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Welcome to the March 27, 2009; 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 and partially fund this newsletter, and certain sponsors will be featured.
Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer
REALITY VS. PHILOSOPHY
My dad was one of those guys who lived by the creed, "Do as I say and not as I do." Just before he gave me the speech about the evils of smoking, he had me go to the garage and get him another pack of cigarettes. When he conveyed the downside of drinking alcohol, he usually had a beer in his hand. Frankly, after those sessions I was pleased that we never really had that talk about the birds and the bees. It still scares me to think about how that message may have been delivered.
At one time or another, I think we've all had similar experiences where we preached one thing and did just the opposite. I know I have. I jumped on my kids every time they left one of their toys in the yard, only to have to eat my words when my wife found my rusty 5-iron in the backyard. (By the way, that's a great way to justify buying new clubs. I can't wait for her to find my driver, putter and 7-iron!)
Yes, I think there are times we could all be described as hypocrites - sometimes by accident, sometimes by design and sometimes by flawed interpretation. My high school football coach preached, "We aren't going to force anything. We're gonna take what they give us." As the quarterback on the team, I understood and agreed with that philosophy and its application. What I don't understand is why we never did it. In my junior year we were playing the perennial league champs in a 30-35mph cross wind. We were doing pretty well running the ball, when the coach decided it was time to "take what they were giving us" and we started to throw the ball. (I thought they were doing a great job of giving us the running game, but apparently I was watching a different game than our coach.) Every pass I threw sailed about 15 yards away from the intended target. After a couple failed
series trying to pass the ball, I went over to the sidelines and told the coach that passing in that wind was impossible. He grabbed me by the face mask and screamed, "They've got nine guys up on the line of scrimmage. They're virtually giving us unlimited opportunity to pass the ball!" With some defiance, I told him the only opportunity they were giving us was to throw multiple interceptions. As you might imagine, this discussion wasn't going very well when the assistant coach stepped in and said, "Klink, don't worry about it. They won't be able to catch it either." We ran the ball the rest of the game.
I think the situation above is a great example of flawed interpretation. We weren't passing the football by accident or design. We were passing because the coach had interpreted his own philosophy without taking into consideration all of the elements at hand. I see the same thing happening in many youth sport associations. The overwhelming majority of associations tell me that their intent and purpose is to provide wholesome activities for their kids. Then they go a few steps further by saying that they stress having fun and development over winning. So the message and purpose are very clear but the interpretation of the association philosophy by the coaches gets a little cloudy from time to time. They hear one thing but then reality sinks in and winning does enter the picture.
Far too many youth coaches judge their success by wins and losses. Seldom do you hear a coach say that they lost most of their games last year but the kids really had a great time and learned a lot. On the parent side of the comments, you seldom hear them say that their kid's team lost every game but their son or daughter really enjoyed the experience. In real life, that parent is probably saying that his kid was inherently ruined for life and it's all the coach's fault AND he'll make darn sure that guy never coaches again. That, my friends, is the difference between reality and philosophy.
I recently attended a meeting coordinated by USA Football. At that meeting, one of the metro area directors commented that his association's philosophy was to keep as many kids playing as possible, play all of them equally and make sure that everyone was having a fun experience. He then added that all of their coaches feel the same way during their pre-season meetings but as soon as they step onto the practice or playing field they focus on winning. From a coach's perspective, many of them have misinterpreted how kids have fun but they haven't misinterpreted what it takes to keep little Johnny's mom and dad happy. Most kids just want to play and have fun, but the coaches, moms and dads have determined that Johnny can't be having fun unless he is winning. Guess what? The coaches, moms and dads are all wrong. In a recent study conducted by a reputable child psychologist, 80% of the kids
surveyed said that they would rather play and lose than ride the bench and win. Eighty percent! That's an irrefutable number.
In my opinion you don't measure a child's success by wins and losses. You measure a child's success by their improvement. You should also measure a coach by your child's improvement, not by how many games were won or lost. Look, nobody likes losing but if your child is playing and they are improving and having fun, does it really matter that they don't win a trophy at the end of the day?
I am always amazed at the changes in philosophy that parents go through when their children start playing traveling sports. Step 1: They just hope their kid makes the team. Step 2: Once the kid makes the team, then they hope he/she gets equal playing time. Step 3: Now the parents want the kid to be a starter. Step 4: The parents want their kid to be a "star". Step 5: The team must win, so the parents encourage the coach to play only the best players so their kid can shine even brighter. After all, how can you tell Grandma that little Johnny has turned into a sports phenom and then follow it up with the fact the team finished dead last in the league standings?
