BULLETIN
April 2001 Volume LXXVII Number 7

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
East Lansing, March 22, 2001

Executive Committee Authority and Responsibility - The Executive Committee was reminded of its authority under Article VII of the MHSAA Constitution and specifically its responsibility to consider each application for waiver of an eligibility requirement on its individual merits, determining if the regulation serves the purpose for which it was intended in each case or if the regulation works an undue hardship on any student who is the subject of a request for waiver. (These underlying criteria may not be restated for every subject of these minutes.)

The Executive Committee was reminded that it was the responsibility of each member school involved to provide sufficient factual information about the specific request for the Executive Committee to reach a decision without further investigation. If information is incomplete, contradictory or otherwise unclear or has been received too late to be studied completely, the Executive Committee may deny the request for waiver or delay action. Such requests may be resubmitted to the Executive Committee with additional information at a subsequent meeting or appealed to the full Representative Council.

It is possible that some of the information presented as facts to the Executive Committee by school personnel and others may be
inaccurate. However, to avoid constant repetition in these minutes of phrases such as "it was alleged" or "it was reported," no attempt is made in the introduction of each waiver request to distinguish between truth, allegation, hearsay, opinion, summary or conclusion.

A determination of undue hardship is a matter addressed to the discretion of the Executive Committee within the educational philosophy and secondary role of voluntary extracurricular competitive athletics in the academic environment. The Executive Committee was cautioned to avoid making exceptions that would create precedent that effectively changes a rule without Representative Council action or local board of education adoption, which would exceed Executive Committee authority.

Students for whom waiver of a particular regulation is granted must be eligible in all respects under all other sections and interpretations of the regulations prior to their participation.

Adoption of these regulations is a choice schools make locally when they consider their option of MHSAA membership. Consistent with rulings of the Attorney General and Michigan Supreme Court, schools are not bound by the decisions of the Executive Committee, but the association may limit participation in the post-season tournaments it sponsors to those schools which choose to apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education. The MHSAA exercises no independent authority over schools or students during regular season.

Burton-Valley Christian Academy & Flint-Michigan School for the Deaf (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - Request was made to waive the Oct. 15, 2000 application deadline for a cooperative program in a spring sport, and application was made to approve a cooperative program for these schools in baseball. The primary school would be Valley Christian Academy, which has sponsored the sport previously. The combined enrollment for MHSAA tournament classification purposes would be 98, still Division 4.
Inasmuch as no change would occur in tournament classification, the Executive Committee granted the request to waive the application deadline and approved the application.

Caseville High School (Regulation I, Section 1) - The Executive Committee was asked to clarify Interpretation No. 8. Does it limit an 8th-grade basketball player to 12 games even if he plays in the 9-12 program, or does it allow the 8th-grader 20 basketball games so long as none of those occur at the junior high/middle school level after the student has played 12 games?
The Executive Committee confirmed that 7th and 8th-graders who participate in the 9-12 grade basketball program under Regulation I, Section 9(D) are limited to 20 games total (plus MHSAA tournament contests). No more than 12 of those games may be at the junior high/middle school level and none at the junior high/middle school level may occur after the 12th game total for that student.

Dearborn Heights-Detroit World Outreach Christian Academy (Regulation I, Section 1[D]) - A late request was made to waive the regulation to permit use of (a) 8th-graders, or (b) 7th and 8th-graders on the 9-12 grade baseball team even though the school's 9-12 enrollment for MHSAA tournament classification purposes for 2000-01 is 105.
The Executive Committee noted that the 100-student maximum is a limit recently adopted by the Representative Council and that it would exceed the Executive Committee's authority to waive that limit. The request for waiver was denied.
Engadine, Grand Marais-Burt Township & Paradise-Whitefish Township (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - Pending receipt of a supporting league resolution, the Executive Committee tabled the addition of Whitefish Township High School to the cooperative program in football between Engadine and Burt Township High Schools (combined enrollment based on 2000-01 classification would be 139).

Holland-Calvary Baptist Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[D]) - Request was made to waive the regulation to permit the use of 7th-graders on the 9-12 grade baseball team even though the school's 9-12 enrollment for MHSAA tournament classification purposes for 2000-01 is 55.

The Executive Committee noted that the 50-student maximum is a limit recently adopted by the Representative Council and that it would exceed the Executive Committee's authority to waive that limit. The request for waiver was denied.

Howell & Fowlerville High schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in girls swimming and diving for these two high schools. The combined enrollment for MHSAA tournament purposes will be 2,902 using 2000-01 enrollment figures. Howell has sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school.

