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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-February 13, 2002
Contact: John Johnson or Randy Allen
517.332.5046 or www.mhsaa.com
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Feb. 13 - To enhance the atmosphere
of selected tournament finals, the Michigan High School Athletic
Association, in cooperation with the Department of Health, Physical
Education and Recreation at Western Michigan University, is in
its fourth year of conducting a youth clinic at the MHSAA Girls
Volleyball Finals, with registration now underway for this year's
event in Kalamazoo on March 16.
CHAMPS (Cooperation, Hard Work, Attitude, Motivation, Participation,
Sportsmanship) Clinics target local female junior high/middle
school-aged students and their parents in a morning-long workshop
designed to provide game skills and life skills information.
Supported locally by the Department of Health, Physical Education
and Recreation at Western Michigan University, the CHAMPS Clinics
are free, and are underwritten by Farm Bureau Insurance.
Enrollment in the CHAMPS Clinic is limited to the first 80 girls
and their parents - parental attendance is a requirement. The
clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to noon in the University
Arena and Student Recreation Center on the campus of Western
Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where the four MHSAA Girls
Volleyball Finals will take place.
Applications have been sent to MHSAA member schools in the greater
Kalamazoo area. An application may also be downloaded from the
MHSAA Web Site - www.mhsaa.com.
"The CHAMPS Clinic continues to grow in popularity,"
said John E. "Jack" Roberts, executive director of
the MHSAA. "The kids receive some great on-the-court skills
training from some of the best clinicians around, while their
parents hear about the things that are truly important about
high school sports - safety, sportsmanship and scholarship in
the classroom."
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Student-athletes will be led in the volleyball clinic by former
Western Michigan University two-time Mid-American Conference
most valuable player Heather Sawyer. Now a faculty member in
the Health, Physical Education and recreation Department at WMU,
Sawyer will be assisted by Dr. Mary Schutten, former head volleyball
coach at Calvin College; Monyka Paul, former WMU star; and several
coaches from throughout the state.
Dr. Deb Berkey, chair of the Health, Physical Education and
Recreation Department at WMU will lead the parent's portion of
the program. Clinicians include: Jeff Stone, assistant director
for academic support in the WMU athletic department; Dr. Carol
Weideman, an assistant professor of Health, Physical Education
and Recreation at WMU; and Berkey. Stone will focus on academic
requirements in high school and beyond; Dr. Weideman will discuss
sports nutrition; and Dr. Berkey's presentation will focus on
parental sportsmanship, and include a viewing of the MHSAA-produced
video, "What Kids Wish Their Parents Knew About Sportsmanship."
All youngsters participating in the CHAMPS Clinic will receive
a t-shirt, and lunch will be provided for all players and parents.
CHAMPS Clinic participants and their parents will also be guests
of the MHSAA for the Girls Volleyball Finals that day, and the
participating youngsters will be recognized on-court at the during
the Class D championship match.
Registrations must be submitted by March 9. For more information,
contact: Heather Sawyer, Department of Health, Physical Education
and Recreation, Western Michigan University, 4024 Student Recreation
Center, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-3871. Telephone: 616/387-2710.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary
membership by over 1,300 public and private senior high schools
and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common
rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government
funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such
association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament
entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules
are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments which attract
approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.
Farm Bureau Insurance is a year-round MHSAA Corporate Partner