MHSAA August 1999 Bulletin

BULLETIN
August 1999 Volume LXXVI Number 1

REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL AND UPPER PENINSULA
ATHLETIC COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
Ballots to be Sent to Schools September 1, 1999

As stated in the May 1999 Bulletin, ballots for Representative Council elections will be mailed to principals of member schools from the MHSAA office Sept. 1, 1999. The ballots will be due back in the MHSAA office Sept. 17, 1999.

Six positions for membership on the Representative Council will be up for election this fall. Vacancies for two-year terms beginning December 1999 will occur as follows: Class C-D Southwestern Section, Lower Peninsula; Class C-D Southeastern Section L.P.; Class A-B Upper Peninsula; Statewide At-Large, Junior High/Middle School; and City of Detroit.

In addition to the above named Representative Council positions, there are three Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee positions to be voted in September. A representative of the Class A-B, Class C and Class D schools will be elected by the principals of the Upper Peninsula schools.

Look for the ballots and return them in time to be counted by the Board of Canvassers. Be sure you mark your ballot correctly and signatures are affixed in the proper places. Ballots must have two (2) signatures to be considered valid.

Details of the Representative Council composition may be found beginning on page 15 of the MHSAA Handbook.

Following the due date of Sept. 17, 1999, the Board of Canvassers as provided in Article IV of the Constitution of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, will meet and declare the winners for the various vacancies.

In accordance with the approved nomination and election procedures, listed candidates have submitted their desire to run for a position by March 15, 1999. They have included an approval to serve from their respective Superintendent or Principal and have certified their qualifications to run for the office which they seek. No write-ins will be possible because each candidate must be approved by March 15 in order to run for a position on the Representative Council.
Following is a list of declared candidates and the vacancies which will occur in December 1999:

REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL CANDIDATES FOR SEPTEMBER 1999 ELECTION

Southwestern Section, Lower Peninsula, Class C and D Schools — Norm Johnson, Administrative Assistant, Bangor High School
Southeastern Section, Lower Peninsula, Class C and D Schools — Randy Salisbury, Principal, Britton-Macon High School
Upper Peninsula, Class A and B Schools — Dan Flynn, Teacher/Coach, Escanaba High School; Tim Hall, Athletic Director, Sault Ste. Marie-Sault Area High School
Statewide At-Large — John P. Gasidlo, Superintendent, Ottawa Lake-Whiteford Agricultural Schools; Scott Grimes, Assistant Principal, Grand Haven High School; Karen Leinaar, CAA, Athletic Director, Gaylord High School; Dail Prucka, CAA, Athletic Director, Monroe-Jefferson High School; Brian Zdanowski, CAA, Athletic Director, Greenville High School
Junior High/Middle Schools — Paul Ellinger, Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools; Craig Haugen, Principal, Addison Middle School
City of Detroit — Eunice Moore, Director, Department of Health, Phys. Ed. & Safety, Detroit Public Schools

UPPER PENINSULA ATHLETIC COMMITTEE

Class D Schools — Russell Bailey, Principal/Athletic Director, Ewen-Trout Creek High School
Class C Schools — Michelle Kanipes, Instructor/Coach, Ironwood-L. L. Wright High School; Dee Jay Paquette, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director, Munising Public Schools; Don Poshak, Principal, Calumet High School
Class A and B Schools — Don Edens, Athletic Director, Kingsford High School

REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING
Thompsonville, May 2-4, 1999

Accounts of Meetings - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Randy Salisbury, to approve the minutes of the Representative Council Meeting of March 26, 1999, and the Executive Committee Meeting minutes of March 25 and April 22, 1999. Adopted.

Reports

Legislation - The Executive Director and several Council members addressed issues before the Michigan Legislature. Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Tom Rashid, that an ad hoc committee be appointed to develop strategies for Representative Council consideration to promote greater awareness and use of options that currently exist for interscholastic athletic participation by students who are less than full-time enrolled students of the school sponsoring the athletic program and to explore additional options that might be considered by the membership to expand such opportunities with appropriate oversight of attendance, behavior, curriculum and progress toward graduation and other fundamental requirements of educationally-based athletics. The ad hoc committee should be representative of the MHSAA membership. Adopted.
Litigation - Attorney Edmund Sikorski discussed two legal actions in which the MHSAA is a named defendant. He reported that a trial appears unavoidable in one case and, regardless of the result of the trial, appeal is inevitable.
Administration - The Executive Director reported that MHSAA membership during the 1998-99 school year reached 731 high schools and 539 junior high/middle schools. This reflects continuing growth in the number of high schools and significant decline in the number of junior high/middle schools over the past five years.
As of April 1, 1999, there were 130 cooperative program agreements for high schools and 42 cooperative program agreements for junior high/middle schools, as growth continues on both levels. There was discussion of cooperative programs between public schools and non-public schools and the authority of leagues and conferences to review and approve cooperative program applications.
Eligibility advancement applications were received and approved for 31 students, the lowest number in the history of this eligibility option.
It was reported that 251 Educational Transfer Forms had been processed for 1998-99 through April 15, 1999. This was a typical number, and public-to-public transfers continue to be the most common, and the divorce exception (No. 8) continues to be the most common reason for the Educational Transfer Form to be used.
Out-of-State Travel Declaration Forms were filed by 77 schools during 1998-99, the highest number in the history of this requirement.
Update Meetings in October and November of 1998 were attended by a record 1,221 people. The schedule of Update Meetings for 1999 was presented.
A summation of mailings from the MHSAA office to Representative Council members during 1998-99 was presented.
A listing of violations by schools and officials between April 15, 1998 and April 15, 1999 was reviewed. The total number of school violations was 417, down from 507 during the 1997-98 period and 495 during the 1996-97 period. Violations for the current year included 277 for failure to rate officials, 84 for failure to attend a rules meeting and/or pass an examination, and 56 others. There were 102 schools with multiple violations. There were 261 different schools with violations, compared to 302 the year before. The number of officials with violations during the 1998-99 school year was 51, compared to 63 the year before and 77 the year before that. The total number of violations by officials was 63, compared to 71 the year before and 78 the year before that.
Athletic director in-service programs conducted by the association in 1998 attracted 284 attendees, compared to 270, 251 and 252 in the three preceding years. The 1999 schedule will again have nine sites.
The Program of Athletic Coaches' Education (PACE) was also reviewed. A slight decline in attendance was experienced overall in the number of coaches who completed either the four-week program or one of two levels of the six-hour program or one of the programs offered as part of courses at Michigan colleges and universities. The preliminary schedule for 1999-00 was also presented.
Assistant Director Bill Bupp reported that for the 1998-99 school year there were 11,066 registered officials, a slight decline from the previous year, which was a ten-year high. The number of registered officials increased in seven sports and declined in five, including a drop of 135 registered officials in basketball and 112 in softball. In five of the twelve sports, however, registration was at a ten-year high: football, ice hockey, soccer, volleyball and wrestling.
Rules meeting attendance was 19,036 to date for the 1998-99 school year, a significant increase from the previous year. Concern continued to be expressed for the small number of registered officials who attend the rules meetings in baseball, softball and volleyball.
Officials Reports for the spring 1998, fall 1998, and winter 1998-99 seasons were reviewed. Reports of concern continue to be received from less than one-third of the schools each season. However, player ejections in girls soccer, coach ejections in baseball, coach ejections in ice hockey, and both player and coach ejections in wrestling were at four-year records.
Also reviewed by Mr. Bupp were events conducted by the MHSAA for officials in April which included a meeting for representatives of Approved Associations, which now stand at a record 43; training of trainers, which now are at a record 122; a meeting for Certified Assignors, which are at a record 62; and the 20th annual Officials' Awards and Alumni Banquet.

Presentation

Jim Okler, Athletic Director at Grosse Ile High School and President of the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association, addressed the Council on the need for postseason MHSAA Cross Country and Track and Field Tournaments to be divided into equal divisions rather than the current classifications, and the need for a Team State Finals for Track and Field scheduled between the Regionals and what would become the Finals Meet for individual competitors only.

Study and Discussion

Continuing a tradition of discussing a limited number of topics freely for an extended period of time without the necessity of motions, the Representative Council discussed two subjects: home school education and the registration of non-faculty coaches.

Old Business

Transfers between cooperating schools – In May and December of 1998, the Council reviewed the history and rationale for Council and Executive Committee decisions not to grant immediate eligibility to students transferring between schools which are involved in cooperative programs. Three options for different action in the future were discussed.
Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Mike Shibler, to provide the Executive Committee the authority to grant immediate eligibility for students transferring between schools involved in a cooperative agreement. Immediate eligibility may only be granted in the sport(s) in which the student actually participated in a cooperative program in that sport during the previous season and the transfer has nothing to do with athletics, discipline or family finances and would not require Executive Committee evaluation or comparison of school demographics or curriculum. Reasons for the transfer must be clearly stated and support presented from both schools. The transfer would be permitted one time. Adopted.
Trimesters - In December, the Representative Council reviewed the proposal of Chesaning, Durand and Ovid-Elsie High Schools to allow schools to interpret the wording of Regulation I, Sections 4, 5 and 7 to be more accommodating to schools with trimesters. Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Paul Ellinger, to stipulate that students who are ineligible at the end of a trimester under Section 7 will remain ineligible for the next 90 school days, and that no change occur in the regulation in schools using the semester system. Adopted.
Classification - Because of concerns for inaccuracies in schools' reporting of enrollments related to alternative education students and over-age students, staff recommended a review of the Enrollment Declaration Form. Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Gerry David, to eliminate lines 5, 6 and 10 from the Enrollment Declaration Form. Defeated.
At the Council's March meeting, it was voted to continue to explore classification modifications that would be sensitive to Class D schools' concerns regarding the equal divisions concept that is gaining increasing popularity. Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Paul Ellinger, that the Representative Council supports the reduction in the enrollment range for the division of smallest schools in some sports for which the equal divisions concept has been implemented or proposed. Adopted.
Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Randy Salisbury, that the MHSAA staff utilize a process similar to the preparation of the Football Playoff expansion plan in 1998 to present to the Representative Council in December of 1999 a plan to reduce the enrollment range for schools in the smallest division of tournaments in at least some sports for which the equal divisions concept has been implemented or proposed. Adopted.
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Norm Johnson, that if an adjustment in track and field is adopted as a result of any reclassification modification plan presented to the Representative Council in December, the change in track and field would occur for the MHSAA tournament in the year 2000. Adopted.

Regulations

Regulations I through V of the MHSAA Handbook and their Interpretations were submitted for review by the Representative Council.
Consent Package - Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Mike Shibler, to approve the consent package of miscellaneous changes for the purpose of organization, clarity or updating, and to incorporate changes or Interpretations previously adopted by the Representative Council. Adopted.
Regulation I, Section 1(D) - The MHSAA Executive Committee requested that the Council review the maximum enrollments for use of 8th-graders or 7th and 8th-graders in the 9-12 grade interscholastic athletic program. Motion by Keith Alto, supported by Norm Johnson, that high schools having a total enrollment of less than 100 (previously 75) in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, may use, in all sports except football, ice hockey and wrestling, students from the 8th-grade of the school; and high schools with enrollments of less than 50 (formerly 35) may use students from the 7th grade of the school. Adopted.
Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Paul Ellinger, to approve the following new Interpretation: "When students of the 8th grade or 7th and 8th grades are allowed to participate in the 9-12th-grade program under Section 1(D), the 8th-grader or 7th and 8th-graders must be enrolled in an MHSAA member junior high/middle school that is part of the same school system." Adopted.
Motion by Eunice Moore, supported by William Newkirk, to approve the following new Interpretation: "Students of the 8th grade or 7th and 8th grades who are allowed to participate in the 9-12th-grade program under Section 1(D) may also participate at the junior high/middle school level provided they comply with all regulations and limitations applicable for the junior high/middle school level." Adopted.
Regulation I, Section 1(E) - At the Executive Committee's request, the Representative Council discussed 1998-99 Handbook Interpretation No. 11 for the philosophical and practical concerns that are being raised. Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Robert Riemersma, to rescind Interpretation No. 11 and remove it from the Handbook. Adopted.
Regulation I, Section 9 - Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by Randy Salisbury, to approve the following Note at the end of 1998-99 Handbook Interpretation No. 49: "If a student who remains eligible at his/her school under this Interpretation transfers back to the original school directly from the specialized school, that student is immediately eligible under the transfer regulation." Adopted.
Regulation I, Section 10 - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Randy Salisbury, to approve the following new Interpretation: "Only those schools which qualify as a boarding school under Section 9 (1998-99 Handbook Interpretation No. 80), may provide any assistance for room and board and only if based on financial need. In no other schools may room and board expense be included in the determination of school expenses and financial need." Adopted.
Regulation I, Section 11 - Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Joyce Seals, to add the following new Interpretation: "Acceptance of game balls from contests in which students participated does not violate the awards regulation." Adopted.
Regulation I, Section 13 - In May of 1998, Goodrich Area Schools requested change in the limited team membership regulation to allow students to participate in national amateur athletic events without loss of eligibility for high school events. MHSAA staff advised the school district of opportunities that exist and requested input to identify the school district's suggestions for change. There was no response from the school district, but parents contacted the MHSAA in March of 1999. Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Eric Federico, to not approve any change in the limited team membership regulation with respect to participation in national amateur athletic events. Adopted (no change).
Regulation II, Section 6 - Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve revisions of this Section to conform to changes made in the bylaws of the National Federation of State High School Associations related to interstate competition. Adopted.
Regulation II, Section 10 - Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Norm Johnson, to revise 1998-99 Handbook Interpretation No. 178 to include the phrase: "or emergency closing of facility." Adopted.

Junior High/Middle Schools

Motion by Keith Eldred, supported by Dennis Kniola, to approve as edited the following two Junior High/Middle School Committee recommendations:
1. Include in Regulation IV, Section 10(B): "In football, schools forced by regulation into a later practice starting date than all of their opponents may, with MHSAA Executive Committee approval, begin practice at the same time as their earliest starting opponents."
2. Regulation IV, Section 10 - New Interpretation: "Three days of competition in a week in those sports limited to two competitions per week (basketball, volleyball and wrestling) will be permitted at the junior high/middle school level (grades 7 and 8) for days of competition cancelled because of acts of God or emergency closing of facility, providing the rescheduled day of competition is the first available date mutually agreeable to both schools."
Adopted.
Athletic Equity - The Council discussed but took no action regarding Athletic Equity Committee recommendations that the MHSAA conduct a conference on Title IX involving OCR personnel and continue to evaluate sport interests of member school students, as well as the requirement that 70 school sponsor a sport before an MHSAA postseason tournament is conducted.

Committees

The Representative Council reviewed procedures which the staff is implementing to make the appointment, operation and reporting of MHSAA committees more effective.
The Council was supplied with a description of MHSAA committees, a list of schools which had not been represented on a committee for the past five years, a list of schools with five or more committee appointments over the past five years, a list of those who declined committee appointments during 1998-99, a list of those who identified themselves as candidates for committees in 1999-00, and a list of attendees at the 1999 MHSAA Women in Sports Leadership Conference. Council members were encouraged to submit nominations for committees, making special efforts to provide nominations from small schools and any school which has not been represented in recent years. The staff will compile the suggestions and submit them to the Executive Committee for review and appointment at the August meeting of the Executive Committee. Names of committee members selected to serve during the 1999-00 school year will be published in the November 1999 Bulletin. The only exceptions are those committees involving the selection of tournament officials and award recipients.

