will move the program from Division 2 to 1.
Muskegon
and Muskegon Catholic Central High Schools (Regulation I, Section
1[F]) - Request
was made to waive the Aug. 15 deadline for a winter cooperative
program application for boys swimming and diving.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver until not later
than Sept. 8, 1999.
Northport High School
and Interlochen Arts Academy (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - Request was made to
waive the Aug. 15 deadline for a cooperative program application
in boys basketball.
The Executive Committee granted
the request for waiver until not later than Sept. 8, 1999.
Norton
Shores-Mona Shores and Muskegon-Reeths-Puffer High Schools (Regulation
I, Section 1[F]) - The
Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in girls gymnastics
between these schools. Mona Shores has sponsored the sport previously
and will be the primary school. The combined enrollment will be
2,787.
Parma-Western and
Concord High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request was made
to waive the Aug. 15 deadline for an application for a cooperative
program between these schools in girls gymnastics. Parma-Western
would be the primary school.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver until not later than Sept. 8, 1999.
Waterford
Kettering, Waterford Mott and Clarkston High Schools (Regulation
I, Section 1[F]) -
The Executive Committee tabled the request for the addition of
Clarkston High School to the cooperative agreement in girls gymnastics
which Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott have conducted since
the 1996-97 school year, pending receipt of a league resolution
in support. The combined enrollment would be 5,114. Waterford
Kettering is the primary school.
Alba High School (Regulation
I, Sections 4 & 5) - A
late request was made to waive the maximum semesters sections
of the eligibility regulation on behalf of a 12th-grade student
who transferred from a Catholic school in Chicago to Alba as a
9th-grader when he moved with his mother, who was separating from
his father. He has attended Alba for eight consecutive semesters.
His interscholastic athletic participation was in basketball last
year.
The Executive Committee
noted that the student had been enrolled for the maximum semesters
allowed all students, found there were no compelling special circumstances
for this student , and denied the request for waiver.
Niles-Brandywine
High School (Regulation I, Sections 4 & 5) - Request to waive
the maximum semesters portions of the eligibility regulation was
made on behalf of a student who first enrolled in the 9th grade
in August of 1995 at Niles High School, withdrawing Oct. 15, 1995.
She had been placed in the 9th grade because of representations
by her parent that she had completed 8th grade at an out-of-state
school that subsequently was found not to exist. The student participated
in at least one tennis meet during that time and she received
passing grades in six courses before it was discovered she had
skipped 8th grade. She then attended 8th grade at Niles-First
Assembly Christian for part of the first and second semesters
of the 1995-96 school year, after which she enrolled on March
8, 1996, in the 8th grade of Niles-Brandywine Junior/Senior High
School. She attended 9th through 11th grades at Brandywine in
1996-97 through 1998-99.
The Executive Committee
found that the current semester is the student's fifth first semester
and eighth overall in which she received grades. The request for
waiver was denied.
Saline High School
(Regulation I, Sections 4 & 5) - Request was made to waive the
maximum semesters portions of the eligibility regulation on behalf
of a student who first enrolled in the 9th grade for the 1996-97
school year at a large school in Virginia where he did not participate
in high school sports and achieved a B- grade point average. Upon
his transfer to Saline, he was reenrolled in the 9th grade, and
he will complete eight semesters in 1999-00. He requested 9th
and 10th semesters during the 2000-01 school year and will turn
19 on Sept. 21, 2001.
Meeting with the Executive
Committee, the parents indicated they chose to have their son
repeat 9th grade because his father had a job change, the student's
brother had left for college, and the student had not done well
academically in 9th grade (B- grade point average). Other factors
indicated were his size, maturity and that he didn't fit in. He
tried out for the baseball team but didn't make the team. The
athletic director indicated the student could have sufficient
credits to graduate in June 2000.
The Executive Committee
found there were no special circumstances that required the repeat
of 9th grade. It was a choice, and Saline High School even accepted
four credits from the student's first year in 9th grade. Therefore,
the student is enduring no undue hardship by the application of
the maximum semesters rules, which were serving their intended
purposes in this case. The request for waiver was denied.
Allegan
High School (Regulation I, Section 7) - Request to waive the previous
semester record regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade
student who, due to a medical condition, was unable to attend
school and began receiving homebound services through the intermediate
school district beginning in October of 1998. During the second
semester of the 1998-99 school year, he was limited to Þ
time (three classes) at Allegan High School. He passed all three
and is now enrolled in a full schedule (six classes).
Citing
the medical reasons for the partial course load, the Executive
Committee waived the previous semester record regulation but stipulated
that both semesters of the 1998-99 school year shall count toward
the maximum of eight semesters allowed in grades 9-12 and no waiver
shall be considered for continued eligibility.
Onsted
High School (Regulation I, Section 7) - Request to waive the previous
semester record regulation was made on behalf of a student who
was marked "withdrawn from school" on May 5, 1999, when
she was passing five of six courses. School policy would not allow
for her to make up the deficiencies during the summer. The student
was in treatment for depression much of the 1998-99 school year,
her 11th grade.
The Executive Committee
noted that MHSAA regulations permit deficiencies to be made up
during the summer and that it would not be appropriate for the
MHSAA to grant waiver for students where their schools have not
utilized provisions that might allow students to earn eligibility.
Port
Huron Northern High School (Regulation I, Section 7) - A late request to
waive the previous semester record regulation was made on behalf
of a 10th-grade student who passed one course in the second semester
of 1998-99. He was given a special education diagnosis in May
of 1999.
The request for waiver
was denied.
Williamston High School
(Regulation I, Section 7) - Request
to waive the previous semester record regulation was made on behalf
of a 12th-grade student who passed only three of six classes last
semester when he was hospitalized for depression.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver subject to
the condition that the documentation referred to is submitted
to the executive director who would find that it substantiates
the Executive Committee's understanding of claims being made.
Grand
Rapids-Kenowa Hills High School (Regulation I, Sections 8 &
9) - The
Executive Committee was requested to consider Handbook
regulations and specifically Interpretation No. 48 in the case
of a student who attended Grandville-Calvin Christian High School
as a 9th-grader during 1998-99 until he was withdrawn to be home
schooled. For the start of the 1999-00 school year, the student
will continue to be home schooled for an unspecified number of
hours and will be taking the equivalent of 20 hours (four classes)
as a Kenowa Hills student, Spanish within the high school building
and three units at the Kent Skills Center (as a Kenowa Hills student).
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver subject to
the condition that the student is in fact enrolled in an age and
grade-appropriate curriculum in a school without any interscholastic
teams in any sports and there is a system of regular reporting
of academic progress between the schools. Documentation of such
must be provided by Kenowa Hills High School to the executive
director prior to the student's participation to assure the student
is a shared-time student under Interpretation No. 48 and not an
ineligible transfer student.
