Recent surveys indicate schools value these meetings and do not want attendance requirements eliminated. They provide an opportunity for coaches and officials to hear at the same time about the changes and special emphases in contest rules and to review MHSAA tournament terms and conditions.

On Dec. 1, 1999, the MHSAA Representative Council adopted the policy of publishing in the MHSAA Bulletin the names of schools which, for two consecutive years, fail to have their head coach either attend the rules meeting or pass the rules examination. For the winter seasons of both 1999 and 2000, the following schools have failed to meet the requirement:
Boys Basketball - Detroit School of Industrial Arts
Boys Swimming & Diving - None
Girls Competitive Cheer - None
Girls Volleyball - None
Ice Hockey - None
Wrestling - None

---

REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING
East Lansing, March 24, 2000
Welcomed to their first meeting were Melvin Atkins, Judy Raica and Donald Weatherspoon.
Associate Director Jerry Cvengros introduced Don Edens, Dick Koski, Dee Jay Paquette and Joe Reddinger from the Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee whose members are invited to attend this meeting on an annual basis.
Accounts of Meetings - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Randy Salisbury, to approve the Representative Council Meeting minutes of Dec. 1, 1999; and the minutes of the Executive Committee Meetings of Dec. 1, 1999, Jan. 20, 2000, and Feb. 16, 2000; as well as the minutes of the Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee Meeting of Jan. 15, 2000. Adopted.
Reports
Administration - The executive director introduced staff in attendance and asked the Representative Council to express its appreciation for the staff's service to the winter sports program that was so busy and well served by the MHSAA staff.
The Representative Council was advised that letters have been mailed to all member schools to provide their basic, traditional classifications for the 2000-01 school year. It was also reported that during the first week of April, all schools will receive lists for 14 sports, one for each tournament except football that is conducted in equal or modified equal divisions.
The Representative Council was advised of an improvement in the catastrophic accident medical insurance program purchased by the MHSAA and provided free of charge to all member schools. The provided benefit amount will increase from $100,000 to $250,000 in excess of the $25,000 deductible beginning with the 2000-01 school year.
It was also reported that a brief survey had been sent to school athletic directors seeking opinions about what items should be provided in print only and what items should be provided only on the Web. The results will be important in determining how best to serve the MHSAA membership and also to identify potential savings in printing and postage expenses as the 2000-01 budget is prepared.
Legislation - Mike Hawks reported that no activity of the Michigan Legislature addresses the MHSAA specifically and that no legislative initiatives addressing specifically any aspect of interscholastic athletics have been reported out of any legislative committee.
Litigation - Attorney Edmund Sikorski provided the Representative Council a brief history of the defining moments of jurisprudence for interscholastic athletics in Michigan and the principles that were followed to achieve successful results, including patience, perseverance and dedication to policies and procedures that schools have adopted for interscholastic athletics to guard a level playing field and to provide that no segment of the population has any special benefits under the rules.
Mr. Sikorski reported specifically regarding the action brought against the association by an organization which believes its version of equity should be universal, regardless of the law, the facts and the frequently polled and overwhelmingly expressed preferences of the members of the MHSAA and the constituents those schools serve. He reported that this protracted litigation is on appeal to the Sixth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals.

Old Business
Winter 2005 Tournaments - In 2005 (and also 2008), the normal schedule for Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals would be Easter weekend. At its meeting Dec. 1, 1999, the Representative Council voted that the date of the 2005 Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals would be changed.
Three options for 2005 were under consideration by the Representative Council: (1) advancing the entire Boys Basketball Tournament, and only the Boys Basketball Tournament, one week earlier; (2) advancing the winter postseason tournament schedule for all winter sports except skiing one week earlier; and (3) delaying the entire Boys Basketball Tournament, and only boys basketball, by one week.
The executive director suggested that more information should be provided to the Representative Council before it makes its decision for 2005, including a firm commitment regarding the availability of the Breslin Student Events Center for the Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals on alternative dates and more reliable information about the dates of spring recesses of member schools, which might be obtained by a survey of the schools during April.
Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Earl Rickman, to delay the decision regarding the schedule of winter tournaments in 2005 until the May 2000 Representative Council Meeting. Adopted.

