Participation in Perspective

March 4, 2016

In school sports, we promote playing more than winning. 

  • We know that kids would rather play on a losing team than only sit and watch on a winning team.

  • We know that, more than winning, kids play for fun, friendships and fitness ... for the “Fs” more than the “Ws.”

But participation alone is not our goal in school sports. The goal is high participation with high standards.

Our mission is to increase participation and to raise standards, including standards of eligibility, conduct and care.

We know that as we raise such standards for participation, we tend to raise the value of participation for students, schools and society.

Generation Next

January 31, 2014

A capacity crowd of more than 700 will fill the Crowne Plaza Lansing West this Sunday and Monday for the 2014 MHSAA Women in Sports Leadership Conference.

Young women who are interested in leadership as well as men and women responsible for recruiting, hiring, training and retaining women as coaches, administrators and officials will be in attendance. Click here for program details.

I fully expect to see meeting rooms and hallways full of enthusiastic people with a “can-do” spirit. After all, that’s the type of person who takes the time and goes to the trouble to attend a conference like this and to encourage or even arrange for others to attend or even to lead sessions.

And they won’t be dodging tough topics. They will talk about significant health and safety issues. They will address problems caused by improper perspective. They will wonder about the future of education-based athletic programs in a world of decreasing funds for schools and increasing distractions from society.

But as sure as I am that the sun will rise tomorrow, I’m just as sure that this weekend’s crowd includes at least several individuals who will tackle today’s and tomorrow’s problems, and solve many of them. In this generation of women in sports leadership are the genuine leaders who will assure school sports is as alive and well for the next generation of girls and women as it has been for this current generation.