Athens High School
(Regulation I, Section 9) -
Request was made to waive the transfer regulation on behalf of
a 12th-grade student who lived in Athens and attended Athens schools
throughout his life until his family moved to Oregon for a job
change in 1998. He returned to Bronson to live with an aunt.
The Executive Committee
denied the request for waiver.
Bloomfield Hills-Andover
High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the
transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student
who two years ago was relocated with his family from New York
to Germany, then back to New York and now to Michigan, all related
to job transfers. The family is residing in Waterford.
The
Executive Committee noted that the student had the opportunity
for eligibility in Waterford and denied the request for waiver.
Bloomfield
Hills-Brother Rice High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive
the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student
who had attended the International School of Beijing for three
years. As a 9th-grader, the student was accepted to attend Brother
Rice before a job transfer moved the family to China. They are
members of the parish church, but Detroit Country Day is the closest
nonpublic school to their residence.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver.
Brownstown-Woodhaven
High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made to waive the
transfer regulation to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level
only during the first semester of the 1999-00 school year for
a 10th-grade student who attended Flat Rock-Summit Academy as
a 9th-grader and did not participate in school sports.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver for the student
to participate at only the sub-varsity level during the first
semester of the 1999-00 school year.
Coloma High School
(Regulation I, Section 9) -
Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of
a 10th-grade student who previously attended Benton Harbor High
School where it was alleged she was subjected to behavior which
caused the student's parents to press charges against a coach.
The
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Dearborn
Heights-Annapolis High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the
transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student
who attended school in this district through 10th grade. His family
moved to Chelsea where he attended 11th grade. He participated
in athletics, but gradually lost interest in sports and school.
The student has moved to his grandparents and will reenroll at
Annapolis High School.
The Executive Committee
denied the request for waiver.
Flushing High School
(Regulation I, Section 9[B]) -
A late request was made to waive the transfer regulation to permit
eligibility at the sub-varsity level only during the first semester
of the 1999-00 school year for a 10th-grade student who last year
attended Burton-Genesee Christian High School where he participated
in two golf matches.
The Executive Committee
denied the request for waiver.
Hartford High School
(Regulation I, Section 9) - Request
to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a student
who enrolled in Hartford High School May 7, 1999 from Brazil.
She was legally adopted June 10, 1999. The family also adopted
a boy from Brazil seven years ago who graduated in June.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Iron
Mountain-North Dickinson High School (Regulation I, Section 9)
-
Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of
an 11th-grade student who, as an 8th grader, was expelled from
Kingsford Public Schools. He enrolled in the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate
School District Alternative Education Program in the fall of 1997,
but was told he could not participate in extracurricular activities
at Kingsford High School. He attended the alternative school for
1997-98 and 1998-99 while living with his parents in Kingsford.
During the summer of 1999, the student left his residence in Kingsford,
and he is residing with friends in the North Dickinson County
School District and attending North Dickinson High School.
The
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Kalkaska
High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the
transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student
who previously attended Sterling Heights-Henry Ford II High School.
Her mother died several years ago and her father remarried. When
asked to leave her father's home in March, the student tried living
with a grandparent, which didn't work out because of space in
the home and distance to school. She then moved to a friend's
house to finish the school year. She is now living with an aunt
and uncle. She will be 18 on Sept. 29, 1999.
The
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver but noted the
student may be considered for eligibility when she turns 18 and
an Educational Transfer Form is completed.
Kinde-North
Huron High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive
the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student
who moved from the residence of his mother and stepfather in Nebraska
to the residence of his grandparents six weeks before the end
of the 1998-99 school year.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver subject to the school submitting
to the executive director documentation that confirms the Executive
Committee's understanding of circumstances that compelled the
student to relocate.
Lansing-Eastern High
School (Regulation I, Section 9) -
Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of
an 11th-grade student who attended Eastern High School until transferring
to Lansing-Everett for academic reasons for the second semester
of the 1997-98 school year where he was ineligible under the transfer
regulation. In November of 1998, he was assaulted at Everett High
school. There was documentation of the incident and arrest. The
student has reenrolled at Eastern.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver.
Livonia-Ladywood High
School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer
regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who had
registered to attend Ladywood as a 9th-grader but instead entered
a convent in Rhode Island. She has returned to live with her parents
but Farmington Hills-Mercy is a closer all-girl Catholic school.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Madison
Heights-Lamphere High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive
the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student
who was sent from Macedonia to the United States to avoid the
conflicts in that area. He arrived on his own and attended high
school in Oklahoma City both semesters of 1998-99, passing all
courses. His father was given permission to emigrate in March
of 1999. His mother was required to remain in Macedonia. The student
and his father are living with the student's uncle in the Lamphere
district.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver.
Mason High School
(Regulation I, Section 9) -
Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of
an 11th-grade student who previously attended Capital City Baptist
in Lansing where he did not participate in any high school sports.
The
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Monroe-St.
Mary Catholic Central High School (Regulation I, Section 9) -
Request
to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a student
of divorced parents who attended parochial schools in Erie, Michigan
through 8th grade, attended Temperance-Bedford High School for
9th grade in 1997-98, relocated to his father's residence in Portage
and attended 10th grade at Vicksburg High School in 1998-99, and
has now registered at St. Mary Catholic Central High School for
11th grade in 1999-00 when he will return to his mother's residence.
He played football at Vicksburg, residing in the district and
without an Educational Transfer Form being filed. Vicksburg forfeited
those contests.
At its May 1, 1999
meeting, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver
because the student was not enrolled in the school requesting
waiver, the student was not projected to be returning to his original
school, and the student participated while ineligible last fall.
The
football coach, mother, stepfather and student met with the Executive
Committee.
The Executive Committee
found that the student played sports in all three seasons of the
1998-99 school year at Vicksburg in spite of being ineligible
under two conditions of the transfer regulation, and that the
second change of residence and third change of school are more
matters of choice than necessity. Therefore, the Executive Committee
denied the request for waiver.
Morrice High School
(Regulation I, Section 9) - Request
to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grader
who previously attended Antrim Baptist for two years and who resides
in the Byron School District. The student did not participate
in high school sports, and the request was that he be allowed
to participate at the junior varsity level.
The
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Muskegon
Catholic Central High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive
the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student
of a Catholic family who moved from out-of-state to Fruitport
in 1998 and attended Fruitport High School as a 9th-grader in
1998-99 and played three sports.
The Executive Committee
denied the request for waiver.
Ontonagon High School
(Regulation I, Section 9) -
Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of
a 12th-grade student who attended Ontonagon schools through 8th
grade while he and his mother resided at the student's maternal
grandparents' house. When he and his mother moved to her boyfriend's
house, the student entered Baraga schools. Tension rose over three
years until the student returned to his grandparents' house in
Ontonagon and he has enrolled at Ontonagon High School for the
1999-00 school year.
The Executive Committee
denied the request for waiver.
Pannonia Christian
Educational Exchange (Regulation I, Section 9) - This organization
is not listed by the Council on Standards for International Educational
Travel (CSIET) because it places so few students (25 since 1994)
that CSIET costs are prohibitive.
