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Welcome to the October 29, 2010; edition of the MYAS Update
In this Issue
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MYAS Update Info
Our newsletter is designed to provide timely youth sports information to coaches, athletes, parents and administrators. It includes notes from the Executive Director, sport program information, calendar reminders, new service announcements and special events information. Contributions from sponsors assist us in delivering high quality youth sport services and events at the lowest possible cost and partially fund this newsletter, and certain sponsors will be featured.
Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer
20 YEARS LATER
Who'd have thought it was possible? On December 31 of this year, the MYAS will have completed 20 years of service to the Minnesota youth sports scene. Twenty years ago, I spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day painting the first ever MYAS office. It was easy to paint that space because we didn't have a desk, a telephone or a file cabinet in that office. As I climbed up and down that ladder a thousand times, I kept wondering where the new year, the new decade, the new century would take me. I wondered if Minnesota was ready for a new nonprofit agency dedicated to youth sports. I wondered if I would be up to the task ahead and I wondered how this journey would end, hoping that it wouldn't be ending before it ever got started. Yep - I had more questions than answers.
Now, nearly 20 years later, a lot of those questions have been answered but new ones pop up with every event, every email and every telephone call. Every time I start feeling confident that we have accomplished our mission, I get brought back to reality when I realize how much more needs to be done. I have a small sign in my office that reads, "Never forget where you came from." It reminds me that past results are no indication of future success. It reminds me that the next 20 years will be a bigger challenge than the last 20, and the effort needed to maintain is the same as the effort needed to create.
Twenty years ago, I was 38 years old and full of energy, enthusiasm, dedication and desire. Well, I'm older now and my energy level may be somewhat curtailed but my enthusiasm, dedication and desire haven't peaked yet. There is still more to do than what's already been done. I love the fact that there is always a new frontier, a new challenge, a new problem to be solved and a new hurdle to jump over.
But the one thing that makes me want to continue to do this job is the people. I have the unique privilege of working with parent volunteers who serve as association officers and coaches. I have the unique opportunity to interact every day with people who actually want to be doing what they are doing. Nobody is involved with youth sports unless they want to be and that makes my job very rewarding. And I have the privilege of seeing more smiles on kids' faces than any carnival worker on earth. Yes, I have seen plenty of tears on the playing field too, but most of those tears were easily dried with an ice cream treat at the local Dairy Queen on the way home. Kids are pretty resilient and that's one thing that hasn't changed in 20 years.
There is, however, a lot that has changed over the past 20 years. Here is a short list of some of those changes.
- In 1991, there wasn't any 4th grade traveling basketball and only a handful of 5th grade teams were being supported by their local associations. Now, we actually see a few 3rd graders popping up on some of the 4th grade teams.
- In 1991, nobody was even talking about doing background checks on their coaches. Now, over 90% of the baseball and basketball associations wouldn't dream of NOT doing background checks on their coaches.
- Two decades ago, traveling sports were reserved for only the absolute best athletes. Now, it's standard practice for associations to form A, B and C level traveling teams, thereby tripling the number of kids benefiting from the traveling experience.
- My kids were ages eight and five when we opened the doors to the MYAS. They are now 28 and 25 and according to them, I am getting dumber every day and it won't be long before I'll need a walker and a feeding tube.
- In 1991, cell phones were only for the rich and famous. They were the size of a cement block and you couldn't get any reception inside any buildings. Now, every kid in junior high and above has a cell phone and it fits in just about any pocket.
- The 1991 MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships had a total of 22 participating teams. The 2010 tournament had 1,115. So in 20 years time, we've gone from roughly 220 kids playing in that event to more than 11,000.
- In 1991, event registration and tournament communications were all done via the US Postal Service and the information took days to go back and forth. Now, we communicate in a matter of seconds with the click of a button.
- In 1991, we were paying our basketball officials $10 per game. Now, the ceiling for basketball officials is $25-30 per game, depending upon the event. In addition, we didn't have anything to do with the training of officials in the early days and now we train more than 800 basketball referees and 600 baseball umpires each year.
