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Welcome to the October 24, 2008; 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. This includes notes from the Executive Director, calendar reminders, new service announcements and special events. Contributions from our sponsors assist us in delivering high quality youth sports services at the lowest possible cost; contributions partially fund this newsletter and certain sponsors will be featured.
Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer
RESPECT IS A TWO-WAY STREET
I am simply amazed at how two people can view the same incident and come up with completely different accounts of what happened. My sympathies go out to all the cops in this world because they spend their whole career listening to both sides of stories that never seem to match up, and somehow they often wind up being the "bad guys." Let me tell you how that happens.
Every Monday morning, tournament incident reports from the previous weekend land on my desk. I try to take care of them as soon as possible but oftentimes there is a delay in trying to retrieve all the accounts of what happened. Quite frequently we have to piece the incident together like a puzzle because the "witnesses" only recall bits and pieces. Some eyewitnesses have no recollection of anything happening, while others seem to have vivid recall of something that never actually happened. Nine times out of ten we are looking at a situation that involves coaches and officials. And just as often, the only thing they agree upon is that the other party was at fault. In the end, it becomes my
fault that the official blew the call or that the coach was allowed to get out of line. Just like the police - it's their fault because they showed up to clean up the mess.
Coaches and officials have been pointing fingers at each other for ages. This isn't anything new. However, I would have to say that things have escalated quite a bit over the past decade or two and we are now in a period of major mutual disrespect. We have coaches who truly believe that officials are "out to get them" and we have officials who have substituted arrogance for authority. It works both ways, and unfortunately the good coaches and officials all pay the price for the idiotic behavior of their peers.
In my opinion, the glut of televised sports has had a lot to do with the status quo between coaches and officials. Don't believe that? There are numerous calls and no-calls in every game, but the only ones we remember are the bad calls. When coaches do something crazy we don't remember the hundreds of times they made the right decision; we dwell on the times when they don't. I have yet to hear anyone say, "Well, we'll forgive him for that mistake because he's done a pretty fair job during the rest of the game." It doesn't happen that way, does it?
To a certain degree, we have sort of a mob mentality out there. When a group of coaches gets together there's always someone who wants to get into the "official bashing" mode and see if they gain any support from the group. And support isn't hard to find because we can all relate to bad calls and no-calls. We all remember when our son or daughter got hammered and the officials turned a blind eye.
The same goes for officials. Umpires and referees often brag about how they "took care of that guy" or how they "showed him who was running the show." I personally don't think that good coaches go out and bash officials or that good officials spend much time ridiculing coaches. But this article isn't about good coaches and officials. It's about bad coaches and bad officials.
That's right, I've admitted it. There are bad coaches and officials. Why? Because anyone can drape a whistle around their neck and call themself a basketball coach or an official. Anyone can don a baseball cap and call themself a baseball coach or pull on a face mask and call themself an umpire. There's nothing in this world to prevent them from doing so.
I believe youth sports have been victimized by the almighty dollar. It has become normal and customary to put coach and official training at the bottom of the priority list. For whatever reason, our society has refused to spend the money to educate the people who coach our kids. The same low priority is given to officials. If I'm wrong, then why do all our local youth organizations use 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds to umpire and referee most of their in-house programs? Why do we let people coach when they don't have the first clue about the actual rules of the game? Why do universities spend thousands of dollars and several months to recruit and interview coaching applicants, when youth organizations typically take the first person who raises their hand to coach our 10-year-olds? Like it or not, we have created the situation we currently find ourselves in and most of us are not willing to
take that grand step to do anything about it.
In my opinion, there should be a mandatory coaches' certification program and part of that certification would include a national background check to insure the safety of our children. There should also be mandatory officials' certification that would include training in the rules of the game, mechanics and communication skills. But none of this will ever happen if people aren't willing to put their money where their mouth is. Everyone wants better coaching and officiating but nobody seems to be willing to pay for it. Coaches complain about the incompetence of the officials and vice versa. It's a vicious circle that seems to have no end.
