BULLETIN
May 2001 Volume LXXVII Number 8

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REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL AND UPPER PENINSULA ATHLETIC COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
Ballots to be Sent to Schools August 29, 2001

Ballots for Representative Council elections will be mailed to principals of member schools from the MHSAA office Aug. 29, 2001. The ballots will be due back in the MHSAA office Sept. 12, 2001.

Six positions for membership on the Representative Council will be up for election this fall. Vacancies for two-year terms beginning December 2001 will occur as follows: Class C-D Southwestern Section, Lower Peninsula; Class C-D Southeastern Section, Lower Peninsula; Class A-B Upper Peninsula; Statewide At-Large; Junior High/Middle School, and City of Detroit.
In addition to the above named Representative Council positions, there are three Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee positions to be voted in September. A representative of the Class A-B, Class C and Class D schools 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 near the beginning of the MHSAA Handbook.
Following the due date of Sept. 12, 2001, 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, 2001. 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 are the declared candidates and the vacancies which will occur in December 2001:

REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL CANDIDATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2001 ELECTION

Southwestern Section, Lower Peninsula -- Class C and D Schools – Norm Johnson, Administrative Assistant, Bangor High School
Southeastern Section, Lower Peninsula -- Class C and D Schools – Randy Salisbury, Principal, Britton-Macon High School
Upper Peninsula -- Class A and B Schools – Dan Flynn, Teacher/Coach, Escanaba High School
Statewide At-Large -- David Barry, Principal, Walled Lake Central High School; Douglas Grezeszak, Teacher/Coach, West Branch-Ogemaw Heights High School; Karen Leinaar, Athletic Director, Gaylord High School; Brian Swinehart, Director of Athletics, Farmington Public Schools
Junior High/Middle Schools -- Terri J. Clock, Athletic Director, Muskegon-Bunker Middle School; Paul Ellinger, Superintendent, Cheboygan Area Schools; Paul N. Price, Superintendent, Republic-Michigamme Schools
City of Detroit -- Eunice Moore, Director, Department of Health, Phys. Ed. & Safety, Detroit Public Schools

UPPER PENINSULA ATHLETIC COMMITTEE CANDIDATES
Class D Schools -- Russell Bailey, Superintendent, Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated Schools; Paul N. Price, Superintendent, Republic-Michigamme Schools
Class C Schools -- Bruce Horsch, Athletic Director, Houghton High School; Dee Jay Paquette, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director, Munising Public Schools
Class A and B Schools -- Don Edens, Athletic Director, Kingsford High School

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 these minutes.)
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.
It is possible that some of the information presented as facts to the Executive Committee by school personnel and others may be inaccurate. However, to avoid constant repetition in these minutes of phrases such as "it was alleged" or "it was reported," no attempt is made in the introduction of each waiver request to distinguish between truth, allegation, hearsay, opinion, summary or conclusion.
A determination of undue hardship is a matter addressed to the discretion of the Executive Committee within the educational philosophy and secondary role 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 their participation.
Adoption of these regulations is a choice schools make locally when they consider their option of MHSAA membership. Consistent with rulings of the Attorney General and Michigan Supreme Court, 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 choose to apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education. The MHSAA exercises no independent authority over schools or students during regular season.