NOTE: At its Feb. 14, 2001 meeting, the Executive Committee determined that refugees from Sudan who are wards of the State of Michigan, assigned the birth date of 1/1/83, and enrolled in an MHSAA member school by the fourth Friday of February 2001, may become eligible at that school for the two semesters of the 2001-02 school year only, provided they have established the required previous semester academic record and are eligible in all other respects. The Executive Committee instructed staff to apply this decision to all Sudanese refugee students in these circumstances and to refer to the Executive Committee any requests for such students whose situations differ (e.g., date of enrollment, date of birth).
The next four items regarding the Sudanese refugees were considered jointly by the Executive Committee.

Grand Rapids-Kenowa Hills High School (Regulation I, Sections 2 & 7) - Request was made to waive regulations to facilitate the eligibility of four refugees from Sudan. Only one has academic records and the births were set arbitrarily, as 1/1/83, 1/1/84 and two as 1/1/87. All enrolled at Kenowa Hills in January 2001. Superintendent Jim Gillette and Athletic Director Joe Haines met with the Executive Committee.

Haslett High School (Regulation I, Sections 2 & 7) - Request was made to waive regulations to facilitate the eligibility of four refugees from Sudan. They have no academic records and the births were set arbitrarily, as 1/1/83, 1/1/86 and two as 1/1/84. All enrolled Jan. 17, 2001.

Haslett High School (Regulation I, Sections 2 & 7) - Request was also made to waive regulations to facilitate the eligibility of two other refugees from Sudan who had originally been enrolled at Grand Ledge High School but were transferred to Haslett because of a change in foster families. However, the students' dates of birth and grades in school are both different now than when the request for waiver was processed for Grand Ledge at the Executive Committee's Feb. 14, 2001 meeting.

Hudsonville-Freedom Baptist Schools (Regulation I, Sections 2, 7 & 9) - Request was made to waive regulations to facilitate the eligibility of 11 refugees from Sudan. They have no academic records and their dates of birth were set arbitrarily, ranging from 1/1/83 to 1/1/88. Freedom Baptist tested the students and assigned them grades lower than they had completed in Sudan. Some of the students have been placed in foster homes that are located closer to another nonpublic school than to Freedom Baptist.
Recognizing that schools have interest both in serving these displaced students and preserving a level playing field for interscholastic athletics, the Executive Committee determined that the following policies should apply to all member schools, including those which had received Executive Committee or executive staff decisions prior to this date:

1. A Sudanese refugee is not eligible for interscholastic competition until he/she has been in attendance at one or more MHSAA member schools for 45 school days and is passing the equivalent of 20 credit hours of course work.
2. If after 45 school days the student is eligible under school and MHSAA regulations in all respects except that his/her age is only approximately determined, the student's date of birth will be deemed to be that indicated on the student's Immigration and Naturalization Service I-94 form and the minimum and maximum age eligibility standards will be applied accordingly.
3. INS I-94 forms must be on file with the student-athlete's required physical examination statement prior to participation.
4. A student placed in a foster home is eligible according to Handbook Interpretation No. 58 at (a) the school he/she had been attending, (b) the public school of the new district, (c) the closest public school academy, or (d) the closest nonpublic school, except that the executive director may waive the requirement of closest nonpublic school if the other children in the foster home attend a different nonpublic school and that is where the refugee is enrolled.
5. Local school districts determine for themselves if a student may participate in practices prior to gaining or after exhausting eligibility for competition.
6. The Executive Committee will review these matters further if it receives evidence (a) of transfer irregularities, (b) that one or more individuals are participating far in excess of their 19th birthday, or (c) that the participation of one or more of these students has upset the competitive balance in regular season or MHSAA postseason competition.

Hopkins High School (Regulation I, Section 7) - Request to waive the previous semester record regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who enrolled at the start of the second semester of the 2000-01 school year. Because of illnesses, she received no credit during the previous semester while enrolled at Martin High School.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver and determined that the first semester of the 2000-01 school year must count toward the maximum of eight semesters permitted.

Allegan High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who attended Allegan High School for 9th and 10th grades and the first semester of 11th grade. He transferred to Bloomingdale. After attending two days, he returned to Allegan. He did not practice or compete for Bloomingdale. He was a resident of Bloomingdale at all times.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Ann Arbor-Huron High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who has moved from Missouri with his father for his employment while the student's mother remains in St. Louis with another child to continue employment and insurance coverage and eventually to sell the family's home.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Berkley High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Berkley Schools her entire schooling until she transferred to Walled Lake Western in August 2000. The student lived with her grandmother for many years in the Berkley district and relocated to a guardian in the Walled Lake Western attendance area when she transferred there. She returned to live with her grandmother and reenrolled at Berkley March 13, 2001.
Noting that the grandmother had served as the student's parent for many years, and consistent with the intent of exception 2 of the transfer regulation, the Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Big Rapids High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who enrolled March 13, 2001 at Big Rapids High School after transferring from East Lansing High School where she did not participate in high school sports.
The Executive Committee granted the request for eligibility at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year and the first semester of 2001-02.

