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Let's Play 2 (or 3, or 4)

February 16, 2012

A few conversations I had at last week's Women In Sports Leadership conference further affirmed a point I've been making for years -- high school athletes, if they'd like, shouldn't hesitate to play multiple sports.

Doing so does not hurt, but might just help their chances at landing that prized college scholarship -- on top of adding another layer to the high school sports experience.

Reaffirming this for me last week was Michigan State softball coach Jacquie Joseph, who spoke on that subject at the WISL conference. She's heading into her 24th season as a head coach at the Division I college level -- so she's been around for some of the evolution of both high school sports specialization and college recruiting. Plus, she coaches a sport that sees its share of athletes playing just that one.

Later, I spoke with a high school coach who leads teams in three sports and also played one at the Division I college level. She's a believer in this as well. 

Some of the things I've been told over the years about playing more than one sport:

  • It allows an athlete to learn more skills and hone more parts of his or her athleticism.
  • Using another range of movement further helps condition an athlete's body and make it more resistant to injury.
  • It's hardly rare to see a college football coach watching a prospect's basketball game -- coaches like to see how athleticism transfers across sports, and sometimes will see something from an athlete playing basketball that he didn't show on the football field. (Football and basketball are used in this example, but the same applies to a number of similar situations.)
  • Athletes get an opportunity to play whatever they'd like only this once (unless they turn out to be that rare college athlete who takes on more than one sport at that level).

These are hardly new arguments. But they are always worth repeating -- especially when the people frequently making them (college coaches) are the ones single-sport athletes often are trying to impress.

What's My Why: Official Jason Nickleby

July 22, 2026

Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo (Minn.)

Nickleby serves as an Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) assistant director and Big Ten football referee and officiated the College Football Playoff in 2024. He also is a past high school and small-college basketball, baseball, volleyball, and softball official.

My why as an official goes back to when my dad was a coach. He coached high school football, basketball, baseball, softball, track, many things over 35 years as a teacher and coach. And I was always fascinated with the officials. They were the best people. They had the most integrity. They were so professional, and I wanted to be part of that.

And as I grew up in my dads coaching career, I used to stand in the corner of the gym and mimic the calls of the officials, typically beating them to the punch. And I wanted to continue that and stayed a part of the officiating industry.

And now I'm so fortunate to be in the positions that I am. Being a part of officiating everyday.

But my why goes back to high school athletics, high school activities, the most important level out there. Your service as a high school official so critical. And my why is watching what all of you do each and every day as high school officials and giving back to the games that have given so much to us, as athletes, as community members.

“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].

Don't miss Officiate Michigan Day 2026, July 25 in Grand Rapids! Check out MHSAA.com/OMD to register and learn more.

What's My Why

July 15: Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch