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Welcome to the November 25, 2011; edition of the MYAS Update
In this Issue
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MYAS Update Info
Our newsletter is designed to provide timely youth sports information to coaches, athletes, parents and administrators. It includes notes from the Executive Director, sport program information, calendar reminders, new service announcements and special events information. Contributions from sponsors assist us in delivering high quality youth sports services and events at the lowest possible cost and partially fund this newsletter, and certain sponsors will be featured from time to time.
Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer
THREE STEPS AHEAD OF THE ALLIGATORS
I spent the week of November 14-18 in Florida, attending the USSSA National Conference at the ChampionsGate Omni Resort and Hotel. Don't be too jealous - I never got to swing a golf club, take a dip in the pool or visit Disney World. It was all business and one meeting after the other. By the time Friday rolled around I was really looking forward to getting back to Minnesota and sleeping in my own bed. I was also anxious to get home to tell the MYAS staff about all the "new stuff" that the USSSA unveiled.
Minnesota to Host 2012 USSSA Basketball National Championships
Last fall Conrad Foss, the USSSA National Director, asked me to serve on the USSSA National Basketball Executive Committee. Since that time, I've been in a position to be the "voice" of Minnesota basketball and if you know me, you know I'm not afraid to voice my opinion on what I feel needs to be done. At the very first committee meeting, I told everyone in the room that the days of running 7-, 8- or 9-day National Championships were over. With the economy in the tank and families struggling to make their mortgage payments, we needed to figure out a way to conduct first-class events over a 3- or 4-day weekend and locate the events within driving distance for the participating teams. I am pleased to report that everyone in the room agreed with me and the result is a totally new USSSA National Championship format for 2012.
Here's what we did. We divided the country into nine geographical regions. Minnesota is located in the Northern Region, along with North and South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. In mid- to late June, we will be hosting the Boys' and Girls' USSSA Northern Nationals. (We hope to have the exact dates and locations set by no later than January 1, 2012.) Following the conclusion of the Northern Nationals, the top two Division I teams in the 6th-11th grades will earn a paid berth to the USSSA National Tournament of Champions.
But wait - it gets better. In addition to those teams advancing free of charge, they will also be given a percentage of the total entry fees in the form of travel expense money. Here's how it works: The entry fee for the Northern Nationals will be $595 per team. $150 of each team's entry fee will be set aside and added to the travel expense fund. In the end, the first place teams will get an equal share of 60% of that fund and the second place teams will get an equal share of 40% of the fund. So as an example, if we get 100 girls' teams in the Northern Nationals, that would generate $15,000 for the girls' travel fund. The top two teams in 6th-11th grades would get their $300 Tournament of Champions entry fees paid. The first place teams would each receive a travel expense check for $1,140 and the second place teams would each receive a travel expense check for $760.
At the time of this publication, the other locations for the USSSA National Championships were Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Kansas and California. We are expecting a good turnout for our Northern National here in Minnesota. More on this event as the details are finalized.
USSSA's New Motto - "Get Connected"
I was really blown away by how the USSSA has incorporated "new media" into their communications network. There isn't time or space in this article to cover it adequately, but you should be on the lookout for the following:
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USSSA's live streaming of their sporting events. Games will be live for friends and family who can watch from anywhere in the world.
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Twitter/Facebook/E-mail/Web Updates. In the coming year, we will have the capability of communicating with all of the coaches and parents via four different types of instant communication. If we have another rainy summer like last year, our baseball teams are going to love the instant notification of field conditions and schedule changes. And when the snow flies this winter, I think our basketball coaches might like to know what's happening a little sooner than waiting for our tournament director to make 50 phone calls.
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Digital Transformation. The USSSA upgraded their website and this digital transformation gives them a great new look and allows them to incorporate video, social media and much more.
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USSSA Today Online. The USSSA Today online will be a magazine style site that will be THE news source for everything USSSA. They intend to have a section dedicated to National Office news and sections dedicated to each sport, along with more interactive video.
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Got an iPhone or Android? If you do, the USSSA has developed an application that you can download on your phone to get direct access to a pile of information, news, scores, event schedules, etc.
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Live Scoring: Curious to see who's winning and who's losing while you and your team are at lunch? Just fire up your smart phone and check out the live scoring application.
Folks, I'm sort of an "old school" guy, and I haven't been first in line to adapt to today's new media options. I was the guy who resisted voice mail because I personally hate talking to a machine and I wanted our customers to talk to a real live person. I resisted having a website until we figured out that we could save some significant dollars in postage and printing costs. Cell phones are certainly convenient but I hated to be that accessible to anybody and everybody. So can you imagine how I felt about Facebook and Twitter? Well, I have finally come around to thinking that the new social media options do have a place in my life and yours. Based on what I saw at the USSSA Conference, I'd have to say that I have been an idiot for resisting those communication tools that will allow us to serve you better.
