A small minority of people in Michigan, including plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the Michigan High School Athletic Association, want high school sports seasons to coincide with college sports seasons. They focus their argument on the word "traditional:" if it isn't the traditional season, they claim, it's discrimination. But is what the colleges do really traditional? Not in many states: * Colleges conduct women's swimming in the
winter, but only 19 states do so for girls high school competition. And what the colleges do is not traditional in Michigan: * Schools that do not belong to the MHSAA
conduct their girls basketball seasons and statewide championships
at a time of year (fall) that is different than colleges (winter). Tradition is the statements, beliefs, legends, customs passed from one generation to the next. Traditions may vary with countries and they may vary within regions of the same country. Tradition is what causes the MHSAA to recognize "Legends of the Game" at many of its final events. We recognize the contributions of teams from earlier years, many of whom were pioneers for interscholastic athletics in Michigan. When it comes to tradition, Michigan has a legacy of service to girls athletics that is unsurpassed in America. The MHSAA was the . . . * First state high school association in the
United States to establish an equity committee as a standing
committee of the state association. The MHSAA . . . * Sponsors 24 post-season tournaments open
to girls, 12 open to boys: the MHSAA allows girls to play on
any team in MHSAA tournaments, but it does not allow boys to
play on girls' teams in MHSAA tournaments. This is the tradition the MHSAA will pass on to the next generation of female athletes, coaches, administrators and officials who participate in interscholastic athletics in Michigan. RL01-035 Farm Bureau Insurance & Little Caesars Pizza are year-round MHSAA Corporate Partners |