MHSAA Assistant Director
Gina Mazzolini, who is familiar with the evaluation criteria and
processes of CSIET, has evaluated this organization. She has found
that the organization exceeds some standards, meets most others
and may be deficient only in two respects: (1) that it depends
on the host community to provide funds to share expense of airfare
and spending money, and (2) it has no provision for repatriation
of remains should the student die.
The Executive Committee
determined that Pannonia Christian Educational Exchange be approved
under Handbook Interpretation No. 76 for the 1999-00 school
year only.
Parchment High School
(Regulation I, Section 9[B]) -
Request was made to permit immediate eligibility at the sub-varsity
level only during the first semester of the 1999-00 school year
for a 10th-grade student who attended Kalamazoo-Hackett Catholic
Central High school as a 9th-grader in 1998-99 where he participated
in football.
The Executive Committee
denied the request for waiver.
Portage Central High
School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made for immediate
eligibility at the sub-varsity level only for a 10th-grade student
who attended Kalamazoo Christian High School as a 9th-grader in
1998-99.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver, subject to the condition that
the student did not participate in any high school sport in 9th
grade.
Republic-Michigamme
High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the
transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student
who attended 8th grade in Republic-Michigamme Schools while living
with his grandparents. He moved to his parents in Garden City
where he attended school for 9th through 11th grades, and he has
returned to live with his grandparents.
The
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Richland-Gull
Lake High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the
transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student
who attended Haslett High School but planned to transfer to Gull
Lake because her father had cancer and her mother is institutionalized.
It was anticipated the student would live with her sister, who
is an English teacher and competitive cheer coach at Gull Lake
but who lived in Comstock. At its April 22, 1999 meeting, the
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver because the
student was not enrolled in the requesting school. Subsequently,
the student's father died and the student's sister returned to
reside within the Gull Lake district, where the student intends
to enroll for 12th grade.
The Executive Committee
granted the request for waiver.
Riverview-Gabriel
Richard High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive
the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student
who attended a Wyandotte public school last year and had registered
and paid a tuition deposit to attend Gabriel Richard High School
when his family signed a purchase agreement to relocate to Grosse
Ile, where he attended the first three days of football conditioning.
He has enrolled at Gabriel Richard.
The Executive Committee
noted the circumstances and brevity of the situation and granted
the request for waiver.
Rochester Hills-Rochester
High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made to permit immediate
eligibility at the sub-varsity level only during the first semester
of the 1999-00 school year for a 10th-grade student who attended
Pontiac-Notre Dame Prep High School as a 9th-grader in 1998-99
where he did not participate in any interscholastic sports.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver only at the
sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1999-00 school
year.
Saginaw-Valley Lutheran
High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer
regulation was made to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level
only during the first semester of the 1999-00 school year on behalf
of a 10th-grader who last year attended Bay City-McKinley High
School where he did not participate in interscholastic athletics.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver only at the
sub-varsity level during the first semester of the 1999-00 school
year.
Three Rivers High
School (Regulation I, Section 9) -
A late request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf
of a student who last year attended Marcellus-Howardsville Christian
School, which has cancelled many of its girls basketball games.
The
Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, consistent
with established precedent when schools make changes in curricular
or extracurricular offerings.
Vassar High School
(Regulation I, Section 9[C]) -
Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of
a 12th-grade student who transferred from Vassar to Millington
last year and was ineligible to participate with the girls gymnastics
cooperative program of Millington, Reese and Vassar. She is reenrolling
at Vassar and wants to participate in the cooperative gymnastics
program in which she had been able to participate as a 10th-grader.
The
Executive Committee granted the request for waiver for the first
semester of the 1999-00 school year for girls gymnastics only.
National
High School Golf and Tennis Championships (Regulation I, Section
13[B]) - Twenty-two
students who were in grades 9-11 of 18 MHSAA member schools in
1998-99 and members of their school golf teams in 1998, participated
in a national golf tournament in Georgia in June, 1999. Five students
of four schools played in a national tennis tournament in Georgia
on the same dates.
The executive director's
finding was that Handbook regulations prohibited students'
participation in these events and his action was to disqualify
these participants from the 1999-00 MHSAA Golf and Tennis Tournaments
but to allow reinstatement for any student who was withheld by
his or her school from its first three days of competition of
the 16 allowed during the season.
The Executive Committee
voted to (1) affirm the decision that participation in the national
golf and tennis tournaments in Georgia in June violated Regulation
I, Section 13; and (2) accept the recommendation of the executive
director to waive all suspensions related to this violation effective
Friday, Aug. 20, 1999. In addition, the Executive Committee voted
that any school which deemed it appropriate may reinstate as early
as Thursday, Aug. 19, 1999 any student who was withheld from one
or more of his/her team's interscholastic competitions actually
held during Aug. 16-18, 1999.
St. Joseph-Upton Middle
School (Regulation IV, Section 10[B]) - Request was made to permit
practice to start Aug. 24 in 1999, six days before classes start
but the same day as its first two opponents begin practice.
The
Executive Committee granted the request.
Millington
High School (Regulation V, Section 3[C]) - The Nov. 14, 1998 MHSAA Football
Playoff game between Chesaning and Millington High Schools was
ended by the officials with 1:43 remaining in the game because
of a series of personal fouls against Millington, which has submitted
a summary report of internal actions which have included public
apologies by players, school sanctions against players, development
of a school district task force to improve sportsmanship among
all constituents, and increased involvement in the Program of
Athletic Coaches' Education (PACE). At its January meeting, the
Executive Committee requested that the school's administration
and head football coach appear at a future meeting to address
more specifically the student sanctions that have been imposed,
the steps being implemented to improve sportsmanship among athletes,
other students, fans and coaches, the district's expanded involvement
in PACE, a report of the first task force meeting(s), and, since
many comments were received about the inadequacy of the facility
as a contributor to problems, what is being done to address those
concerns.
The principal and
two members of the football coaching staff met with the Executive
Committee to discuss each of the designated topics. Recommendations
by the Task Force to the Millington Board of Education were reviewed,
as were facility concerns. Many other positive ideas were exchanged.
At
its Feb. 25, 1999 meeting, the Executive Committee determined
as follows:
(1) The action of
the Board of Education with respect to the task force recommendations
should be communicated to the MHSAA as soon as it occurs; and
(2)
Because facility deficiencies were cited by all parties, until
there are significant changes that solve existing problems, if
Millington should otherwise earn the privilege of hosting an MHSAA
Football Playoff game, it will be required that Millington High
School arrange an alternative site acceptable to the MHSAA staff.
On
Aug. 11, 1999, the executive director faxed to Millington High
School a request for follow-up, which was received Aug. 13.
