Sportsmanship Summits Go Annual
October 29, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Michigan High School Athletic Association will present its Sportsmanship Summit series again this November as the program becomes an annual event after previously being presented every other school year at four sites across the state.
MHSAA staff, with assistance from school administrators and the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, conduct Sportsmanship Summits. More than 1,000 students from more than 100 schools are expected to take part in the four workshops, where they will discuss the line that separates good from bad sportsmanship, especially when it comes to cheering at athletic events.
“Sportsmanship is a key part of athletic competition and should be a way of life for all young athletes,” said MHSAA assistant director Andy Frushour, who leads the Summits and serves as advisor to the Student Advisory Council. “By bringing the Sportsmanship Summit series to students every year, and to all areas of the state more regularly, we can better promote this value that will continue to serve student-athletes as they move on from high school and into other endeavors.”
Instruction will be based in part on insights gained during the Student Advisory Council’s Battle of the Fans competitions. The contest annually recognizes the best student cheering section in Michigan. The first Battle of the Fans champion was awarded at the end of the 2011-12 winter season.
This fall’s Summits again will feature hands-on breakout sessions – including one session developed and instructed by members of the Student Advisory Council. To conclude the Summits, the delegation from each participating school will meet to develop a youth sportsmanship campaign to implement upon returning to school.
Sessions will take place at the following:
- Marquette – Nov. 9 – University Center, Northern Michigan University – 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
- Warren – Nov. 11 – DeCarlos Banquet Center – 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
- Kalamazoo – Nov. 16 – Downtown Radisson – 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
- Lansing – Nov. 18 – Crowne Plaza Lansing West – 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Registration at each site is limited to the first 300 students and administrators, and the Lansing and Marquette Summits are sold out. Schools are welcome to bring as many as 10 total representatives, including two administrators. For additional registration information, contact Andy Frushour at the MHSAA office – [email protected] or (517) 332-5046.
Registration information also is available on the MHSAA Website.
3 More Winter Sports to Restart in Full
January 13, 2021
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Three more MHSAA non-contact Winter sports will be allowed to restart practice Saturday (Jan. 16) per the updated epidemic order announced today by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), while four Winter contact sports may begin indoor practices Saturday with non-contact activities.
Girls gymnastics, girls and boys bowling, and girls and boys swimming & diving, as “non-contact” sports, may also begin competition before the end of this month – swimming & diving Jan. 22 and gymnastics and bowling Jan. 25. Masks will be required of all participants except when they are actively participating in gymnastics and swimming & diving. Spectators will be capped at 100 persons in school gyms or 250 in stadiums and arenas, per MDHHS orders.
Basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling are considered “contact” sports and may begin non-contact practices Jan. 16, with their first competitions scheduled for Feb. 1. Because of the later start to competition schedules in those sports, the MHSAA will adjust its tournament dates for those four to conclude on later dates than what is currently scheduled – those dates will be announced later this week.
Girls and boys skiing, as an outdoor non-contact sport, was allowed to begin in December.
“We are glad to have three more sports join skiing in returning to full activity, but we understand the disappointment and frustration on the part of our athletes and coaches whose sports are not yet able to restart completely,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “We will continue to adjust schedules to provide all of our winter teams as substantial an experience this season as possible, as part of our greater plan this school year to play all three seasons to conclusion.
“We have shown with our remaining Fall sports this month that our schools can participate safely, and we’re confident teams will continue to take all the appropriate precautions as we jump back into indoor Winter activities.”
Additionally, spring sports teams and fall teams not participating in the MDHHS rapid testing pilot program may begin four-player workouts and resume conditioning Jan. 16, but only with non-contact activities. Fall teams finishing their seasons in girls volleyball, Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving and football have been able to do so by taking part in the MDHHS rapid testing pilot program for COVID-19; volleyball and swimming & diving will conclude with Finals this weekend, while football will finish Jan. 22-23 with 11-Player Finals.