 |
Welcome to the May 28, 2010; edition of the MYAS Update
In this Issue
Pass it on
Know anyone who might be interested in our newsletter? Click here to forward this email to up to 5 friends at once.
|
|
|
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 at the lowest possible cost and partially fund this newsletter, and certain sponsors will be featured.
Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer
Preface
In response to my last article, "Playing Time Debate," I received quite a few comments from parents of kids who weren't getting their fair share of playing time. One of the letters touched me deeply, as the parent was in a quandary over what to do when a child loses his love of the game because he isn't getting the chance to play. And when the kid does get his chance to play, he doesn't deliver like the parent knows he can. The child has lost his confidence. He has lost his swagger. He has lost the desire to be the best he can be. He hides his tears on the way home.
The parent says, "We go to practice, we go early to games, and he shows up ready to play with the hope that this will be a new game. We have played several games now, no wins yet, and no change for him. He has lost ALL confidence in himself, comes in off the field with his head down, sits on the bench, is now striking out, does not talk to anyone and believes his coaches hate him. I am at a loss on what to say or do. How can I turn to him and again say, 'You'll get your chance, don't worry'?"
PRACTICE BUILDS CONFIDENCE
There's no doubt in my mind that success breeds confidence and failure builds self doubt. Been there, done that. Every athlete needs to prepare himself for the competition that lies ahead and the way we do that is through practice. The way to get off the bench is to perform when we get the chance. The way to stay in the line-up is to perform positively on a regular basis. And practice is the best way to gain the confidence that you'll need when your moment arrives. And I'm not an advocate of limiting practice time to just the organized team practices.
The term "practice" could easily be changed to "repetition." When you practice, you do things over and over again until you get it right, and that's why so many athletes don't like practice. If the more talented athletes "get it" on the first, second or third repetition, they get bored and practice just isn't fun anymore. However, just because they think that they have mastered a specific task doesn't mean that specific skill is going to come spontaneously a day, a week or a month later.
If you ask any football coach, they will tell you that they want their players able to run plays in their sleep. They want everything to become second nature. The reason that we practice and the reason that we repeat skill drills and game situations in practice is so that the athletic task we are asked to perform is familiar and we are comfortable with the situation at hand. All sports require a specific set of physical skills in order to play at a high level, but familiarity is what gives us the comfort to execute those skills. But what happens when team practices just don't sharpen those skills enough or don't build enough confidence to perform at an acceptable level? Read on.
My answer is very simple: practice more. When your kid has some talent but just doesn't seem to be able to perform when needed, it's time to get busy in the back yard, in the driveway or at the nearest park or ball field. Yep - it's time for some one-on-one instruction. Think about it. How many fly balls or ground balls or swings does your child get during their team practices? Probably not as many as they need to build the skill and confidence necessary for success on game day. If your kid is an infielder, they need to field 100 ground balls a day, not just 10. If they're an outfielder, they need to catch 100 fly balls a day, not 10. They need to learn how to field balls to their left, to their right, up high, down low and right at them. And they need to do that over and over again, until it becomes second nature. They need to keep doing it until they have mastered it and they need
to do it until they get bored with how easy it has become. If they can get to that point, they will most likely feel more comfortable when it's time to execute those same skills in a game and their chance for success is exponentially higher.
Start out slow and keep it fun. The building blocks for confidence start with a solid foundation of skill and success. If you are teaching your child to field ground balls, don't start off by hitting rockets at them. Start off with grounders you know they can handle and then build up to those screamers. Don't move on to harder hit ground balls until they have mastered the slower ones. The same goes for fly balls. The same goes for hitting. The same goes for every skill that needs to be taught and mastered. Let the kid master the game one step at a time. Let them get bored. Make them tell you to hit harder grounders and higher fly balls and throw faster pitches.
Nobody starts out typing 120 words a minute. We all learn one step and one drill at a time and then we repeat those drills until we eventually reach our maximum output. The same goes for any kid learning any sport. Make it a game. How many ground balls can you field before making an error? Can you throw 10 strikes in a row? How many diving catches can you make today? Keep it fun but make it a challenge so that they feel a sense of accomplishment when they are done.
When I was a kid, I did not have the luxury of having a father who would play catch with me every day, but I did have a neighborhood full of kids who loved to play football, basketball and baseball. We played one sport or another all the time. The sheer repetition of running, throwing, hitting, pitching and fielding in those sandlot games was enough to teach all of us what we could do and what we couldn't do. When there weren't enough kids to play a game, we played work-up with whoever showed up and when we were all alone, we'd take a rubber ball and field the bounce-backs off the garage door.