The
Executive Committee found the school's response to be inadequate
and directed the executive director to receive more from the school
in writing about the progress in improving its football facility,
the plans to have its personnel participate in PACE, and means
being used by the district to communicate and reinforce its Sportsmanship
Policy, consistent with Article II, Section 3 of the MHSAA Constitution.
Ann
Arbor-Pioneer High School - At
its April 22, 1999 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the
conduct by some of the Pioneer spectator section at the conclusion
of the 1999 MHSAA Class A Boys Basketball Final game.
The
Executive Committee directed the staff to (1) require a response
from the school's administration that, among other information,
will identify the administrators, staff and chaperones who were
assigned to the contest and their roles during and after the game;
and (2) review tournament printed materials for the possibility
of adding clearer, stronger and more thorough coverage of schools'
responsibilities to supervise their spectators. In addition, the
Executive Committee requested that the Representative Council
discuss this situation and the possibility of revising Handbook
language to deal more effectively with similar situations in the
future.
The school's written
response was received June 3. Also provided to the Executive Committee
were pages 14 and 15 of the Tournament Manager's Manual, pages
4-6 of the Final Round Qualifying Team Manual provided after the
Regionals, and two additional pages for qualifying teams' chaperones.
At
its June 9, 1999 meeting, the Executive Committee requested that
the executive director communicate its dissatisfaction with the
school's response and require additional follow-up by the school.
Ideas were discussed for strengthening the MHSAA's written expectations
of participating schools' administration and spectators at MHSAA
Basketball Tournaments.
There was no response
from the school. Therefore, the Executive Committee directed the
executive director to ask the school for its response prior to
the Sept. 8 meeting of the Boys Basketball Tournament Committee.
Inkster
High School -
At its August 1997 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the
record of MHSAA Handbook violations by this school and
determined that the 1997-98 membership of Inkster High School
be held in abeyance until its superintendent, principal and athletic
director met at the MHSAA office with the executive director to
show cause why the school's membership should not be suspended
or its membership privileges not be reduced. At its September
1997 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the actions of
Inkster High School to eliminate the violations of Handbook
policies and procedures that have plagued the school in recent
years, accepted the school's membership for 1997-98, and requested
the executive director provide at the Executive Committee's June
1998 meeting a review of Inkster High School's compliance record
during 1997-98. At that meeting, it was reported that one violation,
failure to rate any boys basketball officials during the 1997-98
season, was known to have occurred during the 1997-98 school year.
At its June 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee determined
to continue the school's probationary status through the 1998-99
school year and requested that the executive director report to
the Executive Committee in June 1999 about the school's compliance
efforts during that year.
Since the executive
director's last report to the Executive Committee, Inkster High
School has had two violations: (1) Regulation II, Section 8(B)
- failure to attend a Boys Tennis Rules Meeting or the head coach
to pass the rules examination; and (2) Regulation II, Section
7(B) - failure to rate any officials in girls volleyball. In addition,
the MHSAA had been contacted by the United Federation of Officials
about failure by Inkster Public Schools to pay officials.
At
its June 9, 1999 meeting, the Executive Committee determined that
Inkster High School remain on probation through the 1999-00 school
year and that the executive director communicate with the school's
administration about the two violations and ways to improve its
procedures for payments to officials.
During the 1998-99
school year, Inkster had the following violations:
Boys
Tennis - failure of head coach to attend rules meeting or pass
exam.
Girls Volleyball -
failure to rate any officials.
Baseball - failure
to rate any officials.
Softball - failure
of head coach to attend rules meeting or pass exam; failure to
rate any officials.
It was requested that
the executive director express the concern of the Executive Committee
directly to the superintendent and board president, as well as
principal and athletic director of Inkster High School, and that
recommendations be prepared for the Representative Council for
publicizing chronic offenders and penalizing them in ways that
affect financial reimbursements, hosting opportunities, and participation
opportunities for students of schools which are chronic offenders
of administrative rules.
Saginaw High School
-
Pursuant to Regulation V, Section 4(A), Saginaw High School was
placed on probation for the 1996-97 school year for failure to
rate any boys soccer, volleyball, baseball or softball officials
during the 1995-96 school year. The probation was extended to
the 1997-98 school year for failure to rate any officials in volleyball,
wrestling and softball during the 1996-97 school year. Then in
the fall of 1997, the school failed to rate any boys soccer officials
and was notified March 31, 1998 that probation would continue
for the 1998-99 school year with the stipulation that the school
must show cause by Aug. 1, 1998 why it should not be prohibited
from participation in the MHSAA tournament in any sport where
there is a violation during 1998-99, meaning that the school at
this time may not participate in the 1998 MHSAA Boys Soccer Tournament.
Subsequently, the school failed to rate any officials in girls
soccer, meaning that the status of girls soccer is the same as
boys soccer for 1998-99.
The school's response
was that the boys soccer coach was hospitalized during the season
and that there were three different coaches for the girls team,
which eventually withdrew from the 1998 MHSAA Girls Soccer Tournament.
At
its Aug. 12, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee directed staff
to reemphasize that the obligation to rate officials is a duty
of the member institution, not just coaches. However, the Executive
Committee accepted the school's explanation. It was determined
the school would remain on probation through the 1998-99 school
year, but without loss of tournament participation privileges,
while its compliance record is monitored.
During
the 1998-99 school year, Saginaw High School had the following
violations:
Girls Volleyball -
failure of head coach to attend rules meeting or pass exam; failure
to rate any officials.
Wrestling - failure
to rate any officials.
Boys Golf - failure
of head coach to attend rules meeting or pass exam.
Baseball
- failure to rate any officials.
Softball - failure
to rate any officials.
Girls Soccer - failure
to rate any officials.
The school was placed
on probation through the 1999-00 school year. It was requested
that the executive director express the concern of the Executive
Committee directly to the superintendent and board president,
as well as principal and athletic director of Saginaw High School,
and that recommendations be prepared for the Representative Council
for publicizing chronic offenders and penalizing them in ways
that affect financial reimbursements, hosting opportunities, and
participation opportunities for students of schools which are
chronic offenders of administrative rules.
New
School - Pursuant
to procedures for MHSAA membership, as established by the Representative
Council March 21, 1997, MHSAA membership was approved for Detroit-Westside
Christian Academy, a nonpublic school with 9-12 enrollment of
45, which anticipates sponsoring interscholastic teams in boys
basketball, girls basketball and girls volleyball. Its membership
will be at both the high school and junior high/middle school
levels.
Regular Season Contest
Delays -
The Executive Committee provided its approval of policy and procedures
to assist schools and officials when a team is delayed in its
arrival to a contest site that could be utilized where league
policies do not exist to handle such situations. This is to be
advanced to the Representative Council for consideration under
the recommendations and guidelines section of the MHSAA Handbook.
1999-00
Committees -
The Executive Committee approved appointments for most MHSAA committees
for the 1999-00 school year.
Ramblewood Park -
No
action was taken on an offer to purchase Unit 4 for $325,000 for
the construction of a 12,000 square foot building to house two
medical concerns. All MHSAA conditions except the Representative
Council's purchase price have been met.