Sports Activities

Minutes of every MHSAA sport committee meeting had been sent to the Representative Council, and each of the recommendations of the committees to the Representative Council had been submitted to the Council for advance study. The following actions are in response to recommendations from sport committees and others which were not previously addressed at the Council's December or March meeting.
Baseball/Softball - Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Eric Federico, to not approve the Baseball/Softball Committee recommendation to provide an opportunity for coaches to work with more than three players directly before the start of spring practice. Adopted (no change).
Basketball - Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the Basketball Committee recommendation to utilize three-person crews starting at the Regional level of the MHSAA postseason tournaments for girls and boys. Defeated.
Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Eunice Moore, to approve the Basketball Committee recommendation that the MHSAA request the National Federation Basketball Rules Committee include in its code that, by state association adoption, a point differential may be established during the second half of a game when a running clock will be used to complete the contest and, should such not be adopted by the National Federation Basketball Rules Committee, that the MHSAA be granted continued permission to experiment with such a mercy rule. Adopted.
Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Robert Riemersma, to not approve the Basketball Committee recommendation to increase the maximum number of regular season contests from 20 to 22. Adopted (no change).
Girls Competitive Cheer - Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the Girls Competitive Cheer Committee recommendation to increase the number of regular-season competitions from 8 to 12. Adopted.
Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Eric Federico, to approve the Girls Competitive Cheer Committee recommendation to form an ad hoc committee to consider and possibly develop a tournament series for a novice division in competitive cheer that would consider squad size, different Round 3 requirements, and a method to determine how teams would qualify for the novice division. Adopted.
Motion by Gerry David, supported by Dan Flynn, to delay action on the Girls Competitive Cheer Committee recommendation to allow no more than 16 competitors in Rounds 1 and 3 and allow no more than 12 competitors in Round 2, also requiring that the number of competitors in Rounds 1 and 3 be the same. Adopted.
Motion by Eunice Moore, supported by William Newkirk, to approve the Girls Competitive Cheer Committee recommendation to eliminate the high and low score from the five-judge panel before calculations at the MHSAA Finals. Adopted.
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Eric Federico, to approve the Girls Competitive Cheer Committee recommendation to add a new level of skills in Round 2 that would be valued at 14 points. The skills would include aerial cartwheel, back tuck, center splits and valdez. The stipulation for selecting the five skills to perform would be: 5 skills shall be selected from the list of 24 and performed in unison in the order listed by the coach. No more than 4 skills can be selected from any level, except Level IV and V. No more than 2 skills may be selected from Level IV or 1 skill from Level IV and 1 skill from Level V. Adopted.
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Dan Flynn, to not approve the Girls Competitive Cheer Committee recommendation to include cheer judges to the list of officials who are rated by schools. Adopted (no change).
Cross Country/Track and Field - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Mike Shibler, to not approve the four Cross Country/Track and Field Committee recommendations to the Representative Council, including:
1. Requiring schools to rate cross country and track and field officials.
2. Conducting a Team Championship Meet in track and field between the week of Regionals and Finals.
3. Conducting the MHSAA Track and Field Tournament on the two consecutive weekends after Memorial Day.
4. Allowing 6th grade student to compete in cross country at the junior high/middle school level.
Adopted (no change).
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Norm Johnson, for the staff to prepare a report for the Representative Council regarding the details of how a team tournament in track and field might be conducted and might affect the MHSAA's constituencies. Adopted.
Golf - Motion by Dennis Kniola, supported by Eunice Moore, to approve the Golf Committee recommendation to allow the top 12 scorers and all other players who are within 7 strokes of the lowest score posted after the first day to compete for individual honors on the second day of the MHSAA Finals. Adopted.
Motion by Dennis Kniola, supported by Dan Flynn, to approve the Golf Committee recommendation to allow all teams tied for 12th place after the first day to compete on the second day of the MHSAA Finals, without reference to the 5th player's score. Adopted.
Motion by Dennis Kniola, supported by Eric Federico, to approve the Golf Committee recommendation to institute a slow play penalty at Finals competition (both days) whereby GAM marshals would assess a two-stroke penalty to a player or players after (1) a verbal warning had been give by a GAM marshal, and (2) the player(s) was timed to determined whether he/she was improving the pace of play. Adopted.
Girls Gymnastics - Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Paul Ellinger, to not approve the Girls Gymnastics Committee recommendation to require that MHSAA Regional and Final Tournament judges have attended a current year's MHSAA Judges' Clinic in addition to the MHSAA Rules Meeting. Adopted (no change).
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Tom Rashid, to not approve the Girls Gymnastics Committee recommendation to increase from 12 to 13 the number of teams allowed to enter the Finals in team competition, with this team being the highest scoring fourth place team at the four Regional Tournaments. Adopted (no change).
Ice Hockey - Pursuant to the Representative Council's action in March, a meeting was convened at the MHSAA office with MHSAA Tournament Managers and others to discuss problems and potential solutions for conduct problems in interscholastic hockey. That group convened April 28 and prepared recommendations for the MHSAA Ice Hockey Committee Meeting in September and for the Representative Council at this meeting. Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Dan Flynn, to approve the following recommendation: That each school be represented at one of seven ice hockey meetings by a school administrator (athletic director, principal, superintendent). Failure to do so will prevent that school's entry into the 1999-00 Tournament. The administrative meeting would be held at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regular Hockey Rules Meeting. Administrators would be required to attend but both coaches and officials would be invited to do so. The regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m. immediately following the administrative meeting. Adopted.
The Council discussed the advisability of requiring neck guards which are recommended by National Federation rules. Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Randy Salisbury, to require neck guards for interscholastic hockey by MHSAA member schools commencing with the 1999-00 season. Adopted.
Skiing - Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Keith Alto, to not approve the Ski Committee recommendation to increase from three to four the number of teams from each Regional which will qualify for the Finals. Adopted (no change).
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Dan Flynn, to not approve the Ski Committee recommendation to allow an individual who qualifies in one discipline at the Regionals to participate in both events at the Finals. Adopted (no change).
Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by Dan Flynn, to approve the Ski Committee recommendation to increase from 6 to 12 the number of medals provided to each winning team at each Regional and each winning and runner-up team at the Finals. Adopted.
Soccer - Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Robert Riemersma, to approve the Soccer Committee recommendation to conduct MHSAA Regional games on Tuesday through Saturday of Regional week. Adopted.
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the Soccer Committee recommendation to delay the District, Regional and Final Tournaments for girls soccer one week. Adopted.
Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the Soccer Committee recommendation to continue the recommendation that a school administrator or faculty designee be present at all MHSAA tournament series games, but to change the penalty from game forfeiture to school disciplinary action so that the competition can take place. Adopted.
Motion by Paul Ellinger, supported by Joyce Seals, to allow a school with an artificial turf field acceptable to the MHSAA staff in charge of soccer, to host MHSAA District Tournament games. Adopted.
Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Dewayne Jones, to not approve the Soccer Committee recommendation to allow District soccer games to be officiated by the 3-whistle system if all teams in that district use a system during a majority of their regular season play. Adopted (no change).
Swimming and Diving - Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Norm Johnson, to table the Swimming Committee recommendation to reclassify the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Girls and Boys Swimming and Diving Meets from A and B-C-D to three equal divisions of approximately 74 and 72 schools, respectively. Adopted (no change).
Motion by Robert Riemersma, supported by Joyce Seals, to not approve the Swimming Committee recommendation to score the top 16, rather than the top 12, at the Final Meet. Adopted (no change).
Tennis - Motion by Gerry David, supported by William Newkirk, to not approve the Tennis Committee recommendation to add a fourth doubles to the MHSAA postseason tournament series. Adopted (no change).
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Keith Eldred, to survey schools, leagues and tournament managers regarding the desirability of a fourth doubles in the MHSAA tournament series. Adopted.
Motion by Dennis Kniola, supported by Norm Johnson, to approve the Tennis Committee recommendation to conduct the MHSAA Finals at a separate site for each Division. Adopted.
Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Dennis Kniola, to not approve the Tennis Committee recommendation to allow any number of the four allowed scrimmages to occur prior to the first match. Adopted (no change).
Motion by Dennis Kniola, supported by Robert Riemersma, to not approve the Tennis Committee recommendation to decrease the point total for advancing additional teams from the Regionals to the Finals. Adopted (no change).
Volleyball - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Randy Salisbury, to not approve the Volleyball Committee recommendation to permit the first practice for girls volleyball on Thursday, the week of November 15. Adopted (no change).
Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Joyce Seals, to not approve the Volleyball Committee recommendation to play best-of-five game matches in the MHSAA District, Regional and Final postseason Tournament. Adopted (no change).
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the Volleyball Committee recommendation that the MHSAA Officials Selection Committee assign officials to the District and Regional levels, as well as Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals of the MHSAA postseason Tournament. Adopted.
Wrestling - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Joyce Seals, to maintain the option for schools and leagues to utilize the "home weigh-in" and to continue to request that the National Federation rescind the action which eliminates state association authority to permit schools to adopt administrative procedures for weigh-ins other than the shoulder-to-shoulder weigh-in just prior to meets. Adopted.
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Eric Federico, to approve the following Wrestling Committee recommendations relative to the Michigan Weight Monitoring Program:
1. Allow junior high/middle schools to utilize the weight monitoring program if the assessor and school wish to process the data locally.
2. Permit assessors to charge mileage at the current IRS rate or a service fee of $30 or less whenever travel is required to a location at which fewer than six subjects are to be assessed on any given date.
3. Allow skinfold assessors who have demonstrated two years of successful experience as MHSAA skinfold assessors to recertify by completing a closed-book examination of up to 100 questions, up to 20 days prior to the first date of the MHSAA assessment, with a $15 recertification test fee.
4. Require an assessor to repeat the in-service program when a lapse of one year or more occurs or significant performance decline is noted.
Adopted.
Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Norm Johnson, to adopt the following Wrestling Committee recommendations regarding the home weigh-in procedures:
1. Require in 2-A that the weigh-in after 3 p.m. occur not later than two hours prior to competition.
2. Require in 2-B that the weigh-in on a day not preceded by a school day occur after 7 a.m. but before 4 p.m.
3. State in 2-C that on a day when school is cancelled on which a home weigh-in had been scheduled, schools will observe the home weigh-in procedures of 2-A.
Adopted.
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the Wrestling Committee recommendation to allow only regular season matches between competitors who are both varsity wrestlers to qualify for seeding consideration in an Individual District Tournament. Adopted.
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by William Newkirk, to permit the parental permission feature of the Wrestling Weight Monitoring Program to be allowed based on the first (alpha) weigh-in only. Adopted.

Operations

Calendar - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Eunice Moore, to not approve the request of Bad Axe Public Schools to permit Sunday as an alternative date for MHSAA tournament competition when there are emergency scheduling situations. Adopted (no change).
The Representative Council discussed the request of Dearborn-Fordson High School that MHSAA tournaments be scheduled to minimize loss of school time. No action was taken, but staff indicated that increased efforts would be made to advise tournament managers to utilize non-school days and late starting times on school days as much as the nature of the sport and the situation of the host and participating teams will allow.
The Representative Council discussed the conflict of the NCAA Men's Basketball Regionals at The Palace of Auburn Hills on March 23 and 25, 2000, in conflict with the Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center at Michigan State University March 23-25, 2000.
The staff was requested to make schools aware that the Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals are currently scheduled for Easter weekend in the year 2005, and the Council requested that the staff utilize the Update Meeting survey as one means for obtaining schools' sentiments regarding the various options for that and other winter tournaments in 2005, so that the Representative Council may make a decision at its December meeting.
The Council reviewed a letter from the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference which expressed its support for the standardized calendar discussed by the Council in March. There was no action by the Council at this time.
Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Joyce Seals, to approve the 7-year calendar as presented and as revised for the sport of soccer as a result of actions earlier in the meeting. Adopted.
MIAAA Sportsmanship Committee - The Representative Council discussed suggestions of the Sportsmanship Committee of the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. One, a video addressing sportsmanship by adult spectators, had already been planned by staff. The other, a suggestion for a pre-competition handshake and message, will be discussed further within the MIAAA by MIAAA members who serve on the Representative Council.
Meeting Expenses - Expenses for this meeting were approved at the specified hotel rate, the IRS stipulated per diem, and a 30 cents per mile mileage allowance, round-trip.
Future Meetings - The next meeting of the Representative Council is Dec. 1, 1999, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, followed by the Annual Business Meeting on Dec. 2, 1999.
The March meeting of the Representative Council will be on March 24, 2000, in East Lansing.
Motion by Eric Federico, supported by Keith Alto, for the staff to negotiate with Marsh Ridge Resort in Gaylord as the first choice and Sylvan Resort at Gaylord as the second choice for the spring meeting of the Council on May 7-9, 2000. Adopted.
Allen W. Bush Awards - The MHSAA Awards Committee presented four finalists for the eighth class of the Allen W. Bush Award. Each Representative Council member was requested to vote for as many of the nominees as he or she desired. Those selected for the award will be honored throughout the 1999-00 school year at local and state events important to the recipient.
Upper Peninsula Tournaments - It was reported to the Representative Council that several MHSAA postseason tournaments for UP schools have disproportionately few schools in the larger classifications, which leads to issues of tournament administration and competitive equity which the Council has been discussing with respect to statewide and Lower Peninsula tournaments. Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Keith Alto, to allow the UP Athletic Committee to prepare proposals to reclassify MHSAA tournaments which are limited to UP schools, and for the staff to present those proposals to the Representative Council in December. Adopted.
Finance - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Dennis Kniola, to approve the 1999-00 revenue and expense budgets of $6,545,500 and $6,828,726, respectively, and a capital improvements budget that would result in reductions in cash of $177,226. Adopted.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
East Lansing, April 22, 1999

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 this agenda.)
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.
A determination of undue hardship is a matter addressed to the discretion of the Executive Committee within the educational philosophy and the place 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 participation.
Consistent with rulings of the Attorney General, 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 apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education.
Flint-Carman-Ainsworth and Clio High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in boys and girls skiing and boys and girls swimming and diving for these schools. Carman-Ainsworth has sponsored all four sports previously (Clio none of the four) and will be the primary school for each. The combined enrollment in 1999-00 will be 2,591.
Flint-The Valley School (Regulation I, Section 1[D]) - Request to waive the enrollment regulation was made to permit two 7th grade students to participate on the girls soccer team of this 54-student high school.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver because the status of 7th graders has not been affected by a recent change in the school's enrollment, the school's enrollment greatly exceeds the 35-student limit under which 7th graders may participate, the contact nature of soccer may make it imprudent to involve 7th graders with high school students, and a change in this case would make it difficult to apply the rule in similar situations in the future.
Hamtramck-St. Florian and Warren-Immaculate Conception High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in football for these schools. St. Florian sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school. Combined enrollment for 1999-00 is 198.
Highland-Milford and South Lyon High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request to waive the April 15 deadline for fall sports cooperative program applications was made for these schools for girls swimming and diving.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver until not later than June 1, 1999.
Lapeer Community Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Request to waive the April 15 deadline for a fall sport cooperative program was made so the application for girls swimming and diving for Lapeer East and West High Schools can be completed.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver until not later than June 1, 1999.
Ludington and Pentwater High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program between these schools in football, girls and boys swimming and diving and wrestling. Ludington, which has sponsored these sports previously, will be the primary school for all sports. Pentwater sponsored none of these sports. The combined enrollment is 951 for 1999-00.
Saginaw-Arthur Hill High School and Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Pending receipt of an affirming league resolution, the Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in ice hockey, boys swimming and diving, girls swimming and diving and girls golf for these two schools of the School District of the City of Saginaw. Arthur Hill High School has sponsored these sports previously and will be the primary school. Arts and Sciences Academy will expand to a full day school for students through grade 10 for the year 1999-00, adding 11th grade in 2000-01 and 12th grade in 2001-02. The cooperative will be in the class or division for largest schools in the MHSAA tournament for each of these sports.
St. Ignace-LaSalle and Mackinaw City High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[D]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in boys golf for these schools. Only St. Ignace-LaSalle sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school for this program that will have a combined enrollment of 345 and compete in Division 4 of the fall season.
Suttons Bay and Northport High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[D]) - Request to waive the April 15 deadline for fall sports cooperative program applications was made for these schools for boys and girls cross country. Due to budget cuts, Northport is dropping its sponsorship of its own separate team.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver until not later than June 1, 1999.
Delton Kellogg High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who relocated from the home of his father to the home of his mother, transferring from Middleville-Thornapple Kellogg to Delton Kellogg on Jan. 18, 1999. His parents were never married but a document was provided to demonstrate these are the student's legal parents.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver contingent upon submission to the MHSAA office of an otherwise completed Educational Transfer Form.
Detroit-Benedictine High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - A late request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who enrolled in January of 1999, having previously attended Cass Tech High School. A brother and a cousin have been killed within the last year, another brother is incarcerated, and another brother moved out of state this year.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver on the basis of the limited information available, finding no link between these events and the need to change schools.
Morenci High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who enrolled at Morenci Jan. 21, 1999, having previously attended Adrian-Lenawee Christian High School, to which he commuted daily from Morenci. His mother has multiple sclerosis and lives with her parents in Adrian. The student continues to live with a family friend in Morenci. The change in school is intended to discourage the student from seeing his mother's deteriorating condition on a daily basis as he visits her.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, referring the matter to action of the local schools through the Educational Transfer Form and the exception allowed for 18-year-old students.
Richland-Gull Lake High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who attends Haslett High School but will transfer to Gull Lake because her father has cancer and it is anticipated the student will live with her sister, who is an English teacher and competitive cheer coach at Gull Lake but lives in Comstock.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver because the student is not enrolled in the requesting school.
Dearborn Heights-Fairlane Christian High School (Regulation II, Section 8[C]) - Request was made to waive the MHSAA tournament entry requirement that a school be represented at a rules meeting at least every other year. In this case, the school was unrepresented at a baseball meeting in 1988. This year, the coach, who is in his first year, arrived late for the last meeting at Bath Middle School. The coach and athletic director met with the Executive Committee to explain the situation.
The Executive Committee noted that the school had made efforts to assure the school's representation at a baseball meeting by including the requirement in the coach's contract and rescheduling a contest on the meeting date to allow for the coach's travel to the meeting, and the coach arranged personal business and a traveling companion and traveling arrangements to accommodate the meeting schedule. The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver pending the coach's passing the rules examination as required under Section 8(B).
Taylor-Light and Life Christian High School (Regulation II, Section 8[C]) - Request was made to waive the MHSAA tournament entry requirement that a school be represented at a rules meeting at least every other year. In this case, the school has been unrepresented at a baseball meeting last year. This year, the coach, who is in his first year, arrived late to the last meeting at Bath Middle School after being delayed in traffic while traveling to the meeting with the coach of Fairlane Christian High School.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver pending the coach's passing the rules examination as required under Section 8(B).
Northern Lights League (Regulation II, Section 11[D & E]) - Request was made in 1997 on behalf of Hannahville-Nah Tah Wahsh PSA, Beaver Island Schools, Mackinac Island Schools, Paradise-Whitefish Township Schools and Grand Marais-Burt Township Schools to waive the regulation regarding the earliest dates for practice and competition for boys basketball and girls volleyball to reduce airplane travel and other problems associated with the remote location of these member schools. It was requested that practice be allowed to commence on the first Monday of November each year (Nov. 3, 1997) and competition be allowed to commence on the second Friday of November each year (Nov. 14, 1997). When the first Monday and second Friday fall within four days of each other, then all Northern Lights League teams will practice a minimum of nine school days before the first contest. At its Sept. 11, 1997 meeting, the Executive Committee granted the request for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 school years. Now the league has requested continuation of the waiver for the next two or three school years.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver through the 2000-01 school year.
Ludington-O. J. DeJonge Junior High School and Pentwater Middle School (Regulation III, Section 1[D]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program between these schools in football and girls and boys swimming. O. J. DeJonge will be the primary school.
Cassopolis and Galien High Schools (Regulation V, Section 2) - Cassopolis High School alleged that an oral contract for a football contest in 1999 exists with Galien High School but is not being honored.
Citing Interpretation No.234(A), the Executive Committee took no action.
Ann Arbor-Pioneer High School - The Executive Committee reviewed the conduct by some of the Pioneer spectator section at the conclusion of the Class A Boys Basketball Final game.
The Executive Committee directed the staff to (1) require a response from the school's administration that, among other information, will identify the administrators, staff and chaperones who were assigned to the contest and their roles during and after the game; and (2) review tournament printed materials for the possibility of adding clearer, stronger and more thorough coverage of schools' responsibilities to supervise their spectators. In addition, the Executive Committee requested that the Representative Council discuss this situation and the possibility of revising Handbook language to deal more effectively with similar situations in the future.
New School - Pursuant to procedures approved by the Representative Council in March of 1997, the Executive Committee granted approval of MHSAA membership for Academy of Detroit-Inkster Campus, a public school academy of approximately 200 students in grades 9 and 10 which plans to add another grade of approximately 100 students for 1999-00. The school sponsored boys basketball this year and intends to add girls basketball in 1999-00.
Next Meetings - The next meetings of the Executive Committee are Saturday, May 1, 1999, at 6 p.m. in Thompsonville, and Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
East Lansing, May 1, 1999