Colon & Burr Oak High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request was made to waive the April 15 deadline for a cooperative program application for fall golf. The schools already cooperate in football.
The Executive Committee granted the request until not later than June 1, 2001.
Dearborn-St. Alphonsus & Detroit Urban Lutheran High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in football between these two schools. Both schools have sponsored the sport previously, and the combined enrollment for 2001-02 MHSAA tournament competition will be 205.
Engadine-Grand Marais-Burt Township & Paradise-Whitefish Township High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved the addition of Whitefish Township High School to the cooperative program in football between Engadine and Burt Township High Schools. The combined enrollment based on 2001-02 classification will be 138.
Grand Rapids-Northview and Comstock Park High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in ice hockey between these schools. Northview has sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school. The combined enrollment for 2001-02 MHSAA tournament competition will be 1,767, moving this program from Division 2 to Division 1.
Harrison Township-L'Anse Creuse and Macomb-L'Anse Creuse North High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request was made to waive the April 15 deadline for a cooperative program application in girls swimming and diving.
The Executive Committee granted the request until not later than June 1, 2001.
Muskegon, Muskegon-Reeths-Puffer & Norton Shores-Mona Shores High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - The Executive Committee approved the addition of Mona Shores High School to the cooperative program in girls and boys swimming and diving in which the other schools have participated since 1998. The combined enrollment will be 4,264 for 2001-02 MHSAA tournament classification purposes.
Muskegon Catholic Central & Muskegon-Western Michigan Christian High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request was made to waive the April 15 deadline for a cooperative program application in boys and girls cross country.
The Executive Committee granted the request until not later than June 1, 2001.
Taylor-Light and Life Christian High School & Dearborn Heights-Detroit World Outreach Christian Academy (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in football for these schools, whose combined enrollment for 2001-02 MHSAA tournament classification purposes will be 189. Taylor-Light and Life has sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school.
Maple City-Glen Lake High School (Regulation I, Section 5) - Request was made to waive the semesters of competition section of the eligibility regulation, particularly Interpretation No. 32, for a student who played on her school's fall golf team in 2000 and would be the only member of a girls golf team which the school would sponsor for the first time in the spring of 2001.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver because evidence was lacking that Glen Lake High School has hired and is supervising a coach, has a bona fide girls golf team with sufficient numbers of participants and has its own schedule of at least four contests, and is conducting practices independent of another school.
Bloomfield Hills-Academy of the Sacred Heart (Regulation I, Section 7) - Request to waive the previous semester record regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who successfully completed the third quarter (Jan. 23 through March 16) of the block schedule at Sacred Heart. The student had begun school Sept. 19, relocating from England where she had lived with her father to her mother's residence, to which both the Roeper and Cranbrook Schools are closer. The student was in attendance at Sacred Heart for the second half of its first quarter (Sept. 19 through Oct. 27). She received credit in two courses and no credit for a third course. She was then enrolled in Ascent, an out-of-state behavior modification program, until Jan. 23.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that the third quarter grading term did not meet the requirement of Interpretation No. 37 and the interruption in the student's enrollment at Sacred Heart was at least partially the result of her own actions.
Beverly Hills-Detroit Country Day School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a student who will be a 12th-grader at Detroit Country Day in 2001-02. He attended Detroit Country Day for 8th, 9th and 10th grades, moved with his family to California where he is completing 11th grade in a public school, and is returning with his family to Michigan. Detroit Country Day may not be the closest nonpublic school to the student's new residence.
Noting that the student would be returning to his original school in Michigan, the Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.
Big Rapids High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of two 9th-grade students (twins) who enrolled at Big Rapids Jan. 11, 2001. They previously attended high school in California where they practiced with the girls basketball team but were dropped from the squad before any interscholastic scrimmages or contests because of the anticipated move from the residence of their mother in California to the residence of their older brother.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year.
Fenton High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Fenton High School was made on behalf of an 11th-grader who attended Lake Fenton High School for 9th and 10th grades while living with his mother and began 11th grade at Mt. Morris-E. A. Johnson High School while living with his father. He enrolled Feb. 28, 2001 at Fenton High School while once again living with his mother in the Lake Fenton School District.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver, effective with the student's 91st school day of enrollment at Fenton High School.
Gibraltar-Carlson High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who enrolled at Carlson High School on March 20, 2001, having previously attended Monroe-St. Mary Catholic Central where it was alleged he encountered harassment from one student.
Lacking sufficient documentation to reach a decision, the Executive Committee tabled this request.
Kentwood-East Kentwood High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who attended East Kentwood until Jan. 19, 2001. She moved with her mother to Wyoming and transferred to Wyoming Park High School. She reenrolled at East Kentwood March 19 without a change of residence.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year and first semester of the 2001-02 school year.
Lansing-Everett High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who attended Lansing Catholic Central High School during the first semester of the 2000-01 school year where he did not participate in high school sports.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver only at the subvarsity level during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year.
Lowell High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request was made to waive the transfer regulation and particularly Interpretation No. 78 on behalf of a 12th-grade student who attended Lowell High School as a foreign exchange student through a CSIET-listed program in 1999-00 when she did not participate in interscholastic athletics. She returned to Lowell High School for a third and fourth semester in 2000-01 and wishes to participate.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Madison Heights-Bishop Foley High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - At the March 22, 2001 Executive Committee Meeting, request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who attended Rochester High School for the first semester and did not participate in high school sports. At that meeting, the Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year at Bishop Foley High School.
The school resubmitted a late request to permit eligibility at the varsity level, and provided more documentation of the student's conflict with another student at her former school.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver (the student remains eligible at only the subvarsity level during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year).
Muskegon-Orchard View High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who enrolled Nov. 10, 2000 at Orchard View High School. He resides with his mother. Previously, he attended Reeths-Puffer High School and lived with both father and mother, who are divorcing.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Livonia-Stevenson High School (Regulation II, Section 6) - A late request was made to waive the 600-mile round-trip travel limitation in order to participate in a four-school girls soccer tournament at a site in Wisconsin which is a 710-mile round-trip for Stevenson and involves two schools from a state which does not border Michigan. The event was conducted in Michigan last year, in violation of the MHSAA's travel limitation and National Federation sanction requirements. It was conducted in Illinois the year before, in violation of National Federation sanction requirements.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Scottville-Mason County Central High School (Classification) - A late request was made to correct the school's enrollment for MHSAA tournament classification purposes from 491 to 485 students in order to remain in Class C of MHSAA tournaments.
Consistent with policy and precedent, the Executive Committee denied the request.
Next Meetings - The next meetings of the Executive Committee are scheduled for Saturday, May 5, 2001, at 6 p.m. in Gaylord; Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Monday, Aug. 6, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; and Wed. Nov. 28, 2001, at 8:30 a.m. in Grand Rapids.