Lastly, I am patting myself on the back for having the foresight of affiliating with the USSSA. For those of you who do not know, we were the AAU affiliate for Minnesota from 1991 to 2005. When we severed our relationship with the AAU, we looked at quite a few options and we settled on the USSSA. I wanted to hook up with an organization that would always be one step ahead of the alligator and I got lucky with the USSSA. After the conference, I'm pretty sure that they are at least three steps ahead of that alligator...and widening the gap!
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations
In light of the recent scandals at Penn State and Syracuse Universities, the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services has posted a link on the front page of our website and in our Youth Sports University documents, a 55-page report from the national Centers for Disease Control, "Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations: Getting Started on Policies and Procedures." Please click here to access the report.
Strong policies and procedures, vigilant screening including criminal background checks, and constant training of coaches and volunteers are required to adequately address this ever-present danger.
Upcoming MYAS Event Registration Deadlines
Richfield Spartan Holiday Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS)
Event Date(s): December 10-11, 2011
Deadline: Monday, November 28, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament
Event Date(s): December 17, 2011
Deadline: Monday, December 5, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament
Event Date(s): December 31, 2011
Deadline: Monday, December 19, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournaments
Event Date(s): January 7 & 8, 2012
Deadline: Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Fridley Tiger Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS)
Event Date(s): January 14-15, 2012
Deadline: Monday, January 2, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament
Event Date(s): January 21, 2012
Deadline: Monday, January 9, 2012
St. Paul Humboldt Hoop Fest (admin. by MYAS)
Event Date(s): January 28-29, 2012
Deadline: Monday, January 16, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournaments
Event Date(s): February 4 & 5, 2012
Deadline: Monday, January 23, 2012
Eye of the Tiger Basketball Tournament, Fridley (admin. by MYAS)
Event Date(s): February 11-12, 2012
Deadline: Monday, January 30, 2012
MYAS Girls' Grade State Basketball Championship
Event Date(s): March 3-4, 2012
Deadline: Friday, February 3, 2012
MYAS Gopher State Basketball Winter Classic
Event Date(s): February 18-19, 2012
Deadline: Monday, February 6, 2012
MYAS Boys' Grade State Basketball Championship
Event Date(s): March 10-11, 2012
Deadline: Friday, February 10, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournaments
Event Date(s): February 25 & 26, 2012
Deadline: Monday, February 13, 2012
St. Louis Park Boys' Grade State BK Tune-Up (admin. by MYAS)
Event Date(s): March 3-4, 2012
Deadline: Monday, February 20, 2012
MYAS Youth Sports University Hosts Over 150 at National Sports Center
More than 150 people attended the MYAS Youth Sports University (YSU) which was held on Saturday, November 19 at the National Sports Center's Schwan Center. The event was co-sponsored by the NSC and was designed to educate the officers of youth sports associations (Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, Travel Directors, Coaching Coordinators, Tournament/Fundraising Directors and others) in the effective operation of their organization.
Dan Klinkhammer, MYAS Executive Director, served as the Conference Moderator and the event featured a keynote speech ("The Purpose and Promise of Youth Sports") from Jim Thompson, Founder and Executive Director of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA). Jim developed the PCA program at Stanford University and has trained over 400,000 youth and high school coaches. YSU topics and speakers included:
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Managing Your Nonprofit * Steve Olson, Chief Operating Officer, NSC
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Coach Selection and Evaluation * Mary Jo Knudson, Recreation Director, Waseca Community Education
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Volunteer Recruitment and Training * Christine Nickels, Director Junior Teams, USTA Northern
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Insurance - Liability, Sports Accident, Theft, Directors & Officers * Bob Blomster, VP, J.A. Price Agency
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Criminal Background Checks * Donna L. Ploof, Senior Solutions Consultant, Trusted Employees
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Accounting and Reporting Issues * Julie Richardson, CPA, Manager - Cornell, Kahler, Shidell & Mair
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Communication Strategy & Social Media * Barclay Kruse, Chief Communication Officer, NSC and Scott Clasen, Director of Marketing, NSC
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New MN Concussion Law and Injury Prevention * Sam Fedo, ATC, Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care
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Tournament Fundraisers & GameMaker Scheduling Services * Rich Penick, Senior Program Director, MYAS
In addition, free materials were available on:
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Nutrition for young athletes from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health
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Sportsmanship from the Sports Alliance of Minnesota
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Basketball referee and umpire training from the MYAS
MYAS Sponsors "Double-Goal Coaching" Workshop
Jim Thompson, founder and Executive Director of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), conducted a "Double-Goal Coaching" Workshop on Saturday, November 19 at the National Sports Center's Schwan Center. This clinic showed coaches how to prepare their teams to win while working on the second goal of youth sports - using competition to teach life lessons including:
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elevating your athletes' emotional state so they can perform at peak level while having fun;
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improving your athletes' performance by focusing on effort rather than results;
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effectively managing common coaching challenges (parents' expectations, executing productive practices, use of assistant coaches, playing time, losing, coaching your child); and
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teaching self-mastery skills and an "honoring the game" approach.