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
East Lansing, June 9, 1999

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 this agenda.)
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.
A determination of undue hardship is a matter addressed to the discretion of the Executive Committee within the educational philosophy and the place 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 participation.
Consistent with rulings of the Attorney General, 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 apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education.
Grand Rapids-Forest Hills Northern and Grand Rapids-Forest Hills Central High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - Contingent on receipt of a supporting league resolution and with encouragement to establish a separate program in each school, the Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in girls competitive cheer between these schools with the stipulation that, because this is the first cooperative agreement in competitive cheer anywhere in Michigan and is between two large schools, if there is a request to renew this agreement in two years, then the same information required for renewal of cooperative agreements between large schools in ice hockey will be required. Forest Hills Northern sponsored the sport last year and will be the primary school. The combined enrollment is 2,408.
Hancock and Lake Linden-Hubbell High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in ice hockey between these two schools whose combined enrollment will be 511, which remains Division 3. Hancock has sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school.
Lake Linden-Hubbell and Dollar Bay High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - On Dec. 2, 1998, the Executive Committee approved the addition of football to the cooperative agreement that exists between these schools in ice hockey. Lake Linden-Hubbell has sponsored the sport previously and will be the primary school. The combined enrollment at that time was 279. Subsequently, the two schools asked the Executive Committee to apply Handbook Interpretation No.11 so that the cooperative program may be classified for the MHSAA Football Playoffs on the basis of Lake Linden-Hubbell's enrollment only and to do so without limit as to the number of years this could occur. At its January 1999 meeting, the Executive Committee approved this cooperative program's participation in Division 8 of the 1999 and 2000 Football Playoffs, after which this matter will be reviewed further.
In May, the Representative Council eliminated Interpretation No. 11 and the executive director advised the schools that they would play in the division of their combined enrollment after the 1999 season. The schools requested that the original term of approval, 1999 and 2000, remain in effect.
The Executive Committee denied the request for the schools to participate in any division other than where their combined enrollment would place them in the Football Playoffs after 1999. Any further special consideration would be inconsistent with recent Representative Council action and the MHSAA Handbook and would be unfair to opposing schools in the Football Playoffs.
Lapeer Community Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[F]) - The Executive Committee approved the addition of girls swimming and diving to the cooperative program agreement that exists between Lapeer East and West High Schools in boys swimming and diving. Lapeer East is the primary school. Combined enrollment is 2,204.
Napoleon and Manchester High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in girls gymnastics between these schools. Neither school sponsored the sport last year. Napoleon will be the primary school. The combined enrollment is 836.
Suttons Bay and Northport High Schools (Regulation I, Section 1[E]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in boys and girls cross country between these schools. Suttons Bay had a cooperative program in boys and girls cross country with Lake Leelanau-St. Mary High School since 1992 until it was dissolved in May. The combined enrollment for these schools will be 392.
Grosse Pointe South High School (Regulation I, Sections 4 & 5) - Request was made to waive the maximum semesters sections of the eligibility regulation on behalf of a student who earned no credit and did not participate in athletics during his 9th and 10th-grade years during which he developed a substance abuse problem. Both parents were alcoholics, one died in December of 1997. In November of 1997, the student entered an in-patient substance abuse facility and has subsequently become successful academically and played three sports during 1998-99. He will turn 19 on Nov. 9, 2000. The student's 9th and 10th semesters will occur in the 1999-00 school year.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that the student received grades in each of eight semesters through the 1998-99 school year, which is the maximum opportunity for participation allowed any student, that the student's records indicate ongoing academic deficiencies, and that the student may not graduate until 2001.
Grosse Pointe South High School (Regulation I, Sections 4 & 5) - Request was made to waive the maximum semesters sections of the eligibility regulation on behalf of a student who attended 9th grade for the 1995-96 school year at Jackson Middle School because of overcrowding at Denby High School. He did not have an opportunity to play sports at Jackson Middle School. Conflicting documentation was provided regarding the student's academic progress.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver on the basis of the incomplete and contradictory information provided.
Allen Park High School (Regulation I, Section 9[C]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Allen Park High School was made on behalf of a student who will be a 10th-grader in 1999-00. He transferred to Allen Park High School from Cabrini High School on April 13. Documentation was provided that the student was harassed in reaction to problems between other students and the boy's father, who was the Cabrini High School ice hockey coach.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting the 90-day provision is to be applied only when students transfer very soon after the fourth Friday of February.
Stanton-Central Montcalm High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request was made to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility immediately at the sub-varsity level for a 10th-grade student who previously attended Cornerstone Academy and didn't participate in any sport.
The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver to the extent that the student may participate at the sub-varsity level only during the first semester of the 1999-00 school year.
Kalamazoo Christian High School (Regulation II, Section 11[E]) - Request was made to waive the starting date for boys soccer contests to allow an event one day early.
The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.
Carney-Nadeau Public School (Regulation III, Section 1) - Request was made to waive Interpretation No. 215 to allow 6th grade boys and girls to participate on 7th grade teams during the 1999-00 school year. (High school enrollment is 90.)
The Executive Committee granted the request for the 1999-00 school year only.
Marenisco School District (Regulation III, Section 1) - Request was made to waive the enrollment regulation and specifically Interpretation No. 215 to allow 6th grade boys and girls to participate on junior high school basketball teams during the 1999-00 school year. (High school enrollment is 39.)
The Executive Committee granted the request for the 1999-00 school year only.
Pellston & Mackinaw City Junior High schools (Regulation III, Section 1[D]) - The Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in football between these schools. No league is involved. The schools already cooperate in football at the high school level.
Saginaw-North Middle School and Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy (Regulation III, Section 1) - Pending receipt of the MHSAA Membership Resolution naming both schools, the Executive Committee approved a cooperative program in football at the junior high/middle school level between these schools. North Middle School will be the primary school.
Manchester High School (Regulation V, Section 4[B]) - A student who attended Manchester High School and participated on its cross country and track and field teams in 9th through 11th grades, enrolled at Washtenaw Technical Middle College as a 10th-grader but continued to participate at Manchester High School as a 10th and 11th-grader under Interpretation No. 49. This year, he began practice with the Manchester High School track team March 15. On April 6, Washtenaw Technical Middle College began track practice. As of May 7, the student began competing with Washtenaw Technical Middle College, which has a cooperative program with Ann Arbor-Rudolf Steiner School, which was approved March 26, 1998.
Because the student had participated on Manchester High School's team legally throughout the high school years and because Manchester High School reported the situation as soon as it became aware that the specialized school was sponsoring a team, the Executive Committee determined that nothing further should be required of Manchester High School.
Midland-H. H. Dow High School - The school requested waiver of the April 15 deadline for exercising the option to move from Division 2 to 1 in the MHSAA Girls Tennis Tournament, as the school has done in boys tennis for two years and will continue to do for at least two years.
The Executive Committee granted the request.
Inkster High School - At its August 1997 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the record of MHSAA Handbook violations by this school and determined that the 1997-98 membership of Inkster High School be held in abeyance until its superintendent, principal and athletic director met at the MHSAA office with the executive director to show cause why the school's membership should not be suspended or its membership privileges not be reduced. At its September 1997 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the actions of Inkster High School to eliminate the violations of Handbook policies and procedures that have plagued the school in recent years, accepted the school's membership for 1997-98, and requested the executive director provide at the Executive Committee's June 1998 meeting a review of Inkster High School's compliance record during 1997-98. At that meeting, it was reported that one violation, failure to rate any boys basketball officials during the 1997-98 season, was known to have occurred during the 1997-98 school year. At its June 10, 1998 meeting, the Executive Committee determined to continue the school's probationary status through the 1998-99 school year and requested that the executive director report to the Executive Committee in June 1999 about the school's compliance efforts during that year.
Since the executive director's last report to the Executive Committee, Inkster High School has had two violations: (1) Regulation II, Section 8(B) - failure to attend a Boys Tennis Rules Meeting or the head coach to pass the rules examination; and (2) Regulation II, Section 7(B) - failure to rate any officials in girls volleyball. In addition, the MHSAA has been contacted by the United Federation of Officials about failure by Inkster Public Schools to pay officials.
The Executive Committee determined that Inkster High School remain on probation through the 1999-00 school year and that the executive director communicate with the school's administration about the two violations and ways to improve its procedures for payments to officials.
Ann Arbor-Pioneer High School - At its April 22, 1999 meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the conduct by some of the Pioneer spectator section at the conclusion of the 1999 MHSAA Class A Boys Basketball Final game.
The Executive Committee directed the staff to (1) require a response from the school's administration that, among other information, will identify the administrators, staff and chaperones who were assigned to the contest and their roles during and after the game; and (2) review tournament printed materials for the possibility of adding clearer, stronger and more thorough coverage of schools' responsibilities to supervise their spectators. In addition, the Executive Committee requested that the Representative Council discuss this situation and the possibility of revising Handbook language to deal more effectively with similar situations in the future.
The school's written response was received June 3. Also provided to the Executive Committee were pages 14 and 15 of the Tournament Manager's Manual, pages 4-6 of the Final Round Qualifying Team Manual provided after the Regionals, and two additional pages for qualifying teams' chaperones.
The Executive Committee requested that the executive director communicate its dissatisfaction with the school's response and require additional follow-up by the school. Ideas were discussed for strengthening the MHSAA's written expectations of participating schools' administration and spectators at MHSAA Basketball Tournaments.
Battle Creek-Lakeview High School - The school district submitted an Enrollment Declaration Form indicating 1,026 students, including 41 alternative education students. The form indicated alternative education students were eligible at Lakeview, and two such students participated during 1998-99. The school requested that it only be required to count alternative education students in 1999-00 for the sports in which they actually participated during 1998-99, and it offered suggestions for clarifying the written policies and procedures.
The Executive Committee observed that there was no error by the school district in computation, judgment or application of policies or procedures, but requested that the appropriate MHSAA staff and committees continue to consider streamlining policies and procedures. The Executive Committee denied the request to reclassify Lakeview High School in any sport.
Competitive Cheer - The Executive Committee approved staff recommendations for the ad hoc Competitive Cheer Committee to be appointed pursuant to May Representative Council action.
Football Playoffs - The Executive Committee reviewed staff discussions regarding implementation of the expanded Football Playoffs on "Selection Sunday," and adopted new language for Item No. 17 of the General Information Bulletin for football that directs that there shall be no replacements of qualifying teams for any reason after the information is publicized on Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999.
Task Force on Non-Traditional Schools and Students - Pursuant to Representative Council vote in May, an action plan has been prepared for a task force on athletic participation opportunities for students who are less than full-time students of the sponsoring school. With some revisions, the Executive Committee approved the general plan and appointments to the task force.
Next Meetings - The next meetings of the Executive Committee are: Wednesday, Aug, 18, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing; and Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m. in Grand Rapids (with Representative Council Meeting to follow).

Dolores Lake Retires From MHSAA After 37 Years of Service
dee

Long-time MHSAA employee Dolores Lake is shown here with three of the MHSAA Executive Directors she worked for during her 37-year tenure. They are, from left, former directors Vern Norris and Al Bush, and current director Jack Roberts. Lake served under all four of the full-time directors in the association's history, beginning with Charles Forsythe in 1952. Lake served the MHSAA from 1952-64 and 1974-1999. She retired in July.

UPPER PENINSULA ATHLETIC COMMITTEE MEETING
Escanaba, April 16, 1999

I. The UP Committee selected Girls Basketball sites for the 1999 Tournament.
A. District Sites
1. Class A - Escanaba (Escanaba - Marquette)
2. Class B - Gladstone (Gladstone, Kingsford, Menominee)
3. Class C - Tournaments will be held at: Rudyard, Ishpeming, Hancock and Iron
Mountain.
4. Class D - Tournaments will be held at: DeTour, Engadine, Rapid River, Carney-Nadeau,
Marenisco (at Gogebic Community College), and Baraga.

B. Regional Sites
1. Class C Regional 24 and Class D Regional 32 will be held at the new Berry Events
Center at Northern Michigan University.
2. Class D Regional 31 will be held at Cheboygan High School.

C. Quarterfinal Site (Class D)
If the winner at Regional 31 is from the Upper Peninsula, the game will be played at
Escanaba. If the winner is from the Lower Peninsula, the game will be played at Indian
River-Inland Lakes.

II. Reclassification
The committee reviewed classification changes of UP schools in the recent MHSAA enrollment report. Concern was expressed over the lack of Class A and B schools for tournaments ending in UP competition. Four schools are classified Class B for the 1999-00 year, two are again classified A for tournament participation.
In girls tennis, Sault Ste. Marie does not sponsor competition leaving just five teams for the Class AB tournament. Nine teams are scheduled for CD competition. It was pointed out that several tennis coaches have determined that a nine-team tournament could necessitate two days of play and have suggested reclassification into two equal seven-team divisions. To accomplish this, two Class C teams, Negaunee and West Iron County would be placed in the AB tournament.
It was decided to conduct a survey of the 14 sponsoring UP girls tennis schools as early as possible this spring to determine their preference.

III. Future Meeting
The committee decided to have a special summer meeting expressly to discuss reclassification as it applies to cross country, golf, tennis and track & field.
The meeting will be held in Escanaba on Friday, August 6, at 1 p.m. following the MHSAA AD In-Service Program at the Days Inn.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

TALK TO THEM ABOUT LITTLETON

Three days after the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, a retired athletic administrator whom I respect greatly and listen to intently, called me to say this:

“You have an opportunity to speak to student-athletes in this state and across the country. Talk to them about Littleton.”
This administrator wanted me to convey to athletes that they were not a part of the many and complex causes of the Columbine carnage, but they play a small part of the solution to help assure such craziness doesn’t occur closer to home.

The administrator was referencing some of the media reports that suggested the youthful killers took offense to the “jocks.” Valid or not, these suggestions provide another wake-up call for those who claim that school-sponsored sports are healthy for the participants, school and community.

As a result, part of my conversations with student-athletes this year and the heart of my message to team captains in 1999-00, will be this:
• Break down the walls, real or perceived, between the athletes of your schools and other students. Avoid cliques limited to team members or even athletes in general.
• When you walk the school halls and shopping malls, greet fellow students warmly, regardless of their involvement in school sports or other activities. Let them know that you know they exist.
• Become more sensitive to the needs of others, especially those who are different than you. Appreciate that while you may be more gifted in some things, other students are more gifted in other things. Show a genuine interest in those things.
• Understand that you are not the center of the universe. Accept that it is your role to serve others, and not the other way around.
• Don’t condescend, but concentrate on the rich worth of other people. Seek them out. Involve them. Enter into their worlds and invite them into yours until such time as it is difficult to recognize different worlds in your school and community.