New Business
Norris Award - The Representative Council was presented with the two finalists for the Vern L. Norris Award who had been screened by the MHSAA Awards Committee from 18 nominees. The Council selected the recipients of the award, which will be presented at the Officials Awards & Alumni Banquet on May 13, 2000.
Wrestling - Staff reviewed the successes and continuing concerns regarding the Lower Peninsula Individual Wrestling Finals which were conducted in 1999 and 2000 at the Joe Louis Arena, as well as an alternative for the future.
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Karen Leinaar, to authorize the staff to finalize a contract with The Palace of Auburn Hills for the Individual Wrestling Finals after 2001 and to provide written notice to the Joe Louis Arena before May 1, 2000, that the MHSAA will not extend its contract with the Joe Louis Arena beyond the tournament in 2001. Adopted.
Meetings - The Representative Council approved expenses for the March Council Meeting and the schedule for the May Council Meeting, May 7-9, 2000.
Beginning in 2002, the Fall Conference of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals is moving to the end of September, which is too early for the fall Representative Council Meeting. Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Norm Johnson, that the fall meeting of the MHSAA Representative Council beginning in 2002 will be scheduled for Friday morning at a site close to the Girls Basketball Tournament. Adopted.
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Eric Federico, to continue conducting the MHSAA Annual Business Breakfast Meeting at the MASSP Fall Conference, even when it moves to September in 2002, and to not conduct an MHSAA Update Luncheon Meeting at the time and place of the MASSP Fall Conference. Adopted.
Motion by Tom Rashid, supported by Dan Flynn, to approve expenses to the National Federation Annual Meeting in July as follows: room for up to six days at the specified hotel rate, per diem for up to six days at the IRS limit, conference registration as required by the National Federation, and unrestricted coach airfare for one person. Adopted.
Finance Committee Report - The Representative Council received an overview of the recent history of MHSAA finances. Highlighted was that the association in 1999-00 will pay its tournament hosts nearly twice as much as the MHSAA's total budget in 1985-86.
Also highlighted was that there are only three "profit" centers in the MHSAA: the post-season tournaments in girls basketball, football and boys basketball, which in 1998-99 had revenue in excess of direct operating expenses (not overhead) of $434,659 and $778,503 and $1,301,391, respectively. Because of the dependence on three events to underwrite all the other tournaments, programs, services and overhead of the organization, MHSAA staff is seeking business interruption insurance in the event an act of God, threat of violence or litigation would require the cancellation of part or all of one or more of these tournaments.
It was reported that from the pure operations of an athletic association, expenses have exceeded revenues through most of the 1990's and it has only been through insurance, real estate and investments that the association has been able not only to balance its budgets but also to increase payments to member schools without the sources of revenue common to other state high school associations such as membership dues, tournament entry fees, sport activity fees and sponsorship of official balls in basketball, football, volleyball and soccer.
Directors and Officers Insurance - The need to develop a replacement fund for traditional Directors and Officers Insurance was reviewed. Motion by Karen Leinaar, supported by Randy Salisbury, to approve the two-step plan recommended by the Finance Committee: (1) to double the legal defense fund by Dec. 31, 2000 by placing net proceeds of the last real estate sale in the LDF; and (2) to designate to the LDF $120,000 each year for five years from the additional revenue generated by MHSAA tournament ticket price increases recommended to become effective in 2000-01. Adopted.
Tournament Tickets - Motion by Dan Flynn, supported by Keith Eldred, to approve the Finance Committee recommended package of MHSAA tournament ticket price increases that would generate approximately $187,00 additional gross revenue each year (approximately $168,300 net), of which $120,000 per year for five years would be placed in the designated replacement fund for Directors and Officers Insurance. Adopted.
Officials' Registration Fees - It was reported that serving officials is among the most labor-intensive programs of the MHSAA and that the direct costs (not including labor and other overhead) for services related to officials in 1998-99 were $384,975 plus a small portion of the cost for catastrophic insurance, while the MHSAA received $339,420 in officials' registration fees in 1998-99. Online, credit card registration will decrease revenue from late fees and increase expenses through bank charges in 2000-01 and beyond. Current fees in Michigan, which have not increased in six years, are in the lowest one-quarter of fees in the nation.
Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by William Newkirk, to approve the Finance Committee recommendation that individual sport fees be increased from $7 to $10 beginning with 2000-01 and that the basic registration fee be increased from $15 to $18 beginning with 2001-02, resulting in $50,000 additional revenue in the first year and $30,000 more revenue in the second year ($80,000 total). Adopted.
Tournament Managers' Honoraria - According to established procedures, the Finance Committee conducted its biannual review of honoraria paid to MHSAA tournament managers. Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Earl Rickman, to approve the recommended package of changes for 2000-01 and 2001-02 that increases final managers' honoraria in five sports for a total increase of $400 per year and also establishes a policy for tournament managers who host multiple Regionals in competitive cheer and cross country. Adopted.
Tournament Officials' Compensation - The biannual review of MHSAA tournament officials' contest fees was also reported. Motion by Randy Salisbury, supported by Karen Leinaar, to approve the Finance Committee package of recommendations for 2000-01 and 2001-02 that increases fees on one or more levels of five sports for a total increase of $21,000 per year. Adopted.
Tournament Host Compensation - Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Eric Federico, to approve the following recommendations of the Finance Committee: (1) that the minimum payment to hosts of combined Baseball and Softball District and Regional Tournaments should increase from $300 to $600, which will have an impact of approximately $48,000 additional annual expense to the MHSAA; and (2) that hosts of multiple Regionals at the same site should receive 50 percent more for each additional Regional (e.g., second Competitive Cheer Regional is $150, second Cross Country Regional is $300). Adopted.
Personnel - Motion by Norm Johnson, supported by Keith Eldred, to approve the change in the pension program for all MHSAA staff and the Finance Committee's proposed compensation package for the executive director for 2000-01. Adopted.
Motion by Karen Leinaar, supported by Keith Eldred, to approve the Finance Committee recommendations for salary changes for MHSAA executive staff for 2000-01. Adopted.
Motion by William Newkirk, supported by Earl Rickman, to approve the Finance Committee recommendations for salary changes for MHSAA support staff for 2000-01. Adopted. n

---

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

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

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

Consistent with rulings of the Attorney General and Michigan Supreme Court, schools are not bound by the decisions of the Executive Committee, but the Association may limit participation in the post-season tournaments it sponsors to those schools which apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school's board of education. The MHSAA exercises no independent authority over schools or students during regular season.