- Our first computer wasn't really a computer - it was a word processor that was about the size of a small refrigerator. A mouse was a furry little creature living in your basement and a virus was a medical condition.
- In 1991, we had three employees and we were greener than Grandma's tomatoes in May. Today we have 16 full time staffers with a combined 186 years of MYAS work experience - that's an average of 11.6 years of experience per employee.
Yes, a lot of things have changed over the past 20 years. Our local and national political and economic scenes seem to change on a daily basis. Our insatiable hunger and thirst for new technology seem to be never-ending. And the second generation of MYAS participants is starting to come through the gates. Yes, that's correct - those 5th graders that played in the 1991 Grade State Basketball Championships are now in their early 30s and their kids are now participating in our programs.
We've come full circle and we are still here. So here is a great big THANK YOU to everyone for supporting our efforts over the past two decades. It has been our pleasure to serve you for the past 20 years.
I probably won't be around for the arrival of the third generation of MYAS participants. Nope - when the third generation comes through the door, I'll be retired and probably looking for my lost golf ball or chasing that elusive 30-point buck or fishing for that 15-pound walleye. By that time, I'll probably have my very own assigned seat at the local Senior Center and there is a good chance I'll be the crusty old guy in the stocking cap and parka at my grandkids' baseball games. And when my grandkids ask me what I think about how youth sports are being conducted for their generation, I'm going to ask them one question before I answer theirs. I'm going to ask them a very basic and simple question that should take precedence over all other related factors: "Are you having fun?" If they say that they are, then I'm going to tell them that somebody is doing something right and I
approve. If they tell me that they aren't having fun, then I'm going to grab my cane and beat the living daylights out of whoever is responsible.
Thanks again for the last 20 years, and here's a thumbs up for the next 20.
Water Park of America Tickets Still Available for November 14!
Our event at the Water Park of America on Sunday, November 14 is not sold out yet! There are plenty of wristbands available for what should be five hours (3:00-8:00pm) of great afternoon/evening family fun. Wristbands are available for just $10 and will be mailed to you in advance so you can walk right into the water park on the day of the event.
Proceeds from this event go to support the MYAS as well as our partner charity, HopeKids.
You may purchase wristbands at the MYAS offices in Columbia Heights or by printing off the event flyer and sending in your check. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Craighead at 763-746-1727 or dc@myas.org.
Visit the MYAS on Facebook!
We are excited about our new social media opportunity - Facebook! Check it out and "Like" our page to gain access to pictures, program updates and other exciting news.
You must have a Facebook profile to view our page. To get started, go to www.facebook.com and sign up for a free account. If you already have an account, simply login and search for the "MYAS" page.
As our fan base grows, discussion topics can also be added. We look forward to connecting with our participants and families in this new venture! If you have questions about the MYAS Facebook page, please contact Jessica Christopherson at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org.
Borton's Bench Notes
By Pam Borton, Head Coach
University of Minnesota Women's Basketball
How does that saying go? "The grass is always greener on the other side." This statement can mean a lot of different things to you and where you are in your life, your profession, your emotions and your circumstances. If you are feeling like everyone else is better off than you are, you may be dissatisfied with many elements in your life.
One reason I chose this topic for this month's newsletter is because recruiting is a hot topic 365 days a year. It is important to close the borders in Minnesota and keep the best players home to represent the state and play for the Gophers. I remind myself when I am traveling around the nation, looking at players, that we have good players in Minnesota that can help us win and compete for a national championship, just like we did a few years ago. So in recruiting, the grass isn't always greener in finding the right and best players to reach our goals.
Another reason I chose this topic is because we all have control over our own effort and attitudes in our daily lives in all we do. This may help your grass stay green instead of turning brown. As coaches, we tell our players that we are not responsible for coaching effort and attitude. That is up to them to bring their positive attitudes and their work ethic and tremendous effort level to practice every day. These are the minimum expectations you should have for yourself. Luckily, this has happened for us this year in our practices.