I've seen it a thousand times but what I really find interesting is when those same parents have another child who turns out to be one of those "borderline" players. All of a sudden they are in favor of equal playing time and winning isn't so important. At the same time they often bring money into the equation by saying, "We paid just as much for our kid to play as the other parents." Well folks, we really can't have it both ways can we? Is it really fair to your child or their coach if your youth sport philosophy is dependent upon how much talent your child has? Is it fair to have a different philosophy for different kids in the same family? Read on.
My answer to the above question is, "No, it's not fair." Parents need to talk about and develop their philosophy and reasons why they support their child's youth sport endeavors. They need to develop some sort of "Challenge and Support" mentality that lets their kids know they need to make an effort but winning isn't going to be a factor in the parents' grading system. I will admit that this is one of those columns with a "do as I say and not as I did" message. My wife and I never really discussed our philosophies about youth sports. I really wish we had! I assumed that she felt the same way as I did and she assumed that I wasn't an idiot and most assuredly felt the same way as she did. I was one of those "old schoolers" who wanted my kids to put forth 100% effort every time they hit the practice or playing field. I wanted to see the determination
and fire in their eyes. All my wife wanted to see was the smile on their faces. I wanted to see a little blood and pain and she wanted them to come home with a clean uniform. I wanted them to be making those body-sacrificing, spectacular diving catches up against the fence and she just hoped they came home without any broken bones.
Frankly, I think that the correct philosophy is somewhere in the middle. I do think that parents have the right to demand that their kids make an honest effort to be the best that they can be. At the same time, your kids don't need to feel the pressure of having to perform at the highest level every minute of every practice or game. I have been to a zillion seminars on youth sports and I've read two zillion books on the subject. All of them have one common message: having FUN
is the key ingredient in your child's love for the sport and athletic development. If they aren't having fun they aren't going to be any good at it. Don't believe me? Ask any high school coach and they will tell you that they want everyone to play and to have fun doing so. If they are having fun they won't quit, and they will eventually develop into the best they can be. If they aren't having fun they will quit and the high school coach will lose another potential athlete. In theory, the local youth sport association isn't supposed to be developing athletes for the high school team but in reality, they are. A child's love of the game begins at a very early age and it can grow or it can wither, depending upon the amount of fun they are having - NOT by the number of games they win.
As we approach the spring and summer program seasons, I hope that everyone will take a look in the mirror and figure out the difference between your philosophy and your reality. Discuss it with your significant other, and then have a talk with your kids about why they want to play and what they like about playing and what they want out of it. I would also encourage you to ask them the survey question I mentioned earlier. Ask them, "Would you rather play and lose or would you rather ride the bench and win?" Their answer will help you develop a philosophy that will work for both of you in the real world. Good luck!
P.S. I can't wait for all of the snow to melt so I can try out my new set of irons. Thanks honey!
New Sponsorship Opportunity
Would you be interested in having your company logo on thousands of baseball jerseys and caps at a cost of just $20 per baseball team this fall? The MYAS Gopher State Fall Baseball League is seeking an exclusive sponsor for the 2009 season. Teams play on Sundays in September and October in the largest fall baseball league in Minnesota.
Please click here to view the specifics of a Fall Baseball League sponsorship opportunity. For more information, please contact Dan Craighead at 763-746-1727 or dc@myas.org.
Then And Now - by Larry Gallagher
THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYER
Have you ever debated with a friend about who is the best baseball player ever? I know I have. Our conclusion is that we have our own idea about who it is and we cannot come to an agreement. In this month's column, I am going to explore the debate.
The problem with this great and fun debate is to define what we are debating. First, most of us are really speaking about the greatest hitter who also plays defense. I doubt many of us are speaking of the defensive ability of a player who also bats. So criterion #1 is hitting. Criterion #2 could be defensive ability or base running ability or even power. All of these can be defined with the player's statistics in these areas. Another criterion would be comparing him to other hitters in his era since they played under the same or similar conditions. Some might use the criterion of strikeout per at-bat ratio. Strikeouts definitely hurt a player's productivity. Many power hitters have a higher strikeout ratio than hitters who don't hit for power.
It seems the definition of the greatest player will be very difficult to agree upon. On the offensive side, should how he interacts with teammates be part of the equation? Even the era he performed in and how he played compared to his peers is part of the definition in some people's opinion. How about popularity with the media or fans? Or his off-field behavior such as carousing, use of drugs, alcohol or even performance-enhancing drugs (steroids), or betting on horses or other sports or even his own sport?
I will try to analyze a number of offensive qualities to arrive at my definition of the greatest baseball player. The criteria I will be using are home runs, RBI, stolen bases, batting average and on-base percentage + slugging percentage (OPS). I will exclude pitchers because while some of them were good hitters, their main concern and ability were defensive. I will limit this quest to mostly offensive statistics. Some of the best players are scattered throughout the different eras of the game. Each of you probably has your favorite as I do, but I am going to look at players mostly because of their statistics and not with any preconceived notions.