The PCA's national partners include the USTA, US Lacrosse, Little League, Pop Warner Football, AYSO, US Rugby, AAU and others. National spokespersons include Phil Jackson, Bill Bradley, Dot Richardson, Herm Edwards, Summer Sanders, Doc Rivers, Kerri Strug, Shane Battier, Barry Zito and many more. Since its founding in 1998, the PCA has delivered 10,000+ workshops for youth sports leaders, coaches, parents and athletes.
Jim is the author of eight books: The Double-Goal Coach; Positive Coaching; Shooting in the Dark; Tales of Coaching and Leadership; Positive Coaching in a Nutshell; Positive Sports Parenting; The High School Sports Parent; The Power of Double-Goal Coaching and Elevating Your Game. He is a member of the faculty in Stanford's Continuing Studies Program where he teaches courses in coaching, leadership and sport and spirituality.
The MYAS was pleased to have nearly 100 coaches register for this workshop, and we are proud to be an endorser of the PCA programs for coaches, athletes and parents.
MYAS-Only Deals at Radisson & Water Park of America
Get up to 20% off a room rate at the Radisson Hotel by Mall Of America and $15 water park passes at the Water Park of America! Please click here for valuable coupons.
Make sure to start planning your end of the season parties and end the year with an event to remember.
Dick's Sporting Goods MVP of the Week
We are excited to announce "Dick's Sporting Goods MVP of the Week" - the newest way that Dick's Sporting Goods is celebrating youth/amateur sports. We're recognizing the serious amateur athlete by collecting and showcasing the greatest moments in amateur/youth sports, as chosen by our customers and community.
Every week, the Dick's community picks the top amateur sports moments from all submitted videos. Submit your best moment, tell your friends, and you could win a $250 Dick's gift card for you and a $250 gift card for your local team or organization.
For more information, please visit http://www.DicksMVP.com.
MYAS Day With Gopher Women's Basketball Team
The MYAS invites you to join us for the Gopher women's basketball game on Thursday, January 19 versus Michigan State. Your discounted ticket price will include a chair back seat and, most importantly, a post-game reception with the players and coaches. This is always a fun event and we look forward to seeing you there!
Keep your eye on the MYAS website, where we will be posting more information and a ticket order form. You may also contact Jessica Christopherson at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org with your questions.
Borton's Bench Notes
This month we signed our 2012 recruits to National Letters of Intent to play for the Gophers. We are most excited about closing the borders and keeping the top Minnesota players at home. Our primary focus is on Minnesota players who can play Big Ten basketball, fit our system and help us win championships.
We would like to welcome Mikayla Bailey, Jackie Johnson and Shayne Mullaney to the Gopher family. All three bring something different to our program and they all will make an impact.
What they have in common is being great students, exceptional leaders, tough competitors and, most importantly, they want to be at the "U" and be Gophers. When a student/athlete feels this way, they show they care about their hometown school and will give everything they have. They will wear the jersey and name across the front of it with pride. They will fight and claw for "their own" University.
Throughout the recruiting process, we look for talent, toughness, character and loyalty. We found three individuals who will be great ambassadors for our program and the university.
Another factor essential for success is the support system at home. The parents tell you a lot about the player you are getting. Are they encouraging? Are they overly involved? Do they enable their children? Is there discipline at home? The list goes on.
Mikayla, Shayne and Jackie were all great during their recruitment and this told me about their maturity. They returned phone calls and emails. They came to campus. They followed up on their own...not relying on their coaches or their parents. When this happens, you know they will have an easier transition to college and working independently.
It is exciting and rewarding to sign Minnesota student/athletes. Recruiting is the bloodline to any program and sport...we will start here in our backyard first before going out of state. The only way to have a successful program is to get the best players in the state first. I can't be more excited about Mikayla, Shayne and Jackie! It's only seven months away until they join us on campus as college students and Big Ten basketball players!
Go Gophers!
Gopher Women's Basketball Hosts the Best Buy Classic
The Gopher Women's Basketball team is hosting the Best Buy Classic at Williams Arena on December 9, 10 and 11. The Classic features Alcorn State, Harvard and Minnesota.
Best Buy Classic Schedule:
Friday, December 9
Alcorn State vs. Harvard @ 1:00pm
Admission is FREE
Saturday, December 10
Minnesota vs. Harvard @ 4:00pm
Tickets only $6!
Sunday, December 11
Minnesota vs. Alcorn State @ 2:00pm
Tickets only $6!
Enter for your chance to win Best Buy gift cards at the games! Buy your tickets at www.mygophersports.com or for more information, contact the Gopher Ticket Office at 1.800.U.GOPHER.
Gopher Men's Basketball Tickets for Sale
The MYAS has tickets for sale to select University of Minnesota Men's Basketball games this year. Tubby Smith is stressing up-tempo basketball, so it should be a fun season!
Please click here for the most recent availability - more games to come as the season moves along.
Sports Medicine Tip
Why Wear a Mouthguard?