When you add in the fact that most of the players are still learning the rules and etiquette of playing the game and parents are often equally uneducated, is there any wonder we have this division among ourselves? We're relying on amateur coaches, amateur players, amateur officials and volunteers to deliver a quality event. On paper, that looks like a recipe for disaster and far too often it winds up that way. Maybe someday we'll all wake up and start investing some time and money into those things that really matter, like coaches and officials. Maybe someday we'll realize that the money spent on coach and official training is better spent than the $150 to buy our kids a pair of the trendiest tennis shoes. Maybe someday we will be able to leave the gym or ball field and say, "The coach did a pretty good job today and the officials gave us an honest effort." And maybe someday
we'll look back on all of this and wonder how we could have been so foolish to ignore the obvious for so long.
Folks, this isn't rocket science - it's common sense. If we have untrained coaches and officials and they are working with amateur athletes with a bleacher full of uneducated parents, what can you really expect? In many ways I'm actually amazed we don't have more incidents than we do.
Do I really believe that better coaches' and officials' training will eliminate all confrontations between the two? Of course not. Sports is all about emotion and human nature. We'll never be able to eliminate bad calls. So for now, all I can ask is that we all start showing a little mutual respect. From personal experience, I can tell you that it's tougher to officiate than it is to coach, and until you've done both you won't have the same appreciation for officials as you should. It works the other way as well - officials don't know what it's like to coach unless they've tried it themselves. It's a two-way street and all of the signs along the road should read "Mutual Respect." There will always be a few fender benders, but there's no reason for any head-on collisions.
Then And Now - by Larry Gallagher
THE BASEBALL GLOVE OR MITT
Have you ever wondered how the game of baseball would be different if we removed or changed one piece of equipment that is essential to the game? Which piece would you remove or change? There are many possibilities, such as uniforms, bats, balls, gloves, footwear, helmets, bases, the pitching mound, the pitcher's plate (rubber), etc.
When I was a youngster and just getting started in the game, we only had t-shirts and caps. No baseball pants or hose. There were no batting helmets until I was in high school. In fact, some players wore a batting liner in their caps instead of a helmet. I do remember being hit in the head more than once. Not only was I unable to get out of the way quickly, it really did hurt to get hit in the head. We didn't have catcher's helmets either.
Do you remember getting your first glove or mitt? How about your first pair of baseball shoes? Or how about selecting that first bat at the sporting goods store? All of these pieces of equipment are essential to the game of baseball as we know it.
Let's look at how the baseball glove or mitt has changed the game since it began. From baseball's beginning to the present day, catching a baseball has been an important part of the game. One of the basic tenets of baseball is that all players need to be able to field, hit and run. Even though the DH rule in the American League has changed that for the pitcher and the DH position, it is still important for nine players to be able to field. Some players have taken the art of fielding to the superstar level. At shortstop, players like Louis Aparicio, Marty Marion, Ozzie Smith and present day stars like Derek Jeter have put on fielding clinics with their acrobatics. The centerfield position has had some outstanding Hall of Fame caliber players such as Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays play this position. There are many more outstanding shortstops and centerfielders I could
mention, but I hope you get the point.
When I was growing up, the New York Giants had a catcher who fielded 1.000 for the season. His name was Wes Westrum and everyone considered him one of the best defensive catchers in the game. He helped the Giants win the National League pennant in 1951 and 1954. They lost to the Yankees in the 1951 World Series and won the 1954 World Series where Willie Mays made that great catch off Vic Wertz's high drive to centerfield in the mammoth Polo Grounds. It has been replayed many times over the years to really signify how important the art of fielding is to the game of baseball.
In the beginning there were no baseball gloves or mitts. The first documented story of a glove being used was in 1875 by Charles Waitl, an outfielder for St. Louis. However, it is thought but not documented in print form that Doug Allison, a catcher for the Cincinnati Red Stockings wore the first glove in 1870 to protect an injured left hand. At first it was not considered "manly" to wear a glove.