My point is that there is always a way for a kid to sharpen their skills and build some confidence if they have a mind to do so.
To the parent referenced in the preface: If the coaches aren't giving your son the chance to pitch or play an infield position, then for the time being tell your son to concentrate on being the best outfielder on the team. Use this situation to his advantage. If he can make a couple of running catches, a couple of diving grabs and a few good throws to the cutoff man, his stock will go up. When he's at the plate, nobody cares about what defensive position he's playing. All they care about is seeing him make good contact and producing a positive at-bat. Tell him he needs to do his best whenever he's in the game, regardless of where he plays on defense. It will eventually work itself out. Start off by reminding him that Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Kirby Puckett were all outfielders.
Twins Tickets Available
The MYAS has secured a large block of seats for the Twins game at Target Field on Thursday, July 15 versus the Chicago White Sox. There are approximately 90 seats left for sale which will be sold on a first come, first served basis until they are gone. If you haven't been to Target Field yet you definitely need to get there in this inaugural season and as fast as tickets are selling, this might be your only chance! Please click here
for the order form. Any questions can be directed to Dan Craighead at 763-746-1727 or dc@myas.org.
Borton's Bench Notes
Editor's note: Coach Borton is taking some well-deserved time off before gearing up for the 2010-11 Big Ten basketball season. She will return with a new article in the July 2 issue of the MYAS Update.
Sports Medicine Tip
Jammed Fingers & Finger Sprains Common in Sport
By Jamie Peters, M.D., CAQ, Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care
If you've ever jammed your finger trying to catch a ball, you know how painful it can be. Even more important, jammed fingers and finger sprains can be severe and result in torn tendons or fractures.
How to Manage a Finger Sprain
Assess the situation. If the injured finger can be moved fairly easily the injury is likely mild and the athlete may be able to continue to play. If not, discontinue play and follow the steps below.
Ice the affected area. Submerge the jammed finger in ice water for five to ten minutes until the finger is numb or apply ice to the joint to reduce pain and swelling. Continued application of ice to the swollen and painful area for 15-minute durations up to every two hours for the initial two days may also be helpful to reduce swelling and pain.
Support the joint using athletic tape. Buddy tape the injured finger to an adjacent finger to provide support and protection. Apply a thin strip of tape above and below the injured knuckle. Continue to tape for 7-10 days following injury to provide extra support and protection during physical activities.
See a doctor if the finger is deformed or severely swollen (especially if the swelling is at the middle joint). The inability to fully straighten the end of the finger may be a sign of potential tendon damage and a doctor's opinion is advised to appropriately address and treat the injury. An x-ray may be taken to determine if the finger is fractured and if there is further damage to tendons or ligaments.
About the author
Jamie Peters, M.D., CAQ, provides non-surgical orthopedic and sports medicine care to patients of all ages at Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care throughout the Twin Cities. He provides care for a broad spectrum of muscle, bone and joint conditions with the goal to maximize performance, prevent injury and return individuals to sport and daily life activities as quickly as possible.
At Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care we specialize in muscles, bones and joints. Convenient locations. One number to call. 612-672-7100. fairview.org/fsoc
Then And Now - by Larry Gallagher
THE TIES THAT BIND US
When I think about some of the ways that we are all bound together, I think of religion, politics and sports. Usually, if you and I were to discuss religion we would probably end up in a heated debate that could bring us both close to tearing apart our friendship. If we were to discuss politics we would again wind up in a never-ending or winless discussion that could lead to disrupting our closeness. When discussing sports, even though we would not always agree on our favorite or the best players in those sports, we would never end our friendship over these disagreements.
So the premise of this month's article is how sports discussions are "Ties that Bind Us" together in a strange and mysterious way.
It has been said many times to never discuss religion and politics. It's as true today as it always has been. However, it is always safe and admirable to have discussions about sports. In fact, I am going to make a statement for baseball as the universal tie that binds us together as a nation. It has been said that if you want to understand America and Americans, you must first study baseball and how it has become a part of the American history and scene.