Bloomfield Hills-Lahser High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who transferred from Bloomfield Hills-Andover High school for physical and psychological reasons. She enrolled at Lahser High School on Jan. 2, 2001. At its Jan. 17, 2001 meeting, the Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that the student's parents had been advised in writing by the school district and had agreed in writing that the student would be ineligible and there was an absence of compelling independent medical documentation. The matter was resubmitted with more information.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Dansville High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Dansville High School was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who enrolled at Dansville March 5, 2001, after transferring from Williamston.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Grand Rapids-Catholic Central High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who attended Catholic Central midway through 10th grade. She enrolled in night school of the Grand Rapids-Creston School District. She reenrolled Jan. 22, 2001 at Catholic Central and is on schedule to graduate in June 2001. She has not participated in school sports since leaving Catholic Central.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Grosse Pointe South High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - A late request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Grosse Pointe South High School was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who previously attended U of D Jesuit High School where he did not participate in any sports. He enrolled at Grosse Pointe South on March 19, 2001.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Hamilton High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who relocated from the residence of his mother in Muskegon to the residence of his father in Hamilton and transferred from Muskegon High School to Hamilton on Jan. 23, 2001. The student's parents were never married but an otherwise completed Educational Transfer Form was received with a birth certificate that identifies his mother and father.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Jackson-Northwest High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Vandercook Lake High School until the start of the second semester at Northwest. She relocated from the residence of her parents in Vandercook Lake to the residence of her grandmother in the Northwest School District. The student had been hospitalized and is under clinical care.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Lake City High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who lives in Lake City. She attended Heritage Christian School, participating in no school sports, until reenrolling in the Lake City Area Schools for the second semester of the 2000-01 school year.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year.

Lake City High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who relocated from the residence of his father in Petoskey to the residence of his mother in Lake City. He enrolled at Lake City Jan. 22, 2001. His parents were never married; however, a birth certificate showing both parents was provided with an otherwise completed Educational Transfer Form.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Lansing-Sexton High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Sexton High School was made on behalf of a student who previously attended Lansing-Eastern High School and enrolled without a change of residence at Sexton High School on Oct. 29, 2000.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

LeRoy-Pine River High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Pine River High School was made on behalf of a 9th-grader who enrolled at Pine River March 8, 2001, after transferring from Cadillac where he participated in football and ice hockey. The student had attended Pine River Schools for 4th through 8th grades.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Livonia-Churchill High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who attended Churchill High School for 9th and 10th grades and transferred without a change of residence to Redford-Detroit Catholic Central for 11th grade until March 19, 2001, when he reenrolled at Churchill. He does not wish to wait until the second semester of the 2001-02 school year to become eligible for ice hockey.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Madison Heights-Bishop Foley High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who attended Rochester High School for the first semester and did not participate in high school sports.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year.

Mason High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a student who attended 8th grade at White Pine Academy and was home schooled until enrolling in the 9th-grade at Mason High School on Jan. 31, 2001.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year.

Muskegon-Orchard View High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who lived with his mother and attended Grand Haven High School during the 1999-00 school year when he lost three friends in an automobile accident. He moved to his aunt's residence in Fremont and began the 2000-01 school year at Fremont High School. When his aunt moved to Muskegon, the student lived with a non-family member in Fremont. He has now relocated to his father's residence in the Orchard View School District. The student's parents were never married.
The Executive Committee granted the request for wavier pending receipt of the student's birth certificate affirming the father's identity.

New Buffalo High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at New Buffalo was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who enrolled at New Buffalo Oct. 23, 2000. She previously attended Bridgman where she participated in volleyball, basketball and softball.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Niles-Brandywine High School (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - A late request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days at Brandywine High School was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who reenrolled Nov. 1, 2000 at Brandywine High School. He had attended Brandywine in 10th grade. In July 2000, he relocated from his father to his mother and utilized the divorce exception of the Educational Transfer Form to be eligible at Dowagiac Union High School. He has now returned to live with his father.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Novi-Franklin Road Christian School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request was made to waive the transfer regulation and specifically Interpretation No. 73 to permit immediate eligibility for students who reside in the Walled Lake School District and other students who enroll at the start of the 2001-02 school year at Franklin Road Christian School at its new location.
The Executive Committee determined that immediate eligibility may be provided only to transferring students who reside in the Walled Lake School District and only if they enroll not later than the first day of classes of the 2001-02 school year at Franklin Road Christian School.