I believe this goal for the interscholastic athletic program, embraced by every administrator, participant and parent, would help us: That every participant be involved in academic and non-academic matters, athletic and non-athletic activities, be a star in one thing and a substitute in another, be on stage and backstage, in solo and ensemble, experiencing both winning and losing.
A student involved in such an experience at this could not help but provide glue and grace to a student body.

No student-athlete anywhere is remotely responsible for the massacre in Littleton, Colorado. But student-athletes everywhere have an opportunity to be a small part of an environment that assures such a tragedy is not repeated where they live, study and play. Talk to them.

REVIEWING THE REGULATIONS

NEW PROCEDURE FOR INTERSTATE SANCTIONING

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has adopted new procedures and forms for sanctioning interstate athletic competition. The new sanctioning procedures are effective August 1, 1999. The following information outlines the steps to be used for compliance in interstate sanctioning.
I. Request for Sanction: A member school of an NFHS member state association, or a school approved by such an association, or such an association itself, is eligible to request sanctioning through the NFHS Interstate Sanctioning Program.

II. Interstate Competition: When teams or individuals who represent their schools travel across state lines to participate in competitive sports events.

III. Co-sponsorship Sanction Requirement: An organization outside the high school community (e.g. a university, a theme park, a shoe company) may co-sponsor with a member school, an approved school or a state association. Any interstate competition involving two or more schools shall require sanction (even if all schools involved are from states which border the host state).

IV. Border States Sanction?
1. No sanction is required from the NFHS office if all competing schools, regardless of the number of competing schools, are from states which border the host state.
However,
2. Each state association shall sanction through the NFHS office interstate competition by a member school involving either:
a) Eight or more schools, at least one of which is from a state that does not border the host state, or
b) Five or more states, at least one of which does not border the host state, or
c) An event which is co-sponsored by a non-member entity

V. Non-bordering State Sanction Requirement: Each state association shall sanction through the NFHS office interstate competition by a member school involving either A) eight or more schools, at least one of which is from a state that does not border the host state; or B) five or more states, at least one of which does not border the host state.

VI. Financial Report: When NFHS sanction is required, the host school shall submit a financial report about the event for the NFHS within ninety calendar days of the completion of the event. (Financial form is included with application form).

VII. Equal Treatment: Schools participating in interstate competition shall be treated fairly. Examples include but are not limited to: a) reduction or waiver of entry fee for one school must result in reduction or waiver of entry fee for all schools; b) appearance fee paid to one school must result in equal amount of appearance fee to all participating schools; c) expense reimbursements, if any, must result in equivalent payments to all participating schools, subject to reasonable adjustments for differing distances traveled; d) share of proceeds/gate paid to one school must result in share of proceeds/gate to all participating schools.

VIII. Names and Addresses: All sanction requests submitted to the NFHS office must be accompanied by the names and addresses of all invited/participating schools.

IX. Time Line/Fees: Application for sanction must be received by the state association of the host school at least thirty calendar days before the event. If a NFHS sanction is necessary, a $50 processing fee must be included (made payable to NFHS). Processing will not take place until the fee is received.

NOTE: Schools voluntarily join the MHSAA and, to that end, it is necessary that each school district sign each year a Membership Resolution adopting the rules and regulations of the MHSAA as their own and agreeing to primary enforcement of those rules. While a school district is not bound by the decisions rendered by the MHSAA regarding rule violations, the MHSAA may condition eligibility for its tournaments on compliance with its rules and its determinations concerning rules violations and the penalties to be imposed for violations of the rules. See Attorney General Opinions No. 4795 (1977) and No. 6352 (1986).
Many school districts have additional rules that may also apply to the subject matter of this column.

CLASSIFICATION MODIFICATION STUDY

At its May 1999 meeting, the MHSAA Representative Council voted to support the reduction in the enrollment range for the division of smallest schools in some sports for which the equal divisions concept has been implemented or proposed. The Council assigned to the MHSAA staff the responsibility to present to the Representative Council in December a plan to reduce the enrollment range for schools in the smallest division of tournaments in at least some sports for which the equal divisions concept has been implemented or proposed.
The movement toward equal divisions for MHSAA tournaments began with wrestling and was very well received. Wrestling went from three tournaments (Class A, B and C/D combined) to four divisions (1, 2, 3 and 4); so almost everybody was happy, including the smallest schools which had been combined with Class C before. Virtually everybody saw more opportunity for success: four champions where there once were three at the District, Regional and Final levels, and a smaller range of enrollment between the smallest and largest school of all tournaments.
In spite of lopsided votes in favor of equal divisions in many other sports, the reaction has not been as uniformly favorable in some other sports, especially those which already had four tournaments. The major complaint has been that the move from traditional classifications to four equal divisions has resulted in a wider range of enrollment for schools in the smallest schools division.
Some Class D schools have asked for relief. They cite that it is unfair and perhaps unsafe for schools of their small numbers to be placed in tournaments with schools three or more times as large. They indicate that the smaller the school, the smaller the pool of participants and the more likely that younger students are participating at varsity levels, which they argue is both unsafe and unfair.
Meanwhile, the larger schools point to the unfairness of the old classification system which in many sports required Class A and B schools to fight through twice the number of schools that Class D has en route to an MHSAA championship. MHSAA tournament mangers look to equal divisions to equalize the number of schools in District or Regional Tournaments and to equalize the length of day required for these rounds of tournaments, both for management and participating teams and individuals. The larger schools suggest that while they may have more students, they also attempt to sponsor more sports than the smaller schools, in some cases spreading the enrollment as thin as a much smaller school with fewer sports.
The MHSAA Classification Committee heard this debate in January of 1999 and asked the MHSAA staff to investigate some alternatives to the equal divisions concept which may retain its many advantages while addressing some of the concerns of some of the smallest schools in the MHSAA.

For the Representative Council Meeting in March, the MHSAA staff described its research into three approaches to blend the desires of the largest and smallest schools.
• One approach would placed schools in four equal divisions, except the largest school of Division 4 would not be allowed to exceed the mid-point for a Class C school (approximately 375 students). In that case, only schools of 375 students or fewer would be placed in Division 4, and the remaining schools would be spread equally across Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
• A second approach would place 20 percent of the schools in Division 4 and spread the remaining 80 percent of the schools equally across Divisions 1, 2, and 3.
• A third approach would place schools in four equal divisions except that the largest school of Division 4 could not exceed five times the smallest school of Division 4. In that case, Division 4 would be limited to schools within that range, and the remainder of the schools would be spread equally across Divisions 1, 2 and 3.

It was found that only the second modification – the 20 percent option – would work for all sports. The first and third modifications would leave Division 4 with too few schools in some sports to permit viable tournaments.
It is intended that the MHSAA staff will bring to the Council in December of 1999 both the ideas that are developed and the membership's responses to those ideas for reducing the enrollment range for schools in the smallest division of tournaments in at least some sports for which the equal divisions concept has been implemented or proposed to date. Sports which will not be addressed by the study are basketball, girls competitive cheer, girls gymnastics, skiing and girls volleyball.

MHSAA CLASSIFICATION BY SPORT — 1999-2000
Reflects cooperative programs and options to play in larger classifications or divisions as of May 1999
Sports Utilizing Traditional Classifications

Sports Utilizing “Equal Divisions” Sport 1 2 3

Health & Safety

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION ON ANABOLIC STEROID USE

Anabolic steroid use at the high school level is of concern. Steroids are used by some athletes in sports to improve athletic performance and/or to enhance the body in a cosmetic way.
A recent study indicates that more than six percent of high school seniors use steroids. About two-thirds of these seniors tried steroids before the age of 16. The use by high school and junior high school age youth may be on the increase.
High school coaches may not be able to prevent the use of steroids altogether, but they can clearly and forcefully discourage their use. Coaches should take a proactive role in prevention.
First, coaches should learn about steroids, what they do and what they will not do. Then they should provide this information for their athletes. Steroids, with proper diet and weight training, can increase muscle development, however, as is typical with most get-rich-quick schemes, steroid use has potentially serious short-and long-term consequences that must be addressed.
Most coaches would never promote steroid use intentionally. Total silence by coaches, however, condones use in some young people's minds. Even though steroids may not be mentioned when it is suggested to an athlete that his/her success is limited only by a lack of weight and/or strength, without a disclaimer that statement can be a motivation to use steroids. The alluring nature of the drug that allows for development of increased weight under the aforementioned circumstances is a coercive power that is difficult for the individual to resist without knowing that the side effects of the drugs may be.
While steroid use is not rivaling the use of alcohol and other drugs in schools, it is a concern, the issue goes beyond protection the health of students: the use of steroids in sports is cheating. We stand opposed to the use of steroids by athletes and all members of the student body because of both health and ethical concerns.

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION ON FOOD SUPPLEMENTS

School personnel and coaches should not dispense any drug, medication or food supplement except the extreme caution and in accordance with policies developed in consultation with parents, health-care professionals and senior administrative personnel of the school or school district.
Use of any drug, medication or food supplement in a way not prescribed by the manufacturer should not be authorized or encouraged by school personnel and coaches. Even natural substances in unnatural amounts may have short-tern or long-term negative health effects.
In order to minimize health and safety risks to student-athletes, maintain ethical standards and reduce liability risks, school personnel and coaches should never supply, recommend or permit the use of any drug, medication or food supplement solely for performance-enhancing purposes.

25th ANNUAL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Rules and Regulations

Introduction
The 25th Annual MHSAA Football Playoff Series will be played Oct. 29-30, Nov. 5-6, 12 or 13, 20 and 26-27, 1999. It is the responsibility of each competing school to be familiar with the rules and regulations that follow.
The Representative Council has attempted to set up financial allowances for competing team expenses and for schools hosting playoff games. It should be kept in mind that participation in MHSAA tournaments is voluntary and that total expenses of teams are not guaranteed. Cooperation of all schools will assure an equitable return of funds to both entertaining and competing schools and will enable the MHSAA to continue services to member schools and promote meets and tournaments in all sports.

Scoring System
(1) Playoff points are earned as follows and are figured only on the basis of games played:
80 points if you defeat a Class A team;
64 points if you defeat a Class B team;
48 points if you defeat a Class C team;
32 points if you defeat a Class D team.
40 points if you tie a Class A team;
32 points if you tie a Class B team;
24 points if you tie a Class C team;
16 points if you tie a Class D team;

All varsity football games involving MHSAA member schools must result in a win or loss. Varsity games ending regulation play in a tie score must be decided by the MHSAA-approved overtime procedures. Sub-varsity games will not use the tiebreaking procedure.

(2) Bonus points are earned as follows and are figured only on the basis of games played.
8 bonus points are earned for each game one of the opponents you defeated wins.
4 bonus points are earned for each game one of the opponents you defeated ties.
4 bonus points are earned for each game one of the opponents you tied wins.
1 bonus point is earned for each game one of the opponents you tied ties.
1 bonus point is awarded when an opponent who defeated you wins. (No points for your defeat to the opponent.)

(3) Add the playoff points and write as a fraction. The sum of the playoff points is the numerator and the number of games played is the denominator.

(4) Add the bonus points for each opponent separately and write as a fraction. The bonus points of the opposing team are the numerator and the number of games played by that opponent is the denominator. Then add these two fractions for total. (When adding the fractions reduce to a decimal number correct to the nearest thousandths (92.888 will become 92.889) to determine the playoff average.)

(5) Varsity games only are to be counted. Non-varsity games are not recorded.

(6) Schools may continue to choose to play at any higher classification in football, but must do so by April 15. Enrollment figures for schools opting to play in a higher classification will be set at the midpoint enrollment for the higher classification. Playoff points will be based on the higher classification.

(7) Out-of-state opponents are classified on the basis of Michigan classification.

(8) The number of points a team scores against an opponent has no bearing on the playoff point system.

(9) Games cancelled for any valid reason will not be counted unless they are rescheduled and played before Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999. All games contracted before Oct. 1, 1999 and played before Oct. 24, 1999 will count toward the playoffs even though the game may not have been reported to the MHSAA.

(10) A student may not change schools after the sixth playing date and become eligible to compete in the football playoffs at the second school.

(11) Games forfeited for reasons including but not limited to:
1) Use of an ineligible player, or
2) Refusal to play for any reason
will be recorded as a win for the aggrieved school and a loss for the offending school. All playoff and bonus points will be awarded even if the game was not played.

(12) Prearranged league games will be figured into the scoring if designated prior to Oct. 1. Games played after Saturday, Oct. 23, 1999 will not be figured into the 1999 playoff scoring. Leagues and conferences engaged in crossover matchups must submit to the MHSAA office prior to the start of the regular season, the exact method of matching teams in crossover games.

(13) Out-of-state games played before the selection of pre-district qualifiers will be limited to a maximum of nine (9) games. Whenever a Michigan school or a school playing a Michigan team appears on the schedule of an out-of-state team after the ninth date on that schedule the last game(s) which does not otherwise contribute bonus points to a Michigan school shall be deleted from the schedule.

(14) Out-of-state schools playing more than nine games continuing beyond Michigan's final regular season date, will not have those final game/games' bonus points counted for Michigan playoff standings.

(15) Schools may play the same opponent twice during the season and receive separate playoff and bonus point totals for each game.

(16) Schools are responsible for knowing their playoff total and average score. If a discrepancy occurs, the MHSAA is to be notified by the aggrieved school before 4:30 p.m. Thursday of that week. Changes made after 4:30 p.m. Thursday may not be reflected in the next release of team standings.

(17) After the fourth week of competition, not later than each Wednesday, it is the intention of the MHSAA to publish names of schools in position to qualify for the playoffs by their team record and/or playoff average. School enrollments and number of scheduled games will be included in the report.

(18) Once qualifiers are publicized Sunday, Oct. 24, if it is discovered that a qualifying team had used an ineligible player during the regular season, that team would be eliminated from the playoffs, but no team would replace them. Their scheduled opponent would receive a "bye" and advance in the bracket. If an error in reporting of score or records or playoff points is discovered after qualifiers are publicized, a team may be eliminated, but no replacement or rearrangement of teams will occur.

Reporting Procedure
Five reporting agents have been selected for report each week's results on forms provided by the MHSAA. The agents will direct win/loss records to the MHSAA and all information will be placed on computer by Monday afternoon of each week. Information including win-loss and averages will be released to the news media each week after the fourth week. Releases will be made for publication each Wednesday, except the final week standings. These will be made available not later than 1 p.m. on the Monday following the ninth week. The five agents who will submit scores each week are Del Newell, Kalamazoo Gazette; Chuck Klonke, Grosse Pointe News; Don Winger, Midland Daily News; Dennis Grall, Escanaba Daily Press; and Mike Pryson, Jackson Citizen Patriot.
It is necessary to have every score. Coaches should cooperate with the local news media in reporting each week's game results.

Selection Process
Beginning in 1999, 256 teams will be selected to participate in a five-week playoff in 8 separate divisions. A minimum of seven games must be played to be declared a qualifier. Qualifiers will be selected as follows:
(1) All schools finishing with six or more wins playing a nine game schedule, and schools with five or more wins playing an eight or seven game schedule will qualify automatically for participation in the football playoffs.
(2) Additional qualifiers to make up a field of 256 teams will be selected from a pool of teams with 5-4 and 4-4 or 4-3 records based on their respective highest final playoff averages. Representation will come as equally as possible from Classes A, B, C and D and the selection will proceed from the largest class through the smallest.
(3) If the original field of qualifiers includes more than 256 teams, the field will be reduced to that number using the lowest playoff point averages selected as equally as possible from each of the four classes proceeding from the smallest class through the largest.
(4) Divisional alignments - On "Selection Sunday" the 256 qualifying schools will be listed by enrollment, largest to smallest. The largest 32 schools will be placed in Division 1, the next largest 32 schools will be placed in Division 2, etc. through eight equal-sized divisions of 32 schools each.
If there is a tie for the final position in any division, the team with the higher playoff point average will be placed in the higher division. If both teams have the same playoff point average, the tie will be broken with a coin toss by MHSAA staff.

Pre-District And District Pairings And Game Hosts
(1) On "Selection Sunday" each Division of 32 schools will be divided into four geographic regions of eight schools each. Each of the four regions will be divided into two districts of four schools each. Using playoff point averages, teams will be seeded within each district to determine opponents and hosts. The highest average team will host the fourth highest seed, and the school with the second highest average will host the third highest seed.
(2) If two or more qualifying teams finish with identical point averages within a district, the tie will be broken as follows:
(a) If the tied teams played each other, the winner will receive the higher ranking.
(b) If a tie still exists, the wins of a school’s opponents will be totaled and divided by the total games played and the higher percentage will be selected for the higher ranking.
(c) If a tie still exists, the team will be selected by a coin toss conducted by the MHSAA staff in the East Lansing office.
(3) In the second week of playoffs the Pre-District winner with the highest playoff average will host the District championship game.
(4) When the distance between competing schools is within 75 miles, the host school will determine the day and time of game. Games may be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon or 7:30 p.m. Saturday. If the distance between schools is over 75 miles, agreement as to date and time must be made by both schools. If agreement is not reached, the game must be played Saturday afternoon.
(5) An alternate site mutually agreed upon by the principals of the competing schools may be used at any time.
(6) In Region 1, whenever the alignment of games in the Pre-District competition has opponents in both games more than 200 miles apart, geographical pairings will be used to determine opponents. The team with the higher computer point average will be the host school.