Adapted from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
Injuries to the teeth, lips and gums are some of the most common injuries sustained by athletes. These injuries affect athletes of all ages and skill levels, regardless of the level of competition. Although the risk of dental injuries is greatest in contact and collision sports, injuries are also common in non-contact sports like racquetball, volleyball, gymnastics and ice skating.
Despite the increased risk of dental injuries associated with participating in sport, many of these injuries are preventable with properly fitted mouthguards. When compared to mouthguard users, non-mouthguard users are 1.6 to 1.9 times more likely to experience a dental injury, according to recent research.
Although it has been suggested that mouthguards may also help prevent concussions, there is currently inadequate scientific evidence to suggest that they provide any protection from head injuries.
Although scientific evidence supports the use of mouthguards, many athletes still elect to participate without proper protective equipment, particularly in sports and activities where mouthguard use is not required. Barriers to use include lack of knowledge of injury risk, poor fit and perceived impairment with speech and breathing.
Several criteria should be considered when selecting a mouthguard. Generally there are three types of mouthguards:
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stock mouthguards that are not fitted;
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off the shelf boil and bite mouthguards that can be form fitted to the athlete's teeth and gums; and
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custom fitted mouthguards made by a dentist using an individual's dental impression.
Each type offers varying degrees of fit and protection. While stock and boil and bite mouthguards are less expensive, custom fitted mouthguards fit better and can be tailored to the demands of the athlete and the activity. Both the American Dental Association and the International Academy for Sports Dentistry have established criteria for a properly fitted mouthguard.
It should:
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adequately cover and protect teeth and surrounding tissues;
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stay in position during impact;
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have adequate thickness in all areas (at least 3mm) to redistribute the force associated with a blow to lips, teeth or jaw;
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allow adequate speech;
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be fabricated from a material that meets FDA approval; and
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not interfere with breathing.
A properly fitted mouthguard can prevent significant injuries to the teeth, lips, gums and jaws, and should be a standard part of the uniform for athletes at all levels of competition.
References
Academy for Sports Dentistry. Position statement: A properly fitted mouthguard. Academy for Sports Dentistry. Available at: http://www.academyforsportsdentistry.org/Organization/PositionStatement/tabid/58/Default.aspx. Accessed January 28, 2011.
Barbic D, Pater J, Brison RJ. Comparison of mouthguard designs and concussion prevention in contact sports: A multicenter randomized trial. Clin J Sport Med. 2005; 15:294-298.
At Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care we specialize in muscles, bones and joints. Convenient locations. One number to call for appointments: 612-672-7100. Institute for Athletic Medicine physical therapy appointments are available without a referral from a physician. Visit us online at www.fairview.org/ortho.
Then and Now - by Larry Gallagher
THE WRESTLING SCORING SYSTEM FOR MATCHES
Imagine if you can a wrestling match without a scoring system. If that were the case, how would we know if we have a winner of the match? Well, to my amazement and probably yours, as the history of wrestling shows, the sport did not have the precise scoring system in the past that it has now, and therefore the only way we knew the winner was by having a fall or a pin. Our folk style wrestling in the USA was just that back in the 1920s and 1930s.
Let's take a look at how things have changed since then. In 1928 the first NCAA wrestling championships took place. Those bouts lasted 10 minutes, but it wasn't that simple either. If a takedown was scored in the first two minutes, it became a 10-minute, non-stop wrestling match. If there was no takedown in the first two minutes, the wrestlers divided the remaining eight minutes into two 4-minute periods, with each period beginning in the referee's position. Each wrestler had the chance to have the top position in one of those periods. If one of the wrestlers earned a fall in the first 4-minute period, his opponent could become the winner by getting a fall in even less time with the remaining time left. Wow - you pin your guy first and he can still win? That sure is different than we have it today. Holy cow!
By the way, if neither wrestler could pin their opponent in the 10 minutes, there could be two 3-minute overtime periods, both starting in the referee's position.
How could a wrestler win? It wasn't by the most points earned. A wrestler had to win by fall - this meant putting his opponent's shoulders to the mat for three seconds or by what was called "time advantage" where he was in control of his opponent with a riding time advantage of at least one minute as long as he showed greater wrestling ability and aggressiveness.
With just some minor changes, that is how the system worked through the 1930s. The time for a pin was changed to two seconds in 1931 and now it is just one second. That one-second rule came into being in 1964.
In 1938, the NCAA changed the following items: Match length went from 10 minutes to nine minutes, divided into three 3-minute periods. There were still two overtime periods but they made them two minutes each. They removed the riding time as a factor in the referee's decision-making if there was no pin. This still meant that the only way to win was by pin or by referee's decision.
In 1941, the first point-based scoring system was introduced by Art Griffith, a long-time coach at Tulsa Central High School in the 1930s and head coach at Oklahoma State from 1940-1956. (Sidebar - during his tenure at OK State, they held their homecomings during wrestling matches and not football games.) This point-based scoring system is still in place today with just a few minor changes.
Here is the 1941 version of his proposal that was accepted: Takedown = 2 mat points; Reversal = 2 mat points; Escape = 1 mat point; Near-Fall = 4 mat points; Riding Time = 1 or 2 mat points. The next year, the near-fall changed to only 2 points.