Most of those early gloves were simple leather gloves with the fingertips cut off. They were very similar to a handball glove or today's weightlifting gloves. When Albert Spalding began wearing a glove, it influenced others to try it and by the mid-1890's it became the norm for players to wear gloves in the field. Many of them wore gloves on both hands because they could wear these original gloves while throwing the ball. Of course when the glove became too large, players stopped wearing two gloves and only the non-throwing hand glove continued to evolve.
When I was very young, I can remember going to sleep with my baseball mitt or glove on my hand and sleeping all night with it on. I loved the smell of that new leather. It was even more special after I had put some glove oil on it.
If you were or are a catcher, you know that you are one of only two players that get to use a mitt. So cherish that privilege. I always correct people who call it a glove and not a mitt. I am very protective of the privilege of being a catcher, and therefore I don't let anyone abuse that privilege by calling the fielding equipment a glove. It is a catcher's mitt.
I still have many of my gloves and mitts from when I was a kid and an adult. I have lost a few over time, and I was quite brokenhearted at the time they were lost. I still have the two mitts that I used in high school in the 1950's. They are both the Wilson mitt with Roy Campanella's autograph stamped on them. They had the dual hinge so that they could be caught two different ways - somewhat like a first baseman and also the two-handed style that the pancake catchers used. I moved on to a single break in college and then to the pancake style the rest of my adult life. When I played again in 1982 and 1983 in my early forties, I had moved on to the Wilson single hinge that Johnny Bench had made popular and more one-handed catching came into being. I have found that many good players are using this technique, but I also find that there are more passed balls than when I played as a
youngster. Too many catchers are trying to trap pitches instead of blocking them.
The use of a glove or mitt has brought about the need for rule changes in the game, such as the infield fly rule. Also, glove or mitt size has had to be limited to definite dimensions and penalties are in place for when someone attempts to use a glove or mitt outside those dimensions. As late as 1938, a first baseman could still use a glove or mitt of any size or shape. Hank Greenberg used one that was so elaborate it looked like he was using a fishing net. So before the 1939 season, the limits on the first baseman's glove or mitt were changed to what we now have (12 inches in length and eight inches across the palm). This rule change brought about the "trapper" model that most first baseman mitts are designed like today.
The catcher's mitt had no restrictions until 1965. The reason the catcher's mitt now has restrictions is because Paul Richards, manager of the Baltimore Orioles between 1958 and 1962, had a very huge mitt constructed to help his catcher, Gus Triandos, catch Hall of Fame knuckle-baller Hoyt Wilhelm during that time period. Today, the maximum measurements for a catcher's mitt are as follows:
- Height - 15.5"
- Circumference - 38"
- Top edge of web - 7"
- Web height - 6"
- Top web width - 6"
- Bottom web width - 4"
Present-day maximum measurements for a fielder's or pitcher's glove are:
- Overall height - 12"
- Palm width - 7.75"
- Web height - 5.75"
- Top web width - 4.5"
- Bottom web width - 3.5"
So the next time you watch a baseball game, think about how it has changed since its inception. Some of those changes have occurred because of the equipment that has come into the game. Two of these pieces of equipment are the glove and the mitt, and I hope you have a new appreciation of how they have impacted this great game. The players who use these gloves and mitts have made the art of defense just as important as offense and run scoring.
Gopher State Volleyball
The Gopher State Volleyball program is underway! Listed below are the nine events on our calendar for 2008-09:
November 2, 2008 * Gopher State Volleyball Fall Championships - CLOSED
January 17-18, 2009 * Winter Carnival Tournament
February 7, 2009 * Gopher State Future Stars Tournament
February 21, 2009 * Block Party
March 7, 2009 * Gopher State Minnesota Showcase
March 14, 2009 * Gopher State Season Finale
March 21, 2009 * Southern Spike Tournament @ Blue Earth, MN
April 4-5, 2009 * Gopher State Tournament of Champions
TBD * Border Battle @ River Falls, WI
If you would like more information on these events or are interested in hosting Gopher State Volleyball, please visit the MYAS volleyball web page or contact Jessica Christopherson at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org.