I am saying that baseball connects all Americans - both male and female. When growing up, we all had our favorite players and teams. We may have collected baseball cards that kept us trading for our favorite players or at least for excellent players who were not our favorites but who we could learn about. My boyhood friends, Mark Meka and Mickey McMartin, had a running (albeit friendly) feud over who was the best center fielder of all time. Mark had Duke Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Mickey had Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees and I had Willie Mays from the New York Giants. (In fact, all three players are part of a baseball song with their names - Willie, Mickey and the Duke - prominent in the tune.)
Mark loved Duke Snider because he played in Ebbets Field and the Dodgers were often in the World Series against the Yankees. Mickey loved Mantle and the Yankees because they always seemed to be in the World Series. I loved Willie Mays and the Giants because they were always trying to beat the Dodgers and occasionally did, and because Mays was probably the most exciting player of his era. He could field better than the other two and always seemed to get a clutch hit when the Giants needed it, and he was one of the first black players that I had seen when he was a minor leaguer with the Minneapolis Millers.
Naturally our favorite teams ended up being the teams that each of them played on. We had countless disagreements over the merits of these three teams and we always did everything we could to portray our guy and our team in the best possible light. Through our devotion to them and their teams, we learned the "universal language" of baseball.
Let's look at the language of baseball that permeates American language. I once read a story written by Lesley Hazelton in her New York Times "Hers" column. When she emigrated from Israel to America, she had never seen a baseball game in her life and her friends took her to a game at the old Yankee Stadium on Catfish Hunter Day. There was a brass band playing that day, and she saw the beautiful green grass at Yankee Stadium and witnessed Catfish thanking everyone for how his baseball career had blossomed. He considered himself to be standing on the hallowed ground that Lou Gehrig had played on along with the Babe. After he received his gifts and thanked a number of people including his catcher, Thurmon Munson (who had been killed in a plane crash just a few weeks earlier), he received a standing ovation.
Hazelton described the day as the perfect American day in the perfect American place, and Hunter's speech was the perfect American statement in thanking God for making him a ballplayer. She said it was the day that she truly began to understand this mythical place called America.
She gorged herself on three hot dogs, two bags of peanuts and three glasses of beer and after nine innings, she said she was amazed at how much she already knew about baseball. She states that she had played a similar game as a schoolgirl in England (where she was born) and it was called "rounders." She had picked up a lot of American idioms from people she worked with in Israel after leaving England, and she notes a variety of places where her language was just like that spoken in America.
She says she picked up the American lingo because of the many baseball terms that we use to describe many everyday things; she said she would touch base, give a ballpark figure, strike out and reach first base long before she ever realized they were baseball terms. Hazelton further states she could be out of the ball game and out of the ball park altogether. She could play ball - even hardball when she had to. There were times when she climbed the walls and accused others of being off the wall. She goes on to say that she had developed the talent of throwing the occasional curve ball in an argument.
On that September Sunday in Yankee Stadium, the American language loaded the bases and gave her a grand slam home run. It came alive for her, and with it, the American culture. Baseball suddenly became her code to understanding this culture and the key to the continent. She knew that she had really arrived when, one day, she found herself looking out the window and realized she had just finished the all-American fantasy of most young baseball players: 7th game of the World Series, three runs down, bases loaded, two outs and she was up to bat. She takes a strike on the first pitch. The crowd is roaring. She takes another strike on the next pitch. The crowd roars even louder and then the third pitch arrives, right where she wants it, and...
If we look at statistics dating back to the turn of the 20th century to today, we can continue to compare the players and statistics from yesteryear and today. These stats give all of us ammunition to come up with who we think the greatest players and greatest teams are, and anything you can think of in regards to the game of baseball. Many people use the statistics to win bets. For instance, we use stats to prove our point on batting averages, home run outputs, win/loss percentages and so on. Of course this happens with other sports too, but they really don't go back as far into history as professional baseball. Another source of argument could be in the comparison of the importance of baseball to America as opposed to other sports, such as football or auto racing or basketball.
Who are your favorite players and teams from your childhood? Why do you love them? Prove to me that you really believe your player is better than your friends' favorite players.
Well, that's all for this month. I hope to return next month with the history of the baseball bat and some points on why wooden bats are better to use than non-wood or metal bats, which could lead to more never-ending dialogue.
MYAS Gopher State 7 on 7 Passing League
TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
The second annual Gopher State 7 on 7 Passing League, which is designed for 7th grade through high school football teams, will commence this summer. League play will begin the week of June 7 and will wrap up the week of July 26.