The color of your grass is up to you. Water, soil and sunshine make healthy grass. Attitude, effort and passion make a healthy person. We all need to take responsibility and be accountable for our own effort and attitude on a daily basis in life - at home, at work and with family and friends. You should search for your own green grass and do what you think will satisfy your life, and it's probably doing what you are doing...with a positive attitude and consistent effort.
Sports Medicine Tip
Stretching
By Paresh Ghodge, M.D., CAQSM
Stretching is commonly promoted as a method to improve performance, prevent injury or decrease muscle soreness in athletic activities. However, recent research shows that stretching may not provide these benefits as previously thought.
There are different types of stretching:
- Static stretching is the traditional technique in which a person applies a constant stretch to a muscle for a short period of time. This helps lengthen the muscle and improve flexibility over time. A muscle, in the resting state, has some amount of tension or recoil. Excessive stretching before athletic activity can decrease this tension, thereby reducing muscle performance and increasing risk of injury.
- Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a stretching technique in which a muscle group is first passively stretched by a partner and held in this position. The muscle is then actively contracted against resistance while in the stretched position, and is passively stretched again. This cycle is repeated numerous times. PNF can markedly improve flexibility.
- Dynamic stretching uses short spurts of muscle elongation in the form of exaggerated and controlled movement that lengthens the muscle while it is active. Examples include arm swings, slow long strides and leg swinging. Dynamic stretching can help in a warm-up by increasing muscle temperature. The specific muscle activation in dynamic stretching can improve muscle power and explosiveness.
Stretching by itself is not shown to prevent injury or improve performance. A well-balanced exercise program involving aerobic exercises, resistance training, core strengthening and stretching will improve performance in athletic activities.
In summary, dynamic stretches should be performed before athletic activity to warm up the body without causing fatigue. This prepares muscles for higher level activity. Static stretching is most beneficial after activity to increase flexibility. The goal of stretching should be to prevent excessive stiffness, keeping in mind that more flexibility is not necessarily better.
About the author
Paresh Ghodge, M.D., CAQSM, is a non-surgical orthopedic and sports medicine physician who cares for patients of all ages with muscle, bone and joint conditions at Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care locations in Elk River, Zimmerman and Princeton. He provides medical coverage for the Minnesota State High School League; Rogers, Elk River and Zimmerman High Schools and the Twin Cities Marathon.
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
MDA's Stride & Ride School Challenge
Your school can help the 1,700 people in the Twin Cities area living with neuromuscular diseases! Join the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Water Park of America in a fight against these diseases and the hope for a cure. Get your school involved and you can win dollar prizes and a water park party for your school! Click here for more information.
Then And Now - by Larry Gallagher
FOOTBALL - TRULY AMERICA'S GAME
Although football was not strictly invented by anyone in America, it has truly become America's game in popularity. Just like baseball, football has its roots from English sources. However one man, Walter Camp - "the father of American football" - was the one person who influenced the game more than anyone else and transformed it for the modern era.
Camp played football at Yale for six years (eligibility rules were different at that time), was the Eli captain for three years and was a member of the Intercollegiate Football Rules Committee for 48 years. He wrote the first-ever published book on the game of football in 1891.
He is credited with creating the scrimmage line, 11-man teams, signal calling and the quarterback's position. The biggest rule that Camp created, however, was that a team had to give up the ball unless they advanced it five yards in three consecutive downs. Now, of course, the rule is 10 yards in four downs.
Up until Camp's time, tackling could only be above the waist but he was able to get that rule changed. Until then, the stiff arm was much more popular than it is today. It was one of the first fundamentals taught to a back in the early days of football.
Just as the game has evolved from a slow and plodding type game to one of explosive type plays in today's game for a variety of reasons, so have the reasons for why it has become a much more dynamic game. Some of these reasons are listed below, and this list only scratches the surface of how and why the game has evolved.