Walkerville High School (Regulation I, Section 1[D]) - Request was made to allow the school, whose enrollment is 101 for 1999-00 athletic classification purposes, to permit 8th-graders to participate in the high school girls softball program.

The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that this section of the regulation had recently been revised to increase the threshold enrollment to 100 students and that it would exceed the Executive Committee's authority to, in effect, change the regulation by increasing the threshold to 101.

Fremont High School (Regulation I, Sections 4 & 5) - Request was made to waive the maximum semester limitations for a student who will have been enrolled in and received grades for eight semesters at the conclusion of the 1999-00 school year, so that the student may have eligibility in his fifth first semester and ninth total semester in the fall of the 2000-01 school year.

The Executive Committee's review of the documentation confirmed that the student had been enrolled for the maximum number of semesters permitted any student. Noting that the rule serves its intended purpose in this case, the request for waiver was denied.

Leslie High School (Regulation I, Section 5) - Request was made to waive Interpretation No. 32 for four female students who played on the boys golf team last fall. On Feb. 14, 2000, the Leslie Board of Education approved sponsorship of a girls golf team for the first time in the spring of 2000.

The Executive Committee noted that at the start of the school year, the students would not have known there would be a girls golf team in the spring and had no other opportunity to compete in interscholastic golf. Because of these factors and in the interest of promoting growth in an emerging girls sport, the Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Bridgeport High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who enrolled at Bridgeport on Jan. 17, 2000 and previously attended Saginaw-Buena Vista High School where she participated in no interscholastic athletics.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the sub-varsity level only for the remainder of the 1999-00 school year.

Buckley High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - The school appealed the decision of MHSAA staff to not sign the Educational Transfer Form for an 18-year-old, 12th-grade student who relocated in January 2000 from Yuma, Arizona to Buckley. He is living at the residence of the athletic director, which is also the temporary residence of the superintendent and his wife and their son, who relocated from Yuma to Buckley earlier in January. The student participated in four seasons of football, three seasons of baseball and two seasons of basketball in Yuma but was suspended from further participation there as discipline for an incident that occurred at a school dance in December 1999.

The school's athletic director, the superintendent's wife and a lawyer for the student met with the Executive Committee to describe the student's family, social, athletic and scholastic life in both Yuma and Buckley, arguing that the student's best educational interests have been served by the transfer.

The Executive Committee noted that transfers in the second semester of 12th grade are rarely in the best educational interests of students. In this case, the transfer followed school disciplinary action that prohibited the student from further athletic participation at that school. Furthermore, in this case, the student is enrolled in only three academic courses at Buckley along with being a student aide and taking a correspondence course. Therefore, the Executive Committee denied the school's appeal.

Central Lake High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Central Lake Junior High for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years. When her parents divorced, this student moved to her father's residence and attended Richmond High School while a younger sister resided with their mother and attended East Jordan High School until June of 1999 when she enrolled at Central Lake. When the older sister returned to live with her mother in East Jordan in January 2000, it was decided she should attend the same school as her sister (Central Lake). She participated in varsity cross country this fall as a sophomore at Richmond High School.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver pending the completion of an Educational Transfer Form by both schools, which will confirm the understanding that this student will not be immediately eligible if she relocates to her father's residence in the future.

Chelsea High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who attended Chelsea schools from 1990 until Sept. 1997, when he moved to his mother's residence and enrolled at Belleville High School. Because of an unstable home, he returned to the residence of his grandparents and reenrolled at Chelsea High School on Jan. 24, 2000. He played football at Belleville in the fall.

The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver, noting that the student had resided for two-and-a-half years with his mother and that the grandparents could not be considered the parents in this situation.

The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver for immediate eligibility at the sub-varsity level but granted the request for waiver after 90 school days of enrollment at Clawson High School for participation at any level there.

Absent any information from Burr Oak High School that is required under this section, the Executive Committee tabled this item.

Concord High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B & D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who resides in Concord and started the 1999-00 school year at Jackson-Lumen Christi High School where she did not play sports. She enrolled Oct. 27, 1999 at Concord. The request was for eligibility after 90 school days at Concord High School.

The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver to permit eligibility at any level after 90 school days of enrollment at Concord High School, but granted the request for eligibility at the sub-varsity level only during the remainder of the 1999-00 school year.

Dansville High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility at the sub-varsity level was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who lives in Leslie with her parents and enrolled at Dansville Jan. 24, 2000. She did not participate in athletics at Leslie High School.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the sub-varsity level only during the second semester of the 1999-00 school year.

The Executive Committee granted the request for eligibility in baseball only during the second semester of the 1999-00 school year.

Eastpointe-East Detroit High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility only at the sub-varsity level during the 1999-00 school year was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who was a student in the East Detroit school system through the eighth grade, began 9th grade at Harper Woods-Notre Dame where he did not participate in athletics, and enrolled at East Detroit High School for the second semester.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the sub-varsity level only during the second semester of the 1999-00 school year.