This year's league will offer two playing sites. Both sites will be limited to a total of 12 teams and the entry deadline is May 31, so be sure to sign up soon. Please keep checking the football portion of the MYAS website, as new information will be posted periodically. You may also direct your questions to Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
Football Rules of the Month
In our ongoing education mission, we would like to highlight three basic high school football rules. The answers appear later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link).
1. The chains are erroneously set before the enforcement of a dead-ball foul instead of following enforcement. Up to what point can this be corrected?
2. Team A has third down and seven yards to gain at Team B's 30. Player A1 leaps near the sideline to catch a pass near B's 30-yard line. A1 is driven out of bounds backwards by Player B2 while making the catch and lands outside the sideline at B's 32. What is the ruling?
3. During a fourth-down scrimmage kick by Player K1 from Team K's 40, Player R1 is first to touch the kick beyond the neutral zone where he muffs it at R's 30-yard line. The kick is recovered by Player R2 at R's 10-yard line. Following the muff by R1, while the ball is loose there is holding by K2. What is the ruling?
MYAS Grade State Basketball Championship Apparel Sale
Prices have been SLASHED on all remaining 2010 MYAS Grade State Basketball Championship apparel! Please click here to access a list of items still available.
Gopher State Spring Basketball
The 2010 Gopher State "Quest for the Rings" Spring Basketball Championships are nearly complete and several champions have already been crowned. The girls' and boys' 9U-10U championships were held on May 1-2 and the boys' 11U-12U and girls' 11U-19U championships took place on May 15-16. The 2010 championship season will conclude on June 5-6 with the boys' 13U-19U events. Come out and witness some great basketball as teams play for the chance to win the championship rings from Jostens!
After the Spring Championships, get your team ready to compete against teams from around the Midwest in the MYAS Gopher State "Border Battle" tournament on June 19-20, followed by the Gopher State Prep Showcase on July 17-18.
We are searching for the top 40-60 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th grade players to participate in the inaugural Gopher State All-Star Celebration Weekend. Nomination forms are available online as well as at each of our weekend tournament locations.
It has been great watching all the teams playing spring basketball so far this year. There are so many talented teams and players participating at all age levels that Minnesota should continue to be a hotbed for college recruiters for years to come.
We'd like to once again sincerely thank you for your participation in MYAS tournaments this spring and we wish all of you good luck in your upcoming tournaments. Remember to have fun, play fair and take it hard to the rack! We look forward to seeing you in the gym.
Gopher State Spring Basketball Championships
All of the Spring Championships played so far have featured fiercely competitive basketball across all ages and levels. Congratulations to these Gopher State champions and runners up!
Girls 10U/4th Grade Division II
Champion: MN Thunder 4 *** Runner Up: Woodbury 4
Girls 10U/4th Grade Division III
Champion: Raiders - Andrea *** Runner Up: Urban Stars - Davis
Girls 11U/5th Grade Division I
Champion: Minnesota Lady Monarchs *** Runner Up: MN Stars - Jones
Girls 11U/5th Grade Division II
Champion: High Impact *** Runner Up: Forest Lake
Girls 11U/5th Grade Division III
Champion: Chaska Hawks *** Runner Up: Coon Rapids
Girls 12U/6th Grade Division I
Champion: MN Thunder *** Runner Up: Charity Warriors
Girls 12U/6th Grade Division II
Champion: MN Heat Lund *** Runner Up: Saints
Girls 12U/6th Grade Division III
Champion: Rogers Royals *** Runner Up: ABA Jaguars
Girls 13U/7th Grade Division I
Champion: Wisconsin Fury *** Runner Up: MN Stars - Nelson
Girls 13U/7th Grade Division II
Champion: G7 Hawks *** Runner Up: Minneapolis Urbans
Girls 13U/7th Grade Division III
Champion: Southland *** Runner Up: MN Crush
Girls 14U/8th Grade Division I
Champion: Grand Forks *** Runner Up: High Octane
Girls 14U/8th Grade Division II
Champion: High Impact *** Runner Up: MG Lightning
Girls 14U/8th Grade Division III
Champion: Andover Huskies *** Runner Up: Bemidji Gym Rats
Girls 15U/9th Grade Division I
Champion: East Metro Energy *** Runner Up: Rochester Shock
Girls 15U/9th Grade Division II
Champion: SM Magic *** Runner Up: RRV Wildcats
Girls 16U/10th Grade Division I
Champion: SM Magic *** Runner Up: MN Thunder
Girls 16U/10th Grade Division II