Regional Game Hosts
(1) Regional championship games will be hosted by the District winner with the highest regular season playoff average. If both teams have the same average, the tie will be broken by the published tiebreaker procedure. If schools are located 200 or more miles apart, the MHSAA will assign the game site.
(2) Game times will be determined on the same basis as Pre-District and District games.
(3) The MHSAA will determine Regional sites whenever travel for one of the competing schools exceeds 200 miles one way.

General Regulations
(1) The 10-yard line overtime rule outlined in the Football Rule Book will be in effect for all varsity regular season and playoff games. The "Mercy Rule" will be in effect during regular season and playoffs.
(2) There is to be no practice on game fields the week prior to pre-district, district, regionals, semifinals and final games (unless approved by the MHSAA). Host schools are exempt from this regulation. Qualifiers may not practice in the Silverdome once the playoff teams have been determined.
(3) A maximum of 50 players is allowed in uniform. Teams with more than 50 varsity players may include those players on their playoff rosters, except that sub-varsity players may not be brought up beyond the total of 50. A maximum of five (5) school coaches and four (4) managers/statisticians will be permitted in the team boxes during all playoff games. All persons not in uniform and near the side line must have a pass.
(4) A maximum of four (4) pre-district, district, regional, semifinal SCOUTING PASSES will be given to competing schools for the game played in the opposite bracket of their class.
(5) Each competing school is to present three (3) legal game BALLS of its choice to the referee thirty minutes before the game. It is the school's responsibility to obtain the balls immediately following the game.
(6) Schools are to make their own arrangements for SHOES to be worn on artificial turf. Those managers may be able to assist with arrangements upon request.
(7) Cheerleaders – A maximum of 12 cheerleaders in uniform, including mascots will be admitted and a maximum of 12 may lead cheers from the field. Schools with more than 12 varsity cheerleaders during the regular season may include those cheerleaders during the playoffs, but sub-varsity cheerleaders may not be brought up for the postseason games. Cheer squads shall follow either the "Specific Safety Guidelines" listed in the recommended MHSAA Cheerleading Guidelines or the safety guidelines approved by their local school district for regular cheerleading, whichever is more restrictive & limiting. Local school districts are RESPONSIBLE for enforcing safety restrictions which are more limiting than the MHSAA guidelines. All cheer squads shall adhere to all guidelines provided by the tournament manager.
(8) Schools should furnish their own TEAM PHYSICIAN. The host manager, however, is required to have medical personnel on duty and to secure emergency ambulance service if possible. Schools are to notify the MHSAA if they do not have a physician for the Final game.
(9) Coaches of qualifying teams will cooperate in FILM EXCHANGES with opposing teams, unless both schools agree not to do so (see section on videotaping).
(10) Host schools may not conduct 50-50 drawings or special raffles at MHSAA tournament games.
(11) Merchandise sold at playoff sites must be from an approved MHSAA program.

Tobacco and Alcohol Policy
For coaches and officials at all MHSAA tournaments, use of tobacco products of any kind within sight of players and spectators and use of alcohol during a contest or at any time before it on the day of the contest is prohibited.
Enforcement
Tobacco – It is not intended that a violation of the tobacco policy should lead to immediate ejection of a coach. He or she should be reminded of the policy and reported to his or her school administration after the contest. Only if the coach is unwilling to comply promptly should he or she be disqualified from coaching at the event.
Officials should be reminded of the tobacco policy and reported in writing by the tournament manager to the MHSAA.
Alcohol – Historically, officials promptly disqualified coaches, and tournament managers immediately replaced officials who were under the influence of alcohol; and no change in such procedures is intended by these policies.

Game Time
Pre-District and District Games – See preceding page, "Game Hosts" (No. 4).
Regional Games – See preceding page, "Regional Game Hosts".
Semifinal Games – The games will be played Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. as predetermined. At sites where two games are scheduled, game times will be 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., with separate admissions for each game. If local conditions allow, game management may schedule consecutive games with one admission of $5. Semifinal games scheduled for the Superior Dome in Marquette may be played on either Friday night or on Saturday morning/afternoon as necessary.
Final Games – All Final games will be played at the Pontiac Silverdome in two sessions on two separate days. On Friday Session One will include: Division 8 game played at 10 a.m., and the Division 2 game played at 1 p.m. Session Two will include: Division 6 game played at 5 p.m., and the Division 4 game played at 8 p.m. On Saturday the same schedule will be followed for Divisions 7 and 1 (Session Three) and 5 and 3 (Session Four).

Uniforms
(All dark and light jersey colors may be switched if mutually agreed upon by the two competing teams.)
Pre-District and District Games – Home teams (teams with the highest playoff average are to wear dark colored jerseys and the visiting team light colored jerseys.
Regional Games – Home teams are to wear dark colored jerseys and the visiting team light colored jerseys.
Semifinal Games – Home teams (teams from Regional No. 1 & 3 are to wear dark colored jerseys; visiting teams are to wear light colored jerseys.
Final Games – Winners at the semifinal level from the Region 1 & 2 games will be home teams and wear dark colored jerseys. Winners from the semifinal Region 3 & 4 games will be the visitors and will wear light colored jerseys.

Pregame – Public Address Announcer and Timers
The host Pre-District, District, Regional, Semifinal, and Final management will select the P.A. announcers and timers.
Pregame Time Schedule (to go on clock):
•24 minutes before kickoff – start clock (place 20 minutes on clock)
•20 minute mark – coin toss
•7-minute mark – National Anthem (teams are to cease warm-up activities)
•00 minute mark – Introductions (kickoff team will be introduced first)
•kickoff immediately after introductions

Pregame and Halftime Entertainment for all Playoff Games
Participation by school bands is optional. If the participating schools do not have a band the MHSAA will determine the pregame and halftime entertainment at the Finals. The following will prevail if both bands desire to participate.
Pregame – Bands from schools designated "home" teams may play the National Anthem. If they prefer not to play, the "visiting" team band may play.
Halftime – Bands from schools designated "visitors" may perform the first seven (7) minutes of the half. The "home team" band may perform the second seven (7) minutes of the half. Time allotted includes entering and leaving the field. Bands must be off the field at least three minutes before the start of the second half.
Schools may use pompon routines, choral or other school groups if they wish, but the maximum time allotted for their school is seven minutes. Local management is not to be expected to furnish risers, backdrops, etc. If a school chooses not to perform, the opposing school may use their allotted time (not to exceed 14 minutes). If a specific announcer is required for the halftime show, arrangements must be made the preceding week with managers of pre-district, district, regional and semifinal game sites. Schools competing in the finals must make arrangements with the MHSAA office.

Trophies and Medals
Districts and Regionals – A trophy will be awarded to the winning team at each District and Regional Playoff game. In addition, 50 medals will be awarded to each winning team.
Finals – Trophies will be awarded to the winner and runner-up schools in each division after the final game; 50 medals will awarded to each winning and runner-up team in each division. Members of the MHSAA Representative Council will make postgame award presentations.

Officials
The Football Officials Assignment Committee will assign officials to all football playoff games. Officials selected to work pre-district, district and regional games will receive $40 per game, plus 15 cents per mile round trip from official's home city to game city. Semifinal and final game officials will receive $50 per game plus 15 cents per mile round trip from officials home city to game city.
Coin Toss – At 20 minutes prior to game time, the officials will call team captains together for the coin toss. Visiting team captain will call first.
Chain Crew – The home management is to select a three-person chain crew. It is recommended that registered officials should work the yardage chains; however, local management may use their home crew if they have been regulars in that capacity. If possible the crew is to be in full officials uniform and will be reimbursed $15 per individual, per game (no mileage).
Officials – Are not to be involved with any microphone hookups, TV or radio interviews – no exceptions.
Timeouts – All timeouts are not to be less than 70 seconds in length. This includes breaks between quarters and after scoring plays.

Program
Host schools during the first four rounds of playoffs will provide their own programs.

Finals Program
Teams qualifying for playoff competition are required to prepare and submit the following materials to the MHSAA office by Nov. 19, for use in the souvenir programs produced for the Finals:
1. Horizontal team photograph, 5x7, with typed identification (photo must be in color).
2. Team Data Form with the following information:
a. Numerical Roster
b. School Facts
c. Season Results
d. Head Coach Information
e. Miscellaneous Information
f. Statistical Data
g. Probable Lineups
Information kits will be sent directly to schools qualifying for the Districts. Schools advancing to the Finals shall provide a statistical data update to the MHSAA by Nov. 21.

Press, Radio, and Television
All requests for press space are to be directed to the game manager (MHSAA for Final games). Radio and television requests for all games are to be directed to the MHSAA. Managers are not to permit broadcasts without clearance from the MHSAA.

Videotaping or Filming
Competing Schools – Teams will exchange videos/films of their final two games prior to competition by 9 p.m. Monday following "Selection Sunday" unless both schools agree on another arrangement. The procedure of exchanging videos/films of the two previous games played prior to the scheduled playoff game will continue throughout the tournament. Schools refusing to cooperate will be reported to the MHSAA. A competing school desiring to videotape or film a Pre-District, District, Regional, Semifinal and/or Final football playoff game in which that school competes must receive permission to reserve space in the press box from the tournament manager. Under no conditions may the tape/film be used for scouting purposes by schools other than those involved in the event filmed. Films of losing teams in the playoffs taken at the Pre-District, District, Regional or Semifinal games may not be used for scouting purposes by winning teams in the opposite bracket. Schools wishing to videotape/film games at other sites may do so without securing advanced permission but must film from the stands if press box space is not available. The film/tape is not to be used to second guess decisions made by game officials and may not be sold, rented, or loaned for commercial purposes.
Media Taping/Filming – The filming/taping of MHSAA events must be cleared through the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Members of the media may, without paying a fee, arrange with the local tournament managers to take clips of MHSAA events for public showing. Under no condition may an entire athletic event be filmed or taped for showing without advance clearance through the MHSAA and the local tournament manager.
Spectator Videotaping/Filming for all Football Playoff Games – Spectators may videotape games without prior consent of the tournament manager with the understanding that the tape/film may not be sold, leased, borrowed, or rented for commercial purposes. The tournament manager should not permit spectators to interfere with the view of other spectators or news media personnel covering the games.
Live Television Coverage – Radio Coverage – No radio or television origination is permitted at any site until application has been made through the MHSAA, fee paid and authorization given by the MHSAA through the tournament manager.
Delayed Television – Arrangements for taped delayed broadcasts must be made through the MHSAA office and only one origination will be allowed at a tournament center. A fee is required for each football game at each site. Contact the MHSAA office for additional information.
Finals Television – The Finals of the MHSAA Football Playoffs will be televised statewide by FOX Sports Detroit.

Finals Press Conference
At the conclusion of each championship game at the Silverdome, each coach will be required to attend a press conference to meet with the media covering the contest. Coaches may bring up to three players to the press conference.

Pre-District, District, Regional and Semifinals Tickets – Passes
All tickets for single-session Pre-District, District, Regional and Semifinal games are $4. At neutral sites where multiple games are held and a single admission is charged, tickets will be priced at $5 each. Each competing school at the Pre-District, District, Regional and Semifinals may purchase an allotment of tickets, not to exceed 40 percent of the stadium capacity, from the host manager. Each competing school will receive 10 game passes from the manager to be used for crowd management purposes. Band members in full uniform representing competing schools will be admitted without charge. In addition, there are 19 MHSAA Representative Council members with passes valid for all MHSAA tournaments. No other passes will be honored including league passes, coaches' passes, etc.

Final Games –Tickets–Passes
All tickets for Final games will be $8 per session which will include the cost of parking in the Silverdome lots. There will be separate gate charge for parking during the Finals. The ticket holder will be admitted to both games of the double header. Pass-outs, however, will not be given at any time during the contests. A separate admission will be required each time and individual enters the stadium. Each competing school will receive 10 passes to be used for crowd management purposes. There will be no sale of reserved seats for Final games.

Meeting for Representatives of Schools competing in Finals
A meeting for finalist school principals, athletic directors or other designated school representatives will be held at the offices of the MHSAA on Sunday following Semifinal games (Nov. 21) at 11 a.m. Final games and band procedures at the Silverdome will be reviewed, passes distributed, housing, meal and other arrangements will be discussed.
Tickets will be available at this meeting. Schools are encouraged to bring a check for the number of advanced game tickets they wish to purchase.

Final Game and Fan Seating
Teams designated as home teams are to sit on the press box side of the field. Home team spectators in Divisions 1 and 2 & 3 and 4 are encouraged to sit in sections 102, 103, 104 and 105. Home team spectators in Divisions 5 and 6 & 7 and 8 are encouraged to sit in sections 129, 130, 131 and 132.
Visiting team spectators in Divisions 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 should sit in sections 118, 119, 120 and 121. Spectators from visiting teams in Divisions 5 & 6 and 7 & 8 are encouraged to sit in sections 113, 114, 115 and 116.

Finances
MHSAA member schools may not charge a rental fee for MHSAA tournaments. Host schools will be reimbursed by the MHSAA for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in hosting games. In addition, the following stipends will be granted to schools which host playoff games whether they are competing schools or neutral sites:
Pre-District – 33 percent of net receipts or $300 minimum for both host and visiting schools
District – 10 percent of net receipts or $300 minimum
Regional – 10 percent of net receipts of $400 minimum
Semifinal – 10 percent of net receipts or $500 minimum

Pre-District, District, Regionals and Semifinals
Each competing team traveling to a tournament site will receive a reimbursement fee plus mileage from school city to game city. Allowances are as follows:
One-way mileage
1 - 100 miles - $2 per mile
101 - 150 miles - $3 per mile
151 - 250 miles - $4 per mile
251 - 350 miles - $5 per mile
351 miles & over- $6 per mile
Reimbursement Fees
Pre-District – $300 or 33 percent of net gate receipts
District – $300
Regional – $400
Semifinal – $500
Final – $750
Mileage is 50 miles deductible; therefore, teams competing at a site less than 50 miles away will not receive mileage. Example: Team A competes at a site 60 miles from its home city. Team A will receive $20 for mileage.

Overnight Lodging Fees
A stipend of $500 will be paid in all rounds of the playoffs to teams which are required by distance and/or schedule to have an overnight stay which is approved by MHSAA staff.
Final Games – Each competing team will receive $750 plus mileage provisions as previously described.

Parking and Concessions
The MHSAA discourages charging for the parking of cars and other vehicles at football playoff sites. If directed parking is necessary schools may charge for the service. It is recommended that the price for such service be $1 for all vehicles unless the customary charge during the regular season is higher. In no event shall parking charges exceed $2 per vehicle.
If parking fees are assessed, it is not acceptable to list expenses for parking attendants as a game management expenditure.
Concession will be operated for profit by host school management.

MHSAA 1999 SEMIFINAL FOOTBALL GAMES

All games will be played on Saturday, Nov. 20, 1999. Game times will be 1 p.m. unless one site is scheduled for two games. In that event, there will be two separate sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or a double header at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Assignments to Semifinal sites will be made by the MHSAA staff following the completion of Regional Championship games. A public release will be made Monday morning, Nov. 15, 1999.
Home teams (teams from Regions 1-3 are to wear dark jerseys; visiting teams from Regions 2-4 are to wear light jerseys.

FORMULA FOR ALL DIVISIONS (SEMIFINAL GAMES)
Class-- RegionalHome/Visitor
ALL--1 vs. 2
ALL-- 3 vs. 4

SEMIFINAL SITES

The MHSAA has made preliminary arrangements to host Semifinal games at favorable sites throughout the state. Although the need to secure sites for 16 games makes it impossible to provide all-weather surfaces in each case, the MHSAA will selected from qualify fields made available by cooperating high schools and colleges. Actual assignment of games to sites will be made after regional competition has been completed and matchups are known. Although geography will be taken into consideration in assigning games, field quality and weather will also be factors in final selection.
Facilities that will be considered include the following: Port Huron High School, Lansing-Sexton High School, Lansing-Everett High School, Marshall High School, Mt. Pleasant High School, Jackson High School*, Grand Rapids Houseman Field *, Alma College, Central Michigan University, Northern Michigan University*, Saginaw Valley State University, Flint-Atwood Stadium*, Auburn-Bay City Western High School, Rochester High School, Gaylord High School, Clinton Township-Chippewa Valley High School, Haslett High School, Cheboygan High School, St. Ignace-LaSalle High School, Newberry High School, Grayling High School, Traverse City Central High School, Portland High School, Clare High School and Ferris State University.
In addition, several sites in the northern part of the state are available if they are needed.

* = Possible Doubleheader

1999 NFHS FOOTBALL RULES REVISIONS

1-2-3e --The restraining lines for the team box and coaches’ area has been increased from between the 30-yard lines to the 25-yard lines.
1-5-1d1-- The numbers on a jersey now must be centered horizontally on the front and back.
1-5-3j -- Towel size (if used) is 4 inches by 12 inches.
3-3-2 --If time for any period expires during a down (clock indicates 0:00), play shall continue until the down ends, even though the signal shall be allowed to sound.
7-5-12 -- Provides that if a legal forward pass is touched by the defense in or behind the neutral zone and subsequently goes beyond the line of scrimmage, that linemen will not be considered illegally downfield.