Note: This is a preview of what will be a regular feature of the MHSAA Bulletin during the 2001-02 school year when each issue will include an essay submitted by one of the nearly 3,000 MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award candidates for 2000-01.

One of the most energizing and affirming hours I have spent on the job over the past 15 years was the time I spent alone with the 2000-01 MHSAA scholar-athletes, March 24, 2001.

After the presentation of plaques at halftime of the Class C Finals of the Boys Basketball Tournament, and after the professional photographs, I sat with the classiest of 2001, asked questions, and listened to our best and our brightest.

• "Have you experienced pressures from non-school programs to play or practice one sport at the exclusion of a second or third school sport?"
The students said no, not really. However, these multi-talented students, each with many interests, admitted they had to make choices; and several said they chose to drop the activity that required they limit or eliminate other opportunities. Several students identified basketball coaches as the least tolerant of students' other interests and that they had dropped that sport to do other things.
Could it be that coaches who demand students' single-minded focus do their programs more harm than good?

• "A bill in the Michigan Legislature would require schools to conduct boys and girls seasons at the same time in the same sport. What's good, or in the alternative, what's bad, about that proposal?"
Not one of the scholar-athletes said any seasons should be changed. For cross country and track and field, where facilities are spacious and the only cheering section may be the other gender's team, coinciding seasons are great, according to the students. For swimming and diving and tennis and other sports where facilities are limited, coinciding seasons would be a mistake, limiting opportunities for both genders and requiring coaches, who now coach both genders' teams, to choose one over the other.
Might it be that our students know best what works best, and the legislators and lawyers should stay out of their business?

• "What's the one thing that could be done to improve sportsmanship?"
On this subject, the scholar-athletes, like the school administrators who are trying to serve them, struggled for the answer. They saw many problems and many causes; but they also conveyed the message that there is much more good sportsmanship than bad in school sports.

Here's what the scholar-athletes had to say about sportsmanship in the essays they submitted:

"Sportsmanship is very significant in all elements of life. However, it should always be maintained in the environment of a sporting event, especially at one sponsored by a school. Sportsmanship teaches players and coaches to be respectful in a difficult time and hold one's composure at all times."
— Becky A. Stepp
Waterford Kettering - Girls Basketball

"Sportsmanship is extended outside of educational athletics and into the real world. That is why sportsmanship within athletics is so important. All the components of sportsmanship are equally important in life, and athletics gives individuals the chance to develop their sportsmanship skills."
— Tom Hakim
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley - Boys Cross Country

"One vital role of sportsmanship is to help athletes persevere through setbacks and failure. During my senior cross country season, I struggled with injuries, and in one race I had to walk from the two-mile mark to the finish . . . As girls passed me, however, every single runner encouraged me. I heard again and again: 'You're almost there!' 'Keep going!' 'You can finish this!' Their support turned a disastrous race into a wonderful memory. "
— Karen Elizabeth Latus
New Buffalo - Girls Cross Country

"Sportsmanship is experienced. It is the feeling one knows from making a sacrifice for your team's best interests. It is respecting your opponent, and knowing they respect you. It is a feeling of genuine gratitude for the opportunity to play. It is graciousness in victory or defeat."
— Kevin Christopher Cleary
Grosse Pointe North - Football

"The show of sportsmanship ranges from shaking hands and introducing oneself to extending that hand to a fallen opponent. It encompasses abiding by the rules even if one could get away with cheating or bending the rules a bit. These aspects of sportsmanship are vital in educational athletics because they not only build character, but also develop the attitude of respect and how to show this respect to competitors in the fun world of high school athletics."
— Jack McKinnon
St Ignace - Boys Golf

"Every practice and every game, I realize that my positive attitude and good sportsmanship possess the ability to affect everyone on the field. No matter what the situation is, I make a conscious effort to display the utmost respect to everyone, from my opposition, to the fans and the referees. At any given moment, someone might be looking to me for leadership, and to see how I react. I am always representing my school, and most importantly, I am representing myself."
— Robert Ross Coleman
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern - Boys Soccer

"Very few high school athletes will go on to compete in the professional sports arena; most will not even play in college. Therefore, sports must teach something that applies to everyday life - this is sportsmanship, ethics on the playing field . . . I will be interacting with others long after I can no longer swim the length of a pool; what I have learned through swimming about respect is what will remain with me for the rest of my life."
— Kathryn Ladewski
Ann Arbor Pioneer - Girls Swimming & Diving

"In today's society, it is often stressed that winning is the most important aspect of competition. What many fail to realize is that winning would be of no value without earning it through fair and friendly competition. Good sportsmanship not only promotes great competition, but it also builds character and essentially defines the true meaning of athletic competitions."
— Priya Malviya
Holland - Girls Tennis