Champion: Buffalo White *** Runner Up: Lakers
Girls 16U/10th Grade Division III
Champion: Fire *** Runner Up: MDB
Girls 17U/11th Grade Division I
Champion: Lakes Area Starz *** Runner Up: Thunder
Girls 17U/11th Grade Division II
Champion: Buffalo Black *** Runner Up: JRB - Julius
Girls 17U/11th Grade Division III
Champion: MN Slam *** Runner Up: MN Heat
Boys 9U/3rd Grade Division II
Champion: Magic Gold 9U *** Runner Up: Maple Grove Magic
Boys 9U/3rd Grade Division III
Champion: Rogers Royals *** Runner Up: TC Bulldogs 3
Boys 10U/4th Grade Division I
Champion: Eden Prairie EPX *** Runner Up: MN Ballers 10U
Boys 10U/4th Grade Division II
Champion: U Stars Londell 4 *** Runner Up: Lakeville North Panthers
Boys 10U/4th Grade Division III
Champion: MN Hustle 10U *** Runner Up: Hastings Raiders
Boys 11U/5th Grade Division I
Champion: 11U Northern Xposure *** Runner Up: 43 Hoops Carr
Boys 11U/5th Grade Division II
Champion: Urban Stars Crystal *** Runner Up: St. Francis 5th
Boys 11U/5th Grade Division III
Champion: Farview 5 *** Runner Up: SE MN Magic
Boys 12U/6th Grade Division I
Champion: 12U Northern Xposure *** Runner Up: GET Redmen 12U
Boys 12U/6th Grade Division II
Champion: Chaska Hawks *** Runner Up: Perkins Stars
Boys 12U/6th Grade Division III
Champion: Maple Grove *** Runner Up: Real St. Paul 6
MYAS Gopher State Basketball Prep Showcase
The 2010 MYAS Gopher State Prep Showcase will be held on July 17-18 at Lakeville South High School. We are pleased to announce that we have two teams from Australia coming to play in this event! We have also recently heard from a team from Valdez, Alaska that is hoping to make the trip to Minnesota. Don't let your team miss out on the excitement of this year's Prep Showcase!
We have added an open division for summer teams in addition to the separate small school (A and AA) and large school (AAA and AAAA) championship brackets that are offered. Come compete this summer in the air conditioning at Lakeville South High School in front of college coaches and recruiters!
Prep Showcase brochures were mailed to every high school in the state. If you haven't received your brochure or are interested in receiving further information, please contact Rich Penick at 763-746-1724 or rich@myas.org. You may also click here to download the entry form.
2010-11 Basketball Invitational Tournament Books
Information for the 2010-11 MYAS basketball invitational tournament books is now available on the MYAS website. If you are interested in having your basketball tournament flyers included in the books or if you would like to purchase your copy of the boys' or girls' book, please click here to access all of the necessary information and forms.
MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League
Information for the 2010 MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League is posted on the MYAS website. Last year we had more than 425 registered teams in grades 4-12. The Fall League was developed as and is intended to be a "tune-up" for winter travel/school basketball, and it is always our hope that teams will enjoy the experience the league provides.
Mark your calendars now and make your plans to join us on September 19 & 26 and October 3 & 10. Come see why the Gopher State Fall Basketball League is the largest fall basketball league in the state!
Look for complete registration materials to be posted by the end of June.
Second Session for High School Teams: In an effort to bridge the gap between the end of the Gopher State Fall Basketball League and the start of the high school season, we have created a Second Session. Now teams have the opportunity to play right up until their tryouts. Players can work on their skills and conditioning and coaches will be able to observe the players in game situations. The Second Session is not a league - your team can play on any or all five of the available dates in October and November.
For more information on the Gopher State Fall Basketball League and/or the Second Session, please click here. You may also contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org with your questions.
MYAS Winter Basketball Jamboree
The MYAS Winter Basketball Jamboree was created to provide newly formed traveling basketball teams with an opportunity to play multiple scrimmage games in one day. We had a whopping 96 boys' and girls' teams participate in the inaugural event, and the 2010 Jamboree should feature another great day of youth basketball!
The Winter Jamboree is for boys' and girls' teams in grades 4-8. This year's event will be held on Saturday, October 30 at the Bloomington Jefferson HS/Activity Center, where there are seven full-sized wood courts under one roof! More detailed event information will be available in the coming weeks.