The size of the field has become larger and the surface of the field has changed from natural grass to artificial turf. We have added night games to schedules making it more convenient to have games during the week and for families to attend them. We now have stadium seating, electronic scoreboards and jumbo screens to watch game replays. Television itself has brought the game to the far reaches of the country and the globe.
When the football itself was changed from an oval shaped ball to a more elongated spherical shape, the game changed to make passing the ball a more logical and great addition. The older eras used running as their only method of moving the ball other than the kicking game.
No matter what you like or do not like about the game, everyone will probably agree that it is a more exciting game now than it was before World War II. That war also brought a lot of GIs home from war to go to universities through the GI Bill and therefore get an education and play football too. Many of those players went into professional football and really made it America's game.
I want to focus on one often overlooked change, and that is how the game has been taken away from the players and put clearly and almost irretrievably into the hands of the coaches. Whether you like it or not, that is what has happened to the game.
What do I mean by this? Hasn't it always been in the hands of the coaches? No. The game really began in the hands of the players and the coach was merely an advisor, just as one might find an advisor at a university in the science or engineering department. The captain of the team was the one who had the real power. He chose the team, ran it with complete authority and, in most colleges, had the power to fire the coach.
The game was a bruising, bone-breaking game and players trained like prize fighters. Games were scheduled for twice a week instead of once a week as they are today. The games were made up of two 45-minute halves and unless there was an injury, the eleven men who started the game finished it. Substitutions were not allowed until the late 1880s and then only because of injury. When a player was removed from the game, he was through for the day. (Actually, if you left the game for anything short of unconsciousness it was considered disgraceful.)
Football did not go to a two-platoon system until the 1970s and even later at some schools. When I played high school and college football, all but the quarterback played both offense and defense, and sometimes even he played defense. I played offensive and defensive tackle. In fact, our high school team didn't even have special teams. I played on the kickoff and kickoff receiving teams along with offense and defense. During my senior year I never left a game until the last one of the season. We usually played about 15 different players in a game and that was it. Most high school varsity teams did not have more than about 30 players. In the North vs. South All-Star Football game at Parade Stadium, each team had 33 players because most of us played both offense and defense and others played only on special teams (except for a few positions). As a college player, I played both offense and
defense and most of my teammates did too. All of the teams did the same.
Coaching staffs in the past consisted of one or two coaches and have now grown to 10 or more on a high school staff, depending on how many they get to volunteer. Division I colleges and universities have 20+ coaches on staff.
These days the amount of expenses there are to uniform and equip a team is astronomical, and I believe it has taken the game so far away from the original intent of what the sport was meant to be that it will never get back to the days when players made some of the decisions such as calling plays on offense or defense.
Division I football has become a business and without football, the major universities would probably cease to exist. When the game began, it was just a small part of the school's reputation. Now, if they don't win, coaches are fired. Alumni and fans put so much pressure to win on the school's athletic department that there ends up being too much money spent to attract the right coach for the program. To keep the wins coming, many coaches succumb to the cheating that is rampant in not only recruiting but also in getting students into schools even though they are not qualified to be in a school for higher education. No matter how the NCAA tries to regulate these illegal practices, most schools that end up cheating never get caught and just keep on doing it.
There are so many differences from the beginning of the game of football to now that I could not cover them in the length of this treatise. Many of these changes have been excellent for the game's progress while a few of them, in my mind, have ruined the game itself. Most of the changes have added excitement to the game and many of the rules have improved safety. There are still items that can be improved upon, but that is for another time.
My major point of emphasis in bringing up some of the negative items is to remind us all that we should be allowing players more chances to make decisions in the game. After all, these high school and college players will be the decision makers in the future. If they don't know how to make decisions by trying out new things in football or any other game, where are they going to get the chance to fail or succeed where it isn't going to cause the end of the world?