Ortonville-Brandon High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who enrolled at Brandon in January 2001, having previously attended Oxford High School where she did not participate in athletics.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver only at the subvarsity level during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year.

Rochester Hills-Rochester High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who relocated from the residence of his father in Florida to the residence of his mother in Rochester. The student's parents were never married, but an otherwise completed Educational Transfer Form was provided. The student attended Rochester High School for the 1999-00 school year and attended the first semester of the 2000-01 school year in Florida.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Sand Creek High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the subvarsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who lives in Adrian and began the school year at Adrian High School where she did not participate in interscholastic athletics. She enrolled at Sand Creek March 14, 2001.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the subvarsity level only during the second semester of the 2000-01 school year and first semester of 2001-02.

Walled Lake Central High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a student who was living with her grandmother in the Utica School District until the grandmother died. The student relocated to her aunt's residence in the Walled Lake district.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Warren-Macomb Christian Schools (Regulation I, Section 9[D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Macomb Christian was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who attended Macomb Christian Schools from 1st grade until Jan. 29, 2001. He attended Chippewa Valley High School for 25 school days before reenrolling at Macomb Christian. He participated in no sports while at Chippewa Valley.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Portage Central High School (Regulation I, Section 13[C]) - Request was made to permit the national team exception of the limited team membership regulation to apply to the March 23-31, 2001 training camp for the top US women's team, to which a Portage Central High School student has been invited with very little advance notice.
The Executive Committee noted that this event is precisely what is intended for the exception for national teams and Olympic Development Programs. It is fully funded and limited to those few athletes with bona fide potential to participate soon in the highest level of international soccer competition. The request for the exception to the limited team membership regulation was granted.
The Executive Committee expressed its concern for the continuing disregard by US Soccer for high school schedules and procedures. Federal law requires that US Soccer avoid altogether conflicts with high school programs, much less conflicts created without adequate notice. Therefore, US Soccer will not receive similar considerations in the future from the MHSAA and schools if disrespect for the academic and athletic schedules of schools continues.

Harbor Beach Community Schools (Regulation III, Section 1[A & C]) - Request was made to permit on Harbor Beach Middle School teams a 6th-grade student who is enrolled at Kipper School, a long-time one-room school with insufficient enrollment to be an MHSAA member school.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Southfield-Faith Christian Academy (Regulation III, Section 1) - Request was made to waive Interpretation No. 223 to permit 6th-graders to participate on the 7th and 8th-grade baseball and track and field teams this school year.
The Executive Committee granted the request for these sports only for the 2000-01 school year only.

Dearborn Heights-Robichaud & Dearborn-Fordson High Schools (Regulation V, Section 3[C]) - With 1:45 remaining to be played in the second quarter of a varsity boys basketball game on Jan. 26, 2001, play was interrupted by the entry of bench personnel and spectators onto the playing floor. Officials ejected two players from each team and requested that all spectators leave the gymnasium. Spectators from Robichaud, the visiting team, would not depart. The officials directed that the game be terminated and forfeited to Fordson.
The Executive Committee accepted the schools' internal actions, which included student suspensions.

Representative Council - The Executive Committee reviewed the schedule and agenda for the March 23 meeting of the Representative Council and reviewed a draft agenda for the May meeting.

Next Meetings - The next meetings of the Executive Committee are Wednesday, April 18, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Saturday, May 5, at 6 p.m. in Gaylord; and Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing.

REPORTS
Administration - The principal topic of the executive director's report was a review of the decisions made by the MHSAA Executive Committee at its March 22 meeting with respect to Sudanese refugees. A draft memorandum of a communication to member schools was provided to all Council members.

Legislation - Mike Hawks and Kurt Berryman of Governmental Consultant Services, Inc., reported on activity of the Michigan Legislature which might directly or indirectly affect interscholastic athletics.

Litigation - Attorney Edmund Sikorski provided the Representative Council brief reviews of the United Stated Supreme Court decision in Brentwood Academy v. the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association and two lawsuits naming the MHSAA as a defendant, one filed in 1998 and the other filed in 1999. Both of these cases are about causes rather than specific students and are expected to be active cases for many more months or even years.

OLD BUSINESS
Cross Country - Based on 1999 Update Meeting survey results (79.6% favorable), the MHSAA Track/Cross Country Committee recommendation (9-5 in favor) and staff support, the Representative Council voted in May of 2000 that the 2001 MHSAA Regional and Final Cross Country Runs would be one week earlier. At its Jan. 18, 2001 meeting, the MHSAA Track/Cross Country Committee voted 13-3 in favor of reversing the previous decision and to return the MHSAA Final Meets to the first Saturday of November in 2001. More recently, the membership of the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association voted 198-9 at its mid-winter conference to return the Cross Country Tournament to its original schedule.
Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Kathy McGee, to return the MHSAA Final Meets to the first Saturday of November in 2001. Adopted.