If you would like more information in the meantime, please contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
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. The throw-in pass deflects off of Player A2. As A2 and Player B2 are attempting to retrieve the loose throw-in pass, A2 illegally pushes B2 from behind and is called for a foul. Team B is in the bonus. What is the ruling?
2. Player A1 ends the dribble and passes the ball to Player A2. (a) While the ball is in the air; or (b) after A2 has control, A1 charges into Player B2. What is the ruling in each case?
3. Players A1 and B1 foul one another at approximately the same time. The contact occurs during: (a) a live-ball situation; or (b) a dead-ball situation. What is the ruling in each case?
Gopher State Baseball Spring Invitationals
Congratulations to all of the teams that have competed in the Gopher State Baseball Spring Invitational tournaments. The top two placing teams in all of our Spring Invitationals have earned automatic berths to the Gopher State Tournament of Champions in July.
Here are the champions of our early season events!
10AA - Osseo/Maple Grove Storm White
11AA - Anoka-Ramsey Tornadoes
12AAA - St. Cloud Blue Sox
12AA - STMA Knights Blue
13AAA - Sioux Falls Cyclones
13AA Red - Champlin/Dayton Rebels
13AA Blue - WAA Royals Black
14AAA - Brooklyn Area Bulldogs
14AA - Union Hill
15AAA - Shoreview Mustangs
15AA - Eden Prairie Eagles
Minnesota USSSA Baseball State Championships
Still Looking for a Baseball Tournament?
The Minnesota USSSA Baseball State Championship is a traveling/in-house baseball team's opportunity to qualify for a USSSA World Series event. At no other tournament in Minnesota can you qualify for your respective 2010 USSSA Baseball World Series/National Tournament as well as the Gopher State Tournament of Champions (GSTC) at the 10-17/19U age levels.
The USSSA Championships combine competitive teams, great venues and an outstanding tournament experience and atmosphere for everyone involved, which are not found at typical invitational tournaments. This will be a tremendous event to participate in regardless of whether a traveling/in-house team's intent is advancement to a USSSA World Series or qualifying for the GSTC.
You do not need to pre-qualify for the USSSA State Championship; it is open to any Minnesota team. For more information, including tournament dates and sites and an entry application, please click here to access the Championship web page. You may also contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
Gopher State Baseball Tournament of Champions
Gopher State Tournament of Champions (GSTC) qualifier time is already here! Just as a reminder, all tournaments that are designated as GSTC qualifiers on our youth baseball tournament web page will have the opportunity to award two automatic berths to the 2010 Gopher State Tournament of Champions. Teams finishing in third or fourth place may have berths passed down to them if either of the top two placing teams is not able to participate in the GSTC.
Keep up to date on tournament standings on the GSTC Standings Page that will be updated continuously as the tournament season progresses.
Good luck to all the teams in the qualifying season, and we hope to see you in the 2010 Gopher State Tournament of Champions!
Gopher State Baseball Umpire Clinics
Another year of Gopher State Umpire Clinics has come and gone. A big thank you goes out to the umpires who attended the clinics to better prepare themselves for our youth baseball programs. We'd also like to thank our terrific and enthusiastic umpire instructors for all of their hard work and dedication to help make us all better. More than 550 umpires were trained through the Gopher State Umpire Clinics in 2010!
See below for comments from some of our participants:
"Just wanted to say that the clinic that I was at this morning is one of the best that I have ever been a part of."
"Thank you very much for facilitating such a first class clinic. I have heard nothing but good things from the guys."
"I gotta tell ya, that 4 hour umpire clinic I was at this morning was, in one word to sum it up: PHENOMENAL! Even though it was only 4 hours and they really needed more time. I can now say that of all the "clinics" I've attended, and some were pretty darn good ones too, that this one to date tops them all!"
"I just want to let you know that I thought the umpire clinic was great. I learned a ton of info and will highly recommend this to anyone thinking of getting into umpiring. You and your staff kept things interesting, funny and moving along. I feel much more confident now after attending this clinic."
We'd like to again thank our participants for the opportunity to teach and train tomorrow's umpires today! It was a great year of education for all. Next year we will be tweaking the clinics so that we are always adding something new. If you have any ideas you would like to share, feel free to email Jeremy Barbe with your thoughts.
Have a great summer and keep checking the MYAS website and future issues of the MYAS Update for rules and training opportunities. For more information, including dates and sites of future clinics, visit the Gopher State Umpire Training Clinic web page. You may also contact Jeremy Barbe at 763-746-1731 or jbarbe@myas.org.