There is a new statistic that is quite revealing. It is called the On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage that I referred to above. I don't know the exact the formula for arriving at it but from what I can tell, it is a player's on-base percentage and their slugging percentage added together to arrive at their OPS. In this category Babe Ruth is tops with a 1.1638 OPS. The nine hitters behind him are Ted Williams (1.1155), Lou Gehrig (1.0798), Barry Bonds (1.0512), Albert Pujols (1.0489), Jimmie Foxx (1.0376), Hank Greenberg (1.0169), Todd Helton (1.0138), Rogers Hornsby (1.0103) and Manny Ramirez (1.0044). All players on this list have at least 3,000 at-bats. Three players are still active and could still increase (or decrease) their stats. Barry Bonds may be able to get back into the game, but I doubt it.
Another statistic is simply total bases and here we find Hank Aaron with the most RBI at 6,856 followed by Stan Musial (6,134), Willie Mays (6,066), Barry Bonds (6,066), Ty Cobb (5,854), Babe Ruth (5,793), Pete Rose (5,752), Carl Yastrzemski (5,539), Eddie Murray (5,397) and Rafael Palmeiro (5,388).
In the category of home runs only, we have Barry Bonds with 762, Hank Aaron with 755, Babe Ruth with 714, Willie Mays with 660, Ken Griffey, Jr. with 611, Sammy Sosa with 609, Frank Robinson with 586, Mark McGwire with 583, Harmon Killebrew with 573 and Rafael Palmeiro with 569.
So far we haven't covered the 3,000-hit and 500 home run players. There are only four on this list. Hank Aaron had 3,771 hits and 755 home runs. Willie Mays is second with 3,283 hits and 660 home runs. Eddie Murray is third with 3,255 hits and 504 home runs and Rafael Palmeiro is fourth with 3,020 hits and 569 homers. Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, Jr. could reach these totals because they may have some time left in their careers. Bonds would need 65 hits to reach 3,000 if he ever plays again. Griffey may not have enough of his career left to get there. He has enough home runs (611) but needs 320 hits. He's young enough to do it but has been hurt a lot in the last few years and may not be able to get enough hits each season.
This brings us to the other players who didn't have a full career, such as Ted Williams who spent five years in the armed forces and Willie Mays who spent two years in the military. Babe Ruth spent most of his time from 1914-1920 with the Red Sox, where he didn't bat much because he was pitching.
One more statistic that is quite revealing is the 300-300 Club. In the history of the game 114 players have hit 300+ home runs and 145 have stolen at least 300 bases. But only six players have done both. This club's rare combination of skills and longevity is really important to the game and to the fans. Of the six players in the club, five have combined to earn 36 Gold Glove awards as outfielders.
Barry Bonds leads the list with 757 home runs and 514 stolen bases. Willie Mays is second with 660 HR and 338 SB, Andre Dawson is next with 438 HR and 314 SB, Bobby Bonds has 332 HR and 461 SB, Reggie Sanders has 305 HR and 304 SB and Steve Finley rounds out the group with 304 HR and 320 SB. In many ways, the last four players don't really match the top two because they are not very high in the other categories previously listed. It is also important to note that Barry Bonds is all by himself in the 400-400 and 500-500 Clubs, so he is truly the best in this category. Of these players only Willie Mays is in the 300-300-3,000 club, meaning he has 300+ home runs, 300+ stolen bases and 3,000+ hits. No one can match his totals.
The last comparison I'd like to look at is how these players compare to others in their eras. I am choosing only three players and speak about them in the era they performed.
Babe Ruth pitched and played in the dead-ball era and also in the beginning of the live-ball era. He dominated the game in his playing days. No one even came close to him in number of hits, home runs, total bases and RBI in his era. Lou Gehrig was the closest. He also helped the game by being a great drawing card after the Black Sox scandal in the 1919 World Series. Willie Mays was a dominant player in his era except many of his contemporaries put up some of the same numbers that he did at times. Mickey Mantle did a lot of the same things that Willie did. Barry Bonds
also did a lot to bring back the fans after the players' strike. However, he and many of his contemporaries have tainted the game of baseball with their use of anabolic steroids. This will forever prevent him from really being thought of as the greatest player in the history of the game (which, in my opinion, his statistics prove he was). However, even though my favorite player (other than catchers) when I grew up is Willie Mays, my vote is for Babe Ruth because he far exceeded any of his contemporaries.
With this said, I know some of you will disagree with my conclusions. I point out the number of lost opportunities Babe Ruth had when he pitched and did not play every day in his first five or six years with the Red Sox. I point out that he hit 59 home runs in a season before having two different 60+ home run seasons. I point out that each of the teams he was on won the World Series. None of the others that have hit as well or better than "The Babe" can say they were on that many World Champion teams. I'll stand by my vote of Babe Ruth for the best baseball player ever.