I am looking forward to seeing the game put back into the players' hands and out of coaches' hands. We need the coaches to coach the players so they can make decisions on the field instead of sending in plays from the sidelines. I also know that I am probably in the minority here, but wouldn't it be great if 50% or more of offensive and defensive plays called in a high school football game were done by the quarterback or the linebacker?
Last year I covered the early era of girls' basketball in Minnesota; next month's piece will cover the modern era.
MYAS Gopher State Wrestling
The MYAS Gopher State Wrestling Championship has earned the reputation of being the toughest and best run tournament in Minnesota. In 2010 we had 988 registered wrestlers. The tournament has drawn wrestlers from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Louisiana, Michigan and California. Wrestlers from all states are eligible to participate in all Gopher State wrestling events.
The 2011 Championship is scheduled for February 12-13. The tournament will once again be held at Monticello High School, which is quite possibly the best wrestling facility in the state.
The Gopher State Wrestling program has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 2002. We thank you for your participation and look forward to another great season. To access more information, please click on the appropriate link below. You may also contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
Gopher State Wrestling Championships
Gopher State K-6 Team Tournament
Youth Day with the Gophers (info for 2011 will be available soon)
Midwest Regional Swim Meet
Registration is now open for the 2011 Midwest Regional Swim Meet that will be held on the weekend of April 2-3 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Entry information and qualifying times are available on the Midwest Regional web page.
We have some exciting changes for 2011, including a family event at the Mall of America and potentially a webcast of the meet!
The 2010 meet was one of the best in our program history and we are looking forward to carrying that over to the 2011 Midwest Regional Swim Meet. For more information, please visit the MRSM web page or contact Jessica Christopherson at jessica@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. Player A1 takes his position over the ball and places both hands on the ball. The ready-for-play signal has not been given. Player B1 breaks the plane of the neutral zone. What is the ruling?
2. Player R2 gives a fair-catch signal just after Player R1 begins to advance after catching a punt. What is the ruling?
3. A pass from Player A1 is possessed by Player A2 while he is in the air above Team B's end zone. A2 loses control when he is contacted by Player B1 while in the air. The ball: (a) falls to the ground; (b) is caught by eligible Player A3 in B's end zone; or (c) is intercepted and downed by Player B2 in the end zone. What is the ruling in each case?
Armstrong, Big Lake Associations Win Copies of BasketCases
By Dan Klinkhammer, MYAS Executive Director
Last month I told you about the 2010-11 BasketCases Reduction Project. In case you missed the article, we invited youth basketball associations from Minnesota and western Wisconsin to enter a drawing to receive complimentary copies of "BasketCases: How Youth Basketball Parents Can Lower Their Blood Pressure and Keep Their Sanity." Written by Twin Cities basketball official Derek Wolden, BasketCases, a National Indie Excellence Award finalist, is the first book of its kind in the country seeking to improve the youth basketball experience.
Congratulations to the Armstrong (traveling) and Big Lake (in-house) youth basketball associations for winning copies of BasketCases for all their families!
As I wrote in the last MYAS Update, BasketCases should be required reading for every coach and parent before their kids hit the court. Derek does a great job of explaining the rules and, more importantly, he explains how and why officials administer the rules the way that they do. If making BasketCases required reading for your coaches and parents will make for a more enjoyable and understandable season, then do it.
I know that reading BasketCases is a great first step in improving the youth basketball experience. Education is a powerful tool. We spend so much time and money teaching our kids to play basketball. Why don't we make a small investment to teach our parents and coaches how to enjoy the experience? Not only is BasketCases educational, it's very entertaining.
Derek has agreed to make BasketCases (regularly $20) available to traveling and in-house basketball associations through the MYAS for just $10 per book (minimum order of 20). I strongly encourage you, as leaders of your association, to set aside some dollars and put this book into the hands of your coaches and parents. If you are interested in purchasing copies of BasketCases, please email our Marketing Director, Dan Craighead, at dc@myas.org by December 15 to take advantage of this special offer. Sample chapters and numerous testimonials are available at www.basketcasesbook.com.