MYAS Rec State Baseball Championships
Here's a great opportunity for all in-house/recreational baseball teams to participate in a State Tournament! The Rec State Championships will be held on July 30-August 1 and will feature six divisions and a three-game guarantee.
This will be the first year we will be offering a 16-18U division! All of the details are available and eligibility questions can be answered on the Rec State Baseball web page.
Last year we saw 128 metro area teams in five different age divisions have a blast competing for a state championship title. Reserve your local in-house/recreational teams a spot in the 2010 Championships! The brochure is available by clicking here. Each tournament is limited to the first 32 teams.
For the fourth year, the Ramada Mpls. NW/Grand Rios will be the proud sponsor of the Championships. They will have awesome room rates with water park passes available for your entire team's year-end celebration.
We are excited for another year of fun and competition at the 2010 Rec State Championships. Please contact Jeremy Barbe at 763-746-1731 or jbarbe@myas.org for more details on this great event!
Gopher State Fall Baseball League
The Minnesota Youth Athletic Services will host its 19th annual Gopher State Fall Baseball League on Sundays from September 12 through October 10 this year. Players may register as individuals, as a group or as an entire team. The league will be USSSA sanctioned for insurance purposes; each team will be covered under a USSSA team insurance policy.
Each Fall League team will consist of no more than 15 players and is guaranteed two games each Sunday afternoon. The league fee is $85 per player (Competitive and Recreational Leagues only), which includes a team jersey, hat and team insurance. If you are signing up a complete team or a group of six or more players together, the entry fee is just $80 per player. Entry fee information for the Advanced Fall Baseball League (see below) will be available on the Fall League web page.
All athletes ages 9-19 are eligible to participate, regardless of whether they were on a traveling or in-house team, or even if they did not play at all in 2010. The age determining date is May 1, 2011 for the Competitive Division only. Use players' 2010-11 grade level for the Recreational Division.
The MYAS and the Minnesota Baseball Academy will also host the 2nd annual Advanced Fall Baseball League for athletes ages 14-18. This league attracts the best competition while providing exposure and opportunities for each individual athlete during the fall season.
More information about the Gopher State Fall Baseball League and the Advanced Fall Baseball League will be available on the Fall League web page within the next few weeks.
MN Baseball Academy To Hold Blizzard Baseball Tryouts
Blizzard Baseball is a Minnesota-based elite baseball program focused on giving players an avenue to compete at a high level against players from other states and regions. Players compete in a full fall schedule including a season-end fall tournament (14U-18U) and have the opportunity to travel around the U.S. starting in October.
Blizzard Elite: MBA's comprehensive baseball experience, with ages 12U-18U playing a full AFBL (Advanced Fall Baseball League) season before heading into their winter season that includes traveling tournaments, full practice regimen, college consultations, varsity showcases and more.
Fall Blizzard: MBA's fall-only baseball teams (9U-18U) which practice in August, play an AFBL fall season in September and a Skills Competition Day, College/Pro Showcase and Blizzard Tournament in October.
BLIZZARD QUICK FACTS:
- 11 National Championships (two in 2009)
- 35 Top Four Finishes in national tournaments since 2003 (10 in 2009)
- 100% of seniors have had the opportunity to play at college/pro level
- 2010 Blizzard seniors earned over $400,000 in academic and baseball scholarships
Former Blizzard players include: Brad Hand (Florida Marlins), Chase Hentges (Kansas City Royals), Joe Loftus (drafted MN Twins/Vanderbilt University), Ryan Hander (drafted LA Dodgers/Nebraska), Justin Gominsky (University of Minnesota), Madison Boer (Oregon), Andy Johnson (Bradley University), Kash Kalkowski (drafted TB Rays/Nebraska), Ryan Bollinger (Philadelphia Phillies).
Go to www.minnesotabaseballacademy.com now to sign up and secure your spot in the Blizzard Tryouts!
MYAS Latest News (as of 5/27/10)
MYAS office will close at noon on May 28 and will reopen at 8:00am on June 1
Basketball Tournament Openings
July 15 Twins vs White Sox Group Tickets For Sale
Fairview Offering Sports Physicals for High School Athletes
Fall Basketball Questionnaire
Basketball Invitational Tournament Book Info Available
2010 Grade State Basketball Apparel Sale
Midwest Regional Swim Meet Apparel Sale
Basketball Jamboree Info
2010 Youth Baseball Tournaments & GSTC Qualifiers
Are you looking for a basketball team to play on?