To those of you interested in wrestling, check with your local high school and/or your favorite collegiate team. We have come a long way in making wrestling one of the greatest Olympic, collegiate and interscholastic high school sports. As a former wrestling coach, I know that these are some of the most physically fit and dedicated athletes in the world.
In Minnesota, we have nationally ranked wrestlers come through our programs and move on to the collegiate and international competition all the time. Check out Augsburg College and how they have done in the national scene in the past 20+ years in Division III.
That is enough for this issue of the MYAS Update. In the future, I will be speaking about the changes regarding Dual Meet Team Points and Tournament Meet Points.
MYAS Gopher State Wrestling
The Gopher State Wrestling Nationals have earned the reputation of being the toughest and best run tournament in Minnesota. In 2011 we had 1,008 registered wrestlers. The tournament has drawn wrestlers from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Louisiana, Michigan and California. Wrestlers from all states are eligible to participate in all Gopher State wrestling events.
The 2012 Nationals are scheduled for February 11-12. The tournament will once again be held at Monticello High School, which is quite possibly the best wrestling facility in the state.
We have some exciting changes for the upcoming tournament. Some of them include full mats for grades 3-8, bigger brackets and bigger awards.
New event for 2012: The MYAS Tournament of Champions will be held at St. Michael/Albertville High School and will draw some of the top wrestlers in the region. More detailed information will be posted here.
The Gopher State Wrestling program has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 2002. We thank you for your participation and look forward to another great season. Detailed information for the 2012 Gopher State Wrestling program will be posted soon on the wrestling portion of the MYAS website. You may also contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
Midwest Regional Swim Meet
Registration for the 2012 Midwest Regional Swim Meet opened on Monday, November 21. The 2012 Meet will be held on March 31-April 1 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. We have made many exciting changes to the meet, including a new registration process. Please make sure to visit Midwest Regional web page for information and updates.
There is also a limited supply of apparel items remaining from the 2011 Midwest Regional Swim Meet. These items are being offered at greatly discounted prices! Click here to view available items and ordering instructions, or contact Jessica Christopherson at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org.
MYAS Basketball Tournament Scheduling Services
The MYAS wants to help your basketball organization with our Tournament Scheduling Service package, which is certain to make coordinating your event much easier. Our educated and trained staff has experienced the ins and outs of event planning. Let our expertise help you!
For just $3.00 per team, the MYAS will:
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complete your tournament schedules
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post your tournament schedules online
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provide you with a copy of the schedules
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provide you with brackets to post at your site(s)
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provide you with score sheets for every game
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provide you with many other valuable services
We are also working on the possibility of providing tournament directors with remote website access so they can update scores/schedules during their tournament.
Each year, more and more tournaments utilize the MYAS Scheduling Services. We are confident that all of them will be repeat customers.
For more information about our scheduling services and to read testimonials from past customers, please click here. You may also contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org with your questions.
MYAS "Travel Lite" Basketball Programs - Save Time & Money
We often hear from coaches and parents who comment on how basketball tournaments consume an entire weekend. In an effort to give back some of that time to families, we branded some of our events as MYAS "Travel Lite."
Benefits of Travel Lite include saving time and saving money on admission fees, concessions, travel and lodging. MYAS Travel Lite programs include the Winter Jamboree, Super Saver Tournaments and the Gopher State Winter Basketball League.
For more information on MYAS Travel Lite, please contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
MYAS Grade Basketball State Championships
Even though spring is on the distant horizon, the MYAS is looking forward with great anticipation to the 2012 Grade Basketball State Championships! The tournament will be held on the weekends of March 3-4 (girls) and March 10-11 (boys), so mark your calendars now.
The MYAS is coming off a record-setting number of teams in 2011 and we hope that you will be able to participate again next spring.
All of the entry information is available on the Grade State web page. Note to Coaches: Once your team is determined, please go to the MYAS website and complete your online roster in the Coaches Control Center. As soon as your roster is completed you can determine which players still require grade verification. By completing this step early, you can save a lot of time and avoid unnecessary paperwork.
If you have any questions about the Championships or the registration process, please contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
We will see you in March for another exciting wrap-up to the winter basketball season. The Grade State Basketball Championships - no other experience compares!
MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships
Mark your calendars now for the 2012 Rec State Basketball Championships, which are scheduled for March 17-18. The registration deadline is Friday, February 24.
Sites for the 2012 tournament include Osseo, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis and others to be determined as needed.
New for 2012! The Rec State Basketball Championships will offer a division for boys' and girls' 3rd grade teams so that they can compete in the tournament against teams in their same grade.
The Championships are held for teams that participate in a city park and recreation, community education or in-house program. No traveling teams are permitted to play in this tournament! The make-up of all teams will be verified by their league director or supervisor of park and recreation.
Please click here for more information, or contact Kevin Wilson at 763-746-1712 or kevin@myas.org.