Administrative Violations and Penalties - The most frequent violations of the MHSAA Handbook are for failure to rate any officials in a sport for which ratings are maintained and failure of the head coach to attend the rules meeting for a sport or pass the rules examination. Compliance has been worsening, and the Representative Council has discussed various concerns and remedies at several meetings since December of 1998.
Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Randy Salisbury, that the MHSAA list schools in the Bulletin immediately after each season that they fail the ratings requirement, rather than waiting to identify a school until it has failed to rate officials for two consecutive years in a particular sport. Adopted.
With respect to the deficiencies in fulfilling the rules meeting attendance requirement, the executive director requested no action while the staff attempts to approach 100 percent compliance by telephoning schools which fail to respond to three mailings.

NEW BUSINESS
New Schools - The Council was provided with a review of the procedures by which schools join the MHSAA and the actions taken by MHSAA staff to provide orientation to prospective new members before their membership is considered by the MHSAA Executive Committee.
It was reported that since the start of the 1997-98 school year, there have been 36 new high schools in the MHSAA membership, 31 of which were Class D and five Class C.

Staff observations included the following:
A. Many of the newest schools have the least experience in interscholastic athletics, need the most attention by MHSAA staff and are most likely to violate MHSAA Handbook regulations.
B. Sometimes MHSAA membership is sought by a parent/faculty member for a small school so his/her own son or daughter may participate in MHSAA tournaments. Upon that student's graduation, membership is discontinued.
C. Contact with the MHSAA is often by a coach of a sport already in season, without assistance from an administrator and with focus on a single sport.
D. Sometimes these schools must scramble to get four last-minute competitions to meet MHSAA tournament entry requirements.

The effects on MHSAA tournaments are as follows:
A. For tournaments in traditional A-B-C-D classifications (e.g., basketball and volleyball), the influx of small schools with few sports is bumping Class D schools up to Class C and Class C schools up to Class B while increasing the discrepancy in number of schools entering Class D tournaments compared to Classes C, B and A.
B. The Class D and Division 4 tournaments have more schools with late withdrawals, resulting in discrepancies in the number of schools assigned to District Tournaments and in some cases eroding the validity of a tournament draw.

In response to these situations, the staff recommended the following:
A. Except when a new school is merely an addition on the MHSAA Membership Resolution to the list of schools from a school district which had members the previous school year, a new school is not eligible for MHSAA tournaments until its second full year of membership, unless otherwise determined by action of the MHSAA Executive Committee.
In other words, if the Membership Resolution is submitted before the fourth Friday after Labor Day in 2001, the school becomes eligible for MHSAA tournaments for the first time in the fall tournaments of the 2002-03 school year, provided all conditions of membership have been met.

If the completed Membership Resolution is received after the fourth Friday after Labor Day in 2001, the school becomes eligible for MHSAA tournaments no earlier than the fall tournaments of the 2003-04 school year, unless otherwise determined by the MHSAA Executive Committee.
After lengthy discussion, there was a motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Norm Johnson, to approve the staff recommendation. Adopted.
It was noted by the executive director that absent any other instructions, the staff interpretation would be that if a new school is involved in a cooperative program with an existing school that is eligible for MHSAA tournaments, the new school may participate, with Executive Committee approval, in MHSAA tournaments through that cooperative program prior to the school year in which it would otherwise qualify for MHSAA tournaments.

Baseball/Softball - Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Randy Salisbury, to accept the Baseball/Softball Committee recommendation to adopt the 15-run differential after 3 innings or 10-run differential after 5 innings rule for all games (including the Finals) on all levels of the MHSAA Baseball and Softball Tournaments, effective with the 2001 tournaments. Adopted.

Norris Award - The Representative Council was presented with the four finalists for the Vern L. Norris Award who had been screened by the MHSAA Awards Committee from 18 nominees. The Council selected the recipient of the award, which will be presented at the Officials' Awards & Alumni Banquet on May 12, 2001.

Meetings - The Representative Council approved expenses for the March Council Meeting and the schedule for the May Council Meeting, May 5-8, 2001.

Finance Committee Report - Motion by Scott Grimes, supported by Eunice Moore, to approve the Finance Committee recommendation for the executive director's compensation for 2001-02. Adopted.
Motion by Bill Newkirk, supported by Eric Federico, to approve the Finance Committee recommendation for the overall salary adjustments for other executive staff. Adopted.
Motion by Margra Grillo, supported by Dan Flynn, to approve the Finance Committee recommendation for total salary changes for MHSAA support staff for 2001-02. Adopted.