"Sportsmanship teaches athletes to play fair, be good losers and gracious winners. Athletes can use these characteristics in their interactions with other people in situations in school, their job, and all other aspects of life. It is important that the participants as well as coaches do all that they can to make sportsmanship the major focus of educational athletics."
—Reed J. Langton
Monroe St. Mary’s - Boys Basketball

"In cheerleading, sportsmanship is key to competing. It is such a great feeling to hear all the other teams cheering for you when you are out on the floor. That is why I love the sport of cheerleading so much. It gives you the opportunity to really show what sportsmanship is about. The cheerleaders are the ones who encourage positive behavior at all the sports events and use their role as 'leaders' to promote this."
— Antonette Bitonti
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep - Girls Competitive Cheer

"Although society tends to only view and admire the talent of athletes, sportsmanship plays a far more superior role. The existence of sportsmanship among athletes separates those who qualify as role models against those who are bad influences on society. An athlete who demonstrates sportsmanship portrays the importance it upholds because its qualities can be applied to life also."
— Christine Victor
Grosse Pointe North - Girls Gymnastics

"Sportsmanship calls on all individuals to rise above the chatter and commotion, to play on with the same passion and emotion, but to remain temperate and even-keeled. The true and intelligent participant removes oneself from the altercations and strives to encourage other players to also recognize the problem and retain their composure."
— Christopher Weier
Warren DeLaSalle - Ice Hockey

"Good sportsmanship isn't a uniform pulled on for the big game and then thrown into the laundry until the next competition. Instead, it is a part of a person's life and character. Good sportsmen conduct themselves responsibly even when the fans aren't watching. How an athlete acts when no one is looking is what makes a good athlete great."
— Kirk Anderson
Negaunee - Boys Skiing

"It is the athletes themselves whose attitude will determine how they accept the outcome, win or lose. Those athletes who are dedicated to sportsmanship can pick up their heads after a hard-fought defeat, shake the hands of their opponents, congratulate them on a well-deserved victory, and walk away with a positive experience. In other words, the true competitor, the true sportsman, is always just as gracious in defeat as he is in victory."
— Kate Quirk
Traverse City Central - Girls Skiing

"High school athletics cannot be separated from academic pursuits. The lessons learned in athletic arenas can be no less important than the lessons we learn in the classroom. While honing our technical skills in math class, our people skills are perfected on the sports field, pools and courts. Sportsmanship is a critical element in scholastic athletics."
— Jeremy R. Backus
West Bloomfield - Boys Swimming & Diving

"Displaying good sportsmanship in athletic events is extremely important. In every competition, someone will win and someone will lose. Being the victorious one is exciting and gratifying, but being part of a loss takes as much or more class to show good sportsmanship. The real winners are the ones who are positive in the end no matter the outcome."
— Amy Lyn King
Pigeon Laker - Girls Volleyball

"If so much is worthy of regard in a simple athletic event, then it must be necessary in the rest of life. This is the connection that educational athletics strives to make. The field of play is a training ground for the real world. Just like in sport, there are the rules, the refs, the team and the opponent. And just like on the field, all these aspects demand to be held in high esteem."
— Justin Alan DeLay
Roscommon - Wrestling

"If you look at the great teams across all sports, you can see that they all have great unity and a great respect for each other and for the game. This is the ultimate goal; you must play hard, play respectfully, and play as a team. This is what sports ought to be about. Those who play for their love and passion for the game with good sportsmanship make a sport a truly wonderful experience."
— David M. Omenn
Ann Arbor-Huron - Baseball

"An athlete does not have to perform at the college or professional level to become a role model: many of today's youth are influenced by the people in their everyday lives. As a result, conduct and sportsmanship not only affect the values of athletes themselves, but also develop the values of their peers outside of the athletic arena."
— Laura Beauchamp
Dexter - Girls Golf

"Sportsmanship doesn't always relate to sports. Sometimes one has to be a good sport in a work-related environment. One has to accept others ideas and even compromise to make them better. It takes teamwork to accomplish a task well and sportsmanship to maintain healthy relationships with co-workers."
— Amy Myers
Cadillac - Girls Soccer

"Sportsmanship is a lesson that athletes carry on into their lives. They learn to be competitive, friendly and respectful at the same time. I have been fortunate to have many coaches who have taught me how to play the games competitively and aggressively while still maintaining that high level of sportsmanship we all should have. Learning good sportsmanship early ensures that it will continue throughout an athlete's career as well as in their life beyond sports."
— Amy Fleming
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central - Softball

"Is there more to sports than winning? This is the big question in competitive sports today. All athletes are out to win, but some will cross the line and cheat or play dirty to win. Athletes like this don't care how they win. What is the joy of winning if a person doesn't have the personal satisfaction of being a good sport along with the win? I believe winning is important, but how you win is even more important."
— Ryan David Litwhiler
Ithaca - Boys Tennis