Football Rules of the Month
In our ongoing education mission and in anticipation of the 2008 Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship, we would like to highlight two basic high school football rules. The answers to these rules questions appear later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link). Good luck!
1. End A1 sprints from the line and then cuts sharply toward the middle of the field. A1 makes no attempt to block defensive back B1. B1 pursues A1 and pushes him from the side using his open hands. Contact is made on A1's upper arm before the pass is thrown. A1 was moving away from B1 when the contact occurred. What is the ruling?
2. An official stops the clock when he notices quarterback A1 has a bloody nose. A1 is directed to go to his team box. The coach of Team A then requests a time-out and A1's bleeding is stopped during the time-out. A1 re-enters the game with other teammates following the time-out. Is this legal?
Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship
Welcome to the 2008 Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship! We are anticipating an exciting beginning for MYAS football.
The excitement is scheduled to begin on November 1 at Blaine High School and Spring Lake Park High School. The championship will come to a close on November 8 - Championship Saturday - at Spring Lake Park High School. Please click here to view teams, schedules and results (when available).
For more information about the Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship, please contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
Basketball Rules of the Month
In our ongoing education mission, we will highlight various playing rules in the MYAS Update. Here are three basic basketball rules.
1. In which of these situations is the ball live: (a) during a free throw; (b) before the tossed ball is legally tapped; or (c) during a throw-in?
2. A technical foul by Player B1 occurs during the dead ball which precedes the second half. What is the ruling?
3. Team A is awarded a throw-in near the division line. The administering official, by mistake, puts the ball at Player B1's disposal. B1 completes the throw-in and Team B subsequently scores a goal. What is the ruling?
The answers to these rules questions are posted later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link). Good luck!
If you have questions about other basketball playing rules, please contact Buddy Hemric at 763-746-1717 or buddy@myas.org.
Basketball Invitational Tournament Books
The MYAS still has a few 2008-09 MYAS boys' and girls' basketball invitational tournament books available!
Included in the books are flyers for 110+ girls' and 130+ boys' invitational tournaments throughout the metro area and greater Minnesota. The books also feature the latest information on MYAS fall and winter basketball programs as well as important information and special offers from a number of our generous sponsors.
Supplies are limited, so if you would like to order one or more copies of the 2008-09 tournament books, please click here to download the order form.
Gopher State Fall Basketball League
The 2008 Gopher State Fall Basketball League once again enjoyed a tremendous showing with 412 participating teams. That number of teams resulted in very competitive divisions while allowing teams to play close to home. Thank you to all the registered teams and our host groups who provided the facilities and work forces. Please click here to view the Fall League results.
New Second Session for High School Teams: In an effort to bridge the gap between the end of the Gopher State Fall League and the start of the high school season, we have created a Second Session (formerly the Gopher State Winter Training Camp). Now teams will have the opportunity to play right up until 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.
For more information on the Gopher State Fall Basketball League and/or the new Second Session, please click on the appropriate link.
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 have a whopping 96 boys' and girls' teams participating in this year's inaugural event. It should be a great day of youth basketball!
The Winter Jamboree is for boys' and girls' teams in grades 4-8 and will be held on Saturday, November 1 at St. Louis Park High School and Junior High. Please click here to view the tournament schedules.
If you'd like more information, please contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournaments
Super Saver Basketball Tournaments for the 2008-09 winter basketball season will begin the first weekend in November and conclude the second weekend in March. Registration forms and other tournament information are available on the Super Saver
portion of the MYAS website. Super Savers provide the opportunity for "A" (advanced), "B" (intermediate), "C" (beginning) or "Rec" (in-house) level teams to play three quality games all in one day. The tournaments are conveniently located throughout the metro area, and games can often be scheduled to meet your needs. For more Super Saver information, please click here.
Host applications and bid information for the 2008-09 Super Saver season have been sent to the hosts of last year's tournaments. If you are interested in hosting, please contact Kevin Wilson at 763-746-1712 or kevin@myas.org.