Major Editorial Changes
1-1-9-- Moved the authority of a referee to forfeit a game to the section listing official’s duties.
1-5-3m -- Clarified that if an eye shield is used, it must be clear.
2-6-2 -- Clarified the two types of conferences that may be held.

Points of Emphasis
1. Free-blocking zone and blocking restrictions
2. False starts and neutral zone infractions
3. Sportsmanship and conduct
4. Safety and equipment

FOOTBALL HELMET INSPECTION
To assist the person responsible for repair and maintenance of helmets, NOCSAE has developed a number of guidelines to observe when inspecting helmets. There may be other things you want to check as this list is not intended to cover every observation which may be made. NOCSAE recommends that a periodic inspection of all helmets be made and that they be periodically retested under the NOCSAE recertification program.

SUGGESTED INSPECTION CHECK LIST
1. Check helmet fit for agreement with manufacturer's instructions and procedures.
2. Examine shell for cracks particularly noting any cracks around holes (where most cracks start) and replace any that have cracked. DO NOT USE A HELMET WITH A CRACKED SHELL.
3. Examine all mounting rivets, screws, velcro and snaps for breakage, distortion and looseness. Repair as necessary.
4. Replace face guards if bare metal is showing, there is a broken weld or if guard is grossly misshapen. NOTE: Face protectors must meet NOCSAE test standards at the time of manufacture.
5. Examine for helmet completeness, and replace any parts which have become damaged, such as sweatbands, nose snubbers and chinstraps.
6. Replace jaw pads when damaged. Check for proper installation and fit.
7. Examine chinstrap for proper adjustment, and inspect to see if it is broken or stretched out of shape; also inspect hardware to see if it needs replacement.
8. Read instructions provided by manufacturer regarding care and maintenance procedures. Always follow the following instructions:
CAUTION: Only paints, waxes, decals or cleaning agents approved by the manufacturer are to be used on any helmet. It is possible to get a severe or delayed reaction by using unauthorized materials, which could permanently damage the helmet shell and affect its safety performance.

PLAYERS: Inspect your particular helmet prior to each usage as follows:
SUSPENSION STYLE
Check hardware, i.e., screws or rivets that may be loose/missing.
Check webbing for tears in threads, stretching, or pulling away at rivet locations.
If crown webbing is adjustable, check that crown rope is properly adjusted and is tied tightly using a square knot.
Check interior padding for proper placement and condition.
PADDED STYLE
Foam/Air/Liquid
Check foam padding for proper placement and any deterioration.
Check for cracks in vinyl/rubber covering of air, foam, liquid padded helmets.
Check that protective system or foam padding has not been altered or removed.
Check for proper amount of inflation in air padded helmets. Follow manufacturer's recommended practice for adjusting air pressure at the valves.
Check all rivets, screws, velcro and snaps to assure they are properly fastened and holding protective parts.
If any of the above inspections indicate a need for repair and/or replacement,
notify your coach. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

NEVER WEAR A DAMAGED HELMET
Reducing Head and Neck Injuries in Football
by Frederick O. Mueller, Ph.D.

Head and neck injuries in football have been dramatically reduced since the late 1960's. Several suggestions for continued reduction are as follows:
1. Preseason physical exams for all participants. Identify during the physical exam those athletes with a history of previous head or neck injuries. If the physician has any questions about the athlete's readiness to participate the athlete should not be allowed to play.
2. A physician should be present at all games. If it is not possible for a physician or trainer to be present at all games and practice sessions, emergency measures must be provided. The total staff should be organized in that each person will know what to do in case of head or neck injury in game or practice. Have a plan ready and have your staff prepared to implement that plan. Prevention of further injury is the main objective.
3. Athletes must be given proper conditioning exercises which will strengthen their necks so that participants will be able to hold their head firmly erect when making contact. Strong neck muscles may help prevent neck injuries.
4. Coaches should drill the athletes in the proper execution of the fundamentals of football skills, particularly blocking and tackling. KEEP THE HEAD OUT OF FOOTBALL.
5. Coaches and officials should discourage the players from using their heads as battering rams. The rules prohibiting spearing should be enforced in practice and in games. The players should be taught to respect the helmet as a protective device and that the helmet should not be used as a weapon.
6. All coaches, physicians, and trainers should take special care to see that the player's equipment is properly fitted, particularly the helmet.
7. Strict enforcement of the rules of the game by both coaches and officials will help reduce serious injuries.
8. When a player has experienced or shown signs of head trauma (loss of consciousness, visual disturbances, headache, inability to walk correctly, obvious disorientation, memory loss) he should receive immediate medical attention and should not be allowed to return to practice or game without permission from the proper medical authorities.

BEWARE OF CLEAT RESTRICTIONS

In 1998, cleats 3/4" or longer were found on shoes prior to the game at several sites. When brought to the attention of coaches, in a few situations, officials were criticized. In many cases, discovery was well before kickoff, giving coaches time to make a change.
In a number of cases, players make the change in cleats without the coaches' knowledge. This requires more time by the coaching staff to educate players about legal and illegal equipment. If the coaching staff carries with them extra cleats to handle such a situation, they would have the ability to make a quick change and get on with the game.
Recommended:
1. Coaching staffs spend more time discussing legal and illegal equipment, including cleat lengths and the reasoning behind the rule.
2. That coaching staffs include with the equipment carried to each game, additional 1/2" cleats to handle those situations.
3. As an official, be proactive. Look for illegal cleats (as well as other illegal equipment) as soon as you get on the field. It is not recommended that each player show you his shoes, but be alert for players who are exercising, or on the ground with their shoe bottoms exposed. If found and changed prior to kickoff, a possible penalty or coaches ejection later is avoided. Should the opposing coach direct attention to illegal cleats, the official has no alternative but to administer the proper ruling.
Officiating crews need to be more responsive to the rule. If extra cleats are available, enough to outfit perhaps 10-15 players, the game can start without problems, and no penalty situation regarding illegal cleats would occur during the game.

CONTEST START TIME

MHSAA staff have received questions about a protocol to follow when participating teams arrive after the scheduled start time during the regular season. Although late arrivals are often understandable, there can be an impact which affects opponents and officials adversely.
First of all, it is important that the games scheduled be played at the posted time. If schools release students at a time which make it impossible to arrive in time to honor the contracted start time, the MHSAA would encourage the league to establish a realistic start time.
Officials who depart early from work to make an often missed start time are forced to sacrifice pay or vacation time for no reason. If the start time must be later than that contracted, the following guidelines are promoted as fair to all.
Please take the time to address this important concern well in advance of the season so all involved can know what to expect. Nothing is as disappointing as the misunderstandings created through failure to communicate. The final step is to share with coaches, administrators, officials and bus drivers the requirements which have been agreed upon by contract so there is full awareness of the protocol to be practiced.

REGULAR-SEASON CONTEST FORFEITURE

When a league or conference does not have a written policy regarding late contest start time, the following policy should apply (subject to MHSAA Executive Committee review, Aug. 18, 1999):

1. If a team fails to arrive for a regular season contest at the time stated on the contract, it will be necessary for the host administration to delay the contest, declare the game forfeited, reschedule the contest, or declare the event "no contest."
2. If the host management has been notified of the reason for the delay and projected arrival, the officials must stand by for 60 minutes beyond the scheduled starting time. When the team arrives, a reasonable amount of time must be provided for the visiting team to conduct a pre-game warm-up. In any case, warm-up may not be less than 15 minutes.
3. If the host management has not been notified that there is a delay and the reason for it, the officials have permission to leave the site, without obligation, 30 minutes after the contracted start time has passed.
In MHSAA tournament play, the General Information Bulletin for each sport will prescribe the specific action to be taken.

1999-2000 NATIONAL TESTING DATES
ADMINISTRATION - COUNSELORS - COACHES
Please advise students of the 1999-00 test date schedule. Your student should be aware of athletic
tournament dates and should attempt to schedule their respective test date away from
tournament dates of the sport or sports in which they are interested and participate.

Following are test dates for 1999-2000 and possible MHSAA Tournament conflicts:

ACT ASSESSMENT DATES --SPORT CONFLICTS
October 23, 1999 -- None
December 11, 1999 --None
February 12, 2000 -- None
April 1, 2000 --None
June 10, 2000 -- Girls Soccer Regionals, Baseball/Softball Regionals

SAT TESTING DATES --SPORT CONFLICTS
October 9, 1999 --LP Boys Golf Regionals, LP Girls Tennis Regionals
November 6, 1999 --Football Districts, Boys Soccer Regionals, LP Cross Country Finals
December 4, 1999 --Girls Basketball Finals
January 22, 2000 --None
April 8, 2000 (SAT 1 only) -- None
May 6, 2000 -- None
June 3, 2000 -- Girls Soccer Districts, Baseball/Softball Districts, Track Finals, LP Girls Golf Finals, LP Boys Tennis Finals

AP EXAM DATES SPORT CONFLICTS
May 8-19, 2000 --Boys Tennis Regionals, Girls Golf Regionals, Track Regionals

(Advanced Placement Exams are administered over a five-day period each week. Consult school counselors for daily schedule of examinations.)

BASKETBALL POINT DIFFERENTIAL RULE

During the 1998-99 school year, the National Federation of State High School Associations allowed both the Michigan and Missouri associations to experiment with a point differential rule in basketball.
The Michigan model was mandated for use at all levels of competition grades 7-12 within our membership. The model stipulated …. "When at any point in the second half a point differential of 40 points was established, a running clock will be in effect for the remainder of the game. The clock shall be stopped as normal for all timeouts, including injury and the third-period break. The clock will revert to regular timing if the score is reduced to a 30-point differential or less."
In total for both boys and girls, the MHSAA received 672 responses – 538 from high school competitions and 134 from junior high/middle school competitions – and determined that approximately 80 percent of those responding thought the rule accomplished its intent.
Based on the results of the survey, the Basketball Committee and the Representative Council approved recommendations to request the National Federation's Basketball Rules Committee to consider rule book language that would allow individual state associations to adopt variations of a point differential rule should one desire to do so, (a similar request was made by Missouri). The committee's response to Michigan and Missouri's requests was to continue the experiment for at least another year to gain more data and to better inform other states as to the need for additional national rule book language.
Michigan will again request data from its basketball participating schools on contests that meet the point differential standard.
The Basketball Committee unanimously supports the continued use of the point differential rule to lessen situations that lead to embarrassment and inappropriate behaviors.

NECK GUARDS REQUIRED IN ICE HOCKEY

The MHSAA Representative Council, at its May 1999 meeting, approved mandatory use of neck guards in high school ice hockey beginning with the 1999-00 season. National Federation rules recommend rather than mandate the use of neck guards, but the Council, acting on staff recommendation, decided to implement the requirement immediately. Previously only goalkeepers were required to wear throat guards that attach to the helmet, facemask or neck.
During the 1998-99 season, there was at least one serious neck injury in a Michigan high school hockey game when a player received a throat laceration from an opposing player's skate. Some schools reacting on their own purchased neck guards for their team members' protection. Players are not unfamiliar with neck guards as many youth leagues have current regulations for their use. The MHSAA requirement will be in effect for all high school hockey competitions; scrimmages, regular season games and tournaments. In addition, it is strongly recommended that players wear neck guards during all practice sessions.

HOCKEY SCHEDULING NOTE

Because of Representative Council action concerning reclassification of Ice Hockey for the 1999-200 season into three nearly equal divisions, there is no need to schedule District tournament play for any of the divisions. All three divisions in ice hockey will begin tournament action at the Regional level beginning on Monday, Feb. 28, 2000.

November 1, 1999 - First date for practice
November 15, 1999 - First contest date
February 26, 2000 - Last date for regular season games
February 28-March 4 - Regional Tournament
March 7, 9-11, 2000 - Final Tournament
* Teams allowed two preseason scrimmages
* Teams allowed maximum 24 regular season games

HOME WEIGH-IN SURVIVES

When the National Federation Wrestling Committee met in March, action was taken that impacted the Home Weigh-In program which has been a part of the MHSAA wrestling for nearly 10 years.
At the May MHSAA Representative Council Meeting, the issue was discussed and action taken by the Council to continue observing the Home Weigh-In procedure which has become part of the fabric of Michigan interscholastic wrestling. Preserving the Home Weigh-In will please many. It has been appreciated for a variety of reasons by several groups.
Teachers note that athletes are more attentive in the classroom and don't request to be excused to "make weight." Athletes enjoy eating on the day of a meet because they feel better and seem to perform better with more energy. Parents support Home Weigh-In because it is safer and healthy.
Principals are reminded that only they are authorized to sign the Home Weigh-In Form, however, a principal may designate a school administrator to conduct the actual weigh-in. In any case, the coach cannot be the person who oversees the official weigh-in. Coaches may organize the weigh-in, but the principal or designee must observe the scale and determine the actual weight. Actual weight within a quarter pound must be recorded on the weigh-in sheet each time a wrestler weighs-in. Without the actual weight, the 50 percent rule cannot be verified and movement of a wrestler within the lineup during a dual meet is not permitted.
The rules for the Home Weigh-In are listed here. Please note the shaded areas are new for the 1999-2000 school year.

WRESTLING “HOME WEIGH-IN” PROCEDURE
for Senior High Schools
Modified May 1999

1. By mutual written agreement, schools may option to utilize the "Home Weigh-In" procedure for wrestling weigh-ins during the school year. The "Home Weigh-In" procedure is not required and may not be a verbal or coaches decision, however, it may be a league adoption.
The purpose of this procedure is to make it unnecessary for an early dismissal of wrestlers and to avoid an early arrival at the site of the contest for the usual weigh-in procedure. This form must be completed in all respects and the home school wrestling coach and the visiting school wrestling coach must exchange these forms prior to the start of the meet.

2-A On the day prior to a scheduled meet, (dual or individual) the principal or his/her designee (not a coach) shall administer the one hour "Home Weigh-In" no earlier than 3 p.m. The individual school may select the time which best accommodates their program. All wrestlers shall weigh-in within the same one hour period, (i.e. 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.), but no later than two hours prior to the competition scheduled start time. Wrestlers not present, for any reason, for a home weigh-in may not weigh-in for that event.
2-B When a day of school attendance does not precede the scheduled meet, the principal or his/her designee (not a coach) shall administer the "Home Weigh-In" during a one hour period of the day of competition after 7 a.m., but before 4 p.m. The individual school may select the one hour segment of time which best accommodates their program.
2-C If school is canceled on a day on which a Home Weigh-In is scheduled, schools will observe the Home Weigh-In procedure outlined in item 2-A.

3. The "Home Weigh-In" procedure will require that all individuals who may wrestle on the scheduled date, on any team, shall be included on the appropriate (Frosh, JV, Var) weigh-in list and shall make weight.
a. Wrestlers who weigh-in, but do not appear in the line up to receive a forfeit or do not compete will not be charged with a day of competition.
b. A wrestler may participate on only one school team on a day of competition. (Example: a student who wrestles a JV match on a day may not wrestle a reserve or varsity match on the same day - MHSAA Handbook, Interpretation 180.)
c. Only regular season matches between competitors who are both varsity wrestlers at the varsity level qualify for seeding consideration in an Individual District Tournament.

4. Wrestlers shall make scratch weight at the "Home Weigh-In" in order to be eligible to participate in the meet. Actual weight shall be recorded at each weigh-in for each wrestler.

5. Wrestlers attempting to, but failing to make weight at the "Home Weigh-In" shall not be eligible to participate on that date although the weigh-in will count as one of the allowable sixteen weigh-ins for that individual.

PARENTAL PERMISSION REDEFINED

The MHSAA Representative Council acted on a compromise proposal which affects the Michigan Weight Monitoring Program. For health reasons, the Weight Monitoring Review Committee in January recommended elimination of the Parental Permission Form which allows wrestlers who are within three percent of the next lowest weight class to wrestle at that weight by filing the Parental Permission Form.
Later in the same month, the MHSAA Wrestling Committee voted unanimously to maintain the Parental Permission Form for use by individual wrestlers.
The Representative Council adopted a compromise in an attempt to accommodate both points of view. The Parental Permission feature of the Wrestling Weight Monitoring Program has been redefined for use with the Alpha (first) weigh-in only. No longer may the Parental Permission Form apply to amend the results of an appeal.
This modification will be applicable to the 1999-2000 wrestling season.

1999-2000 ORDER FORM FOR MHSAA MATERIALS

Schools may order materials from the MHSAA office by using this form. PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THIS ORDER, and materials will then be sent postpaid. Not all books are available at the beginning of the school year; orders will be kept on file and books sent as they become available. Mail order to MHSAA, 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823.