"Years ago, concerns about sports centered around safety issues to protect young athletes. In the new millennium, let's extend those safety concerns to address a new issue - maintaining good sportsmanlike behavior on and off the playing field. Mandatory classes for athletes and parents will only serve to reinforce the idea we've been taught all along - that sports themselves are merely the vehicle we use to learn the valuable life lessons good sportsmanship teaches us."
— Steven I. Lockwood
Alpena - Boys Track & Field

"School sports are offered to teenagers for fun, for competition, and for growth. Day after day of practicing can build confidence, maturity, and self-discipline in any athlete with a good attitude. Every drop of sweat may be complemented by the satisfaction of improvement."
— Megan Elizabeth Dana
Saginaw-Heritage - Girls Track & Field

UPDATE MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR 2001

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, Nov. 2, 2001, in Marquette.
The purpose of these meetings is to keep MHSAA's membership apprised of current issues 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 2001-02 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 p.m. Those wishing to attend the meeting, but not planning to participate in the luncheon, can plan to arrive approximately 1 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, 2001. The schedule of meetings is as follows:

Luncheon Meetings — Noon
Monday, October 1, 2001 -- GAYLORD-Hidden Valley Club & Resort
Thursday, October 4, 2001-- KALAMAZOO-Pine West
Monday, October 8, 2001-- COMSTOCK PARK-English Hills Terrace
Monday, October 15, 2001 --LANSING-Holiday Inn West
Wednesday, October 17, 2001-- FRANKENMUTH-Zehnders
Wednesday, October 24, 2001 --PONTIAC SILVERDOME-The Main Event

Non-Luncheon Meeting — 10 a.m.
Friday, November 2, 2001 U.P. Athletic Directors Meeting (Marquette)

Reservation forms will be published in the August issue of the BULLETIN.

SPRING RATING FORMS DUE MAY 23, 2001

Officials rating forms for varsity or sub-varsity baseball, girls soccer, and softball were sent in late April to all MHSAA member schools sponsoring those sports. The forms are designed to be “read” by a mark sensor scanning device. Many of the blanks already have been completed and returned. The deadline for receiving forms in this office will be May 23, 2001. Rating blanks received after this date will not be processed.

Athletic directors are reminded that only one rating may be submitted for each official regardless of the number of times the official works contests for one school. Each official may receive a varsity and a sub-varsity rating from one school for working more than one level of competition.

The mark sensor forms do require attention and adherence to specific preparation rules.

1. Use only a No. 2 pencil — NO INK.

2. Fully mark each space selected.

3. Print the officials ID number and name in the space provided and fully darken the appropriate spaces under the entry.
Officials ID numbers are found in the Officials Directory.

4. Indicate “Varsity” or “Sub-varsity” rating.

5. Print the school ID number in the space provided and fully darken in the appropriate spaces under the entry. School ID numbers are in the School Directory in parentheses following the school name.

6. Use only the original forms sent to your school. Copies of the form cannot be read by our equipment because the carbon properties in the copy machine ink violate the system.

7. Keep forms as neat and free of wrinkles, folds and holes as possible.

8. Athletic directors are asked to review the ratings and make copies of the ratings sent for their files in case problems develop. File copies help solve problems.

It is important that rating forms be reviewed by athletic directors before mailing to insure that they are completely and properly filled out. All schools should be positive that EITHER the superintendent OR the principal AND the athletic director OR the coach sign and review the ratings forms and that they be returned to the MHSAA office at the earliest opportunity.
NOTE: When an official receives a rating value of 5, the school must submit an Unsatisfactory Rating Explanation form to the official and to the MHSAA with the Rating Form. WITHOUT THE DOCUMENT the “5” rating will be expunged from the officials rating record.

An official may be rated as varsity and/or sub-varsity only once pre sport, per school, per year.

In an age when it is so much easier to produce and reproduce artwork, pictures and videotapes, schools are reminded to exercise caution in the use of the MHSAA logo, and with souvenir items sold at MHSAA tournament events.

In the past year, there has been an increase of incidents involving the unauthorized reproduction of the MHSAA logo, and in the duplication of souvenir items sold at tournaments. Here are a few examples:
• The purchaser of a videotape at an MHSAA final event casually mentions to the salesperson of his intent to make copies of the tape for all the parents of the players on the team;
• A fan at an MHSAA tournament is spotted wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a design of the champions shirt printed at the previous year's finals, including the MHSAA logo. The problem? There were no hooded sweatshirts printed with that design by the authorized vendor;
• A school orders individualized trophies for its players after a championship season, bearing the MHSAA logo, and the trophy design is strikingly similar to that produced by the company which produces trophies for MHSAA tournaments. The problem? This was a different trophy company, unauthorized to use the MHSAA logo.
·• The executive director of the MHSAA observes someone attempting to copy, at a local photocopying shop, a poster provided as a sample to a school from a vendor authorized to use the MHSAA logo. The proprietors of the shop did not allow the customer to make the copy, but the photograph from the poster somehow ended up on plaques provided to the team members.