Velocity Sports Performance Champlin
SPARQ Athletic Assessment
This month we would like to take a moment to talk about an athletic assessment tool used at Velocity Sports Performance. We know that athletes want to "measure" their improvement. This can be difficult since improvement can be measured in many ways. Partnering with NIKE, the SPARQ assessment was developed as a way to break down key metrics in primary sports and establish benchmarks for athlete performance. The information below will break down the SPARQ assessment to help you better understand if this tool could be a resource for you and your team(s).
All athletes at Velocity Sports Performance perform an initial assessment along with periodic athletic assessments thereafter. The initial evaluation serves to create a baseline of performance to measure relative improvement. Additionally, the comparison of periodic and sequential SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, Quickness) Athletic Assessment values is used as the primary tool to monitor the progress and efficacy of the training programs. The SPARQ Athletic Assessment consists of five tests including vertical jump, kneeling power ball toss, 20-meter sprint - 40-yard dash, agility shuttle and the yo-yo intermittent recovery test, all of which are explained below.
Vertical Jump
Purpose: Reveal an athlete's lower body peak power, a performance characteristic proven to distinguish athletes of various ages and competitive classes.
Kneeling Power Ball Toss
Purpose: Reveal an athlete's upper body power. This test mimics the pressing and pushing demands of athlete-on-athlete sports such as football, ice hockey, lacrosse and even soccer.
20-Meter Sprint - 40-Yard Dash
Purpose: Measure the rate of acceleration and ability to transition into top running speed.
Agility Shuttle
Purpose: Assess the agility of an athlete. It measures the ability of the athlete to maintain body control through rapid changes of speed and direction. Many sporting situations demand momentary changes of direction which in turn require the strength to decelerate and then re-accelerate toward a target. This test simulates those challenges.
Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test
Purpose: Measure an athlete's capacity to recover and execute subsequent running bouts of increasing intensity. This test uses both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems just like in many team sports such as soccer, ice/field hockey, basketball, lacrosse and rugby.
After learning more about NIKE SPARQ testing, are you interested in having your players tested? If so, click here to learn more about how to schedule your testing!
This article was submitted by Erica Gilkerson (Erica.gilkerson@velocitysp.com), BS Exercise Sports Science, Minor in Coaching/Sports Medicine.
Midwest Regional Swim Meet
The MYAS is excited to announce that a total of 1,384 swimmers representing eight states will be participating in the 2009 Midwest Regional Swim Meet. This year's participation total shatters all previous attendance records. The event will take place on March 28-29 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
For complete meet information, please visit the Midwest Regional Swim Meet web page or contact Jessica Christopherson at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org.
MYAS Gopher State Wrestling
The 2009 Gopher State Wrestling Team Tournament was held on March 1 at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights. The 16-team kindergarten through sixth grade tournament showcased teams from all over the state as well as one team from Wisconsin. Becker, the overwhelming favorite, was crowned tournament champion. Please click here to access the Team Tournament web page.
More than 850 wrestlers invaded Monticello in early February for the 2009 Gopher State Wrestling Championships. The field included athletes from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and California. We had great competition and the tournament flowed very well. The Gopher State Championship is truly one of the toughest kindergarten through eighth grade folk style events in the Midwest. Please click here to view more information.
If you need further information about the MYAS Gopher State Wrestling program, please contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
Gopher State Football 7 on 7 Passing League
The inaugural Gopher State Football 7 on 7 Passing League is scheduled to commence this coming summer. The league is designed for high school football teams. Play will begin the week of June 15 and wrap up the week of July 27. The league will be limited to 12 teams this first year, so keep watching the MYAS website for more information and entry forms in the coming weeks.
If you have further questions, please contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
Football Rules of the Month
In our ongoing education mission, we would like to highlight three basic high school football rules. The answers appear later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link). Good luck!
1. Quarterback A1 drops back and throws a forward pass toward the sideline to Player A2 who is behind the neutral zone. A2 then throws a forward pass to Player A3 15 yards downfield. What is the ruling if (a) Player B1 blocks A2 behind the line prior to A2 touching the ball; (b) B1 tackles A2 prior to A2 touching the pass; or (c) B1 pushes A3 prior to A3 touching the pass and B1 intercepts.
2. Player A1's forward pass is deflected by Player B1 and then is caught by interior lineman A2 behind the neutral zone. What is the ruling?
3. During a successful two-point try, (a) Player B1 roughs the passer; or (b) Player B2 holds tight end A8. What is the ruling in each case?