Seven Michiganders earned sectional honors from national athletic governing bodies in February.
Receiving Section 4 accolades for the five-state section of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are as follows: Brewster McVicker, Petoskey, skiing; Tim Storch, Troy Athens, girls soccer; Mike O’Conner, Grosse Pointe North, girls swiming & diving; Mark Soieralski, Grosse Pointe South, girls tennis; John Knuth, Marysville, volleyball, and Nancy Osler, Ewen-Trout Creek, girls basketball.
Long-time MHSAA historian Dick Kishpaugh, who passed away last summer, was honored by the National Federation Officials Association as a distinguished contributor.

Have you ever said to yourself or someone else, "If I were in charge of the MHSAA, this would not happen." Or, "This would happen." Or, "Things would be different."

Well, it might surprise you to know that I have been known to say those things also. "If only I were in charge of the MHSAA, boy, would things be different."

In the litigation that asks the court to require the MHSAA to require member schools to change their seasons, their regular season rules and lots of other stuff, plaintiffs allege that schools are controlled by the MHSAA, and not the other way around.

In January of 1999, when denying the MHSAA's Motion for Summary Judgment, when the court must consider all facts in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, the Federal District Court in Kalamazoo found that while the MHSAA does not receive federal funds even indirectly, many of its member schools do receive those funds and they have ceded authority to the MHSAA for interscholastic athletics, thereby making the MHSAA subject to Title IX, thus giving continuing life to the lawsuit.

The leadership of the MHSAA didn't know if it should laugh or cry about the court's characterization of the MHSAA, that schools have handed over control to the MHSAA for school sports.

The Attorney General of Michigan has said that schools can't do that, as a matter of law.

And it sure doesn't feel like schools have handed over control.

For if I were really in charge of school sports, things would be a lot different.

If I were really in charge, all head coaches would hold current certification in CPR before their first paycheck, and all paid coaches on any level would complete at least one level of the Program for Athletic Coaches' Education before their third year of coaching.

If I were really in charge, all officials would be members of local associations which would administer annual tests to all their members, and officials' ratings would be supplemented and eventually replaced by an officials evaluation program that involves recently retired officials and athletic administrators as the observers.

If I were really in charge, eligibility lists would again be exchanged between schools before each contest.

If I were really in charge, seasons would be shorter, contests would be fewer, two-a-day practices on school days would be rarer, and a lot less would happen out of season.

If I were really in charge, student-athlete physical examinations would include medical histories.

If I were really in charge, to be eligible athletes, students would have to be passing all their courses, not just four.

If I were really in charge, there would be no exception in the transfer regulation for boarding students.

If I were really in charge, every school would be a member of a multi-sport league or conference.

If I were really in charge, except in the case of injury or illness, students would not be eligible for MHSAA tournaments if they joined their school team more than halfway through the season, which does occur too often in skiing and gymnastics and could occur too often in golf, tennis and other sports. In other words, school tournaments would be for bona fide school team members.

If I were really in charge, District and Regional Basketball Tournaments would always be held at adequately sized facilities, and two officials would work every level of the MHSAA Basketball Tournaments, including Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals.

If I were really in charge, teams in all first-level MHSAA tournaments would be seeded by those attending the draw meetings, and the enrollment of schools would not include special education or alternative education students for MHSAA tournament classification purposes.

If I were really in charge, cooperative programs would not be available except to Class D schools, as was the case when I introduced the concept to Michigan in 1987.

If I were really in charge, we would adopt National Federation playing rules on an every-other-year basis and purchase National Federation publications for schools and officials on an every-other-year basis.

If I were really in charge, I would be announcing to you today that beginning with the 2001-02 school year, we would have no more written publications: not the Handbook, Bulletin, Mentor, Stripes, Officials' Directory, School Directory . . . all would be on the web only.

If I were really in charge, I would be announcing to you today that School Directory information and enrollment figures would only be handled on-line after this school year.

If I were really in charge, I would be announcing to you today that beginning with the 2002-03 school year, all officials would register and take their tests on-line, and all schools would rate officials on-line.

If I were really in charge, all MHSAA winter tournaments, not just boys' basketball, would slide forward to one week earlier in 2005 and 2008, if not permanently.

If I were really in charge, the MHSAA would far more aggressively address student-athlete sports betting, tobacco habits and alcohol use.

If I were really in charge, head protection would be mandatory for soccer goalkeepers and for skiers; and the most dangerous play in football – the kickoff – would be eliminated from at least subvarsity competition.

If I were really in charge, basketball coaches would still be sitting, and quarterbacks would still be calling the plays in football. And when a foul was called on a basketball player, he/she would still raise a hand.