Gopher State Spring Basketball
The winter season has just begun and we wish all players and coaches a successful season. The 2012 Gopher State Spring Basketball season is not far away and we are working hard on new and exciting additions to our spring tournament offerings.
In 2012, we will be hosting the inaugural USSSA Northern Nationals. This event will be for both Division I and II teams with the top two finishers in the 6th-11th grade Division I tournaments receiving their entry fee and some travel expense money to go play in the USSSA Tournament of Champions. Watch for more information in the coming months.
The 2012 Gopher State spring season will be highlighted by 3 on 3 tournaments, one-day Super Saver tournaments, two-day invitational tournaments, four-game guarantee tournaments and the season-ending “Quest for the Rings” Gopher State Spring Championships. Quality facilities, accommodating scheduling and great competition are what you get with the MYAS.
The 12th Annual Gopher State Prep Showcase will be held on June 16-17, 2012. This is a great opportunity for high school teams to continue molding their team for next year against great competition. Come watch next season’s stars!
The 3rd Annual Gopher State All-Star weekends will see some drastic changes. We are presently recruiting people to assist in forming “all-star” teams from all over the state of Minnesota. We are looking for NW, NE, SE and SW Minnesota all-star teams and four teams to be formed from metro area players. The goal is to have eight teams in each gender and grade level representing the top players from across the state. The weekend’s festivities will also feature some changes. The All-Star weekend will begin on Thursday with two days of skills camp, skills testing and much more. In addition, we have been recruiting Junior College coaches to be the volunteer coaches of the All-Star teams. Want to be involved? Contact Rich Penick at 763-746-1724 or
rich@myas.org.
Participating Clubs: If your club is holding tryouts for your spring season and your teams will be playing with us, please contact us and we will advertise your tryouts on our website.
Are you new to spring basketball? Come to one of our free informational spring basketball meetings to find out everything regarding the Gopher State Spring Basketball season. Meeting dates and locations will be posted on our website once finalized. Check out the MYAS “Classified” section to see tryout postings.
Fundraising Opportunities: We still have a couple openings in our spring calendar. If you are interested in hosting a Gopher State Spring Basketball tournament, please contact Rich Penick at 763-763-1724 or rich@myas.org for more information.
If you want to play great competition and different opponents each weekend, be assured that trainers and tournament directors will be on site to oversee the games, and not have to pay outrageous membership fees, Gopher State is the place to play. The first weekend of play is March 31-April 1, 2012. Quality events are what we strive for. The MYAS is definitely the place to play. Don’t be fooled by imitations!
Basketball Rules of the Month
In our ongoing education mission, we would like to highlight three basic high school basketball rules. The answers appear later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link).
1. Player A1 has the ball for a throw-in. A1 rolls the ball to Player A2 who stops the ball by putting his/her foot on top of it, then bends over and picks up the ball. What is the ruling?
2. Player A1 becomes confused and throws the ball at the wrong basket. A1 is fouled by Player B1 and the ball goes into the basket. Is this a successful basket? If A1 missed, would A1 be awarded two free throws for the foul by B1?
3. With three-tenths of a second or less left in a tied game, each team is in the bonus. Team A has a throw-in on the end line near their basket. Player A1 throws the ball to Player A5 on the near block; A5 catches the ball and quickly shoots. A5 is fouled by Player B3 just prior to the period-ending horn. The ball goes through A's basket. What is the ruling?
USSSA Gopher State Fall Baseball League
The 2011 edition of the Gopher State Fall Baseball League (GSFBL) wrapped up in October. The weather this fall cooperated with us, which was a relief compared to what everyone had to deal with during the spring/summer baseball season.
During the months of September and October, 341 league teams were able to get some more baseball in before winter. We are proud to announce that the 20th season of the GSFBL was the largest in its history with more than 4,400 participants. It is currently the largest fall baseball league of its kind in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.
We also had a successful Advanced Fall Baseball League, which was administered in conjunction with the Minnesota Baseball Academy. This elite league brought together 55 teams competing at a high level of play each and every Sunday.
We want to thank all of the participants for being part of the Fall League and congratulate all of our Competitive Division Section Champions!
Information for the 2012 Fall League will be available on the MYAS website by next April. Look for more enhancements to the league, including elite/AAA, AA/A and recreational levels of play. We hope this creates a more competitive balance for all sections of play.
Please contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org with your league questions.
Gopher State Winter Baseball Training Opportunities
Gopher State Winter Training opportunities are designed to develop the skills of aspiring youth baseball players in Minnesota. Once again this year, we have partnered with the Minnesota Twins to promote their training camps and Training Academy.
The 2011-12 "one-day" Gopher State Camps will also be available in January through March. Erik Lovdahl will direct the Pitching, Battery Mates and Tryout Prep Camps and the Champlin Park High School coaching staff will direct an Overall Skills Camp.