Basketball Rules of the Month
In our ongoing education mission, we would like to highlight three basic basketball playing rules. The answers are posted later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link). Good luck!
1. Player A1 is fouled by Player B1 while in the act of shooting. While the try is in flight the horn sounds ending the fourth quarter playing time. The ball continues its flight and goes through the basket to tie the score. Before A1 attempts the free throw as part of the fourth quarter, Team B captain requests and is granted a 60-second time-out. Team A or B captain then requests a 30-second time-out during the same dead ball period. What is the ruling?
2. Following the expiration time for the first extra period, the coach of Team B is charged with a technical foul. Team B requests a time-out before the free throws are administered to start the second extra period. The time-out request is granted. Thereafter, the official administers the first free throw to Player A1. Following the attempt: (a) Team B or (b) Team A then requests a time-out. What is the ruling?
3. Under what circumstances does the ball remain live when a foul occurs just prior to the ball being in flight during a try or tap?
If you have questions about these or other basketball playing rules, please contact Buddy Hemric at 763-746-1717 or buddy@myas.org.
MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships
Minnesota March Madness once again swarmed into the metro area with mass hysteria during the 2009 MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships. A total of 423 girls' teams and 579 boys' teams migrated to courts all over the metro on two consecutive weekends in March. These teams poured their heart and soul into every game to determine who would be crowned state champion in their respective grade and division. It truly was a shining moment for the state of Minnesota.
We would like to thank all the participating teams and congratulate the top teams from this year's State Championships. Click on either girls or boys to access links to all the tournament results (click on "Schedule" for the grade/division you'd like to view). We'd also like to thank our tournament hosts and their volunteer groups - we couldn't do this without you!
Next year's Grade State Championships will be held on March 6-7 (girls) and March 13-14 (boys). We hope to see you there for another version of Minnesota March Madness!
MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships
Minnesota's in-house version of March Madness took place the weekend of March 21-22 during the 2009 MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships. The tournament featured some great in-house basketball competition with numerous teams battling it out to claim their first-ever state championship title.
Please click here to access the tournament schedules and results for all divisions of play. If you have further questions, please contact Kevin Wilson at 763-746-1712 or kevin@myas.org.
MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball
The 2009 MYAS Gopher State Spring Basketball season is off and running. We have 107 boys' and girls' teams beginning play this weekend (March 28-29) and close to 200 teams the weekend of April 4-5. We want to thank all of you for your continued participation with the MYAS and we will continue providing you with high quality tournaments for your young athletes.
One of the problems we face each spring is determining where teams end up playing. At the beginning of the season, we place teams into the various divisions of play based upon the ranking of each team as provided by their coaches. Unfortunately, many teams initially sign up in the wrong division and we see games that are not very competitive. (Remember coaches - Division I is the highest division of play and Division III is the lowest.) As we continue through the remainder of the spring basketball season you will see teams moving up and/or down divisions of play and also movement within each division of play.
To accomplish our goal of providing competitive games, we will delay scheduling our spring tournaments so we can monitor the games played two weeks prior to the tournament weekend to be scheduled. For example, on Monday, April 6, we will enter in all the results from the April 4-5 tournaments and then we will begin separating teams for play on the weekend of April 18-19. By doing so, we hope to be able to deliver teams a competitive balance in their tournaments.
We once again sincerely thank you for your participation in the MYAS program and we wish you good luck in your upcoming tournaments. Remember to have fun, and we look forward to seeing you in the gym!
Minnesota Sports Medicine Tip
Common Sense and Proper Precautions Can Control or Prevent the Vast Majority of Skin Infections Among Athletes
By B. J. Anderson, M.D., Boynton Health Service, University of Minnesota
Three common skin infections include:
1. Bacterial. Simple bacteria known as Staph and Strep cause simple skin infections that usually develop from a break in the skin. The bacteria already exist on many of our skins and spread easily by touch or by sharing towels or athletic equipment. Once infected the area can get red and/or swollen, firm and tender to touch. The area can form a small pimple requiring antibiotics or may need to be incised and drained.
2. Fungal. Ringworm (i.e. athlete's foot) is a fungal infection that spreads via spores from an infected individual to someone with an open cut or abrasion. The fungus develops a small, raised, red circular lesion, the border is red and flaky and the center can be pink. The surrounding tissue isn't firm or warm to touch and can grow up to five inches in diameter. It can form on the scalp where deeper growth can occur and, if left untreated, cause hair loss. Antifungal medication may require up to 4-6 weeks to wipe out the organism.
3. Viral. Warts and cold sores are viruses that medication cannot permanently destroy. They usually develop after touching someone with a wart, but can also be transmitted from floors (especially shower or locker room floors) or other areas where an infected person had been. Warts usually appear as a round, raised cauliflower-type lesion that is firm to touch with no redness, flakiness or firmness to the surrounding skin. They can appear in clusters and spread quickly. Treatment focuses on destruction of the lesion and surrounding area.