Have I missed some things? Yes. My remaining list is longer still than I've described so far.

The point is, I'm not in charge. The point is, the MHSAA office is not in control. The point is, this is a voluntary, democratic organization, and most likely no school administrator, coach or official likes everything about it.

The point is, there are 10, 20, 30 or more policies and procedures developed and applied locally by schools for every policy and procedure adopted and applied as a result of the schools' MHSAA membership or tournament participation.

The point is, athletic directors have difficult, complicated jobs that can't be handed off to coaches and can't be delegated to parents and can't be blamed on or passed off to MHSAA staff.

The point is, local athletic administrators – full-time, trained professionals – are what can mean the difference between what is a community program under the guise of a school and an educational program under the guidance of that school.

And that, my colleagues, is what we must have in the future if educational athletics is to have a future in the world of sports: educational athletics under the guidance of schools.

Year --Earliest Practice* -- Earliest Game**-- Labor Day (Games Before)
2001-- Aug. 6 -- Aug. 23 -- Sept. 3 (2)
2002-- Aug. 12 -- Aug. 29 -- Sept. 2 (1)
2003-- Aug. 11 -- Aug. 28 -- Sept. 1 (1)
2004-- Aug. 9 -- Aug. 26 -- Sept. 6 (2)
2005-- Aug. 8 -- Aug. 25 -- Sept. 5 (2)
2006-- Aug. 7 -- Aug. 24 -- Sept. 4 (2)

*Earliest Practice Date--Whether or not play 1st week; first 3 days without pads; schools can start later
**Earliest Game--Schools can start later; school with 9-game schedule could have only 1 preseason scrimmage

2001 DATES
Monday, August 6 - First allowable day of 3 day of conditioning period (no pads).

Thursday, August 9 - First date of official practice (with pads) (if 3 days of conditioning were completed during the week).

Thursday, August 23 or Friday, August 24 - First game date
• Schools may not conduct intersquad scrimmages until after nine separate days of practice.
• Interscholastic games cannot be played until teams have completed 14 separate days of practice over a 3-week period.

2001 PLAYOFF DATES
October 26 or 27 - Pre-Districts
November 2 or 3 - Districts
November 9 or 10 - Regionals
November 17 - Semifinals
November 23-24 - Finals

Regulation I 13(C)
There was extensive discussion of MHSAA Regulation I 13(C) and many questions posed with regard to the few female soccer players from Michigan who are invited to compete on a National Team or in an Olympic Development Program during the high school soccer season.
Most questions pertained to the procedure for parents, school administrators, USOC and the MHSAA staff to follow before final approval occurs.
It was explained that Regulation I 13(C) is an exception to a regulation in which few athletes in Michigan would qualify. Secondly, once the letter of invitation is received by a player, there are several procedures that must be followed in a specific time frame in order for the exception to be granted.
Committee members expressed consternation over what they should be doing to "get" the athletes approved by the MHSAA. It was shared with the committee that no USOC National representatives are responding by either filing a report of events in which USOC will be sponsoring players or is a list of potential Michigan players being forwarded to the MHSAA in a timely manner. Lack of these two parts of the requirement make it impossible for the MHSAA to grant the Regulation I 13(C) Exception to any student athletes in Michigan.
It was clear by the discussion that more information needs to be shared in order for all parties to work toward resolving how information is gathered, to whom and in what time frame and order to determine whether specific soccer players in Michigan meet the Regulation I 13(C) Exception.
It was proposed that MHSAA staff members convene a meeting with specific athletic directors and representatives from USOC and USSF to continue discussion of these matters.

Topics of Discussion
1. Soccer Classifications - Change boys and girls soccer classification to five equal divisions so that neither class A teams or Class D teams are competing against teams with dissimilar student enrollments.
2. Rescind the MHSAA requirement that a school administrator or appointee must be in attendance at all MHSAA Soccer Tournament series games when their team is competing.
3. Use of 3-Whistle System of officiating throughout MHSAA tournament series.