MYAS Gopher State Winter Basketball League
Registration is now open for the 2008-09 MYAS Gopher State Winter Basketball League (formerly the BTBL and GMBL). League games will be played on December 6 & 20, January 3 & 17 and February 7 & 21. Note: The dates for the Girls' Playoffs have been changed to February 21-22, 2009. The Boys' Playoffs will take place on Feburary 28-March 1, 2009.
The Winter League provides opportunities for all levels of play. "A" (advanced), "B" (intermediate), "C" (beginning) and "Rec" (in-house) teams can all receive a quality 12-game schedule.
The league deadline has been set for Friday, November 14. Further league information and registration materials are available on the Winter League web page. If you have further questions, please contact Kevin Wilson (boys) at 763-746-1712 or kevin@myas.org or Jessica Christopherson (girls) at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org.
MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships
We are already preparing for the 2009 MYAS Grade Basketball State Championships next March! Our 2008 tournaments featured more than 1,000 teams from across the metro area and a significant increase in participation from greater Minnesota communities. We would like to wish the best of luck to all youth basketball teams around the state during your 2008-09 season, and we hope to see you at the "Big One" in March!
If you'd like more information on the 2009 Grade State Championships, please click here. You may also contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org with your questions.
MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships
Attention Park & Recreation, Community Education and In-House Directors!
Tournament brochures for the 2009 MYAS Rec State Basketball Championship on March 20-22, 2009 are now available at the MYAS office. Please contact Kevin Wilson at 763-746-1712 or kevin@myas.org to request your copy.
Anticipated playing locations include Cottage Grove, Edina, Inver Grove Heights and Minneapolis. If your athletic group or organization is interested in hosting a portion of the Rec State Championship, please contact Kevin Wilson (see contact information above).
The MYAS needs in-house directors and coaches to help promote this great state tournament to all the teams in their program! Please contact Kevin Wilson at the MYAS office if you would like to receive copies of the brochure, or if you would like us to provide your organization with a presentation on the Rec State program.
Please click here for more information on the MYAS Rec State Basketball Championship.
2009 Gopher State Spring Basketball
The MYAS basketball staff has already begun planning the 2009 Gopher State Spring Basketball season. Teams can look forward to an expanded schedule that continues into July, as well as other special events.
We are currently accepting bids to host spring tournaments. Hosting a tournament is a great way to fundraise for your organization and help offset costs for parents and schools. If your spring basketball club, school organization or team is interested in hosting a Gopher State Spring Basketball tournament, please contact Rich Penick at 763-746-1724 or rich@myas.org to receive hosting materials. Contact Rich as soon as possible, as host applications have been coming in fast and furious!
Be sure to visit the Gopher State Spring Basketball web page often for the most up-to-date information.
Minnesota Sports Medicine Tip
Returning to Basketball After Injury
by Christie Heikes, M.D.
Getting Started
Basketball players should have normal motion, strength and walking gait before returning to training and sport after injury. A cross training regimen is recommended in the interim. Cross training provides the cardiovascular fitness required for running and eventually for return to sport.
Basic Principles
Basic principles for return to basketball include a gradual increase in activity beginning with cross training, then running, followed by ball drills, full practice and finally game participation. To avoid re-injury, it is important that a proper level of fitness should be achieved before return to play.
Athletes should gradually increase distance, frequency and intensity of activities. Some discomfort can be expected; pain should be avoided. The running progression is too rapid if there is pain at night or if pain is present at the start of a run and worsens throughout, or alters gait or stride. Avoid worn out shoes without proper support, a sudden increase in training or excessive practice or play.
Slowly and gradually increase activity. Intensity and sprinting can begin after desired distance or time required for return to basketball has been achieved. Cutting and pivoting maneuvers are then added to practice, gradually followed by ball drills and shooting with the goal to return to scrimmage and game participation. Once intense training is achieved, follow the hard-easy concept by not training hard on consecutive days to avoid re-injury.