Cold sores, lip sores that are a form of herpes, are transmitted via direct contact with an infected person. In judo or wrestling the sore can come in contact with an opponent on exposed body parts causing an outbreak. Sores develop 3-5 days after exposure and present as raised clusters of 3-10 vesicles, each 1-2mm in diameter, with a surrounding red base. Nearby lymph nodes can be swollen and tender and a fever up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit can develop. Symptoms can last 10-14 days. Herpes infections usually reoccur smaller in size, redevelop in the same area and last about half the time. Triggers include stress, weight cutting or overexposure to ultraviolet light. Antiviral medications can help. Guidelines are in place locally and nationally to remove athletes from competition and practice until infection has resolved.
Precautions to reduce skin infections among athletes:
- Clean wrestling mats before each practice and competition
- Shower IMMEDIATELY after practice and competition
- Don't share towels or toiletries
- Don't share shampoo or bar soap
- Wash all workout gear after every practice and competition
- Wash knee pads weekly; daily if soiled with blood or fluid from an open sore
- No cosmetic shaving; only shave the face if needed
- Coaches or parents should check an athlete's skin before every practice and competition
- In contact sports, withdraw any athlete with a suspicious lesion
- Have all suspicious lesions evaluated by a healthcare provider before returning to competition
Dr. B. J. Anderson, a board certified primary care physician, cares for patients at the University of Minnesota Boynton Health Service. He also serves as team physician for Augsburg College Sports, is a medical advisory committee member for the Minnesota State High School League and medical advisor for MN/USA wrestling. Dr. Anderson completed medical school at the University of Minnesota and his residency in family practice at Hennepin County Medical Center. He is a member of Minnesota Sports Medicine. Please contact info@thematdoc.com for more information.
North Star Baseball League
Attention Coaches and Community Directors!
The North Star Baseball League entry deadline is coming up quickly. We would like all league entry forms and fees in the MYAS office by 4:00pm on Friday, April 3. The 11 current member communities are always looking for new teams and associations to compete with, so don't hesitate to contact the MYAS baseball staff to find out if this in-house league is a good fit for your community.
If you have any questions regarding the league entry forms and/or fees, please contact Tony Groff at 763-746-1728 or tony@myas.org as soon as possible so he can help you with the process. You can also visit the North Star League web page by clicking here.
Gopher State Baseball League
Welcome to the GSBL Nation! It's hard to believe that we're about to embark upon the 10th season of the Gopher State Baseball League, a USSSA sanctioned league. The season has snuck up on us and it's time to clean and oil up the gloves, wipe the dust off the cleats and bats and get ready for another action-packed season. The MYAS is currently gearing up for a dynamic season of our comprehensive baseball program.
Each year more teams join the GSBL due to word of mouth as well as the administrative services the league staff provides. The 2009 season looks no different, with recent commitments from new communities in the east and west metro areas and also the expansion of the league into central Minnesota. As of 2008, the GSBL boasted the largest representation of communities in a traveling league in the Midwest.
We are looking forward to serving as league administrators again this season and we're confident that the participants will be pleasantly surprised with this product. With the updated policies and current enhancements the league offers such as online rosters, team website, league website, online score reporting and rescheduling as well as berths through league play to the Gopher State Tournament of Champions and the USSSA World Series, the future of the league continues to be very bright.
For GSBL information, including the 2009 Team Classification Policy, Past Performance Analysis and Important League Dates, please visit the Gopher State Baseball League web page.
Gopher State Baseball Umpire Training Clinics
All umpires are welcome and encouraged to attend a Gopher State Umpire Training Clinic. These clinics are designed to provide umpires of all abilities the opportunity to enhance their skills and/or become educated in the finer points of umpiring. We are excited to welcome back our instructors from last year's clinics: Jeremy Barbe, Mike Cantone, Brandon Jackson, Andre Lanoue, Jon Moynihan, Mike "Bugsy" Segal and Shawn Vellek. All these instructors are dedicated to teaching and are excited to share their wealth of knowledge with the up-and-coming umpires of Minnesota.
Student instruction will include baseball philosophy, mental approach and attitude as well as appearance and equipment. The clinics feature on-field training for the one- and two-person umpiring systems, which includes proper positioning and duties of the plate and base umpires. Every umpire will have the opportunity to participate in live drills where you will see the play and make the call. The clinic will also cover handling game situations, balks, ejections, etc. We will do our best to have you ready for opening day!