For commercial purposes, there are only a handful of vendors authorized to reproduce the MHSAA logo. Those vendors provide a financial return to sites hosting MHSAA tournaments, as well as modest royalties and services to the MHSAA to assist in its administration of tournaments and services to schools.

It is not fair for one to think that they're not taking something away from these vendors by producing a few unauthorized (and illegal) copies of shirt and trophy designs, and video tapes. We have no knowledge of how much this happens, but left unchecked, it could amount to something substantial.

Schools wishing to put the MHSAA logo on items they are producing for awards and publications (i.e., souvenir programs) are allowed to do so. However, if the items are to be sold, that is another matter which requires advance communication with the MHSAA office. The illegal reproduction of otherwise copyrighted material, like shirt designs, videotapes and photographs, from MHSAA authorized vendors, is something which those individual companies authorized to use the logo could sue an individual, a business, or a school over.

Schools are urged to be aware of potential copyright infringement in their own buildings at all times, but especially when a team has been successful in tournament play.

Here is a list of what is allowable as it pertains to the use of the MHSAA logo and merchandise sold at tournaments:
• A school may use the MHSAA logo at any time on souvenir program covers or within the program. It can also allow a third party vendor producing the program to do so.
• A school can use the MHSAA logo on awards its produces for team members. It cannot, however, use the logo for resale purposes of any type to the public.
• An official may reproduce the MHSAA logo on their officiating calling card, asking a third party vendor to imprint it on the card. A printer, however, cannot offer the imprinting of the MHSAA logo as a service. Likewise, a school can ask a vendor to reproduce the logo on its gymnasium floor or walls, but the vendor cannot offer the reproduction of the logo to schools as a service.
• It is illegal to make copies of the videotapes sold at MHSAA tournament events.
• It is illegal to copy the design of trophies and medals presented at, or t-shirts and posters sold at or after MHSAA tournament events.
• It is illegal to copy the photographs sold by the MHSAA authorized vendor at or after MHSAA tournament events.

Here is a list of the commercial vendors and other companies authorized to use the MHSAA logo for commercial purposes:
• (Screen printing, MHSAA tournament merchandise; can use all MHSAA logos - Horizontal, Round, Whistle, Sportsmanship, Women In Sports Leadership, Official MHSAA Merchandise, Scholar-Athlete Award)
• Signs Now (Signs and banners, wall and floor graphics; can use all MHSAA logos)
• Honig's Whistle Stop (Officials merchandise; can use MHSAA Horizontal, Round and MHSAA Whistle logos)
• Bay Supply (Coaching box mats, MHSAA Member School Flags; can use MHSAA Horizontal, Round and Sportsmanship logos)
• Advanced Video Service (Video tapes of selected MHSAA finals; can use MHSAA Horizontal, Round and Sportsmanship logos, and Official MHSAA Merchandise logo)
• 20-20 Photographic (Photos of MHSAA events, Ultimate Sports Posters; can use MHSAA Horizontal and Round logos, and Official MHSAA Merchandise logo)
• Royal Publishing (Souvenir programs; can use MHSAA Horizontal, Round and Sportsmanship logos)
• Farm Bureau Insurance (Corporate Partner; can use MHSAA Horizontal and Round logos; Scholar-Athlete Award logo)
• Little Caesars Pizza (Corporate Partner; can use MHSAA Horizontal, Round and Sportsmanship logos)
• A-1 Trophies & Awards (MHSAA tournament trophies; can use MHSAA Horizontal and Round logos)
• Erffmeyer Company (MHSAA tournament medals; can use can use MHSAA Horizontal and Round logos)
• Ball manufacturers: Brine (Soccer), Rawlings (Baseball and Basketball), Spaulding (Volleyball), and Wilson (Softball). All can use MHSAA Horizontal and Round logos.

If you don't see a company on this list, they aren't authorized to use the MHSAA logo for commercial purposes. If you have any questions, call the MHSAA office.

During the 2000-01 school year, 50 high school seniors participated as MHSAA Legacy officials.

This year's class brings the total to 221 students who have become registered and active officials during their senior year of high school through the Legacy program.

The program was conceived by officials, teachers of officiating classes and staff members of the MHSAA and first implemented in the year 1992.

Basic to the program is the belief that properly and adequately coached from the outset, young people with an interest in officiating can develop as capable officials so that in the future they will be prepared to follow in the footsteps of their adult guide. It is a goal of the program that student officials learn the correct way to perform as an official.

Each student official (high school senior) must be prepared to dedicate time to study, practice and learn officiating skills, as well as officiate 7th and 8th-grade contests. Student officials must understand the need for time commitment before they embark on this experience.