Hamilton High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who began 9th grade at Hamilton High School while living with his father in that school district. On Dec. 13, 1999, the student's father died. Subsequently, the student moved to the residence of an older sister in the district. This lasted until finances forced his sister to move in with her mother in the Battle Creek-Lakeview School District. The student moved also and enrolled Feb. 1, 2000, at Lakeview. On Feb. 10, the student moved back to the Hamilton School District to the residence of his stepfather and he reenrolled at Hamilton High School on Feb. 11.

Noting the circumstances and brief time away, the Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Hanover-Horton High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 9th-grade student who previously attended Hudson High School while living with his mother, who was jailed, and his father, who brought another woman to live in his home. The student's biological father resides in Tennessee. The student relocated to his aunt in the Hanover-Horton district in December 1999 and enrolled at Hanover-Horton High School when paperwork could be completed in January 2000.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Holt High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of an 11th-grade student who had been living with his mother in Arizona until her health deteriorated to the point of needing kidney dialysis and moving into her mother's home. As a result, the student and his younger brother have moved to their father's residence in Holt.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Lawton High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 12th-grade student who had relocated from his parents in Ohio to the residence of his aunt and uncle in Lawton and enrolled at Lawton High School Jan. 24, 2000. He participated in football, wrestling and track at the Ohio school, which is nine times larger than Lawton High School. The student had some difficulties in Ohio and had a good experience working in the summer for his uncle in Michigan, where he hopes to attend community college after his high school graduation.

The Executive Committee denied the request for waiver.

Oxford High School (Regulation I, Section 9) - Request to waive the transfer regulation was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who attended Oxford for all of 9th grade and for much of the first semester of 10th grade. The student and his family moved to Rochester but he completed the semester at Oxford High School. He enrolled at Rochester Jan. 24 and returned to Oxford High School on Feb. 9, missing 12 school days at Oxford. He did not participate in sports at Rochester.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver.

Springport High School (Regulation I, Section 9[B & D]) - Request to waive the transfer regulation to permit eligibility after 90 school days of enrollment at Springport High School was made on behalf of a 10th-grade student who enrolled at Springport March 6, 2000, having previously attended Hillsdale High School where she did not participate in athletics.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver at the sub-varsity level only during the remainder of the 1999-00 school year and, after 90 school days of enrollment at Springport High School, at any level of competition.

Flint-Michigan School for the Deaf (Regulation II, Section 11) - The school requested waiver of the starting date for competition in boys basketball during 2000-01 in order to play schools from other states in Wisconsin the weekend of Dec. 1, 2000.

The Executive Committee tabled this item to await further information.

Carney-Nadeau Public School (Regulation III, Section 1[C]) - Request was made to allow 6th-grade boys and girls to participate on 7th-grade teams during the 2000-01 school year.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver for the 2000-01 school year only.

Republic-Michigamme Schools (Regulation III, Section 1[C]) - Request was made to allow 6th graders to participate with 7th graders in boys and girls basketball and with 7th and 8th-graders in track and field during the 2000-01 school year.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver for the 2000-01 school year only.

Southfield-Faith Christian Academy (Regulation III, Section 1[C]) - Request was made to allow 6th graders to participate this school year on 7th and 8th-grade track and baseball teams at this school which has 41 girls and 27 boys in grades 7 and 8.

The Executive Committee granted the request for waiver for the 1999-00 school year only.

River Rouge High School (Regulation V, Section 3[C]) - The Jan. 28, 2000 varsity boys basketball game at Belleville High School was ended with 3:41 remaining when the officials forfeited the game to Belleville after the head coach of River Rouge was ejected for two technical fouls, a scuffle occurred between players, and spectators entered the playing area. River Rouge's follow-up report was given to the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee determined that the school's action was insufficient and that if by April 14 the school does not take more appropriate actions, then the attendance of administration and the coach would be required at an Executive Committee Meeting to explain why the Executive Committee should not take further action with respect to the school.

Kent City Community Schools - Request was made to waive, at least in the case of an 18 year old Kent City High School student, the "Legacy Program" policy which limits legacy officials to working only 7th and 8th-grade contests because there is no 7th and 8th-grade baseball or softball in the area.

The Executive Committee determined that until this student graduates from high school, he may officiate sub-varsity high school contests if he is doing so in the presence of his mentor, Bob Sarachman, as the Legacy Program requires.

Flexible Benefit Plan - Pursuant to IRS regulations for cafeteria plans, the Executive Committee approved two resolutions: (1) that the Second Amendment to the MHSAA Flexible Benefit Plan be adopted effective Jan. 1, 1999; and (2) that the Executive Director is authorized to execute the Second Amendment and any related documents on behalf of the association.

Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee - Because no candidates had declared for the Athletic Coach position on the U.P. Athletic Committee as of March 15, 2000, the Executive Committee authorized a mailing to U.P. schools to invite candidates until April 14, 2000.

"Softball games prior to Monday, April 17, may be played without umpires conducting the bat ring check if no bat ring is available."

Representative Council - The Executive Committee reviewed the schedule and agenda for the March 24 meeting.