Injury Prevention Strategies
- Incorporate cross training until ready to return to running
- Listen to the body - avoid pain
- Follow the hard-easy concept of training to avoid re-injury
- Maintain proper nutrition and hydration
- Wear shoes with good support
Orthopedic surgeon, Christie Heikes, M.D., earned her medical degree and completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Heikes also completed an Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship with Minnesota Sports Medicine prior to becoming a physician member. While at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Heikes competed in track and cross country. Her experience and continued activity level give her a strong understanding of the unique challenges that face athletes and active females of all ages.
Dr. Heikes sees patients at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Eden Prairie, MN; the University of Minnesota - Riverside; and Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Heikes, please call 952-944-2519.
Minnesota Sports Medicine (MSM) is a network of sports and orthopedic physicians who treat athletes at medical clinics throughout the Twin Cities metro area. For more information about Minnesota Sports Medicine, please call 612-273-4800. To learn more, visit www.mnsportsmed.org.
GSBL Informational Meeting for Central Minnesota
The following is a letter from Tom Frericks of the St. Cloud Blue Sox Youth Baseball Association. The letter is an open invitation for baseball teams in central Minnesota to attend an informational meeting regarding the Gopher State Baseball League.
Attention all Youth Baseball Directors in Central Minnesota:
My name is Tom Frericks and I founded the St. Cloud Blue Sox Youth Baseball Association three years ago. When I founded the Blue Sox, my first order of business was to get our association into an intense travel baseball league format for kids of all ages. I contacted the Gopher State Baseball League (GSBL/MYAS) and made a commitment for our association to join the Gopher State - even though at the time it was being played out of the Twin Cities metro area.
Last summer several out-state communities joined the Gopher State. The teams from St. Cloud went from having Elk River as our closest competition two years ago to having St. Michael now as our farthest road trip. The Gopher State has been great for all we have experienced of it. Three years ago we started the Blue Sox with one 11 year old team which included 12 kids. Last weekend we held fall tryouts for next year and had 120 kids show up to become a part of what we have to offer. Much of the success of what we are offering is due to the fact that we joined the Gopher State Baseball League.
With that said, we are inviting a youth baseball representative, parent or coach from your community to an informational meeting. We will discuss the format of the Gopher State Baseball League, what it can offer your baseball association, and what you may gain as a baseball community by joining the GSBL. The meeting will be on Thursday, October 30 at 7:30pm in the basement of the Ultimate Sports Bar & Grill; 1101 Division Street; Waite Park, MN 56387.
The Gopher State/MYAS baseball staff will be in attendance to answer any and all questions about the Gopher State Baseball League. Please do not think that your community is not big enough to compete in a traveling baseball league, or that the travel is too demanding for your association. Come with an open mind, and come with your questions, comments and concerns.
Gopher State Fall Baseball League
Congratulations to all the teams that helped make the 2008 Gopher State Fall Baseball League the largest and most successful league in the Upper Midwest. This season, the MYAS offered competitive leagues as well as recreational leagues for players of all skill and age levels. More than 3,200 players from all areas of the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and western Wisconsin competed in those leagues. In the Competitive Division, we placed teams into 23 Sections so that they could compete against other teams from the same geographical area.
The MYAS baseball staff is very excited to see so many baseball players competing in the fall who are still interested in and excited about the sport of baseball. Overall, we saw more competitive games in all levels of play and even shorter travel distances for all teams in each section of play. In the recreational level, we saw more teams participating than in either of the past two years. This league provided an opportunity for so many kids to play 10 more games before the snow flies!
Listed below are the Competitive Division Section Champions of the 2008 Gopher State Fall Baseball League. Congratulations!
