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This Week in High School Sports: 12/4/18
December 4, 2018
This week's show features new officials filling a need in Michigan's southeastern region, awards game balls to Marquette's boys basketball team and Hudson's girls and boys bowling teams, discusses the extended basketball sideline coaching box in "Be The Referee" and closes with thoughts from a pair of notable college coaches on what they're seeking when recruiting the high school ranks.
The 5-minute program, powered by MI Student Aid, leads off each week with feature stories from around the state from the MHSAA’s Second Half or network affiliates. "Be The Referee," a 60-second look at the fine art of officiating, comes in the middle of the show and is followed by a closing MHSAA "Perspective."
Listen to this week's show by Clicking Here.
Past editions
November 27: Defensive performances from 11-Player Football Finals, notable experiences at Ford Field - Listen
November 20: 8-player football champions Morrice and Rapid River, power of giving thanks - Listen
November 13: Port Huron Northern football, broadcasting one of the busiest championship weekends of the MHSAA school year - Listen
November 6: Three-time cross country champs, MIS as LP XC Finals home - Listen
October 30: Calumet football, changes to the MHSAA Transfer Rule - Listen
October 23: Jackson High football, "Football Week in Michigan" - Listen
October 16: Selection Sunday football primer, past playoff expansion - Listen
October 9: Pickford football, teams that finished undefeated, untied and unscored upon on the gridiron - Listen
October 2: Grand Rapids official Dolly Konwinski, "You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me" on a federal court case made by the parents of a kid who didn’t make the cut - Listen
September 25: Bronson volleyball's Kiera Lasky, the real blue-chip participants in high school sports - Listen
September 18: Hanover-Horton runner Judy Rector, countering a growing shortage of high school game officials - Listen
September 11: Alpena soccer coach Tim Storch, balancing interests of all high school athletes - Listen
September 4: Radio stations celebrating 77 years of high school sports broadcasts, and radio's importance in educational athletics - Listen
August 28: Forest Hills Central football's Tate Hallock, keeping perspective amid changing times - Listen
August 21: Lansing Everett football coach Mike Smith, MHSAA executive director transition - Listen
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NFHS Voice: 'New Normal' Sportsmanship
May 20, 2020
By Karissa Niehoff
NFHS Executive Director
The “new normal” is one of the many terms we hear repeatedly as the country begins its return to normal activities from the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping six feet apart from other people, wearing a mask and frequent washing of hands are three of those important warnings.
And then there is the new “no-no” that cuts at the heart of high school sports – the handshake. Shaking hands has been a part of our culture for centuries and a mainstream of high school sports forever. It is hard to imagine high school sports without handshakes.
In addition to emotional displays among team members involving handshakes, high-fives and hugs, the handshake has been a way of demonstrating good sportsmanship toward the opponent.
In wrestling, for instance, shaking hands before a match is actually a part of the rules, which, of course, will have to be relaxed for the coming season. There are handshakes at the coin toss in football and before the opening jump ball in basketball.
After a hard-fought, back-and-forth tennis match, players meet at the net to shake hands – congratulating each other for their efforts. The actions are the same after golfers battle each other for 18 holes – removing the cap and shaking hands.
These age-old practices demonstrate respect for the opponent, and in the case of post-game handshakes, graciousness in victory or defeat.
The emotions in high school sports are often off the chart, with end-of-game celebrations by players, coaches and fans involving handshakes, high-fives and hugs. So, as the early phases of return to sports occur this fall, how do we meet social distance guidelines and continue to exhibit emotions and emphasize sportsmanship, which typically have involved touching between individuals?
While the social-distancing and no-contact guidelines are necessary – at least for the short term – to diminish the spread of the virus, they should not dampen the enthusiasm and emotion by everyone involved with high school sports. We hope these types of restrictions will be lifted at some point down the road, but for now, this is our “new normal.”
The absence of these time-honored ways to express respect for the opponent does not diminish the importance of displaying sportsmanship in high school sports. In fact, we believe concern for fairness and displays of kindness, respect and graciousness will be more pronounced once high school sports resume; however, the methods of sharing these feelings will be different.
Although perhaps not as endearing as a handshake, high-five or hug, there are other ways to express these feelings and emotions – for the opponent as well as teammates.
Some alternatives to consider are a slight bow with the palms pressed together, an air high-five, a smile and quick wave, a double-tap of the right hand across the heart and a wink with the thumbs up. Certainly, there are other possibilities – in fact, teams could develop their own methods for demonstrating sportsmanship to their opponents and celebrating big plays or victories with teammates. Through their resilience and great spirit, we look forward to how the millions of participants in high school sports and activities will accept this challenge.
There will be many concessions necessary to resume athletic competition, and shaking hands is one that must cease – at least for now. However, let’s view this change as an opportunity to find new ways to showcase sportsmanship in high school sports.
Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff is in her second year as executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the first female to head the national leadership organization for high school athletics and performing arts activities and the sixth full-time executive director of the NFHS, which celebrated its 100th year of service during the 2018-19 school year. She previously was executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference for seven years.