Sportsmanship Summits Return in November

September 27, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A focus on high school student sportsmanship, during and also outside of competition, will highlight this fall’s Michigan High School Athletic Association annual Sportsmanship Summit series, which will run during the first two full weeks of November.

The MHSAA has conducted Sportsmanship Summits across Michigan for more than 20 years and again will visit four sites this fall. The Summit series kicks off Nov. 5 in Traverse City and finishes Nov. 14 in Ann Arbor.

MHSAA staff, with assistance from school administrators and the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, conduct Sportsmanship Summits. More than 1,000 students from more than 100 schools are expected to take part in the four workshops, where they will discuss the line that separates good from bad sportsmanship, both as athletes during competition and when it comes to cheering at athletic events. Instruction will be based in part on insights gained during the Student Advisory Council’s Battle of the Fans competitions, which annually began recognizing the best student cheering section in Michigan during the 2011-12 winter season. Details for BOTF VIII will be introduced during all four Summit stops.

This fall’s Summits again will feature hands-on breakout sessions and opportunities for students to meet with and discuss sportsmanship with local game officials, who will explain sportsmanship from their points of view and how they may differ from what students experience as competitors or fans. Members of the Student Advisory Council have developed and will instruct during another breakout session and also play a role in the opening all-Summit presentation. To conclude the Summits, the delegation from each participating school will meet to develop a sportsmanship campaign to implement upon returning to school.

Sessions will take place at the following:

• Traverse City – Nov. 5 – Grand Traverse Resort – 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Saginaw – Nov. 7 – Saginaw Valley State University – 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Grand Rapids – Nov. 12 – Crowne Plaza Airport – 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Ann Arbor – Nov. 14 – Sheraton Ann Arbor Hotel – 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Registration at each site is limited to the first 250 students and administrators. Schools are welcome to bring as many as 10 total representatives, including two administrators. For additional registration information, contact Andy Frushour at the MHSAA office – [email protected] or (517) 332-5046. Registration information also is available on the MHSAA Website.

Update Meeting Series Returns for 45th Year

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 7, 2022

The Michigan High School Athletic Association will conduct its 45th annual Update Meeting series during September and October, and this year’s schedule will again offer in-service programming for athletic directors at six of the seven locations.

The Update series is annually attended by more than 800 school administrators. During the meetings, information about current MHSAA activities is disseminated, issues affecting interscholastic athletics are discussed and attendees are surveyed on various topics.

Six luncheon meetings are scheduled in the Lower Peninsula, and a morning meeting is scheduled for Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl will address high school superintendents, principals, athletic directors and school board members on a variety of topics at these meetings. Update Meetings also provide school administrators an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any recent changes in the Association's rules and regulations.

This also will be the 20th year of Athletic Director In-Service programs conducted during morning-long sessions prior to most of the Update Meetings. These workshops are designed to help prepare those administrators for the rigors of their jobs, and with the Update Meetings offer those in attendance an opportunity to meet with administrators from neighboring school districts with whom they normally are not able to have day-to-day contact.

The meeting in Marquette on Oct. 21 also will serve as the Annual Business Meeting for the MHSAA. The registration form for Athletic Director In-Service and Update Meetings is available on the “Administrators” page of the MHSAA Website.

Here is a schedule of the 2022 Update Meetings: 

• Sept. 13 – Four Points by Sheraton, Kalamazoo (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Sept. 19 – Ukrainian Cultural Center, Warren (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.) 
• Sept. 26 – English Hills Terrace, Comstock Park (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Sept. 27 – Zehnder's Restaurant, Frankenmuth (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 3 – Otsego Club & Resort, Gaylord (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 5 – DeWitt Banquet & Conference Center, DeWitt (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 21 – Northern Michigan University Superior Dome, Marquette (10 a.m.)