2010-11 MYAS Basketball Tournament Books
Copies of the 2010-11 MYAS girls' and boys' basketball invitational tournament books are still available!
Included in the books are flyers for more than 200 girls' and 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 from a number of our generous sponsors.
If you would like to order one or more copies of the 2010-11 tournament books, please click here to download the order form.
MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League
The 2010 MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League concluded play on Sunday, October 10. We'd like to thank all of the participating teams and especially our hosts - the league woudn't be possible without you! All of the game scores can be found on the Fall League portion of the MYAS website.
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 Basketball Tournament Scheduling Services
The MYAS wants to help your basketball organization. We have put together a Tournament Scheduling Service package to make coordinating your event much easier. Our educated and trained staff has experienced the ins and outs of event planning. Let our expertise help you!
For just $3.00 per team, the MYAS will complete your tournament schedules and post them online and will provide you with a copy of the schedules, brackets to post at your site(s), score sheets for every game and many other valuable services. We are also working on the possibility of providing tournament directors with remote website access so they can update scores/schedules during their tournament.
What follows is a testimonial from Layne Skoyen, director of the Hastings Spiral Classic Basketball Tournament:
"As a volunteer with our Hastings Basketball Booster organization, it is very difficult to devote the time needed to coordinate a successful annual tournament. Jeremy (Innes) at MYAS took many of the headaches away with their tournament service program which provides a website, bracketing, printing of forms, etc. This year was a breeze compared to last year - very few emails or calls. MYAS is so easy to work with and very responsive to any questions or concerns. I would highly recommend this program to any Director that feels overwhelmed by the details and pressure of hosting a successful basketball tournament."
If you would like more information about the MYAS Basketball Tournament Scheduling Services, please click here or contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
MYAS "Travel Lite" Basketball Programs - Save Time & Money
The MYAS staff often hears from coaches and parents who are commenting on how basketball tournaments consume an entire weekend. In an effort to give back some of that time to families, we have branded some of our events as MYAS "Travel Lite."
Benefits of Travel Lite include saving time and saving money on admission fees, concessions, travel and lodging.
MYAS Travel Lite programs include the Winter Jamboree, Super Saver Tournaments and the Gopher State Winter Basketball League.
For more information on MYAS Travel Lite, you may 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 have a total of 78 boys' and girls' teams participating in this year's event, and it should be 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! All teams will play three scrimmage games throughout the day.
Please click here to view the Winter Jamboree schedules. If you would like more information about the Jamboree, please contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
MYAS Winter Basketball Tournaments and Leagues
The 2010-11 MYAS winter basketball calendar is being continuously updated and is nearly complete.
We will once again offer the Gopher State Winter Basketball League (deadline is November 16), Gopher State Invitational Tournaments and MYAS Super Saver Tournaments. There is sure to be an event that fits every team's schedule.
For more information about MYAS winter basketball events, please click here and then scroll down to the winter section of the page. You may also contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships
The MYAS is looking forward with great anticipation to the 2011 Grade State Basketball Championships. The 2010 event was a record setting one in terms of numbers of teams, and we hope that many of you will be able to participate next March.
Even though the 2011 Championships are on the distant horizon, we are already gearing up for another phenomenal state tournament. Next spring's event will take place on March 5-6 (girls) and March 12-13 (boys). All of the pertinent information is available on the Grade State web page. We hope to see you in March for another exciting wrap-up to the winter basketball season!
Note to Coaches: Once your Grade State team is determined, please go to the MYAS website and complete your online roster via the Coaches Control Center (link is on the home page). Once your roster is complete, you will see which players still need age and/or grade verification. By doing so, you will save a lot of time and unnecessary paperwork in the long run.
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships
Mark your calendars now for the 2011 MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships! The tournament is scheduled for March 19-20, 2011 in Cottage Grove, Osseo, St. Louis Park and St. Paul and at the beautiful Colin Powell Center in Minneapolis.