Every umpire who attends a Gopher State Umpire Training Clinic will receive an additional $6 per game for the 2009 Gopher State Baseball League. A $4 per game bonus will apply for the Gopher State Spring Training Series, USSSA State Tournament, Gopher State Tournament of Champions, MYAS Rec State Baseball Championships and Gopher State Fall Baseball League. With MSHSL registration, another $1 will be added to the per-game total.
For more information, including clinic dates and sites, instructor bios and maps to clinic locations, visit the Gopher State Umpire Training Clinic web page. You may also contact Jeremy Barbe at 763-746-1731 or jbarbe@myas.org with your questions.
Play Ball! Minnesota Baseball/Softball Conference
The Gopher State Baseball League and the Twins Community Fund bring you the Play Ball! Minnesota Baseball/Softball Conference
The fifth annual Minnesota Baseball & Softball Conference, in conjunction with the Gopher State Baseball League, will be held on Saturday, April 25 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center from 8:00am to 3:00pm. The Minnesota Twins, Play Ball! Minnesota and the MYAS/GSBL have invited all youth baseball and softball coaches from the upper Midwest, regardless of experience, to learn from former Twins and other familiar coaches and instructors involved in the game.
The conference schedule will include three breakout sessions as well as a general session. During the morning session, coaches will have the opportunity to hear from former Twins greats and local college coaches and/or instructors discussing specific breakout sessions related to baseball.
The general session will reconvene with lunch and an opportunity to hear from former Twins great and Hall of Famer, Harmon Killebrew. Up to 30 vendors will also be on hand to showcase their products that will be beneficial to everyone attending the conference.
The conference schedule is subject to change! More detailed information is available on the MYAS website by clicking here. You may also contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
Gopher State Baseball Spring Training Series
Get your 2009 baseball tournament season kicked off right by entering your team in the Gopher State Spring Training Series! All Spring Training tournaments will be held as GSTC (Gopher State Tournament of Champions) Qualifiers, so two automatic berths per division will be awarded for our big season-ending event. Participating teams will all earn "GSTC Points" toward a possible At-Large berth which will be determined in June.
In addition, all "AAA" divisions will be run as Global Sports World Series Qualifiers, giving more teams an opportunity to gain a USSSA World Series experience without having to travel across the entire country.
Check out the Spring Training Series web page for tournament dates, sites and online registration information. You may also contact Tony Groff at 763-746-1728 or tony@myas.org with your questions.
Minnesota USSSA Baseball State Tournament
Coming to a field near you in June! The Minnesota USSSA State Tournament provides traveling and in-house baseball teams the opportunity to qualify for a USSSA World Series event. At no other tournament in Minnesota can you qualify for your respective 2009 USSSA Baseball World Series and the Gopher State Tournament of Champions (GSTC) at the 10-17/19U age levels. The Minnesota USSSA will also administer 10A and 11/12A State Tournaments for in-house teams looking to compete in a tournament atmosphere in 2009!
The USSSA State Tournaments combine competitive teams and great venues, volunteers and awards not found at typical invitationals to offer an outstanding tournament experience for everyone involved. This will be a tremendous event to participate in regardless of whether your traveling or in-house team's intent is advancement to a USSSA World Series or qualifying for the Gopher State Tournament of Champions.
For more information, including tournament dates and sites and an entry application, please visit the Minnesota USSSA Baseball web page or contact Dawson Blanck at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
Global Sports Baseball - a Division of USSSA Baseball
Global Sports Baseball will offer multiple World Series Qualifiers in the Midwest as well as World Series events in July. Global Sports will provide many teams an opportunity to play in a World Series event within a reasonable driving distance.
Due to the growth of USSSA Baseball, there is a greater demand for events than the USSSA can supply. Therefore, the USSSA created this opportunity for teams to stay closer to home and create lifelong experiences without the long distance travel and the need to spend additional funds.
USSSA Baseball recently announced that the 11 & Under Global Sports World Series will be held in Brooklyn Park, MN on July 22-26, 2009. More information regarding that tournament will be available soon.
Log onto the Global Sports Baseball portion of the MYAS website or the USSSA Baseball website to learn about Minnesota 10-14U qualifiers or to gather more information about Global Sports. You may also contact Dawson Blanck, Minnesota USSSA Baseball Director, at 763-746-1719 or dawson@myas.org.
Gopher State Fall Baseball League
The Minnesota Youth Athletic Services will hold its 18th annual Gopher State Fall Baseball League on Sundays from September 13 through October 18 this year. Players may register as individuals, as a group or as an entire team. The league will be USSSA sanctioned for insurance purposes, meaning each team will be covered under a USSSA team insurance policy.
The MYAS baseball staff is partnering with the Minnesota Baseball Academy to offer another division of play for athletes at the 15-18U age levels. This new program will be called the Advanced Fall Baseball League.