New for 2011-12! The MYAS has also partnered with PHD Baseball to offer the Gopher State Winter Training Series at the new Vadnais Heights Sports Center. Training will be available on Saturday nights from 7:00-9:00pm. The dome is a 100,000 square foot, state of the art training facility with 65' clear ceilings. Individual skill development is emphasized in a station to station training environment. You are able to work on infield, outfield and hitting along with long toss throwing at every session.
For more information, including registration information for all the MYAS/Gopher State Winter Training opportunities, please click here. Sign up today!
Informational Meetings for the 2012 Baseball Season
The MYAS baseball staff is currently setting up informational meetings about MYAS/Gopher State baseball for associations that would like to hear additional reasons why their program should participate in our comprehensive baseball program.
If you would like to set up an MYAS/Gopher State informational meeting with your baseball association board of directors, do not hesitate to contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
Site Selection for 2012 MYAS/Gopher State Baseball Tournaments
Applications are being accepted from any association/community that is interested in hosting an MYAS/Gopher State baseball tournament or event in 2012. Hosting an MYAS/Gopher State tournament in May, June or July is a great fundraiser that attracts a large number of quality teams into your community.
Listed below are the necessary requirements the MYAS baseball staff considers when selecting our hosts:
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Quality of fields
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Past history and past performance in running tournaments
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Volunteer staff
If your association/community is interested in applying for a tournament in 2012, do not hesitate to contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
2012 Baseball Invitational Tournament Listings
Attention local baseball tournament directors: The 2012 Youth Baseball Tournament Listings page is now active. If you are a new director or need a reminder on the process, there is a brief presentation on the tournament page with instructions for adding your events to our site.
GSTC Qualifiers will be designated by January 13. Please have your tournaments posted by January 7 to be considered for GSTC Qualifier status.
Please click here to access the tournament listings page. If you have questions, please contact Tony Groff at 763-746-1728 or tony@myas.org.
MYAS Latest News (as of 11/23/11)
Baseball News
Basketball News
MYAS Calendar (as of 11/23/11)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Richfield Spartan Holiday Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS) entry deadline (Dec. 10-11 event)
Saturday, December 3, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Spring Lake Park HS
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Gopher State Winter Basketball League play date; various grades/divisions/sites
Sunday, December 4, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Colin Powell Center, Mpls.
Monday, December 5, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Dec. 17 event)
Saturday-Sunday, December 10-11, 2011
Spartan Holiday Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS); various grades/divisions; Richfield HS
Friday, December 16, 2011
Gopher State Winter BK League entry deadline for 9th/10th & 11th/12th grade teams (begins Jan. 7, 2012)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Irondale HS
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Gopher State Winter Basketball League play date; various grades/divisions/sites
Monday, December 19, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Dec. 31 event)
Monday-Tuesday, December 26-27, 2011
MN Twins Holiday Youth Baseball Training Camp; National Sports Center, Blaine
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Jan. 7 & 8 events)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; 43 Hoops Academy, Hopkins
Monday, January 2, 2012
Fridley Tiger Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS) entry deadline (Jan. 14-15 event)
Saturday, January 7, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions/sites
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Gopher State Winter Basketball League 3-game tournament; various grades/divisions/sites
Sunday, January 8, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Eastview HS
Monday, January 9, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Jan. 21 event)
Saturday-Sunday, January 14-15, 2012
Fridley Tiger Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS); various grades/divisions
Monday, January 16, 2012
St. Paul Humboldt Basketball Hoop Fest (admin. by MYAS) entry deadline (Jan. 28-29 event)
Monday, January 16, 2012
MN Twins Martin Luther King Jr. Day Baseball Training Camp; National Sports Center, Blaine
Saturday, January 21, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Osseo HS
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Gopher State Winter Basketball League play date; various grades/divisions/sites
Monday, January 23, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Feb. 4 & 5 events)
Saturday-Sunday, January 28-29, 2012
St. Paul Humboldt Basketball Hoop Fest (admin. by MYAS); various grades/divisions
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Gopher State Baseball Winter Training Camp; Pitching/Throwing; Northwestern College, Roseville
Monday, January 30, 2012
Fridley Eye of the Tiger Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS) entry deadline (Feb. 11-12 event)
Friday, February 3, 2012
MYAS Girls' Grade Basketball State Championship entry deadline (Mar. 3-4 event)
Saturday, February 4, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Bloomington Kennedy HS
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Gopher State Winter Basketball League play date; various grades/divisions/sites
Sunday, February 5, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Colin Powell Center, Mpls.