BASEBALL (after Feb. 1)
Qty.__________ Baseball Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 Baseball Umpires Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ Baseball Case Book @ $ 6.00 _________
BASKETBALL (after Aug. 1)
__________ Basketball Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ Basketball Case Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ Basketball Simplified and Illustrated Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1999-01 Basketball Officials Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1998-00 Basketball Handbook..... @ $ 6.00 _________
FOOTBALL (after Aug. 1)
__________ Football Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ Football Case Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ Football Simplified and Illustrated Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 Football Officials Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
GYMNASTICS
__________ Girls Gymnastic Rules Book & Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
ICE HOCKEY (after Oct. 1)
__________ Ice Hockey Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
SOCCER (after Aug. 1)
__________ Soccer Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
SOFTBALL (after Feb. 1)
__________ Softball Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 2000-01 Softball Umpires Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ Softball Case Book @ $ 6.00 _________
SWIMMING & DIVING (after Aug. 1)
__________ Swimming & Diving Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
TRACK (after Feb. 1)
__________ Track & Field Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ Track & Field Case Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 Track & Field Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
VOLLEYBALL (after Oct. 1)
__________ Volleyball Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1998-00 Volleyball Case Book & Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
WRESTLING (after Oct. 1)
__________ Wrestling Rules Book @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1998-00 Wrestling Case Book & Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
__________ Court & Field Diagram Guide @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ NFHS Statisticians' Manual @ $ 6.00 _________
__________ 1998-99 Book of Champions @$18.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 School Directory @$ 2.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 Officials Directory @$ 2.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 Coaches Guidebook @$ 1.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 Competitive Cheer Manual @$ 2.00 _________
__________ 1999-00 MHSAA HANDBOOK @$ 2.00 _________
__________ BULLETIN Subscription @$ 9.00 _________

PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY ALL ORDERS. Total Amount Enclosed: $_________

MAIL TO: (type or print) Name:______________________________________________________

Street: _________________________________________________________________________

City: _____________________________________________ State: _________ Zip:___________

Signature:______________________________________________________________________
-- Use of this form expires June 1, 2000 --

ASSOCIATION STUDIES PART-TIME STUDENTS

The MHSAA Representative Council approved last May a motion to appoint an ad hoc committee to develop strategies for Representative Council consideration to promote greater awareness and use of options that currently exist for interscholastic athletic participation by students who are less than full-time enrolled students of the schools sponsoring the athletic program and to explore additional options that might be considered by the membership to expand such opportunities with appropriate oversight of attendance, behavior, curriculum and progress toward graduation and other fundamental requirements of educationally based athletics.
In June, the MHSAA Executive Committee approved an action plan to implement the Council's directive. The plan includes three separate groups of approximately 12 persons each who will be convened in late August, one with participants from the east side of the state, one with participants from the west side of the state, and one with participants from the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula.
While the groups will have a common agenda, the participants will differ. A recorder for each group will provide a report to the MHSAA executive director, who will attempt to discover common themes and present them to the more than 1,200 attendees at MHSAA Update Meetings in the fall and to obtain reactions through oral comment and written survey.
The major concepts and constituent reactions will be presented to the Representative Council Dec. 1, 1999.
The three meetings will be approximately four hours in length and include an opportunity for public comment.
The moderators selected for the meetings are: East – Larry Lamphere, Athletic Director at Ortonville-Brandon High School where the meeting will be held on Aug. 25; West – Dave Price, Athletic Director at Rockford High School where the meeting will be held on Aug. 26; North – Karen Leinaar, Athletic Director at Gaylord High School. That meeting will be held on Aug. 26 at the Gaylord School District administration building.
Presently there are five ways in which students who attend non-public schools and public school academies may participate in athletics in the school setting. There are three ways in which home-schooled students may do so. Ideas will be explored for promoting better the opportunities that already exist and to expand opportunities in ways that would be supported by the membership.

GIRLS BASKETBALL SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING
East Lansing, May 19, 1999

After the welcome and introductions, the committee was reminded of its responsibility and reviewed the accepted criteria for selecting the 1999 hosts for MHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament contests.
Drawings were conducted for District qualifiers to Regional Tournament competition as well as Semifinal bracket placement in all classes.

Four Team Regional:
Tournament Advance Master Draw

Lowest District No. vs. Highest District No.
2nd Lowest District No. vs. 2nd Highest District No.

The committee then selected Quarterfinal, Regional and District centers in all classes except schools located in the Upper Peninsula.
Further discussion centered on the next meeting being in September to select the Boys Basketball sites.

CERTIFIED ASSIGNORS MEETING
East Lansing, April 20, 1999

1. Initially there was discussion of Amateur Sports Network (ASN) and some of the features that that program, if it comes to fruition, would provide assignors in their duties to arrange officials to work the various contests that they are responsible for. It is hoped that the next time the assignors meet, an ASN demo may be provided.

2. Local payment issues: A review from the assignors indicated that the voucher system for payment is in process in several of the metropolitan areas. An issue that has been difficult for various assignors and officials is that school districts change their protocol during the season. It is recognized that the voucher system and other hybrids of that program have as their intention to avoid reissuing checks. Some schools are extremely timely, some are extremely slow. Assignors are expected to make officials aware of the system. Many suspect that it would be more appropriate for the school districts to honor the officials by including with each contract a description of their payment system.
In the case of Ice Hockey, it appears that the ice rinks tend to pay officials and there is a loss of contact with the schools. Because of the lack of contracts, there are occasions when partners fail to show because they either were not contacted or simply don't arrive. From the point of view of the schools, there is a common willingness to cancel the contest on the day of the game. Thus, causing officials little opportunity to work on that particular day. It varies, but there are some schools that seem to have no regard for the commitment that the officials made for them on a particular day and expect officials to move forward without concern for financial consideration. It was suggested that perhaps a cancellation fee for officials who do not participate or for schools that cancel within a period of time be considered. It was reported that in some cases, officials are provided a check on which the official's name is placed at game time. A voucher is signed at the time the check is provided; involved school districts have found that this works well.
This problem will continue to be discussed with the hope that an increased sensitivity can be develop within the school community and respect for contracts can be promoted.

3. Recruitment: Officials would like to encourage help from coaches in identifying individuals who would possibly make good officials. At least one league, The Big Nine, has a program at which officials speak at meetings where athletes are assembled to talk about the opportunity to officiate. Occasionally, newspapers like the Flint Journal have included articles which local assignors and officials are contacted for comment. Some officials have been assisting colleges and high schools in teaching credit classes that train individuals to become officials. Information has been promoted by some associations to colleges. Soccer has developed a youth training program. Some officials have participated in career days at local high schools where they hand out information and answer questions.
In west Michigan, 10-15 students were given scholarships to a baseball/softball clinic. This enabled the young officials to get a good start and gave them a connection to the local association. Many officials associations have made successful attempts in becoming speakers at local sports nights to communicate to parents and students the philosophy of officiating which sometimes encourages participation.
Some schools have developed advanced physical education programs that include either a unit on officiating or an actual credit class.
Assignors would be interested in participating in sportsmanship conferences either in the regional programs that would occur from time to time or the MHSAA sponsored statewide program. They would like to institute an awareness that schools become involved with officials to help promote officiating and treatment of officials. Some associations would consider sponsoring individuals to attend clinics and training.

4. Problems that came forward from the group include the difficulty in communicating with schools who insist on early start times. Schools that insist on competing at 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. or in the afternoons at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m. have made extremely difficult for officials to make the start times. More officials could be available if start times were moved further away from the school day. Assignors find if very difficult to convince people to depart from work early enough to arrive in time for the start times.
Incidentally, some associations find that leagues and conference agree on a start time but find that at several times throughout the year the start time is ignored. Commonly, a 4:00 p.m. start is often a 4:30 p.m. or 4:45 p.m. start because one of the schools is unable to arrive in time for the contest beginning. When officials attempt to arrive on time and do only to find that the schools are running behind because they don't release their buses in time, it becomes a little frustrating. Assignors would like to have leagues and conferences reassess their start times and accept a time that is real and achievable. Some school districts refuse to send teams until all the students are delivered or until a bus returns from a regular run and that creates difficulty because there is no intention of meeting the posted or contracted start time.

5. Evaluation of officials: Local associations were encouraged to develop evaluator systems. Certain assignors explained how they have been able to evaluate officials at least once a year. The approach for the assignor/evaluator was different, but it was noted that the officials appreciated the feed back from an observer. It was reiterated that retired officials who have the ability to evaluate should be included in their local association effort to provide feed back and encourage development of officials. Some associations were able to do this with financial reimbursement; some of this was voluntary.

6. Considerations: The assignors would appreciate the MHSAA at least providing authority to certain evaluators whose feed back would be important to the assignor and perhaps to the assignment committees when they are working. It was agreed that young officials evaluated after scrimmages found it very helpful and the instant feed back was critical to their development.

7. Assignors develop evaluation feed back: The assignors took a moment to develop a simple feed back instrument that they will provide as a tournament assignment committee resource. Specifically, they will indicate their judgement regarding the level of tournament that an official ought to work. They will identify officials who are new to the tournament scene, encouraging their assignments. The will identify individuals who may have some difficulty, such as an injury so that they are not assigned, causing replacements to be found, recognizing that there is no authority at this time for the assignor to have a part in the officials assignment program. They feel that since they work with officials regularly, they can be of some assistance to the committee by providing current information.
Some assignors indicated that schools have been difficult to please because they are not interested in accepting new or young officials at their site for any level of contest. They ask that the assistant director communicate to the school that if we are going to develop officials, we need to have an opportunity for them to work at the lower levels and encourage the local community schools to promote this opportunity whenever and as much as possible. In addition, it would be appropriate to explain to coaches that if we don't do our part by encouraging young officials or new officials at the lower levels, when its time and we need those officials at the upper levels, we may not have them.

8. The final topic had to do with the continued violent behavior, unsportsmanlike behavior of fans at contests. Although there is occasional violent behavior from athletes and coaches, there are not near so notable as those from spectators. Assignors find it difficult to make assignments from their stable of officials when several or most prefer not work a certain schools with a history of bad behavior.

9. Our program concluded with the promise that the MHSAA will provide a list of assignor names and addresses and e-mail addresses for the group when the minutes are mailed to them. The assignors look forward the annual meeting in order to network and share their concerns.

APPROVED ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
DeWitt, April 10, 1999

On April 10, there were approximately 75 officials representing Approved Associations from throughout Michigan who met at DeWitt High School for the third annual Approved Association Meeting. During the first portion of the meeting there was a discussion of ways to make the meetings throughout the year interesting and beneficial to those local officials who participate. The following is a list of ideas and practices that were presented by various members of the audience:

Making Regular Meeting Productive
• Provide speakers.
• Invite an athletic director to list expectations that they have of officials.
• Invite a coach to list expectations that they have of officials.
• Save assignment sessions for a period after the educational meeting.
• Organize an annual meeting in which there is a banquet or a party.
• Develop a mentor program where the experienced official works with a new or less experienced official.
• Review game tapes in small groups in order to critique the officials.
• Develop an all day jamboree training session involving several sports, athletes to play the games that are to be officiated and opportunities to work on specific and special mechanics.
• Offer duplicate meetings at various times of the day, allowing an official to attend either meeting.
• Have a rule book discussion.
• Provide an opportunity for new or inexperienced officials to borrow uniforms from the officials' closet.
• Require attendance, fining late or absent members and contribute fine money toward legacy officials.
• Vary the dates on which meetings are held. Try an 8 p.m. start time. Try a Sunday meeting time around 7 p.m.
• Meet often before the season. Meet again before tournaments.

Recruiting Ideas for Local Associations
• Provide training opportunities.
• Arrange assignments. Provide interested parties opportunities to work.
• Properly train people before they begin working.
• Train students before their senior year by helping them officiate elementary competition.
• Provide an open forum clinic for anyone who wishes to attend. Contact local schools. Volunteer and encourage pre season meetings with parents, coaches and athletes to meet with officials to discuss new rules and sportsmanship issues. Encourage local association leadership to meet with any school administration that is listed in the Bulletin with three ejections or more for a particular season.
• Sponsor a year-end banquet or activity for members.
• Volunteer to speak at college and high school officiating classes.
• Encourage members to bring individuals to local meetings as "new recruits".
• Volunteer training and supervision of officials in youth leagues, i.e., little league umpires, youth basketball, Pop Warner football.

Approved Association Issues
• Encourage MHSAA directors to do all rules meetings or to encourage appointed representatives to be as enthusiastic and knowledgeable as assistant directors seem to be.
• Utilize video and Power Point. Develop an open book test for all sports.
• Place National Federation annual test on the web site for easy access.
• Request local associations to assist in certifying member attendance at rules meetings.
• Investigate a one-day simulcast of rules meetings for each sport.
• Encourage local associations to promote rules meeting attendance through their association.
• Suggest that the MHSAA make it mandatory to attend a rules meeting in order to officiate during the school year.
• Identify association mailing address and contact person.

Evaluator Training
If local associations begin to evaluate officials many would like to see the MHSAA provide evaluator training so that all evaluators will have a similar background and attitude toward the evaluation of officials in all sports.

MICHIGAN SERVES NATIONAL FEDERATION PANELS

MHSAA Assistant Director Gina Mazzolini has been appointed to a four-year term on the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee of the National Federation of State High School Associations. The appointment was made July 1 by the National Federation Board of Directors. Mazzolini also serves on the National Federation Volleyball Rules Committee.
MHSAA registered official Mike Terwilliger of Saginaw was appointed to represent Section IV (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin) on the Board of Directors of the National Federation Officials Association.
Nine other persons from Michigan serve on National Federation committees.
• Bill Bupp, MHSAA Assistant Director, serves on the Officials Education Committee.
• Dale Clyde, baseball umpire, Bay City, serves on the National Federation Baseball Committee.
• Jerry Cvengros, MHSAA Associate Director, serves on the National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Education Program Committee and is the voting delegate to the National Federation Football Rules Committee, on which MHSAA Assistant Director Nate Hampton also serves as an Advisory Member.
• John Fundukian, Athletic Director at Novi High School, serves on the Citizenship Committee.
• MHSAA Communications Director John Johnson chairs the National Federation Records Committee.
• Rob Kaminski, MHSAA Publications Coordinator, serves on the National Federation Hall of Fame Screening Committee.
• Ruth Kay, a speech teacher at Director of Forensics at Beverly Hills-Detroit Country Day School, serves on the National Federation Speech Committee.
• Karen Leinaar, Athletic Director at Gaylord High School, serves on the Athletic Directors Advisory Committee.
• Dan McShannock, Athletic Director at Midland-Dow High School, serves on the National Federation Coaches Association Board of Directors and represents that body on the National Federation Citizenship Committee.
• MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts represents Section IV on the National Federation Board of Directors.

MHSAA COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS

Since May of 1987 when the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association approved cooperative programs for its smallest schools commencing with the 1988-89 school year, participation in cooperative programs has increased every year, and pressure has increased on the Representative Council to expand the concept to involve larger schools.
Today, cooperative programs are allowed in any sport between member schools whose combined enrollment does not exceed the maximum for Class B; and cooperative programs are permitted between member schools of any combined enrollment in those sports which are sponsored by 250 or fewer schools. Cooperative programs are also permitted at the junior high/middle school level.
Through June of 1999, there were 132 cooperative programs between member high schools involving 208 athletic teams, and 34 cooperative programs between junior high/middle schools involving 115 athletic teams.