Next Meetings - The next meeting of the Executive Committee is Wednesday, April 19, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing (with the Finance Committee Meeting to follow). Thereafter, the Executive Committee will meet Saturday, May 6, at 6 p.m. in Gaylord (with the Representative Council Meeting May 7-9); and Wednesday, June 14, at 9 a.m. in East Lansing. n

---

2000-01 NATIONAL TEST DATES

ACT Assessment

The committee made the following sites selections for district play. Class A, Marquette; Class B, Menominee; Class C, Manistique, Gwinn, Houghton, Norway; Class D, Pickford, Big Bay de Noc, Bark River-Harris, L'Anse, Bessemer and Ontonagon

Regional Tournaments: Class C, Regional 24 at Northern Michigan University; Class D, Regional 32 at Northern Michigan University; Class D, Regional 31 at Newberry High School

Quarterfinal 16, Class D: If winner at Regional 31 is from the UP, the game will be played at Escanaba. If the winner is from Lower Peninsula the game will be played at Sault Ste Marie H.S.

Tuesday, November 21, 2000--Class D, 6 & 8 p.m.

Wednesday, November 22, 2000--Class C, 6 p.m.; Class D, 8 p.m.

Because of imbalances of schools at various sites, the committee revised previous alignments so that each district would now have five schools assigned.

The Division 1 Regional tournament was assigned to Marquette High School. The Division 3 Regional will be hosted by Houghton High School at Michigan Technological University.

Cross Country, Track, Golf (Boys & Girls) ­ three divisions, as follows: Divide sponsoring Class A, B and C schools into two nearly equal divisions. Include all Class D schools as a single Division 3.

The committee recommended that the new format be implemented for the 2000-01 season. The committee reviewed a survey that was initiated by the UP Principals Association concerning UP school's participation in the Lower Peninsula Cross County Finals. Thirty-three schools currently sponsor cross country and 24 schools returned surveys. By a 13-11 vote schools favored downstate participation, but the committee felt the margin was not conclusive enough to make the change at this time.

The committee will meet in September to review Representative Council action and discuss formats for new tournament alignments.
Cross Country (Final only)
Division 1, 10 schools
Division 2, 11 schools
Division 3, 12 schools

Track & Field (Reg. & Finals)
Division 1, 11 schools
Division 2, 12 schools
Division 3, 28 schools

Golf (Final only)
Division 1, 9 schools
Division 2, 10 schools
Division 3, 21 schools

Tennis (Final only)
Division 1, 7 schools
Division 2, 7 schools

Gymnastics 1 Division - all schools

Swimming 1 Division - all schools

Ind. Wrestling 1 Division - all schools

---

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THINGS TO DO
Concluding Remarks by MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts, March 19, 2000, at the Annual Convention of the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association

While driving this morning, my wife and I heard an author talk about his new book, A Hundred Things to do Before you Die. Very thought-provoking, especially for one who turned a milestone age 19 months ago and whose wife who does so this week.
These chronological milestones cause one to begin to think about his/her mortality and retirement, and cause one to reflect upon his/her career and legacy. Perhaps this is happening to you. Whether you are near the end of your career, in the first year of your career or somewhere in between, I have two questions to pose to you today, and two illustrations to suggest for answers. First, what is it we do in high school sports? And second, how do you want to be remembered for what you do? What is it that we do in high school sports, what we call educational athletics? There is a lot that we can say, but for today I use just one illustration.
Two months ago I had the pleasure of listening to a speech by Ken Dryden who was the goalkeeper for Cornell University's NCAA Ice Hockey Champions in the 1960's, then was goalkeeper for the Montreal Canadians for eight years, became a lawyer and is now President of the Montreal Canadians. Dryden said that one of the greatest lessons of sport is that most things go wrong. They almost always go wrong. Dryden described the hundreds of times that he has watched coaches diagram plays where every defender is blocked and every pattern executed perfectly. What you learn in competition, said Dryden, is that the plans almost always go awry, the patterns almost always break down.
What you learn in sport, said Dryden, is to not get upset, but to improvise and find another way to get the puck to the goal or the ball in the net. Dryden asked, what happens to the high school student who doesn't play sports, who gets all A's, who always gets 100 percent on examinations, for whom nothing ever goes wrong? What does this person do in college when he or she gets 80 percent or 60 percent on an assignment or test? What does this person do in life when something goes wrong, as it most assuredly will? Dryden concluded, Sport is not frivolous: it's another way to learn. And ladies and gentlemen, it's a way to learn other things.
That's part of the story of what we do in educational athletics. We need to remind ourselves, and those we work for and those we work with, of what it is we do in educational athletics. Now second, how do we want to be remembered for what we do? Again, I answer with a single illustration.
Last summer, commenting on the so-called untimely death of professional golfer Payne Stewart, ESPN Commentator Jimmy Roberts (no relation of mine) noted that this was Mr. Stewart's best year. His best year professionally, his best year personally, his best year spiritually. Said Roberts: "His final days were his finest days."
When I heard that, I swallowed hard and whispered: "What about me?" What about us? If you are like me, you don't want to know when the final days may be coming. Which means we have to live each day so it may be counted among our finest days. So it can be said about us as well, the final days were the finest days. Professionally. Personally. Spiritually.
Thank you, and make the final one-third of this school year the very finest ever. n

---

LOCAL LITIGATION NOW NATIONAL ISSUE

In June of 1998, when a small, informal Grand Rapids area group filed suit against the Michigan High School Athletic Association which has prevailed in every legal action for 20 years, it may have seemed a mismatch of David and Goliath proportions. However, what began as an action to force the MHSAA to change the time of year for some of its postseason tournaments (so they would coincide with college seasons), the rules for those tournaments (to be the same as the intercollegiate level), the places the tournaments are played and even the sports for which the tournaments are conducted, has become a lawsuit that could define the scope of the Federal Government's authority in the affairs of privately funded, not-for-profit, voluntary organizations . . . with the MHSAA playing the part of David and the United States Government as Goliath.
The case is not about equity; it's about government control. More precisely, it's about a private organization's institutional integrity to conduct its activities that are not clearly illegal without government intervention. The plaintiffs advance a theory of equity -- that any difference between girls and boys programs or between high school and college programs is discriminatory ­ with which no league or statewide association of coaches or administrators in Michigan is in agreement. The lightning rod for this litigation is that the high schools of Michigan conduct girls basketball in the fall and girls volleyball in the winter, which is opposite intercollegiate seasons in all other states and Canadian provinces except Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, the smaller high schools of Virginia and the province of Ontario.
Obviously, the MHSAA schedules its postseason tournaments to coincide with schools' calendars. A 1999 survey of female student-athletes and five surveys of member schools during the past 25 years demonstrate huge support for the Michigan model.
While Michigan's high school population base ranks seventh or eighth in the nation, depending on the source, Michigan ranks fourth in the number of female high school golfers and tennis players and third in the number of female high school basketball and volleyball players. The MHSAA argues more than the considerable facts available to support the benefits of the calendar preferred by its member schools. The MHSAA asserts that the association is not subject to Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments. The MHSAA bases its argument on the fact that the MHSAA receives no federal funds directly or indirectly, a position affirmed by the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in 1982, and by a Federal District Court in Kalamazoo, Mich., in this action last January. But this Federal District Court also said it doesn't matter whether or not the MHSAA receives federal funds directly or indirectly.
The court held that schools which do receive federal funds have ceded control of interscholastic athletics to the MHSAA (notwithstanding that Michigan law prohibits schools from doing so) and that such delegation of authority to the MHSAA subjects the MHSAA to Title IX. The MHSAA has appealed the District Court's decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the US Department of Justice is intervening for the plaintiffs to try to preserve this expansive reading of Title IX. The MHSAA didn't choose and doesn't have the authority ­ practically or legally ­ to dictate what sports local schools will sponsor and when they will conduct those sports. The MHSAA has argued that the plaintiffs had the wrong target for their lawsuit. But now that the federal government has intervened in the case, it's clear that the intent is to bring even privately funded organizations under the federal government's control.
When Title IX was passed in 1972, it applied only to the specific programs of schools and colleges which were recipients of federal funds. After the United States Supreme Court affirmed that interpretation, the Federal Legislature expanded Title IX to apply to entire institutions whether or not the specific discriminatory act occurred in a federally funded program. Now, the United States Government is pursuing the interpretation that Title IX not only applies to the institutions which receive federal funds but also to any private organization to which a publicly funded institution belongs, even if that organization does not receive federal funds and even if that organization itself does not have discriminatory policies and procedures, as the US Office for Civil Rights concluded in the case of the MHSAA in 1984.
The MHSAA, David in this drama, is attempting to force the Federal Government to restrain itself within the clear language of Title IX and to force the Federal District Court to restrain itself within the controlling legal precedent of the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. None other than the Michigan Supreme Court stated in 1985 in Woodland v. Michigan Citizens Lobby: "It is the heart of the American libertarian tradition that the individual be given wide rein in structuring his relationships with other individuals, if only because the alternative of close government threatens liberty itself." That liberty is threatened in Michigan high school athletics. Even during this distraction, the MHSAA continues its pursuits of listening to its constituents and providing for them the best possible post-season tournaments and support services for educational athletics, including these exemplary activities to promote girls interscholastic athletics: If the federal government wants to exercise its muscle, why not strong-arm colleges which televise 40 to 50 men's basketball games for every one women's basketball game, and which televise every one of their Division 1 men's basketball tournament games on CBS and but a few of its Division 1 women's tournament games on ESPN. The MHSAA requires that the same network televise both its boys and girls basketball tournaments and air an equal number of games for each gender.
The MHSAA ­ a small, non-taxpayer funded organization doing admirable things for girls athletics while fighting a huge tax-supported agency looking to increase its power and purpose ­ is still the wrong target. n

---

Left ot Right: Christopher Emeott, boys basketball, Hemlock; Jon DeLong, wrestling, Byron; Kerry Kramer, boys skiing, Milford; Sarah Wild, girls skiing, Onekama; Brian Mott, boys swimming & diving, Manistique; Marcy Butkovich, girls volleyball, Burt Township; Julie Burtch, Merit Award, Marquette, Nathan Michels, Merit Award, Marquette. Not pictured are Emily Johnston, girls competitive cheer, Comstock, and Kimberly Matte, girls gymnastics, Brighton. (Photo by Gary Shook)

