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.
MHSAA Accepting Student Advisory Council Applications for Class of 2027
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 16, 2025
The Michigan High School Athletic Association is seeking student-athletes to become members of its Student Advisory Council beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
Four boys and four girls from the Class of 2027 will be selected to two-year terms and will meet on matters related to maintaining and promoting a proper perspective and sensible scope for high school sports in Michigan. Eight members from the Class of 2026 already are serving on the Council, while eight members from the Class of 2025 are leaving the Council this spring.
To be eligible for the committee, candidates must be a member of the Class of 2027, complete the official application including answering the three short-answer questions, submit a letter of recommendation from a school administrator, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and be available for all scheduled meetings.
In addition, candidates should show a history of leadership on athletic teams as well as with other extracurricular activities, community service projects, or in the workplace; and show an understanding of the role of school sports and have ideas for promoting a proper perspective for educational athletics.
Applications are due to the MHSAA by 4:30 p.m. on April 21. Applications can be downloaded from the Student Advisory Council page and must be returned via e-mail, fax or any mail delivery service.
The Student Advisory Council meets five times each school year, and once more for a 24-hour leadership camp. In addition to assisting in the promotion of the educational value of interscholastic athletics, the Council discusses issues dealing with the 4 S’s of educational athletics: scholarship, sportsmanship, safety (including health and nutrition) and the sensible scope of athletic programs. A fifth S – student leadership – is also a common topic. Members contribute to the planning of Sportsmanship Summits and other student leadership events, and assist with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events.
Newly-chosen members will join the following from the Class of 2026: Itzel Albarran, Bronson; Harper Barnhart, Brownstown Woodhaven; Diamond Cook, Southfield Christian; Henry Ewles, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Cole Haist, Big Rapids; Frannie Keeley, Jenison; Trey LaValley, Romeo; and Ethan Stine, Bridgman.
The eight new members of the Student Advisory Council will be notified by May 2. The 2025-26 in-person meetings at the MHSAA Office in East Lansing are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 24, Oct. 5, Dec. 7, Feb. 8 and April 19, in addition to three Zoom meetings still to be scheduled. For additional information, contact Andy Frushour at the MHSAA at (517) 332-5046 or [email protected].
@mhsaasports Hey student-athletes apply today to join the MHSAA Student Advisory Council! Go to MHSAA.com now💥 #student #athlete #friends #opportunity #sophomore #classof2027 #mhsaa ♬ Walking Around - Instrumental Version - Eldar Kedem
PHOTO The 2024-25 MHSAA Student Advisory Council. Front row, from left: Ella Knudsen, Leland; Frannie Keeley, Jenison; Harper Barnhart, Brownstown Woodhaven; Kaylee Kranz, Clinton; Itzel Albarran, Bronson; Anna Zoet, Grandville Calvin Christian. Back row, from left: Cale Bell, Sault Ste Marie; Joey Spada, Kalamazoo Central; Ethan Stine, Bridgman; Trey LaValley, Romeo; Cole Haist, Big Rapids; Drew Cady, Oxford; Henry Ewles, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; Diamond Cook, Southfield Christian; and Isaiah Kabban, Harbor Beach. Missing: Macy Jenkins, Milford.