At
its March meeting, the Executive Committee indicated its strong
preference for the current office park sign over the alternative
designs proposed for the corner of Coolidge Road and Ramblewood
Drive and thought it premature for Units 1 and 3 to go to the
additional expense of constructing a new sign at that time. The
Executive Committee directed there be no change in the sign until
construction on Unit 5 and full utilization of unit sign opportunities
on Units 1 and 3 have been completed and it can be demonstrated
there are frequent customer/client difficulties in locating the
primary tenant of Unit 1 or Unit 3. The owners of Unit 1 have
again requested a change in signage at the corner of Coolidge
Road and Ramblewood Drive. The Executive Committee authorized
staff to agree to a change in sign, subject to all the conditions
of the executive director's Aug. 13, 1999 letter to Dr. Jones.
Personnel
Matters -
The Executive Committee reviewed compensation adjustments for
1999-00.
The Executive Committee
approved the executive director's 1999-00 Standards of Performance
and contract extension through July 31, 2002.
Pension
-
Compliance with Federal law required restatement of the MHSAA
pension program by Dec. 31, 1999. This was done by the offices
of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. In addition to standard
changes being made to all plans, counsel also incorporated language
reflecting the Representative Council's approval of the increase
in basic pension contributions. The Executive Committee voted:
(1)
that the restated Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc.
Employee Money Purchase Pension Plan and Trust Agreement are hereby
adopted effective Aug. 1, 1997; and
(2) that the executive
director of the Corporation is authorized to execute the Plan
and Trust Agreement and related documents on behalf of the Corporation;
and
(3) that the executive director
of the Corporation is hereby authorized to act on behalf of the
Corporation as Plan Administrator of the above Plan and Trust
in the adoption and future amendment of written procedures relating
to the administration of the Plan and Trust and to execute any
necessary documentation regarding such administrative procedures.
Next
Meetings -
The next meetings of the Executive Committee are: Wednesday, Sept.
15, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 9 a.m. in
East Lansing; Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; and
Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 8:30 a.m. in Grand Rapids.
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EARLIEST
PURPOSES PREVAIL
A paragraph of an editorial
in the April 5, 1999, Newsweek stopped me cold and rearranged
the way I would present this topic. The writer, Dennis Williams,
Director of the Center for Minority Educational Affairs and teacher
of English at Georgetown University, wrote this: "... NCAA
regulations have nothing to do with either education or the well-being
of the young people involved. They have everything to do with
competitive balance and public relations."
These
two sentences stopped me because they caused me to wonder: "Would
anyone ever write that about the MHSAA (or any other state organization
involved with high school sports)?"
After
a period of reflection, I determined that what Mr. Williams wrote
is not all bad. Some of what he wrote is actually complimentary,
although he didn't intend it; and some of what he wrote would
not be accurate if directed to school sports.
Yes,
the MHSAA and most school sports organizations are concerned about
"competitive balance." That's not bad. Mr. Williams
might have meant it as a criticism of the NCAA; but we claim it
as an essential purpose of high school associations.
In
fact, one of the four parts of the stated purpose in this MHSAA
Handbook is as follows: "3. Promote uniformity and predictability
and competitive equity in the application of eligibility rules
for athletic contests."
"Competitive
equity" is our way of saying "competitive balance."
Competitive equity is one of our essential purposes in serving
schools. No apologies.
And yes, the MHSAA
is concerned about "public relations." Again,
from our four-part stated purpose is this: "1. Increase and
promote the educational value of interscholastic athletic programs
throughout the state."
That's public relations.
In the sense of promoting the educational value of school sports
and doing what we can to increase the educational value, public
relations is a purpose we claim, not a criticism we fear.
So
I would take it as a compliment, not a criticism, if Mr. Williams
(or anyone) would cite us for preoccupation with competitive equity
for schools and students and promotion of the programs' values.
We are guilty; and we are glad.
What should not be
said about the MHSAA and what stopped me longest in my reading
to apply Mr. Williams' criticism to my organization, is his opinion
that the NCAA has nothing to do with either education or the well-being
of the young people involved. I don't believe that's true about
the NCAA, and I know it's not true about the MHSAA.
As
we trace the history of high school athletics in the "Reviewing
the Regulations" column in this issue of the Bulletin,
you will see that not only competitive equity, but also education
and the well-being of young people involved have guided and continue
to guide school sports organizations generally and this one particularly.
REVIEWING THE REGULATIONS
NEED
CONSENSUS & COMMITMENT FOR OUT-OF-SEASON RULES
One
hundred years ago, when athletic programs were first becoming
organized well enough in secondary schools to cause people to
wonder how the kids of one school might fare against the kids
of another school, it took but a very few experiences of interscholastic
competition to realize that a common set of understandings was
necessary for the competition to occur with fair result and without
hard feelings.
Those
who were coordinating these first athletic exchanges quickly discovered
that they needed several kinds of rules.
The first set of rules
needed was to determine where and with what the
competition would be conducted: facility dimensions, ball specifications,
net heights, etc.
The second set of
rules they found necessary was to determine how the competition
would proceed: number of balls and strikes and innings, lengths
of quarters, halves, etc.
These first and second
sets of understandings show there was concern from the very first
day of school sports for competitive balance. We couldn't have
it without these kinds of rules.
But deciding where,
with what and how the competition should be played
wasn't enough. Gradually, it became clear to the coordinators
of the programs at that time that there had to be some understandings,
some agreements, some policies, some rules about who could
play.
Not surprisingly,
School A soon objected if School B's participants in an event
seemed to be men against School A's boys.
So
they agreed, the schools coordinating the event, that all participants
in all contests had to be enrolled in the schools they
represented in competition. That's still the first regulation
in the MHSAA Handbook: the enrollment rule.
They
agreed next that all participants had to fall within a certain
age range. An age rule. That's still the second regulation in
the MHSAA Handbook.
It wasn't fair to
have it any other way. It wasn't healthy for participants to have
it any other way. Not in the 1920's. Not now. We have not lost
our focus. Rule 1 and 2 historically are still rule 1 and 2 in
the MHSAA Handbook.
It hasn't been easy
to keep these rules. This year alone, we've had to defeat initiatives
of our Governor and some legislators to keep Rule 1 and to defend
Rule 1, the enrollment rule, in a $30 million lawsuit which would
have eliminated the enrollment requirement for some young people.
In
previous years, we've had to fight in several courts to keep Rule
2, the age rule. We've never lost, although we once had to appeal
to the Michigan Supreme Court and once to the US Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeals to defend the age rule successfully.
Throughout
this organization, we are as focussed and firm about those rules
and their objectives as ever. And we can be proud of the way the
schools of Michigan fight off the assaults on those rules.
As
interscholastic athletic programs became more sophisticated and
took on higher profile within the school, community and state,
pressures mounted for athletic teams to do better and win more.
So some schools would start practice sooner, play more games,
and seek more distant and prestigious venues for competition.
Not
surprisingly, again, it didn't take very long for some schools
to complain that other schools, in pursuit of competitive advantage,
were moving toward excesses, were abusing the health and welfare
of students, were interfering with the educational objectives
of schools and the pursuits of students.
So,
again, schools agreed among themselves on some limitations, for
example, on the lengths of seasons, numbers of contests and distances
of travel.
They did so to keep
the program fair. They did so to keep the program healthy
for the people involved. They did so to keep the program consistent
with the mission of the sponsors: namely, education of students
by schools.
But it's not certain
that we are as committed today as we were many years ago to the
rules which limit the scope of competition, so that it fits within
the philosophy of school before sports and well-roundedness before
specialization. We're tough on enrollment and age, and we should
be. But were' getting pretty loose with rules, and even looser
in the commitment to follow rules, about out-of-season practice
and competition. We don't seem to agree anymore about what's fair
for schools and best for coaches and athletes and their families
out of season.
Nobody
admits to liking it, but everybody appears to be doing it: pushing
the envelope out of season. Open gyms advertised but only one
sport actualized. Team camps where school coaches take entire
school squads, even designating them varsity and JV. Proliferating
passing leagues.
So
frequent are the complaints from parents and coaches about the
increasing out-of-season demands, that we are forced to conclude
that what people intend to help actually hurts, causing coaches
and athletes to drop out before they otherwise would.
Those
who criticize the out-of-season demands are called lazy; those
who make the demands are said to be putting their own needs before
the best interests of students.
Rather than affixing
such negative labels to those who think differently than we do,
we need to come up with streamlined and sensible regulations,
to which a larger majority can commit to enforcement. Abandoning
all regulations out of season would betray the first organizers
of school sports and its purposes, just as surely as ignoring
the rules we have today or ignoring that we have a problem with
the rules we have today.
It's time for a new consensus
and commitment on out-of-season practice and competition. n
NOTE: Schools voluntarily
join the MHSAA and, to that end, it is necessary that each school
district sign each year a Membership Resolution adopting the rules
and regulations of the MHSAA as their own and agreeing to primary
enforcement of those rules. While a school district is not bound
by the decisions rendered by the MHSAA regarding rule violations,
the MHSAA may condition eligibility for its tournaments on compliance
with its rules and its determinations concerning rules violations
and the penalties to be imposed for violations of the rules. See
Attorney General Opinions No. 4795 (1977) and No. 6352 (1986).
Many
school districts have additional rules that may also apply to
the subject matter of this column.
SPORTSMANSHIP EFFORTS
AND OPPORTUNITIES
In September of 1997, and again
in September of 1998, the Michigan High School Athletic Association
planned, conducted and subsidized a Statewide Sportsmanship Summit.
Each time the Summit has sold out available space, 800 persons
in 1997 and 1,200 persons in 1998.
It is now intended
that the Statewide Sportsmanship Summit be conducted every other
year. The goal will be 2,000 attendees at the conference on Sept.
27, 2000.
During the 1999-00
school year, the focus will be on more local initiatives to improve
sportsmanship, many of which have been spawned by the first two
statewide summits. It is the intent of the MHSAA to support league
and local initiatives - events, publications and promotions ­
especially those that are new initiatives and have adult spectators
as their focus.
* At the Summer Workshop
of the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association,
a special effort was made to develop ideas to reach adult spectators
regarding the standards of sportsmanship that are appropriate
for educational athletics. That material is included in the updated
and expanded MHSAA Sportsmanship Kit which has been sent to each
athletic director to use to begin or expand sportsmanship efforts
in schools.
* Under separate cover
to each high school athletic director was also a brief new video
on sportsmanship that focuses on adult spectators.
*
The MHSAA has made "mini-grants" to encourage leagues
and local school districts to undertake sportsmanship initiatives,
especially new initiatives and those directed at adult
spectators. Grants will range from $50 to $500, depending
on the scope of the event and the need. Funds are being disbursed
to meritorious requests as they are received until all funds for
this purpose ($20,000) are exhausted.
All of these efforts
are intended to encourage local initiatives which are believed
to have the most potential for improving sportsmanship, and to
help equip organizers to provide new and even more effective local
efforts.
Michigan Interscholastic
Athletic Administrators Association
MIAAA OFFICERS
|
President |
Jim Feldkamp |
Troy School
District |
|
Vice President |
Brian Burtch |
Holland HS |
|
2nd Vice President |
Ken Semelsberger |
Port Huron HS |
|
Recording Secretary |
Karen Leinaar |
Gaylord HS |
|
Past President |
Tom Rashid |
Detroit Catholic
League |
|
Executive Secretary |
George Lovich |
Retired |
REPS
|
Region I |
Tim Hall |
Sault Area HS |
|
Region II |
John Sonneman |
Traverse City
Central HS |
|
Region III |
Dan Matusiewicz |
Muskegon Catholic
Central HS |
|
Region IV |
Stan Jesky |
Zeeland HS |
|
Region V |
Larry Wegener |
Battle Creek
Central HS |
|
Region VI |
Kristen Isom |
Adrian Madison
HS |
|
Region VII |
Melanie Miller |
Lansing Sexton
HS |
|
Region VIII |
Pete Ryan |
Heritage HS |
|
Region IX |
John Amend |
Akron-Fairgrove
HS |
|
Region X |
Jim Venia |
Marysville HS |
|
Region XI |
Bob Gershman |
Berkley HS |
|
Region XII |
Dail Prucka |
Monroe Jefferson
HS |
|
Region XIII |
Vic Michaels |
Detroit Catholic
League |
MIAAA SPORTSMANSHIP
COMMITTEE
Co-Chair--Mike Garvey--Delton
Kellogg HS, 327 N. Grove, Delton, MI 49046
Co-Chair--Mark Throop--Gull
Lake HS, 9550 E. M-89, Richland, MI 49083
Gary Sullivan--Blissfield
HS, 630 S. Lane, Blissfield, MI 49228
Jacques Ambrose--East
Kentwood HS, 6230 Kalamazoo Ave, SE Kentwood, MI 48445
Tim
Flynn--Athens HS, 300 E. Holcomb, Athens, MI 49011
Jean LaClair--Pinconning
HS, 605 W. Fifth St., Pinconning, MI 48650
Paul Keiper--Lutheran
North HS, 16825 24 Mile Rd. Macomb, MI 48042
John Springer--Onsted
HS, Slee Rd, P 0 Box 220, Onsted, MI 49265
Mike McGraw--Clawson
HS, 10 1 John M, Clawson, MI 48017
Tim Dode--Holly HS,
920 E, Baird St., Holly, MI 48442
Ellen Pugh--Ogemaw
Heights HS, 960 S, M-33, P 0 308, West Branch, MI 48661
Jack
Kramer--Houghton Lake HS, 6001 W. Houghton Lake Dr., Houghton
Lake, MI 48269
1999-2000 MHSAA ADOPTIONS OF NATIONAL
FEDERATION OPTIONS
BASEBALL
I. 4-3-1 Note 1 -- A regulation called
game where a winner cannot be determined, shall be counted as
1/2 game won and 1/2 lost for each team. (MHSAA allowed -- requires
league adoption)
II. 4-3-1 Note 2 -- A game called for
any reason where a winner cannot be determined, or any game called
at anytime for mechanical failure (i.e. artificial lights, water
system, etc.) will be treated as a suspended game. If the game
is to be completed, it will be continued from the point of suspension,
with the lineup and batting order of each team the same as the
lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension, subject
to the rules of the game. (Reg. II, Sec. 11(H)2 NOTE: Use
of option 1 or 3 may impact the season 56 game/date limit allowed
baseball and softball by MHSAA Regulation II, Section 11(A).)