Please call the MYAS baseball staff at 763-781-2220 or log onto the Fall League web page for answers to all of your questions. Updated information about the 2009 Gopher State Fall Baseball League will be available by March 13.
Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps
Another season of Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps has come and gone. A huge THANK YOU goes out to the Minnesota Baseball Academy and Lovdahl Pitching Academy for their hard work and great instruction they provided to our young baseball talent. We have received numerous positive comments from our participants' parents and coaches regarding the one on one instruction at the camps. If you attended a Winter Camp and would like to submit feedback, please send an email to jbarbe@myas.org.
Look for summer camp opportunities with the MYAS and Gopher State Baseball. We welcome you to stay up to date with the latest information on the Winter Camp portion of the MYAS website. If you have any questions about our camps, don't hesitate to contact Jeremy Barbe, Baseball Camp Director, at 763-746-1731 or jbarbe@myas.org.
MYAS Latest News (as of 3/26/09)
Basketball Tournament Openings
First Gopher State Umpire Clinic on April 11 in Shoreview - Sign Up Today!
Play Ball! Minnesota / Gopher State Baseball Coaches' Conference
2009 Gopher State Spring Basketball
Are you looking for a basketball team to play on?
Global Sports USSSA Baseball
2009 Gopher State Baseball League
Insurance - USSSA Basketball
MYAS Calendar (as of 3/26/09)
Saturday & Sunday, March 28-29, 2009
Midwest Regional Swim Meet; U of M Aquatic Center
Saturday & Sunday, March 28-29, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournaments
Monday, March 30, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament registration deadline (April 11 event)
Friday, April 3, 2009
North Star Baseball League registration deadline
Saturday & Sunday, April 4-5, 2009
Gopher State Volleyball Tournament of Champions / Gopher Challenge
Saturday & Sunday, April 4-5, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournaments
Monday, April 6, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournament registration deadline (April 18-19 event)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Super Saver Tournament
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Gopher State Baseball Umpire Training Clinic - Shoreview
Monday, April 13, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournament registration deadline (April 25-26 event)
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Gopher State Baseball League Coaches' Scheduling Sessions (10-15U teams)
Saturday & Sunday, April 18-19, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournaments
Monday, April 20, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Championship (9-10U) registration deadline (May 2-3 event)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournament (11-19U) registration deadline (May 2-3 event)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Gopher State Baseball Spring Training Series registration deadline (May 2-3 event)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
North Star Baseball League Coaches' Scheduling Session
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Gopher State Baseball Umpire Training Clinic - Cottage Grove
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Play Ball! Minnesota / Gopher State Baseball League Coaches' Conference
Saturday & Sunday, April 25-26, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournaments
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Gopher State Baseball Umpire Training Clinic - Big Lake
Monday, April 27, 2009
Gopher State Spring Basketball Tournament registration deadline (May 9-10 event)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Gopher State Baseball League 10-13U Coaches' Meeting
Thursday, April 30, 2009
North Star Baseball League Coaches' Meeting
Answers to Football Rules of the Month
The answers below are derived from the National Federation of State High School Associations 2008 Football Rules Book and/or Football Case Book.
1. Legal block in (a) since interference restrictions for Team B do not apply to a forward pass that does not cross the neutral zone. In (b), it is a holding foul by Player B1. Legal contact in (c) since there are no interference restrictions on an illegal forward pass. It should be noted that Player A2 has also committed a foul for an illegal forward pass (Case Book 7.5.6 Situation page 54).
2. No foul has occurred as Player A2 became an eligible receiver after Player B1 touched the ball (Case Book 7.5.13 Situation B page 57).
3. In both (a) and (b), Team A may accept the score and have the penalty assessed from the succeeding spot (Case Book 8.3.5 Situation B page 59).
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 second request is denied. At the end of playing time for the fourth quarter or any overtime period, successive time-outs shall not be granted. This means a time-out cannot be granted either team until the clock has run in the extra period - assuming the free throw is missed. Successive time-outs may be granted in all situations except after time has expired in the fourth quarter or any extra period (Case Book 5.12.3 Situation A page 47).
2. The request cannot be granted in either (a) or (b), as it would be considered a successive time-out. The fact that the ball did become live between the two requests has no bearing on the ruling. Another time-out request by either team cannot be honored until after the clock has started in the second extra period (Case Book 5.12.3 Situation B page 47).
3. The ball would ordinarily become dead at once, but it remains live if the foul is by the defense and this foul occurs after Player A1 has started the try or tap for goal and time does not expire before the ball is in flight. The foul by the defense may be either personal or technical and the exception to the rule applies to field goal tries and taps and free throw tries (Case Book 6.7 Situation C page 53; Rule Book 4-11 page 30 and 4-41-1 page 39).
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 RHR Information Services, 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
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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