The student's guide is a veteran official who will chart the course, help arrange contests and introduce the student to the practices and procedures of officiating. Assistance with tests and clinic experiences is a part of this responsibility. The teaching guide accompanies the student official to MHSAA rules meetings.

Former athletes remain one of the basic populations from which MHSAA contests officials are developed. They enjoy athletics, have an understanding of the games and a love of the competition. In addition, athletes have an understanding and appreciation of the sportsmanship that is important to competition.

Becoming a member of the officiating "team" through the Legacy program allows students to remain connected to the sport which was enjoyed so much as a player.

The 2000-2001 Swimming and Diving Committee met on March 20, 2001 at the MHSAA office in East Lansing. After a brief welcome, the committee was reminded of the purpose of the meeting and the process for proposing rule changes.
Following introductions and a welcome by MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts, committee members reviewed minutes of the 2000 Swimming and Diving Committee and Representative Council action pertaining to recommendations of the committee.

SCRIMMAGE REGULATION
The committee reviewed a proposal from the Tennis Coaches Association, which would remove the restriction on when scrimmages can be scheduled (no more than two prior to the first match). The change would allow a scrimmage anytime throughout the season, including all prior to the first meet. The committee took no action.

THREE-PLAYER REGULATION
The Swim Committee is supporting a proposal to modify the 3-player regulation. The proposal would allow a school coach to work with any number of students from their school program in a non-school program as long as no more than 50% of the non-school team are members from his/her school program.

DIVING QUALIFICATION
A proposal was presented which would put more restrictions on qualifying to the Regional Diving competition. After discussion, the committee voted for no change in the current process.
A proposal was presented which would allow Class BCD divers a third standard for qualifying to the Diving Regionals. The third option would use a three-year average of the 18th place score at the Regional Diving Meet. Then, in a league/conference meet using a minimum of five diving judges, divers would advance to Regionals if they meet or exceed the established score.
A proposal which would allow Regional Diving Meets to start at 3 p.m. (instead of 5 p.m.) was opposed. The committee recommends the following schedule:
• Warm-up begins at 3 p.m.
• Dive sheets turned in at 3:30 p.m.
• Meet starts at 5 p.m. (Board closes at 4:55 p.m.)

The committee voted to cut after three rounds of diving at all Regional sites. (The current rule allows management to decide whether to cut after three or five rounds).

DECK PASSES
The committee addressed the concern expressed by the swim meet management for the number of alternates and assistant coaches issued passes. The following policy will be in place for subsequent Swim Finals:
• Up to one additional pass will be available for each relay which a school qualifies. The individual listed must be capable of swimming the leg of the race in a split, which would meet the qualifying time.
• The committee reconfirmed that a manager pass will not be included unless a team has five or more qualified swimmers.
• Assistant coach pass policy will remain the same. A school may receive a deck pass for two coaches. If a school has more coaches on staff (coaches who are at every practice), they may purchase an additional pass(es) through the Final manager. A diving coach will not get a pass unless a diver qualifies.

NFHS JEWELRY RULE
The committee addressed the NFHS jewelry rule with regard to divers. In the past, divers have been disqualified for wearing a "scrunchie" on their wrist during a dive. The unanimous decision was to keep the interpretation as written, therefore, anything worn on the body, which is not functional, is considered jewelry and is illegal.

SITE SELECTION FOR 2001-2002 FINALS
Girls Class A - Oakland
Boys Class A - U of M
Boys & Girls BCD - EMU

AWARDS PRESENTATION SCHEDULE
There was proposal to continue the current schedule for awards, with a short break after the 200 MR (five minute maximum) to give 200 Free swimmers a chance to collect themselves.

MISCA PROPOSALS
Members of the coaches association stated their continued support of the use of qualification times. They feel this is the best way to ensure all the best swimmers advance to the Finals. They prioritized what they want to see in swimming.
• First, maintain qualifying standards.
• Second, score 16 places at the Finals.
• Third, divide L.P. swim into three equal divisions and modify the three-player regulation.
With that in mind, the following proposals were acted upon.
1. Score 16 places at the Finals.
2. Modify the three-player regulation. (At least a waiver process if modification of the rule does not occur).
3. Divide Lower Peninsula Swimming and Diving into three equal divisions.

DISCUSSION ITEMS (NO MOTIONS)
Add an additional diving event to regular season meet; five voluntary dives held before the meet and six optional dives during event No. 5.
Continue the two-day meet, however, restructure to have Prelims and Finals of the same event on the same day. Swim half of the events on Friday (Prelim and Finals) and half the events on Saturday.
Prepare entry material packets for divers and swimmers separately. This will assist with the diving coach getting all necessary information in a timely fashion.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
1. Modify Class BCD Diving Qualifications to allow Class BCD divers a 3rd standard for qualifying to the Regional Diving Meet that would use a three-year average of the 18th-place score at the Regional Diving Meet. Then in a league/conference meet using a minimum of five diving judges, divers would advance to Regionals if they meet or exceed the established score (17-0 in favor).
2. Cut after three rounds of diving at all Regional Sites (17-0 in favor).
3. Score 16 places at the Finals (17-0 in favor).
4. Modify the three-player regulation to allow a coach to work with any number of students from their school program in a non-school program as long as no more than 50 percent of the non-school team are members from his/her school program (17-0 in favor).
5. Divide Lower Peninsula Swimming and Diving into three equal divisions (10-4 in favor).