---

1999-00 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD RECIPIENTS HONORED
In ceremonies at halftime of the 2000 MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament Class C Final on March 25 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, 24 students were honored as the 1999-00 recipients of the Association' Scholar-Athlete Award, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.
In its 11th year of sponsoring the award, Farm Bureau awards a $1,000 college scholarship to each individual, one in each sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a postseason tournament. Front Row (L to R): Lauren M. Bramos, Grosse Pointe North, girls basketball; Charles Stamboulian, North Farmington, boys cross country; Jill Randall (representing her sister, Erin), Clio, girls cross country; Rick Bolhuis, Jenison, football; Jeffrey Craig Melville, Jenison, boys golf; Brian Horr, North Farmington, boys soccer; Michelle C. Miller, Trenton, girls swimming & diving; Kathryn Berger, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, girls tennis. Second Row: Seann Duffin, Carney-Nadeau, boys basketball; Jennifer Mosack, Armada, girls competitive cheer; Laura Barker, Menominee, girls gymnastics; Bryan R. Dery, Livonia Stevenson, ice hockey; Scott Bell, Rochester Adams, boys skiing; Martha Grant, Mt. Pleasant, girls skiing; Bradford Andrew Flora, St. Joseph, boys swimming & diving; Georgianna Golematis, Brownstown Woodhaven, girls volleyball; and Zachary Sine, Napoleon, wrestling. Third Row: Aaron Johnson, Flint Powers Catholic, baseball; Jennifer Petzko, Coldwater, girls golf; Laura Wolohan, Saginaw Nouvel, girls soccer; Katie Cramer, Frankenmuth, softball; Steven J. Jackson, Harbor Beach, boys tennis; Garrett James Dawe, Mio, boys track and field; and Carolyn Hammer, Allegan, girls track and field. Applications for the MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award for high school students graduating during the 2000-01 academic year will be available in the fall from member school athletic directors. (Photo by Gary Shook, Otsego)

---

LEGENDS OF THE GAMES RECIPIENTS HONORED
The MHSAA's Legends Of The Games program honored two schools during the winter sports season. At the Girls Volleyball Finals in Kalamazoo on March 18, Brimley was honored between the Class C and A final matches as the dominant Upper Peninsula team of the decade ranging from 1981-91. On March 25, at halftime of the Class A Boys Basketball Final game at East Lansing, the 1959 and 1960 Class A championship teams from Lansing Sexton were honored. (Photos by Gary Shook, Otsego)

---

SPRING RATING FORMS DUE MAY 26, 2000
Officials rating forms for varsity or sub-varsity baseball, girls soccer, and softball were sent in late April to all MHSAA member schools sponsoring those sports. The forms are designed to be "read" by a mark sensor scanning device. Many of the blanks already have been completed and returned. The deadline for receiving forms in this office will be May 26, 2000. Rating blanks received after this date will not be processed. Athletic directors are reminded that only one rating may be submitted for each official regardless of the number of times the official works contests for one school. Each official may receive a varsity and a sub-varsity rating from one school for working more than one level of competition. The mark sensor forms do require attention and adherence to specific preparation rules.
1. Use only a No. 2 pencil -- NO INK.
2. Fully mark each space selected.
3. Print the officials ID number and name in the space provided and fully darken the appropriate spaces under the entry. Officials ID numbers are found in the Officials Directory.
4. Indicate "Varsity" or "Sub-varsity" rating.
5. Print the school ID number in the space provided and fully darken in the appropriate spaces under the entry. School ID numbers are in the School Directory in parentheses following the school name.
6. Use only the original forms sent to your school. Copies of the form cannot be read by our equipment because the carbon properties in the copy machine ink violate the system.
7. Keep forms as neat and free of wrinkles, folds and holes as possible.
8. Athletic directors are asked to review the ratings and make copies of the ratings sent for their files in case problems develop. File copies help solve problems.
It is important that rating forms be reviewed by athletic directors before mailing to insure that they are completely and properly filled out. All schools should be positive that EITHER the superintendent OR the principal AND the athletic director OR the coach sign and review the ratings forms and that they be returned to the MHSAA office at the earliest opportunity.
NOTE: When an official receives a rating value of 5, the school must submit an Unsatisfactory Rating Explanation form to the official and to the MHSAA with the Rating Form. WITHOUT THE DOCUMENT the "5" rating will be expunged from the officials rating record.
An official may be rated as varsity and/or sub-varsity only once pre sport, per school, per year. n

---

LEGACY PROGRAM NETS 37 OFFICIALS IN 1999-00
During the 1999-00 school year, 37 high school seniors participated as MHSAA Legacy officials.

This year's class brings the total to 171 students who have become registered and active officials during their senior year of high school through the Legacy program.

The program was conceived by officials, teachers of officiating classes and staff members of the MHSAA and first implemented in the year 1992.

Each student official (high school senior) must be prepared to dedicate time to study, practice and learn officiating skills, as well as officiate 7th and 8th-grade contests. Student officials must understand the need for time commitment before they embark on this experience.