10U Section I * Brooklyn Park
10U Section II * Monticello
11U Section I * Stillwater-Novak
11U Section II * Blizzard Blue MN BB Academy
11U Section III * Monticello
12U Section I * White Bear Lake Bears
12U Section II * Bulldogs
12U Section III * STMA
13U Section I * St. Paul Midway
13U Section II * Brooklyn Park Taters
13U Section III * Alexandria Cardinals
14U Section I * Oakdale NSP
14U Section II * Aeros
14U Section III * Howard Lake-Waverly
15U Section I * Blizzard MN BB Academy
15U Section II * Elite Blue Blizzard (14U) MN BB Academy
16U Section I * East Twin Reds
16U Section II * Blizzard Elite (15U) MN BB Academy
16U Section III * St. Louis Park Orioles
19U Section I * Tri-City Black Sox
19U Section II * St. Francis Saints
19U Section III * Minnesota River Rats
19U Wood Bat * Centennial Cougars
Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps
We look forward to another great winter season of fun and instruction with the Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps. Click on the links below for upcoming Winter Camp dates and to access registration forms and camp flyers.
We are excited to announce that seven camp dates are set with the Minnesota Baseball Academy in Rogers, MN at the state of the art Competitive Edge Arena. This year's hitting camps will feature the latest in video technology, the Dartfish Slow Motion Video Analysis. Participants will be able to break down their swings like the pros! Hitting leagues are also available with the MBA in the months of November, December and January. What a great way to stay ahead of the competition in Minnesota!
The Lovdahl Pitching Academy will have three camp dates for pitching, fielding and catching instruction. The LPA has the latest in training techniques used by the Minnesota Twins. Erik Lovdahl is the lead instructor for the Minnesota Twins training camps, and we are excited to have him join our Winter Camp staff again this season.
Please stay up to date with the latest camp information on the Winter Camp portion of the MYAS website. If you have further questions, please contact Jeremy Barbe at 763-746-1731 or jbarbe@myas.org.
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Gopher State Winter Camps 2008-09
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Halloween Hitting Camp
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Nov. 1
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Rogers, MN
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Thanksgiving Camp
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Nov. 28-29
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Rogers, MN
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Twins Holiday Training Camp
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Dec. 26-27
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Metrodome
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Christmas Elite Camp
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Dec. 29-31
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Rogers, MN
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Martin Luther King Jr. Camp
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Jan. 18-19
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Rogers, MN
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Overall Skills Training Camp
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Feb. 8
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River Falls, WI
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Pitching Training Camp
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Feb. 14 or 15
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Roseville, MN
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Presidents Day Hitting Camp
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Feb. 16
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Rogers, MN
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Battery Mates Camp
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Feb. 28 or Mar. 1
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Roseville, MN
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Try-Out Prep Camp
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March 7-8
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Rogers, MN
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March Madness
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March 21-22
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Rogers, MN
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2009 Gopher State Baseball League
The MYAS baseball staff is currently in the planning stages for the 11th season of the Gopher State Baseball League. We are very proud of this league and we're excited to report that since its inception in 1999, it has become one of the largest traveling baseball leagues in the Upper Midwest.
If your community or association is looking for a change or a fresh start with a new league, do not hesitate to contact the MYAS baseball staff. We are in the process of contacting communities to set up meeting times to speak to their respective boards about our Gopher State Baseball programs and the benefits of participating. If you'd like your community/association to set up a time to meet with us, don't hesitate to contact Dawson Blanck, Tony Groff or Jeremy Barbe so that you and your community can be well informed about the GSBL and the MYAS comprehensive baseball program.
Prior to the 2009 GSBL season, we are seeking feedback as to whether there is an interest in an "A" level league for 10-15U teams. Please contact Dawson Blanck with any questions or comments you may have about this opportunity for next season.
We're looking forward to serving all member communities/associations as well as any new members in the 2009 baseball season!
North Star Baseball League
Attention all "A" level traveling directors and local in-house directors! The North Star Baseball League is always looking to expand into new communities each season. Just last year we added five new member communities to the league - Anoka-Ramsey, Blaine/Spring Lake Park, Elk River, Rogers and Zimmerman.
As of the 2008 season, the league hosted 82 teams at the two available age levels (7th Grade/13U and 8th-9th Grade/14-15U). Participating communities in addition to those listed above include Andover, Centennial, Coon Rapids, Forest Lake, Shoreview and Soderville.