The 2001 Competitive Cheer Committee was held in the MHSAA building with a welcome from MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts. He shared with committee members the efforts MHSAA staff is making to receive confirmation from the Office of Civil Rights that Competitive Cheer meets their criteria for a sport. He also reminded the committee that regardless of the outcome of MHSAA endeavors, Competitive Cheer is considered a sport in Michigan.
The committee had a large agenda which included review of junior high/middle school limitations, the Cheer Manual, Round 1, 2 and 3 suggested changes, Safety Judge responsibility changes and tournament series proposed changes.
The agenda was prepared from written proposals received from coaches, judges, a local officials association; the Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan and a Cheerleading business owner.
The outcomes of this meeting are as follows and are provided in categories appropriate for the sport.

Junior High/Middle School Clarifications
1. Basket tosses are prohibited; therefore, basket tosses to any flair are illegal.
2. A hop and go to a toss is illegal.
3. Loading to a toss is illegal.
4. A sponge to a toss is illegal.
5. Regardless of hand position, a basket toss is illegal.
6. A triple based v-sit or straddle sit is legal with ONE spotter.
7. A bottle rocket is taken to the extension position, therefore it is not legal.
8. A swedish lift, deadman lift or face down body lift requires three bases and a spotter.
9. Reword titles of 1st Cheer and 2nd Cheer so that everyone understands they are Rounds 2 and 3 of high school format.
10. Scoresheets for junior high/middle school competitive rounds will be included in the Cheer Manual.

Cheer Manual Changes and Clarifications
1. The ready start will be considered a part of the routine. Therefore the timer will start the routine clock with the first word or motion after the announcer has directed the team to begin.
2. The description of a herkie jump for Round 2 will be changed so that the front leg is extended above parallel.
3. Illustrations of a swedish lift, side press and face down body lift will be provided.
4. A 7-point safety judge deduction will be assessed for stunt(s) that make unintentional contact with other stunt groups or team members.
5. Coaches will be required to submit the Round 3 description with difficulty and variety indicated numerically. A violation will result in a 14-point penalty.
6. Arabesque will be added to the flairs list.
7. The term "glitter" will be added to the safety judges scoresheet.
8. The Precision Drill descriptions will be placed underneath the corresponding illustrations.
9. Tumbling skills which earn variety points will be clarified.
10. Require teams to perform 1 jump skill, 1 flexibility skill and 1 tumbling skill among the 5 skill requirement in Round 2.
11. Add three categories to the Round 3 scoresheet to:
a) Recognize high level execution.
b) Recognize difficulty when execution is at a high level.
c) Award points for specific team choreography.
d) Change the General Impression Category value from 10 to 5 point maximum.

Judges Development
1. When it is reported that a team will compete with a "hole", all judges must be notified.

2. Illegal stunt vs. improper spotter will be clarified.

3. Identifying different formations will be clarified.

4. It will be recommended that judges return Round 3 description sheets to coaches when difficulty or variety points are incorrectly reported.

5. Precision Drill execution errors will be clarified so that safety judges aren't judging them as incorrect performance of a Round 2 skill.

6. A "Quick Lift" shoulder sit without a spotter should be considered poor execution of a squat to raise the flyer to a single base shoulder lift. Therefore execution errors should be assessed.

DISCUSSION ITEMS (NO MOTIONS)
1. Assess a 10 point penalty for 3 or more 1.0 falls.
2. Assess a 20 point penalty for 3 or more 2.0 falls.
3. Change description of Round 2 heel stretch.
4. Change description of Round 2 universal jump.
5. Prohibit a quick lift shoulder sit with no spotter.
6. Consider a difficulty scale in Round 3 similar to that used at National Competitions.
7. Change the MHSAA tournament format to include a semifinal round.
8. Allow two at-large teams in each class to compete at the Finals.
9. Change the difficulty value of a bottle rocket.
10. Institute a penalty for teams that delay taking the mat.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
1. Allow a maximum of 16 competitors in Rounds 1 and 3 and allow a maximum of 12 competitors in Round 2.
The following guidelines would apply:
a) There may be no more than a four competitor differential between Rounds 2 and 1 & 3.
b) The number of competitors in Round 1 and 3 must be the same.
(12-0 in favor)
2. Raise the number of MHSAA medals awarded to Regional qualifiers and Finals Champions and Runners-up from 15 to 25 (12-0 in favor).