The student's guide is a veteran official who will chart the course, help arrange contests and introduce the student to the practices and procedures of officiating. Assistance with tests and clinic experiences is a part of this responsibility. The teaching guide accompanies the student official to MHSAA rules meetings.

Former athletes remain one of the basic populations from which MHSAA contests officials are developed. They enjoy athletics, have an understanding of the games and a love of the competition. In addition, athletes have an understanding and appreciation of the sportsmanship that is important to competition.

Becoming a member of the officiating "team" through the Legacy program allows students to remain connected to the sport which was enjoyed so much as a player. n

---

COMPETITIVE CHEER COMMITTEE MEETING

Coaches and Athletic Directors asked the Competitive Cheer Committee to discuss the 3-person rule and clarify what would constitute a 3-person rule violation for Competitive Cheer Coaches who coach sideline cheerleading in the fall.

The discussion focused on trying to separate differences between sideline cheerleading and competitive cheer when so many similarities exist. The committee members agreed that the skills of the sport are the same: jumps, tumbling and stunts. However, no coach should be allowed to choreograph or supervise the practice or perform a competitive cheer routine prior to the start of the season.

The committee requested staff place the 3 Person Rule in the Competitive Cheer Manual with a clarification of what constitutes a violation and what procedure to follow if a violation occurs.

Cheer judges requested the Competitive Cheer Committee address unsportsmanlike conduct. For the most part, the judges concerns included player foul language while competing or when leaving the competition area and coaches who lose control or inappropriately approach judges regarding scoring.

The discussion led to identifying and listing unsportsmanlike actions and developing a procedure for dealing with unsportsmanlike conduct. As a result, the following information will appear in the Competitive Cheer Manual:

Unsportsmanlike conduct includes but is not limited to:

Penalty: The first offense by an individual will be penalized by a safety judge and the coach will be notified. The penalty will be a 14 point deduction and it will appear on the safety judges scoresheet. The second offense by the same coach/athlete will disqualify the coach/athlete from the contest and the next day of competition disqualification procedure will apply. An Officials Report Form must be filed (14-0 in favor).

The committee was asked to review and further clarify the current language in the Competitive Cheer Manual with regard to stopping a routine because of player injury.

Based on National Federation rules with regard to blood on a player or the playing area and a discussion as to what is fair for a team in which an injury occurs, the following will be placed in the manual:

Judges will stop competition when an injury/blood warrants stoppage of the performance. The team/coach will be given the following options:

Procedure: The entire routine will be performed with the judges scoring from the point of stoppage to the end of the routine. This score will be added to the score of the performance up until the stoppage and will be submitted to the scoretable. Once the routine is performed the second time, the coach cannot elect Option 1.

Based on observations of coaches and judges at junior high/middle school competitions this past year, the following additions will be made to the appropriate section of the Competitive Cheer Manual:

The current General Impression category would be renamed Showmanship and would include judging of team confidence, overall impression and floor presence.

Many items were brought to the attention of the Competitive Cheer Committee as a result of coaches and judges observations throughout the season. The Committee pinpointed actions of coaches and competitors that cause delay, confusion, disruption or unnecessary work. The following is a listing of actions that will be penalized and appear on the safety judges scoresheet.

Based on information submitted by coaches and judges, committee members were asked to consider prohibiting the use of some skills because they may be dangerous if performed incorrectly. The skills involve the use of the head and neck area. The skill can be executed in other ways and still perform the stunt to its completion. The Committee agreed the following skills will be illegal and will appear in the Rules Book Insert.

The committee requested the MHSAA staff address the following issues at the 2000-01 Competitive Cheer Rules Meeting:

Some Athletic Directors seem to be troubled with the thought of administering a Competitive Cheer program. Relax, you made it through soccer didn't you? How hard can this be, after all it's a sport and you already know how to run basketball, volleyball, football, track baseball and softball. Not only that, Competitive Cheer is a team sport just like the aforementioned.

That's right, Mr./Ms. Athletic Director. It's like all those other team sports, but you probably won't bother with scheduling a dual meet. It's not cost effective, so just plan on sending your team to an invitational or better yet, host an invitational. You'll make money guaranteed!

If this all sounds familiar then it should also make you feel more comfortable about the sport. It's not different from the team sports you already administer. The eligibility rules are the same and the outside of season rules apply too! The only difference is that these athletes use their tumbling, jumping and stunting skills in their sport.

By the way, if you are currently paying to compete in sideline competition, that money will go farther at Competitive Cheer meets because the entry fees are generally less and some hosts charge no entry fees at all. There is no entry fee for MHSAA Regionals and Finals. n

---

 
SWIMMING & DIVING COMMITTEE MEETING

The committee reviewed the proposals from the 1998-99 Swim Committee and subsequent action on the proposals by the Representative Council.

Girls: Class A - EMU; BCD - U of M

Change the procedure for presenting awards to the following:

Awards will be given following the completion of the next event, i.e.

200 Medley Relay - after the 200 Free

200 Free after the 200 IM, etc.

50 Free medals are presented after diving

100 Breaststroke after 400 Free Relay and conclude with awards to the 400 Free Relay (16-0 in favor)