If you would like more information regarding the 2009 North Star season or a more in-depth description of the program, feel free to contact Tony Groff at 763-746-1728 or tony@myas.org. You can also visit the North State Baseball League web page by clicking here.
MYAS Latest News (as of 10/23/08)
Halloween Baseball Hitting Camp
Twins Holiday Training Camp at the Metrodome
Volleyball Players: 5th-9th Grade Teams Needed
Brochure Now Available! 2009 Rec State Basketball Championships
Cancelled - Youth Basketball Coaches Clinic on Oct. 26
Gopher State Winter Basketball League: Date Change for Girls Playoffs
Basketball Coaches Wanted
Fall Basketball League Information
Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship
Are you looking for a basketball team to play on?
MYAS Position on Waivers and Renegade Teams
Insurance - USSSA Basketball
MYAS Calendar Updates (as of 10/23/08)
Sunday, October 26, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament registration deadline (Nov. 8 play date)
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 play date
Monday, October 27, 2008
MYAS Twin Cities Football Championship registration deadline
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 registration deadline (Nov. 9 play date)
Saturday, November 1, 2008
MYAS Winter Basketball Jamboree
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Gopher State Baseball Halloween Hitting Camp
Saturday, November 1, 2008
MYAS Twin Cities Football Championship play date (7th & 8th grades)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament registration deadline (Nov. 15 play date)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 play date
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Gopher State Fall Volleyball Championship
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 registration deadline (Nov. 16 play date)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
MYAS Twin Cities Football Championship play date (7th grade)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
MYAS Twin Cities Football Championship play date (8th grade)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament
Saturday, November 8, 2008
MYAS Twin Cities Football Championship play date (7th & 8th grades)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament registration deadline (Nov. 22 & 23 play dates)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 play date
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 registration deadline (Nov. 23 play date)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Gopher State Winter Basketball League registration deadline
Saturday, November 15, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 play date
Saturday, November 22, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament
Sunday, November 23, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament registration deadline (Dec. 6 & 7 play dates)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Gopher State Fall Basketball League Session 2 play date
Sunday, November 23, 2008
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament
Friday & Saturday, November 28-29, 2008
Gopher State Baseball Thanksgiving Hitting Camp
Answers to Football Rules of the Month
1. Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight. The contact may be a block or warding off the opponent who is attempting to block by pushing or pulling him. However, if the receiver is not attempting to block or has gone past or is moving away, it is illegal for the defender to use hands in the manner described. In this situation, it is clear that A1 is no longer a potential blocker on B1 (NFHS Rule Book 2-3-5a page 28 and 7-5-7 page 63; NFHS Rules by Topic 9.2.3 Situation A page 163).
2. A1 must remain in the team box for at least one down. A time-out called after the official stopped the clock for an injured player does not allow the injured player to remain in the game (NFHS Case Book 3.5.10 Situation A page 25).
Answers to Basketball Rules of the Month
The answers below are derived from the National Federation of State High School Associations 2008-09 Basketball Rules Book, Basketball Case Book and/or Rules by Topic publication.
1. The ball is live in all three situations (Rule Book 6-1-2 page 47; Case Book 6.1.2 Situation A page 48)
2. Start the second half by administering the free throws for the technical. The last free throw is followed by a throw-in at the division line from the side opposite the table. The possession arrow is not reversed. The opportunity for a throw-in under the alternating-possession procedure is not affected by the foul (Rule Book 6-4-5 page 49 and 8-5-2 page 54; Case Book 6.4.1 Situation B page 49).
3. No correction can be made for the mistake by the official after the throw-in ends (Case Book 7.5.2 Situation A page 57).
If you have questions about 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 RHR Information Services (RHR), has designed a criminal background check system that offers three affordable options to youth sports associations. RHR, 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
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MYAS Membership Meetings
MYAS membership meetings are held at our offices (4111 Central Avenue NE, Columbia Heights 55421) on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00am (unless notified otherwise). All MYAS members are welcome to attend.
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