SUGGESTED
SPEED-UP RULES
III. Courtesy Runners
A.
At any time the team at bat may use courtesy runners for the pitcher
and/or the catcher. The same runner may not be used for both positions.
Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be required to leave
the game under such circumstances.
B. Players who have
participated in the game in any other capacity are ineligible
to serve as courtesy runners.
C. A player may not
run as a courtesy runner for the pitcher or the catcher and then
be used as a substitute for another player in that half inning.
IV.
4-2-4 -
The four options listed are the only permitted game-shortening
procedures allowed for baseball and softball games at the varsity
and sub-varsity levels. (Schools, leagues or invitational tournament
management shall determine which are to be utilized with prior
mutual written consent):
A. Require games to be terminated
when there is a 15-run difference after three innings or a 10-run
difference after five innings
B. Allow a team to
discontinue play any time it trails by more than 15 runs
C.
Establish shortened games of five or six innings
D.
Establish a time limit to terminate games of regular season varsity
tournament events and any sub-varsity game (one hour, 45 minutes
recommended).
V.
Double First Base -- NOT ADOPTED
VI. Navy umpire shirt
with white/red accent stripe -- optional regular season 1999-00
as long as all umpires wear same. Required 2000 MHSAA tournament
series.
BASKETBALL
I. Mercy Rule Adoptions
--
When in the second half a point differential of 40 points is established,
a running clock will be in effect for the remainder of the game.
The clock shall be stopped as normal for all timeouts, including
injury and the third-period break.
The clock will revert
to regular time schemes when the score is reduced to a 30-point
differential or less.
FOOTBALL
I. Pregame coin toss
may be held on the field twenty minutes prior to kickoff.
II. The running clock,
35-point margin mercy rule will be used for all football games,
play-offs and regular season, varsity and sub-varsity, high school
and junior high/middle schools.
III. By mutual agreement
of competing schools or by league adoption schools may establish,
for regular season varsity games only, the 10-yard line overtime
procedure published in the National Federation Football Rules
Book. The procedure will be used in all playoff games.
IV.
Junior
high/middle school football teams may schedule games with non-school
teams as is currently allowed in all other sports. The Regulation
does not apply to senior high school teams.
GIRLS COMPETITIVE CHEER
No props or music
are allowed during competition.
GYMNASTICS
Requirements for Regular
Season Meets
I. Dual Meets
A.
Exhibition gymnasts are prohibited.
B. There can be no
more than six competitors per team event when two judges are contacted.
C.
There can be no more than seven competitors per team per event
when four judges are contracted simultaneously.
II.
Tri Meets
A. Exhibition gymnasts
are prohibited.
B. There can be no
more than five competitors per team per event when two judges
are contracted.
C. There can be no
more than seven competitors per team per event when four judges
are contracted and two events are conducted simultaneously.
III.
Double Dual Meets or Quad Meet
A. Exhibition performances
ARE PROHIBITED.
B. No more than six (6) competitors
per team can compete in each event.
C. There can be no
more than six (6) competitors per team per event and four judges
are contracted in which two events are conducted simultaneously.
ICE HOCKEY
I. Mercy Rule
By
mutual agreement, games may be terminated after two periods or
during the third period when a team leads the opposing team by
10 or more goals.
The 10-goal mercy
rule will be used during the MHSAA Tournament at the Regional
l level only.
II. Overtime Procedure
In
MHSAA tournaments only, the overtime procedure published in the
National Federation Rule Book (6-38) will be altered to allow
additional "sudden death" eight-minute periods as necessary.
SOCCER
The MHSAA has received
approval to:
I. Allow leagues and
individual schools to use the three-whistle officiating system.
II.
Require
players to sit out 10 minutes for a yellow card offense.
III.
Use
two 15-minute sudden victory overtime periods for regular and
tournament season games.
IV. Allow players to
wear soft and yielding caps during inclement weather. Caps must
be alike in color.
EXCEPTION (1): The goalkeeper may
wear a head protector made of closed-cell, slow recovery rubber
or other similar material that stays soft in its final form. This
head protector shall not have a bill, or other protruding design.
It shall not cover the face, other than the forehead, and shall
be secured by a chinstrap.
EXCEPTION (2): The goalkeeper may
wear a soft-billed baseball type hat or soft-billed visor. If
worn in conjunction with a head protector, it is to be worn outside
and may not be attached to the head protector.
EXCEPTION
(3):
By state association adoption, players may wear soft and yielding
caps during inclement weather.
V. Require officials
to use signals published prior to 1995-96.
SOFTBALL
I. 1-1-5 Note 1 -- All players on a
team shall wear uniforms consisting of shirts, shorts and/or pants.
(MHSAA adopted)
II. 10-4-2 Note -- Light gray slacks
may be worn. (MHSAA adopted)
III. Courtesy Runner
Rules:
A. The team at bat
may use courtesy runners for the pitcher and/or the catcher as
soon as they reach base. The same runner may not be used for both
positions. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be required
to leave the game under such circumstances.
B. Players who have
participated in the game in any other capacity are ineligible
to serve as courtesy runners.
C. A player may not
run as a courtesy runner for the pitcher or the catcher and then
be used as a substitute for another player in that half inning.
D.
The courtesy runner is not permitted to run as a courtesy runner
for the Designated Hitter (DH), if the DH is batting for the pitcher
or catcher.
E. Once a courtesy
runner is designated for that half inning, no other courtesy runner
or the catcher or pitcher may return to run for original courtesy
runner. EXCEPTION: Should an injury occur, another courtesy
runner or the pitcher or catcher may run until she scores or is
put out.
IV. 4-2-3 -- The four options
listed are the only permitted game-shortening procedures allowed
for baseball and softball games at the varsity and sub-varsity
levels. (Schools, leagues or invitational tournament management
shall determine which are to be utilized with prior mutual written
consent):
1. Require games to
be terminated when there is a 15-run difference after three innings
or a 10-run difference after five innings;
2.