Items to be Clarified
While several topics were discussed throughout the meeting, regular season and tournament procedures were clarified. Many times committee members would then request that clarification be placed in MHSAA information to coaches, athletic administrators and officials. This request stems from there being many non-faculty coaches who rely on information they receive from the MHSAA.
Items that will be clarified in MHSAA Soccer related materials such as the General Information Bulletin, Manager's Manual and rule book insert:
1. A game must count as a game for all teams competing.
2. A scrimmage must be a scrimmage for all teams involved.
3. When competing in a multi-team tournament in which shorter halves will be played and it counts as one game, be sure all teams are aware of the format in advance of the event.
4. In order to compete in MHSAA tournament games, a team must have competed in four games during the regular season against member school teams.
5. Hosts of MHSAA Soccer District games can:
a. Elect to host those games in which their team draws the top line of the bracket and the Final District game.
b. Elect to host the Semifinal and Final District games.
c. Elect to host all District games with the approval of all schools assigned to the district.
The host must declare a, b, or c no later than the time the draw meeting begins.
6. Clarify in the Manager's Manual that pep bands are allowed at MHSAA Soccer Tournament games. The following guidelines are suggested:
a. The pep band must be accompanied by adult supervision.
b. The host must be provided a list of pep band members in attendance.
c. The pep band must sit in the stands.
d. Pep bands should not be allowed to sit where music will drown out the officials whistle.
7. Committee members requested MHSAA staff work toward televising boys and girls soccer Finals as it has been done in the past.

Recommendations to the Representative Council
1. Allow a team to participate in more than four scrimmages when the school cannot schedule a full 18 games + four scrimmage schedule. The school would be required to report their schedule to the MHSAA (9-0-0 in favor).
2. Allow member schools to conduct a pre-season camp/clinic in each sport during the school year under the following provisions:
a. Limited to no more than 36 hours and no more than 12 contacts.
b. Cannot be mandatory for athletes
c. Must be open enrollment (as advertised in local newspapers)
d. No competition is allowed.
e. No full squad scrimmages allowed.
f. The host school must provide MHSAA with proof of advertising the clinic.
g. The host school must provide MHSAA with a roster of attendees with names and school affiliation.
(7-1-1 in favor)
3. Delete opportunity to name co-champions at the Boys and Girls Soccer Finals. The format would be as follows after 80 minutes of regular play has occurred and a tie score remains:
a. 15-minute sudden victory
b. 15-minute sudden victory
c. Shootout, if needed.
(8-0-1 in favor)
4. Restrict regular season competition to no more than three games and/or scrimmages per week (8-0-1 in favor).
5. As of 2001-02 NF Soccer Rule Book, state associations are given the opportunity to determine the color of shirt officials shall wear. Therefore, the committee recommends:
Interscholastic soccer officials preferred shirt shall be black with white collar and cuffs. If an alternate shirt is necessary, the shirt shall be the USSF approved yellow shirt or the fuchsia shirt, whichever is not similar to either team's jersey.
In addition, all officials at the game shall wear the same shirt color and it cannot be similar in color to either team's jerseys (9-0-0 in favor).

1. Uniform. Shirt and short/skirts or a tennis dress are required. The minimum requirement for a team shirt is an unaltered shirt with sleeves, preferably in school colors or with school identification. Each individual must wear such shirts throughout the match. If a player changes shirts, he/she must have another tennis team shirt to wear. Team shorts are required. The team short must be the same color for all individuals and an appropriate style for tennis.
Penalty: Match shall not start unless individual or doubles team has a team uniform on. The USTA Point Penalty System for lateness will be used. (More than 15 minutes and the match is defaulted).
2. Format. There are four divisions. Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will play a fourth doubles flight. Each division will have eight regionals and two teams will qualify from each regional with the additional qualifier option still intact.
3. Placement of Players. The best player on the team must play number one singles. The remaining players whom are designated as singles players must be in ranked order, i.e. No. 2 better than No. 3, No. 3 better than No. 4. The doubles team must be ranked according to the ability of the two players as a team, not as individuals. The best doubles team must play No. 1 doubles, the next best must play No. 2, etc.
4. The tennis coaches manual as well as the USTA Friend at Court (2000) are the rules publications to be used at all high school matches.
5. Point Penalty System
1. First Offense – Warning
2. Second Offense – Point
3. Third Offense – Match
For Dual Matches the home team coach shall serve as the Match Manager/Referee and is in charge of all rule disputes, administrative responsibilities, crowd control, etc. However, each coach shall have the power to enforce the rules and have the USTA Friend at Court to settle point of law questions.
6. Penalty for misconduct after match (at regional or final)
Penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after match – For flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct after a match is completed, the offending player will be defaulted and removed from the site as soon as authorized school personnel become available. This removal will be for the duration of the event (Regionals and Finals are considered one event). In addition, one point will be deducted from the player’s team score. This rule will be in effect for all MHSAA Tennis Tournaments.

Baseball — June 12, 15-16
Girls Lower Peninsula Golf — June 1-2
Girls Upper Peninsula Golf — June 1
Boys Upper Peninsula Golf — June 1
Softball — June 12, 15-16
Girls Soccer — June 13, 16
Boys Lower Peninsula Tennis — June 1-2
Boys Upper Peninsula Tennis — June 1
Boys & Girls Track & Field — June 2