Insurance - USSSA Basketball
MYAS Calendar (as of 5/27/10)
Saturday-Sunday, May 29-30, 2010
USSSA Basketball National Qualifier; various ages/divisions & sites
Monday, May 31, 2010
Gopher State 7 on 7 Football Passing League entry deadline (begins June 7)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament entry deadline (June 12 event)
Friday-Sunday, June 4-6, 2010
Minnesota USSSA Baseball State Championships; 10-11AAA & 15AA; various sites
Saturday-Sunday, June 5-6, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Championships; boys 13U/7th-19U/12th; various sites
Saturday-Sunday, June 5-6, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Invitational Tournaments; various ages/divisions & sites
Monday, June 7, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Basketball Midwest Border Battle entry deadline (June 18-20 event)
Monday, June 7, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament entry deadline (June 19 event)
Monday, June 7, 2010
Gopher State 7 on 7 Football Passing League begins
Friday-Sunday, June 11-13, 2010
Minnesota USSSA Baseball State Championships; 12AAA, 10-13AA & 11A; various sites
Saturday, June 12, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament; various ages/divisions & sites
Monday, June 14, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament entry deadline (June 26 event)
Friday-Sunday, June 18-20, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Basketball Midwest Border Battle; various ages/divisions; Hopkins
Friday-Sunday, June 18-20, 2010
Minnesota USSSA Baseball State Championships; 10A, 12A & 13A; various sites
Saturday, June 19, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament; various ages/divisions & sites
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Gopher State Baseball Tournament of Champions entry deadline; 10-13AA & 15AA (July 9-11 event)
Friday-Sunday, June 25-27, 2010
Minnesota USSSA Baseball State Championships; 14/15A, 14AA, 13-15AAA, 16U Open & 17-19U Open; various sites
Saturday, June 26, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament; various ages/divisions & sites
Monday, June 28, 2010
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament entry deadline (July 10 event)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Gopher State Baseball Tournament of Champions entry deadline; 10-15AAA & 14AA (July 16-18 event)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Gopher State Basketball Prep Showcase entry deadline (July 17-18 event)
Answers to Football Rules of the Month
The answers below are derived from the most recent edition of the National Federation of State High School Associations Football Rules Book and/or Football Case Book.
1. Once the ball is legally snapped, it is too late (Case Book 5.1.1 Situation B page 35).
2. The covering official must make the following decisions: Did B2's action cause A1 to land out of bounds? If the official determines that B2 caused A1 to land out of bounds, then the official must determine forward progress in the field of play and should not stop the clock. If, however, the clock is stopped it should start on the ready because forward progress was stopped in the field of play. If A1 would have landed out of bounds of his own accord, it is an incomplete pass and the clock should be stopped (Case Book 4.3.3 Situation B page 34). COMMENT: When any receiver is close to the sideline and is contacted by an opponent, the covering official must make a decision about where he would have landed without the contact.
3. If the penalty is accepted by R, the down would be replayed from K's 30-yard line. If the penalty is declined, R will put the ball in play first and 10 from its 10-yard line, the spot of recovery (Case Book 5.1.3 Situation B page 37).
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 Rule Book, Basketball Case Book and/or Rules by Topic publication.
1. This is not a team-control foul since team control had not been established. B2 is awarded a bonus free-throw situation (Case Book 4.19.7 Situation C page 30).
2. The foul on A1 in both (a) and (b) is a team-control foul. Team B is awarded the ball for a throw-in at a designated spot nearest to where the foul occurred (Case Book 4.19.7 Situation D page 30).
3. In (a), it is a double personal foul and in (b), it is a double technical foul. No free throws are awarded in (a) or (b) and play resumes at the point of interruption (Case Book 4.19.8 Situation A page 30).
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:
- General Liability
- Sexual Misconduct
- Participant Accident
- Directors & Officers Liability
- Crime/Embezzlement
- Automobile
- Umbrella
- 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 952-393-1929 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 952-393-1929 or mike@myas.org.
MYAS Sponsors
MYAS Membership Meetings
MYAS membership meetings are held at our offices (4111 Central Avenue NE; Columbia Heights, MN 55421) on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00am (unless notified otherwise). All MYAS members are welcome to attend.
|
|