Allow a team to discontinue play any time it trails by more than
15 runs;
3. Establish shortened
games of five or six innings;
4. Establish a time
limit to terminate games of regular season varsity tournament
events and any sub-varsity game (one hour, 45 minutes recommended).
V.
Double First Base -- NOT ADOPTED
VI. Navy umpire shirt
with white/red accent stripe -- optional regular season 1999-00
as long as all umpires wear same. Required 2000 MHSAA tournament
series.
SWIMMING
I. MHSAA recommends
5 ft. of water when using starting platforms and mandates at all
MHSAA venues.
II. Definition for in-water
starts
III. Step-Up starts will
be used.
TENNIS - USTA
I. Schools may use no-ad
scoring or play pro-sets or shorten the rest period between a
split set.
II. Cumulative Point
Penalty System between regional and final (for unsportsmanlike
conduct, the regionals and finals are considered one event.)
III. For unsportsmanlike
conduct after a match is completed (Regional or Final), player
is defaulted for the rest of the tournament and one point is subtracted
from the team total.
IV. Minimum requirement
is an unaltered shirt with sleeves, preferably in school colors
or with school identification. Exception: females may wear a sleeveless
dress/shirt if it is tailored to be sleeveless. Team shorts/skirts
are required and should be the same color. Penalty: Match
will not start unless the individual/team has uniform on. Point
Penalty system for lateness will be used.
TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
I. The only head attire
that may be worn during competition will be a knit stocking cap,
sweat band or ski band; all must be unadorned, single-colored
cloth.
II. Except for traditional
wedding bands and medical alert necklaces or bracelets, jewelry
is prohibited in all competition. This will include, but is not
limited to pierced earrings, barrettes made of hard plastic, leather,
cloth, metal and plastic bracelets. Elasticized ponytail holders
having metal parts are legal. Ponytail holders do not have
to be a single color. Multiple ponytail holders may be worn and
do not have to be a single color of the same color. Watches will
not be worn in any competition.
III. Ribbons worn to secure
the hair do not have to be a solid color. If multiple ribbons
are worn they must be the same color.
IV. Interpretations
for Track & Field and Cross Country:
1.
Sunglasses may be worn in competition only if they are prescription
glasses or there is a medical release signed by a physician.
2.
Competitors may not wear temporary body adornment (painted or
fastened) during competition.
VOLLEYBALL
I. Rally scoring may
be used during invitational tournaments or in the deciding game
of a 3 out of 5 match.
II. Teams may play best
of five-game match.
III. The third game of
a match may be played even though one team wins the first two.
IV. Pool play during
invitational tournaments may use any of the following:
1.
Rally scoring
2. 15 pt. games
3.
11 pt. games
WRESTLING
I. Assistant referee
allowed
II. 215 pound weight
classification adopted
III. MHSAA tournament weigh-in
procedures may be used
IV. Growth allowance
of two pounds on January 15
V. Home weigh-in permitted
by MHSAA exception to National Federation Rule.
All Sports Film/Videotape Policy
Representative Council
action of May, 1998, eliminated the prohibition of third party
videotaping (scouting) without permission of competing teams in
all MHSAA sponsored sports including intersquad scrimmages, regular
season and MHSAA tournament contests.
It is to be understood
that videotape scouting does not include press box or preferred
seating status without prior consent of the host school.
Schools may deny videotaping
(scouting) at intrasquad scrimmages only.
1999-2000 MHSAA SPORT
UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
BASEBALL
PLAYER EQUIPMENT
UNIFORMS of all team members
should be of the same color and style. Caps and shoes are required
equipment (no track spikes allowed). When a player is required
to wear a head protector, it replaces the cap as mandatory equipment.
For individual players, uniform sleeve lengths may vary. However,
sleeves of each individual player shall be approximately the same
length and shall not be ragged, frayed nor slit. If the pitcher's
undershirt sleeves are exposed, they shall not be white nor gray.
A uniform shall not have any dangerous or reflective buttons or
ornaments. Each player shall be numbered on the back of his shirt
with a plain number of solid color contrasting with color of shirt.
The number shall be at least 8" high and no players on the
same team shall wear identical numbers. A number may have a border
of not more than one-quarter inch in width. One American flag
2" x 3" may be worn on each item of uniform apparel.
The school's official uniform (including uniform pants, jersey,
visible undergarments, socks, stockings, caps and headwear) may
bear only a single manufacturer's logo (partial or whole) or trademark
that does not exceed 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square.
It
is mandatory for each on-deck batter, batter, runner, retired
runners, players/students in the coaches boxes as well as non-adult
bat/ball shaggers to wear a batting helmet that meets the NOCSAE
standard. The batting helmet shall have extended ear flaps that
cover both ears and temples and also display the NOCSAE stamp
and the exterior warning statement. The warning statement may
be affixed to the helmet in sticker form, or it may be embossed
at the time of manufacture. A face mask may be attached to a batting
helmet at the time of manufacture. A face mask specifically designed
for a particular helmet model may be attached after manufacture,
provided that procedure is approved by the manufacturer. When
an umpire observes anyone who is required to wear a batting helmet
deliberately remove his batting helmet while in live ball territory
and the ball is alive (non-adult ball/bat shaggers required to
wear batting helmet in live ball area even if ball is dead), the
umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the involved team,
unless the ball becomes dead without being touched by a fielder
or, after being touched, goes directly to dead ball area. A subsequent
violation of the rule shall result in ejection.
EXCEPTION: A violation by a non-adult
bat/ball shagger shall result in a warning to the coach of the
team and the individual. A subsequent violation may result in
the individual not being allowed on the field. The catcher shall
wear, in addition to a head protector, a mask, body protector,
protective cup and baseball protective shin guards. A throat protector,
which is either a part of, or attached to, the catcher's mask,
is mandatory. A throat protector shall adequately cover the throat.
The commercial manufactured catcher's head, face and throat protector
may be a one-piece or multi-piece design. Any player warming up
a pitcher at any location shall wear a protective cup and a mask
with a throat protector. Failure by a player to wear proper equipment
after being so ordered by the umpire, shall result in ejection.
If the pitcher wears a head protector, its entire outer cover
shall have a nonglare surface. A pitcher shall not wear any item
on his hands, wrists or arms which may be distracting to the batter.
I. All casts, splints
and braces must be padded. No protective equipment shall have
exposed metal or any other hard material. Prostheses may be worn.
NOTE:
Any
equipment judged by the umpire to be potentially dangerous is
illegal. Jewelry is prohibited (See 3-3-1c). Medical alert bracelets
or necklaces are not considered jewelry. If worn, they must be
taped to the body so as to remain visible.
II.
Prior to the start of the game, the head coach shall be responsible
for verifying to the umpire-in-chief that all his players are
equipped in compliance with the above rules. Any questions regarding
legality of a player's equipment shall be resolved by the umpire-in-chief.
III.
Non-traditional playing equipment must be reviewed by the National
Federation Baseball Committee before used in a contest.
BASKETBALL