The Rec State Championships are held for boys' and girls' teams in grades 4-12 that participate in a city park and recreation, community education or in-house program. Teams in grades 10-12 that participate in an in-house program or a high school intramural program are eligible to participate.
Detailed information and registration materials are now available on the Rec State web page. If you have other questions, please contact Kevin Wilson at 763-746-1712 or kevin@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 is awarded two free throws and makes the first one. Player A2 violates on A1's second attempt and Team B is awarded the ball for a throw-in. Can the thrower of B run the end line?
2. Following a violation, the throw-in spot has been properly designated and the covering official has waited a reasonable amount of time for Team A to provide a thrower. What does the official do now?
3. Team A does not break the huddle after the second horn for a 60-second time-out. The official puts the ball down at the designated spot and begins the five-second count. The administering official is between four and five on the count when Team B reaches over the boundary and grabs the ball. What is the ruling?
Gopher State Fall Baseball League
The 2010 Gopher State Fall Baseball League (GSFBL) season is already in the books. We were very fortunate to have had by far the best weather of any other GSFBL in recent memory.
This year the league was comprised of 292 eager teams that were able to play some more baseball before the winter season started. We are proud to announce that the 19th edition of the GSFBL was the largest in its history with more than 3,500 participants!
We also had a successful season with the Advanced Fall Baseball League, which was administered in conjunction with the Minnesota Baseball Academy. This elite league brought together 31 teams competing at a high level of play each and every Sunday.
The Gopher State Fall Baseball League is and always has been designed to be a relaxed and fun but still competitive atmosphere for teams to play the sport they love right into the fall season. It's also a great avenue to get ahead for next year's tryouts and to get used to any new rules and regulations that may come into play next season.
We want to thank all of the players and volunteer coaches for being part of our Fall Baseball League. We'd also like to congratulate all of the Section Champions in the Competitive Division - click here to view the section winners.
Information for the 2011 Gopher State Fall Baseball League and Advanced Fall Baseball League will be available on the baseball section of the MYAS website by next April.
Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps
Information for the 2010-11 Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps will be posted on the MYAS website in early November. We are looking forward to a terrific season of training with the Minnesota Baseball Academy, Lovdahl Pitching Academy and Twins Training Camps. Hitting, fielding and pitching camps will be held in Blaine, Rogers, Roseville, St. Paul and River Falls, WI.
The MYAS will be teaming up with the Twins Training Camps to offer three camp dates (Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day) and a Twins Training Academy that will be held at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The Academy will run from November 2010 through March 2011. More details will follow; stay up to date with camp information on the Winter Camp web page.
Keep watching the Gopher State Winter Camp web page for more details and registration forms. In the meantime, if you have questions please contact Jeremy Barbe at 763-746-1731 or jbarbe@myas.org.
MYAS Baseball Staff to Set Up Informational Meetings
The MYAS/Gopher State baseball staff is currently setting up meetings for associations that would like to receive more information about and learn how their teams can participate in our comprehensive baseball program.
If you would like to set up an MYAS/Gopher State informational meeting between our baseball staff and your youth baseball association board of directors, please do not hesitate to contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
Site Selection for MYAS/Gopher State Baseball Tournaments
Applications are being accepted from any association/community that is interested in hosting an MYAS/Gopher State baseball tournament or event in 2011. Hosting an MYAS/Gopher State tournament in May, June or July is a great fundraiser for your association and attracts a large number of quality baseball teams into your community.
The list below includes the necessary requirements the MYAS baseball staff considers when selecting our hosts.
- Quality of fields
- Past history and past performance in running MYAS/Gopher State tournaments
- Volunteer staff
If your association/community is interested in applying for a 2011 MYAS/Gopher State baseball tournament, please contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
2011 Youth Baseball Tournament Listings
The MYAS baseball tournament web page is now available to add your local invitationals for the 2011 spring/summer season. Please visit our Youth Baseball Tournament web page to begin this process. If you are not familiar with the process, please email Tony Groff and an informational slideshow can be made available to you and should answer any questions you may have.