APPROVED COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS HIGH SCHOOLS

Primary School		Partner(s)	Approval	Last Renewal
(D)	Adrian-Lenawee Christian	Adrian-Madison
	(3) Boys Track		11/11/96	5/1/98
	(3) Girls Track		11/11/96	5/1/98
(C)	Ann Arbor-Greenhills	Ann Arbor-R. Steiner School
	Boys Swimming		11/19/97	5/1/99
(D)	Ann Arbor-Rudolf Steiner School	Ann Arbor-Washtenaw Tech Middle College
	Boys Basketball		3/26/98	5/1/98
	(4) Boys Golf		3/26/98	5/1/98
	(3) Boys Track		3/26/98	5/1/98
	Girls Basketball		3/26/98	5/1/98
	(3) Girls Track		3/26/98	5/1/98
(A)	Battle Creek-Central	Battle Creek-Pennfield
	(1) Girls Golf		10/23/97	5/1/99
(A)	Battle Creek-Central	Battle Creek-St. Philip Catholic Central
	Boys Swimming		5/5/96	5/1/98
(A)	Battle Creek-Central	Battle Creek-St. Philip Catholic Central, Battle Creek-Pennfield

	Girls Swimming		5/5/96	5/1/98
(A)	Bay City-Central	Auburn-Bay City Western
	(1) Ice Hockey		8/13/96	5/1/98
(D)	Bear Lake	Onekama
	(4) Boys Cross Country		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Girls Cross Country		4/30/88	5/1/98
(D)	Bellaire	Alba
	(4) Baseball		11/17/98	5/1/98
	(4) Boys Track		11/17/98	5/1/98
	(4) Girls Track		11/17/98	5/1/98
(D)	Bellaire	Mancelona
	Boys Skiing		9/11/97	5/1/99
	Girls Skiing		9/11/97	5/1/99
(D)	Bellaire	Alba, Mancelona, Central Lake
	(3) Boys Soccer		6/10/98	5/1/98
(A)	Beverly Hills-Wylie E. Groves	Birmingham-Seaholm
	(1) Ice Hockey		6/10/92	5/1/98
(A)	Bloomfield Hills-Lahser	Bloomfield Hills-Andover
	Gymnastics		5/7/92	5/1/98

(C)	Boyne City Boyne Falls
	(2) Football		5/8/91	5/1/99
(C)	Brethren	Bear Lake
	(4) Boys Golf		5/5/96	5/1/98
(C)	Bridgman	Three Oaks-River Valley, New Buffalo, Stevensville-Lakeshore, Buchanan

	Boys Swimming		4/15/93	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		4/15/93	5/1/99
(A)	Brighton	Howell
	Boys Swimming		9/10/98	5/1/98
(D)	Britton-Macon	Deerfield
	(4) Baseball		10/13/94	5/1/98
	(4) Boys Golf		2/25/99	5/1/99
	(4) Boys Track		4/15/93	5/1/99
	(4) Boys Cross Country		4/11/96	5/1/98
	(3) Football		4/15/93	5/1/99
	(4) Girls Track		4/15/93	5/1/99
	(4) Girls Cross Country		4/11/96	5/1/98
	(4) Softball		10/13/94	5/1/98
(D)	Central Lake	Ellsworth Community
	(3) Football		5/8/91	5/1/99
	(4) Girls Track		1/15/97	5/1/98
(D)	Chassell	Painesdale-Jeffers
	Volleyball		9/10/98	5/1/98
(A)	Clinton Township-Chippewa Valley	Macomb-Dakota
	Boys Swimming		8/12/97	5/1/99
(D)	Colon Community	Burr Oak
	(3) Football		5/6/95	5/1/99
(A)	Dearborn	Dearborn-Edsel Ford
	(1) Girls Golf		10/17/95	5/1/99

(A)	Dearborn	Dearborn-Edsel Ford, Dearborn-Fordson
	(1) Ice Hockey		6/6/96	5/1/98
(A)	Dearborn-Edsel Ford	Dearborn-Fordson
	Boys Swimming		8/12/97	5/1/99
(A)	Dearborn-Edsel Ford	Dearborn, Dearborn-Fordson
	Gymnastics		6/6/95	5/1/99
(A)	Detroit-Kettering	Detroit-Davis Aerospace Technical
	(1) Girls Golf		5/5/96	5/1/98
(D)	Engadine	Grand Marais-Burt Township
	(4) Football		4/15/97	5/1/99
(A)	Escanaba	Gladstone
	(1) Ice Hockey		6/10/92	5/1/98
(D)	Ewen-Trout Creek	White Pine
	(4) Football		3/7/88	5/1/98
(A)	Farmington	Farmington Hills-North Farmington,Farmington Hills-Harrison

	Gymnastics		3/30/92	5/1/98
(A)	Farmington Hills-Harrison	Farmington Hills-North Farmington, Farmington
	(1) Ice Hockey		6/10/98	5/1/98
(A)	Farmington Hills-North Farmington	Farmington, Farmington Hills-Harrison
	(1) Girls Golf		9/17/96	5/1/98
(B)	Flint Southwestern Academy	Flint-Northern
	Boys Swimming		5/1/93	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		5/1/93	5/1/99
(A)	Flint-Carman-Ainsworth	Clio
	Boys Skiing		4/22/99	5/1/99
	Boys Swimming		4/22/99	5/1/99
	Girls Skiing		4/22/99	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		4/22/99	5/1/99
(A)	Flint-Central	Flint-Northwestern
	Boys Swimming		5/1/93	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		5/1/93	5/1/99
(A)	Flint-Central	Flint-Northern, Flint-Northwestern
	(1) Ice Hockey		5/1/97	5/1/99
(A)	Flint-Kearsley	Davison
	Boys Swimming		4/30/94	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		4/30/94	5/1/98
(A)	Flint-Northern	Flint-Northwestern
	(1) Girls Soccer		5/1/93	5/1/99
(C)	Freeland	Auburn-Bay City Western
	Gymnastics		4/15/93	5/1/99
(D)	Freesoil	Manistee-Catholic Central
	(4) Boys Cross Country		5/8/91	5/1/99
	(4) Girls Cross Country		5/8/91	5/1/99
(A)	Grand Ledge	Lansing-Waverly
	(1) Ice Hockey		6/6/95	5/1/99
(A)	Grand Rapids-Creston	Grand Rapids-Central
	Gymnastics		6/6/95	5/1/99
(A)	Grand Rapids-Forest Hills Central	Lowell
	Boys Swimming		8/12/97	5/1/99
(A)	Grand Rapids-Forest Hills Central	Grand Rapids-Forest Hills Northern
	Gymnastics		9/11/97	5/1/99
	(1) Ice Hockey		6/2/92	5/1/98
(A)	Grand Rapids-Forest Hills Northern	Grand Rapids-Forest Hills Central
	Competitive Cheer		6/9/99	5/1/99
(A)	Grand Rapids-Union	Grand Rapids-Ottawa Hills
	Gymnastics		6/6/95	5/1/99
(B)	Grand Rapids-West Catholic	Grand Rapids-Catholic Central
	Gymnastics		5/7/92	5/1/98
(A)	Grandville	Grandville-Calvin Christian
	(1) Ice Hockey		4/15/93	5/1/99
(C)	Gwinn	Ishpeming-Westwood, Negaunee, Gladstone
	Boys Skiing		4/30/94	5/1/98
	Girls Skiing		4/30/94	5/1/98
(D)	Hamtramck-St. Florian	Warren-Immaculate Conception
	(4) Football		4/22/99	5/1/99
(C)	Hancock	Chassell
	(3) Football		4/30/94	5/1/98
(C)	Hancock	Lake Linden-Hubbell
	(3) Ice Hockey		6/9/99	5/1/99
(C)	Hancock	Dollar Bay
	(3) Boys Track		11/8/94	5/1/98
	(3) Girls Track		11/8/94	5/1/98
(C)	Harbor Springs	Alanson-Littlefield
	(3) Football		5/7/92	5/1/98
(A)	Hartland	Highland-Milford, White Lake-Lakeland
	Gymnastics		6/10/92	5/1/98
(C)	Houghton	Hancock
	(3) Girls Golf		10/23/97	5/1/99
(C)	Houghton	Calumet
	Boys Swimming		5/6/95	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		5/6/95	5/1/99
(C)	Houghton	Calumet-Copper Country Christian
	(3) Ice Hockey		5/6/95	5/1/99
(C)	Indian River-Inland Lakes	Pellston
	Boys Skiing		5/5/96	5/1/98
	Girls Skiing		5/5/96	5/1/98
(C)	Ironwood-Luther L. Wright	Wakefield, Bessemer-A. D. Johnston
	(3) Ice Hockey		5/7/92	5/1/98
(C)	Ishpeming	Negaunee
	Boys Swimming		6/10/92	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		6/10/92	5/1/98
(C)	Ishpeming	Republic-Michigamme
	(3) Football		6/10/92	5/1/98
(A)	Jackson	Grass Lake
	Gymnastics		4/30/94	5/1/98
(A)	Jackson	Jackson-Northwest, Jackson-Lumen Christi, Napoleon

	Boys Swimming		4/30/94	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		4/30/94	5/1/98
(C)	Jackson-Vandercook Lake	Hanover-Horton
	(3) Wrestling		5/5/96	5/1/98
(A)	Jenison	Hudsonville-Unity Christian
	(1) Ice Hockey		8/12/97	5/1/99
(A)	Kalamazoo Central	Parchment, Kalamazoo-Comstock
	Boys Swimming		6/6/96	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		6/6/96	5/1/98
(A)	Kalamazoo-Loy Norrix	Kalamazoo Christian
	Boys Swimming		9/11/97	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		5/6/95	5/1/99
(B)	Kingsford	Iron Mountain
	(2) Boys Cross Country		6/10/98	5/1/98
	(2) Girls Cross Country		6/10/98	5/1/98
(B)	Kingsford	Norway, Iron Mountain, Iron Mountain-North Dickinson

	(1) Ice Hockey		4/11/96	5/1/98
(D)	L'Anse	Baraga Area
	(3) Ice Hockey		3/21/91	5/1/99
(D)	Lake Linden-Hubbell	Dollar Bay
	(3) Football		1/1/99	5/1/99
(A)	Lansing-Eastern	Lansing-J. W. Sexton
	Gymnastics		5/5/96	5/1/98
(A)	Lansing-Waverly	Lansing-Catholic Central
	Boys Swimming		4/15/98	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		4/15/98	5/1/98
(A)	Lapeer East	Lapeer West
	Boys Swimming		8/12/97	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		6/9/99	5/1/99
(A)	Lathrup Village-Southfield-Lathrup	Southfield
	(1) Girls Soccer		8/13/92	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		8/13/92	5/1/98
(D)	Leland	Lake Leelanau-St. Mary
	(4) Boys Soccer		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Boys Tennis		4/30/88	5/1/98
	Volleyball		4/30/88	5/1/98
(B)	Ludington	Pentwater
	Boys Swimming		4/22/99	5/1/99
	(2) Football		4/22/99	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		4/22/99	5/1/99
	(2) Wrestling		4/22/99	5/1/99
(D)	Mackinaw City	Cedarville
	(4) Baseball		11/11/96	5/1/98
(C)	Mancelona	Bellaire
	(3) Boys Golf		4/15/93	5/1/99
	(3) Boys Cross Country		4/15/93	5/1/99
	Girls Golf		4/15/93	5/1/99
	(3) Girls Cross Country		4/15/93	5/1/99
(B)	Manistee	Manistee-Catholic Central
	Boys Skiing		5/5/96	5/1/98
	(3) Boys Tennis		10/23/97	5/1/99
	Girls Skiing		5/5/96	5/1/98
	(3) Girls Soccer		10/14/98	5/1/98
(D)	Manistee-Catholic Central	Freesoil
	(4) Football		5/8/91	5/1/99
(C)	Maple City-Glen Lake	Leland
	Boys Skiing		4/30/94	5/1/98
	Girls Skiing		4/30/94	5/1/98
(D)	Mendon	Centreville
	(4) Wrestling		4/30/94	5/1/98
(C)	Mesick	Buckley
	(3) Boys Track		12/2/98	5/1/98
	(3) Girls Track		12/2/98	5/1/98
(A)	Muskegon	Muskegon-Reeths-Puffer
	Boys Swimming		6/10/98	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		6/10/98	5/1/98
(C)	Napoleon	Manchester
	Gymnastics		6/6/96	5/1/99
(C)	Napoleon	Jackson-Vandercook Lake, Brooklyn-Columbia
		Central, East Jackson
	Gymnastics		6/6/96	5/1/98
(C)	Negaunee	Ishpeming
	Gymnastics		8/12/98	5/1/98
(C)	Negaunee	Ishpeming, Ishpeming-Westwood, Gwinn, Republic-Michigamme
	(1) Ice Hockey		8/12/98	5/1/98

(C)

Newberry

Engadine

(4) Boys Cross Country	5/7/92	5/1/99
(4) Girls Cross Country	5/7/92	5/1/99

(D)	North Muskegon	Muskegon-Western Michigan Christian
	(3) Football		4/15/98	5/1/98

(A)	Northville	Novi
	Gymnastics		6/7/94	5/1/98
(D)	Onekama	Bear Lake
	Boys Skiing		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Boys Track		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Football		4/30/88	5/1/98
	Girls Skiing		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Girls Track		4/30/88	5/1/98
(B)	Oscoda	Tawas City-Tawas Area
	Boys Swimming		9/10/98	5/1/98
	Boys Swimming		9/10/98	5/1/98
(D)	Painesdale-Jeffers	Chassell
	Boys Swimming		4/30/88	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		4/30/88	5/1/98
(D)	Painesdale-Jeffers	Chassell, Ontonagon Area
	(3) Ice Hockey		4/30/94	5/1/98
(D)	Pellston	Mackinaw City
	(4) Football		4/15/93	5/1/99
(B)	Plainwell	Portage-First Assembly Christian
	Girls Swimming		5/5/96	5/1/98
(A)	Pontiac Central	Pontiac-Northern
	Girls Swimming		6/6/96	5/1/98
(A)	Pontiac-Northern	Pontiac Central
	Boys Swimming		6/6/96	5/1/98
(A)	Portage Northern	Portage Central
	Gymnastics		9/15/93	5/1/99
(D)	Powers-North Central	Carney-Nadeau
	(3) Football		6/10/98	5/1/98
(A)	Redford Union	Redford-Thurston
	(1) Ice Hockey		10/14/98	5/1/98
(B)	Royal Oak-Dondero	Royal Oak-Kimball
	Boys Swimming		6/11/97	5/1/99
(A)	Royal Oak-Kimball	Royal Oak-Dondero
	(1) Ice Hockey		4/30/94	5/1/98
(C)	Saginaw-Nouvel Catholic Central	Essexville-Garber
	Boys Skiing		5/6/95	5/1/99
	Girls Skiing		5/6/95	5/1/99
(B)	Sault Ste. Marie-Sault Area	Rudyard, Brimley Area
	Boys Swimming		6/7/94	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		6/7/94	5/1/98
(C)	Scottville-Mason County Central	Custer-Mason County Eastern
	(2) Football		4/30/94	5/1/98
(A)	Southfield	Lathrup Village-Southfield-Lathrup
	Boys Swimming		8/13/92	5/1/98
	(1) Ice Hockey		4/30/96	5/1/98
(C)	St. Ignace-La Salle	Mackinaw City
	(4) Boys Golf		4/22/99	5/1/99
(C)	St. Ignace-La Salle	Mackinac Island
	(4) Baseball		11/11/96	5/1/98
(C)	Stambaugh-West Iron County	Crystal Falls-Forest Park
	(3) Wrestling		6/10/98	5/1/98
(C)	Suttons Bay	Lake Leelanau-St. Mary
	Boys Skiing		5/2/98	5/1/98
	(3) Boys Track		5/7/92	5/1/98
	(3) Football		5/7/92	5/1/98
	Girls Skiing		5/2/98	5/1/98
	(3) Girls Track		5/7/92	5/1/98
(C)	Suttons Bay	Northport
	(3) Boys Cross Country		5/7/92	5/1/99
	(3) Girls Cross Country		5/7/92	5/1/99
(C)	Suttons Bay	Lake Leelanau-St. Mary, Leland
	(4) Girls Soccer		10/23/97	5/1/99
(A)	Swartz Creek	Flushing
	Boys Swimming		5/3/97	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		5/3/97	5/1/99
(A)	Taylor-Truman	Taylor-John F. Kennedy
	Girls Swimming		3/14/96	5/1/98
(A)	Traverse City Central	Traverse City West
	Gymnastics		9/11/97	5/1/99
(A)	Traverse City Central	Traverse City-St. Francis, Traverse City West
	Boys Swimming		4/15/93	5/1/99
	Girls Swimming		4/30/94	5/1/98
(A)	Troy	Troy-Athens
	(1) Ice Hockey		8/12/97	5/1/99
(B)	Vassar	Reese, Millington
	Gymnastics		4/30/94	5/1/98
(D)	Wakefield	Marenisco
	(4) Boys Tennis		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Boys Track		6/10/98	5/1/98
	(4) Football		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Girls Tennis		4/30/88	5/1/98
	(4) Girls Track		6/10/98	5/1/98
(A)	Walled Lake Central	Walled Lake Western
	Gymnastics		6/10/92	5/1/98
(A)	Walled Lake Western	Walled Lake Central
	Boys Swimming		6/10/92	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		6/10/92	5/1/98
(A)	Waterford Kettering	Waterford Mott
	Gymnastics		4/11/96	5/1/98
(A)	Westland-John Glenn	Wayne Memorial
	Gymnastics		9/11/97	5/1/99
(D)	Wyandotte-Mt. Carmel	Southgate-Aquinas
	(4) Football		1/20/99	5/1/99
(D)	Wyandotte-Mt. Carmel	Taylor-Light And Life Christian
	(3) Ice Hockey		6/6/96	5/1/98
(B)	Wyoming-Godwin Heights	Wyoming-Kelloggsville
	Boys Swimming		4/15/98	5/1/98
	(2) Girls Golf		4/15/98	5/1/98
	Girls Swimming		4/15/98	5/1/98
(B)	Wyoming-Rogers	Wyoming Park
	Boys Swimming		5/5/96	5/1/98

APPROVED/SANCTIONED MEETS

MHSAA and National Federation Sanctioning Procedure

The following situations must be approved by the MHSAA before any meet or tournament held:
1. Those events which are sponsored by other than member schools and held within the state.
2. Those events between member schools of Michigan and bordering states (regardless of the number of schools involved) and hosted by a member school. The bordering state association must also grant approval for such event through the MHSAA.

All sanctioned or approved meets are listed below.
(Includes requests received and approved by June 24, 1999, for events to be held in August, September and October.)

*Events marked by an asterisk are National Federation sanctioned.
**Events marked by two asterisks are border state approved.

September—
10-11 - Triton Boys Soccer Invitational, Wisconsin**
18 - Holly Cross Country Invitational, Davisburg, MI** (MI and OH)
25 - Cardinal Stritch Cross Country Invitational, Ohio*
25 - West Michigan Christian Golf Invitational* (MI and IL)

October—
2 - Central States School for the Deaf Cross Country Invitational, Indianapolis, IN
16 - MISCA Swimming Invitational, Plymouth, MI