Monday, February 6, 2012
MYAS Gopher State Winter Basketball Classic entry deadline (Feb. 18-19 event)
Friday, February 10, 2012
MYAS Boys' Grade Basketball State Championship entry deadline (Mar. 10-11 event)
Saturday-Sunday, February 11-12, 2012
Fridley Eye of the Tiger Basketball Tournament (admin. by MYAS); various grades/divisions
Monday, February 13, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Feb. 25 & 26 events)
Saturday-Sunday, February 18-19, 2012
MYAS Gopher State Winter Basketball Classic; various grades/divisions/sites
Saturday-Sunday, February 18-19, 2012
Gopher State Winter Basketball League 3-game tournament; various grades/divisions/sites
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Gopher State Baseball Winter Training Camp; Battery Mates; Northwestern College, Roseville
Monday, February 20, 2012
St. Louis Park Grade State Boys' BK Tune-Up (admin. by MYAS) entry deadline (Mar. 3-4 event)
Monday, February 20, 2012
MN Twins Presidents' Day Youth Baseball Training Camp; National Sports Center, Blaine
Saturday, February 25, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Irondale HS
Sunday, February 26, 2012
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; 43 Hoops Academy, Hopkins
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Gopher State Baseball Winter Training Camp; Overall Skills; Champlin Park HS
Answers to Basketball Rules of the Month
The answers below are derived from the most recent edition of the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Book, Basketball Case Book and/or Rules by Topic publication.
1. Kicking violation on A2 for intentionally striking the ball with his/her foot (Case Book 4.29 Situation B, page 35; Rule Book 9-4, page 56).
2. No goal. The ball became dead when the foul occurred. When a player throws at the opponent's basket, it is not a try. If the team is in the bonus when B1 fouled A1, A1 is given either a one-and-one attempt or two free throws at Team A's basket. If Team A was not in the bonus, then the ball is awarded to Team A for a throw-in at the out of bounds spot nearest the foul (Case Book 4.41.2 Situation, page 37).
3. Since A5 may not control the ball and attempt a try with three-tenths of a second or less, A5 cannot score a goal and is not considered in the act of shooting. However, B3's foul cannot be ignored and is considered a common foul. A5 is awarded a one-and-one bonus free throw situation with the lane cleared. A5's free throw attempts will determine if the game is over or if an overtime period is necessary (Case Book 5.2.5 Situation C, page 42).
If you have questions about these or other basketball playing rules, please contact Buddy Hemric at 763-746-1717 or buddy@myas.org.
Important Association Services That Work!
The Minnesota Youth Athletic Services offers three important services:
1. Association and Player Sports Accident Insurance Coverage
Association liability and player accident insurance are always concerns for youth sports organizations in our increasingly litigious society. Some associations spend a lot of money and others go into denial and “run naked” without even minimal liability coverage for their members. Yet if insurance is not obtained, the personal assets of the individuals running the association may be at risk. Many sports facility managers, especially municipalities and schools, will not permit the use of their property or facilities unless it can be demonstrated that youth sports associations are covered under an insurance policy. Without insurance, the opportunity for young athletes to compete in organized sports programs may be substantially limited.
The MYAS has partnered with J.A. Price Agency, an insurance company which has access to dozens of other insurance companies and can handle any type of business or personal insurance needs that your association/board of directors may require. The insurance provides options for all types of needs within your association/community. This coverage is an advantage no amateur sports organization should be without!
Examples of coverage include but are not limited to:
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General Liability
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Sexual Misconduct
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Participant Accident
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Directors & Officers Liability
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Crime/Embezzlement
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Automobile
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Umbrella
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Workers' Compensation
General insurance questions should be directed to Bob Blomster at 952-253-4311 or bob.blomster@japrice.com.
2. Criminal Background Checks
How do we protect our children? Reports of sexual predators and child abuse involving the clergy, day care workers and youth volunteers are all too familiar. Unfortunately, this includes a disturbing number of youth sport coaches who have a history of incidents of sexual misconduct and/or violence. This is a complex issue and many youth sports organizations are unclear about what to do or how to approach this threat, yet they must take proactive steps to prevent their children from becoming innocent victims. Don’t put your children at risk!
In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that $50 billion is lost annually due to employee theft and fraud. Youth sports associations must protect themselves from this threat as well. Don’t put your association at risk!
Fortunately, youth sports associations now have a simple and inexpensive tool to avoid some of society’s worst fears. The MYAS, with its partner Trusted Employees, has designed a criminal background check system that offers three affordable options to youth sports associations. Trusted Employees, a local Twin Cities company, incorporates a “user-friendly” process combined with flexible information delivery to make this system easy and inexpensive for your organization. For more information, please contact Mike DeWane at 763-746-1716 or mike@myas.org.
3. Coaching Education Program
The MYAS has partnered with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) to offer youth sport associations and their coaches the Coaching Youth Sport education program designed specifically for youth coaches. It provides coaches with a solid foundation in coaching principles, sport first aid and sport-specific techniques and tactics. These courses are available for baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and wrestling and can be delivered in the classroom or online. For more information, please contact Mike DeWane at 763-746-1716 or mike@myas.org.
MYAS Sponsors
The MYAS is very appreciative of the support we receive from our numerous sponsors, and we would like to encourage you to support them whenever possible. Their generosity benefits you, our participants, as it helps us keep our entry and participation fees as low as possible. Please click here to view our current sponsors.
MYAS Membership Meetings
MYAS membership meetings are held at our offices (1011 Osborne Road NE; Spring Lake Park, MN 55432) on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00am (unless notified otherwise). All MYAS members are welcome to attend.
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