Thank you once again for your support of MYAS/Gopher State baseball. If we can be of any assistance to you in your preparation for the 2011 baseball season please let us know. You may email your questions to Tony Groff, Dawson Blanck or Jeremy Barbe, or call the MYAS office at 763-781-2220.
MYAS Latest News (as of 10/28/10)
MYAS Night at the Water Park of America on November 14 - Wristbands Available!
Basketball Tournament Openings
Winter Basketball Jamboree Schedules Posted
Visit us on Facebook!
2010-11 Basketball Invitational Tournament Books Available
Are you looking for a basketball team to play on?
Let the MYAS Schedule Your Basketball Tournament - Just $3 Per Team
MYAS Introduces Travel Lite Basketball Events
MYAS Guidelines for Winter Basketball
Insurance - USSSA Basketball
MYAS Calendar (as of 10/28/10)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
MYAS Winter Basketball Jamboree; various divisions/grades; Bloomington Jefferson HS Activity Center
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Gopher State Fall Basketball Second Session play date; various grades/divisions & sites
Monday, November 1, 2010
Gopher State Invitational Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Nov. 13-14 event)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Gopher State Fall Basketball Second Session entry deadline (Nov. 14 play date)
Saturday, November 6, 2010
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Columbia Heights
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Gopher State Fall Basketball Second Session Girls' Tip Off Tournament; various grades/divisions; Bethel University
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Gopher State Fall Basketball Second Session Boys' Tip Off Tournament; various grades/divisions; Bethel University
Monday, November 8, 2010
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Nov. 20 event)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Gopher State Fall Basketball Second Session entry deadline (Nov. 21 play date)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
MYAS Basketball Officials' Clinic; 7:00pm; Columbia Heights
Saturday-Sunday, November 13-14, 2010
Gopher State Invitational Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; St. Louis Park HS
Sunday, November 14, 2010
MYAS Night at the Water Park of America
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Gopher State Fall Basketball Second Session play date; various grades/divisions & sites
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Gopher State Winter Basketball League entry deadline (begins Dec. 4)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
MYAS Basketball Officials' Clinic; 7:00pm; Elk River
Saturday, November 20, 2010
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament; various grades/divisions; Irondale HS
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Gopher State Fall Basketball Second Session play date; various boys' grades/divisions; Bethel University
Monday, November 22, 2010
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Dec. 4 & 5 events)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Gopher State Invitational Basketball Tournament entry deadline (Dec. 11-12 event)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Gopher State Winter Basketball League rosters and code of conduct forms due
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
MYAS Basketball Officials' Clinic; 7:00pm; Lakeville
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. No foul. Encroachment restrictions are not in effect before the ready-for-play signal has been given (Case Book 7.1.6 Situation C page 48).
2. No foul, as only the runner can give an illegal fair-catch signal. Opponents must continue to play and not be deceived by a player waving an arm after a kick-catching situation (Rule Book 2-9-5 page 27; Case Book 6.5.8 Situation B pages 46-47).
3. In (a), the pass is incomplete; in (b), it is a touchdown; and in (c), it is a touchback (Rule Book 8-2-1b page 64 and 8-5-3c page 67; Case Book 7.5.2 Situation E page 54).
Answers to Basketball Rules of the Month
The answers below are derived from the most recent edition of the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Book, Basketball Case Book and/or Rules by Topic publication.
1. No. The throw-in shall be from a designated spot outside the end line (Case Book 7.5.2 Situation C page 59).
2. The official shall place the ball on the floor at the spot and begin the resumption-of-play procedure. Team A thrower must release the ball on a throw-in or request time out before the five-second count is reached (Case Book 7.5.1 Situation C page 59).
3. Delay-of-game warning on Team B for reaching across the plane. No Team A member ever possessed the ball for the throw-in; therefore, a technical foul would not be assessed (Rule Book 9-2 Penalty 3 page 54; Case Book 7.5.1 Situation B page 59).
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.
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