SAC Sound-off: Familiar Opponent
May 16, 2012
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Walled Lake Central were two of 48 softball teams that played in this season's Michigan Stars Tournament two weekends ago in Grand Blanc. Often, athletes know little about those they are facing on the opposing bench. But a final game at this year's tournament gave two MHSAA Student Advisory Council members -- Walled Lake Central junior Taylor Krumm and Notre Dame Prep junior Carly Joseph -- an opportunity for friendly competition.
Below, Joseph tells us the story from her side of the diamond.
At this year’s Michigan Stars Tournament, I had a fun and unique experience: I got to play against one of my good friends, (and fellow MHSAA Student Advisory Council member) Taylor Krumm.
Taking the field against Walled Lake Central, I was excited to see a familiar face on the other side of the field. My team, Notre Dame Prep, was warming up for our fifth and final game of the weekend, and we were more than a little tired.
For me, knowing that I would be playing not just against Walled Lake Central, but against my friend Taylor, gave me extra motivation to play hard.
As a pitcher, one of the reasons I like to play softball is the mental game. Usually, I am just pitching against another nameless batter from the other team. But that day, it was different. Taylor hit in the lead-off spot for Walled Lake, so she was the first batter I faced. Immediately, the competition was on. I was eager to strike her out; she wanted to get a hit. We both made great plays and also made some mistakes throughout the game. In the end, I wasn’t going to win the game by myself and neither was she. Even though I had some extra motivation to pull off a win, I needed to make sure that I translated that energy to my teammates.
Playing against Taylor made that game more exciting, and also put softball in general back in perspective. I knew that Taylor and I would still be friends no matter who won, which relieved some of the pressure to win and reminded me that I play softball simply because it’s fun.
PHOTO: Walled Lake Central's Taylor Krumm (left) and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep's Carly Joseph are members are the MHSAA Student Advisory Council (Photo courtesy of Lynn Wroubel).
Adult Fans: HS Sports' Biggest Challenge
August 27, 2019
By Karissa Niehoff, NFHS Executive Director
and Mark Uyl, MHSAA Executive Director
Inappropriate adult behavior at high school athletic events in Michigan has reached epidemic proportion.
When more than 2,000 high school athletic directors were asked in a recent national survey what they like least about their job, 62.3 percent said it was “dealing with aggressive parents and adult fans.”
And the men and women who wear the black and white stripes agree. In fact, almost 80 percent of officials quit after the first two years on the job, and unruly parents are cited as the reason why. As a result, there is a growing shortage of high school officials here in Michigan, and in some sports like wrestling, swimming & diving and track & field, the shortage is severe. No officials means no more games.
If you are a parent attending a high school athletic event this fall, you can help by following these six guidelines:
1. Act Your Age. You are, after all, an adult. Act in a way that makes your family and school proud.
2. Don’t Live Your Life Vicariously Through Your Children. High school sports are for them, not you. Your family’s reputation is not determined by how well your children perform on the field of play.
3. Let Your Children Talk to the Coach Instead of You Doing It for Them. High school athletes learn how to become more confident, independent and capable — but only when their parents don’t jump in and solve their problems for them.
4. Stay in Your Lane. No coaching or officiating from the sidelines. Your role is to be a responsible, supportive parent — not a coach or official.
5. Remember, Participating in a High School Sport Is Not About Getting a College Scholarship. According to the NCAA, only about two percent of all high school athletes are awarded a sports scholarship, and the total value of the scholarship is only about $18,000.
6. Make Sure Your Children Know You Love Watching Them Play. Do not critique your child’s performance on the car ride home. Participating in high school sports is about character development, learning and having fun — not winning and losing.
Purchasing a ticket to a high school athletic event does not give you the right to be rude, disrespectful or verbally abusive. Cheer loud and be proud, but be responsible and respectful. The future of high school sports in Michigan is dependent on you.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) is one of 51 members of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).