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October 26, 2007 |  |
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Welcome to the October 26, 2007; edition of the MYAS Update In this Issue Pass it on Know anyone who might be interested in our newsletter? Click here to forward this email to up to 5 friends at once. |
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Our newsletter is designed to provide timely youth sports information to coaches, athletes, parents and administrators. This includes notes from the Executive Director, calendar reminders, new service announcements and special events. Contributions from our sponsors assist us in delivering high quality youth sports services at the lowest possible cost; contributions partially fund this newsletter and certain sponsors will be featured. Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer BASEBALL ON THE MOVE! I admit it - I'm an optimist. But even I had a tough time believing that our Gopher State Fall Baseball League had an increase of more than 900 players this year. I actually went to our accountant to see if the baseball staff was telling tales. It was confirmed, however, that receipts matched the reported number of slightly more than 3,500 players! Since we created the league approximately 12 years ago, it has always had steady growth - but not to this magnitude. Once the numbers were confirmed I had to ask, "Where did all these kids come from?" Foolish me - I thought the staff would give me a simple answer but in the end, they told me they didn't know either. I wanted a better answer than "I don't know" so I kept digging. Was it because we take intact teams and individual player registrations? Or because we advertise the option of playing in a competitive or a developmental league? Or because we secured good facilities? Because people love the format of double headers on five consecutive Sundays? Was it because we added a Wood Bat League for the older kids? I have to admit that I still don't have my finger on the one reason we had such a large increase this year, but I'm bold enough to make three very reasonable guesses: Guess #1: Fall has become the time of year when good and not so good players get better without the added pressure of having to win games. Fall ball is a great way for the 2007 in-house players to make the 2008 travel squad. All of the kids are serious about improving their game but we tell the players, coaches and parents that the object of the Fall League is to reduce the pressure and have some fun. The great thing about kids having fun is that they seem to learn better when there aren't a bunch of adults yelling and screaming at them. Funny how that works... Guess #2: Unlike summer baseball, fall ball doesn't require the dedication of six days a week. It's a "quick hit" season with double headers on five consecutive weekends after the Labor Day holiday. As a parent I know I would love the fact that there's less travel time, I'd only have to spend half a weekend day at the ballpark, my child is guaranteed a chance to play, and we'd all be making a bunch of new friends. Guess #3: The MYAS baseball staff does a great job of advertising and running this program. Okay - I'm going with all of the above with a heavy emphasis on #3. Dawson Blanck, Tony Groff and Jeremy Barbe comprise our baseball department and I couldn't be more pleased with their dedication to coordinating our leagues, tournaments, camps, clinics and special events. They "get it" and then they get it done. We receive a lot of compliments on the quality work they do each year and I get an equal number of kudos about the product they put out there. These guys are creative and they're good listeners. They hear what you're saying and they make the appropriate adjustments for the betterment of each program. I'm proud of these guys. The 2007 MYAS baseball season went through the roof. The Gopher State League increased from 280 to 301 teams this year. The Gopher State Tournament of Champions went from 250 to 303 teams; the North Star Rec League went from 50 to 62 teams and the Rec State Baseball Championships increased from 95 to 105 teams. When I look at those numbers there are only two possible reasons for the steady, across the board growth. The first is that there are simply more kids playing baseball and the second is that someone is doing a heck of a job coordinating the local baseball program. We'll let you make that call. Cambria - Proud Supporter of Minnesota Youth Sports
Cambria is a privately held, family-owned company with more than 550 employees. Headquartered in Le Sueur, MN, it is one of the few quartz surface plants in the world and the only producer of natural quartz surfaces in the U.S. Cambria has a North American network of stone fabricator and installation partners that share Cambria's commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Cambria is available to consumers via retail partners throughout North America and also exports its products throughout the world. Cambria is a stain-resistant, non-porous surface that is harder, stronger and easier to care for than other stone surfaces including granite and marble because it does not require sealing with harsh chemicals. In addition, Cambria is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality® and GREENGUARD For Children and SchoolsSM certified, which means it does not emit harmful chemicals into the air. It is also certified by NSF International as a safe surface for food preparation - there is no safer surface available to consumers. As a leader in design innovation, Cambria offers more colors with unique design capabilities than any other surfacing material. Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces are used for residential and commercial applications including countertops, shower and tub surrounds, vanities, flooring and more. Cambria is available to consumers, builders, contractors, architects and designers throughout North America and the world, and has operations and fabrication facilities in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina and Toronto. Cambria is a proud sponsor of youth sports across Minnesota, including the Gopher State Baseball League. For additional information about Cambria or to locate the closest dealer, call 1-866-CAMBRIA or visit www.CambriaUSA.com. The MYAS Gopher State Wrestling Championship has earned the reputation of being the toughest tournament in Minnesota. In 2007 there were 1,235 registered wrestlers representing Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Michigan. Wrestlers from all states are eligible to participate in all Gopher State wrestling events. The 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. Gopher State Wrestling Championships The Minnesota Youth Athletic Services is proud to announce exciting changes to our volleyball program. All of our events will be sanctioned with USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association). This insurance/sanctioning is included in the entry fee for all of our events, meaning there are no membership fees required for our participants! Why continue to spend team and individual funds on unnecessary fees? Please visit our website for complete tournament information. You may contact Jessica Christopherson via e-mail or by calling 763-781-2220 x 1733 if you have further questions. Gopher State Fall Basketball League The 2007 MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball league once again had a tremendous following, with 458 teams participating at 15 different sites. Teams competed on four consecutive Sundays - September 23 & 30 and October 7 & 14 - for the elusive title of Division Champion. Click here to view all results and standings from the 2007 league. We would like to thank all of our league hosts and congratulate our 61 MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League Champions - we hope to see you all again in 2008! MYAS Basketball Invitational Tournament Books There are still a few copies of the MYAS Boys' and Girls' Invitational Tournament Books, which contain flyers for tournaments throughout the 2007-08 winter basketball season. Click here to download the form and order your copy before they're all gone! Winter Basketball Information Now Posted The winter basketball season is just around the corner. Updated information and entry forms for all of our traveling basketball programs can be found on the MYAS website. Click on the appropriate link below to access a program's web page. Boys' Traveling Basketball League MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships The MYAS is already looking forward to the 2008 Grade State Basketball Championships, and we hope that you will participate in our version of March Madness. The 2008 tournament will take place on March 7-9 (girls) and March 14-16 (boys). Further details, including the entry application, code of conduct and hotel information, are available on the MYAS website. MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships In-House Championship Basketball at its Best! The 2008 MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 7-9. Don't miss out on the opportunity for your team to compete for a state championship against some of the best in-house teams from across the state. If you want more competition for your team and you want your players to have a chance to win a state tournament, come play Rec State. Click here to access more program information. Gopher State Fall Baseball League Congratulations to everyone who helped make the 2007 Gopher State Fall Baseball League the largest and most successful league in the Upper Midwest. With a record number of teams (267) and participants (more than 3,500), the MYAS baseball staff is very excited about the present and future of this league. We witnessed more competitive games in all levels of play and shorter traveling distances for all teams in each section of play. The Recreation level had more teams than each of the past two years. It was great to see so many kids playing America's pastime during the fall as they prepared for the 2008 season. The Fall League gave thousands of athletes a chance to play 10 more games before the snow flies! Listed below are the Competitive Division Section Champions from the 2007 Gopher State Fall Baseball League: 10U Section I - Saints Wood Bat Divisions Gopher State Winter Softball Camps The MYAS is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Minnesota Softball Academy. We will be offering two 2-day camps at the Competitive Edge Arena in Rogers, MN. The MSA brings the finest instructors - including current collegiate players and coaches, and current and former professional players - to facilitate these camps. Dates for the Softball Training Camps are December 27-28 and February 16-17. Stay posted to the the MYAS website for more information, including camp registration forms. In the meantime, if you have camp specific questions please contact Meggan Staton at 763-218-3061 or meg@minnesotabaseballacademy.com. Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps We look forward to another great winter season of fun and instruction with the Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps. Dates and sites for the 2007-08 training season will be available on Friday, October 26. Click here to access the Winter Camp web page where you can find camp flyers and registration forms. We're excited to announce that six camp dates are set with the Minnesota Baseball Academy in Rogers, MN, at the state of the art Competitive Edge Arena. This year's hitting camps will feature the latest in video technology - the Dartfish Slow Motion Video Analysis. Participants will be able to break down their swings just like the pros! Hitting leagues are also available with the MBA for the months of December and January. It's a great way to stay ahead of the competition! Click on the appropriate link to access the MBA brochure and/or registration form. The Lovdahl Pitching Academy will have three camp dates for pitching instruction. A Battery Mates Camp on December 28 makes for a great option during the holiday break. Other LPA camps will be offered in January and February. The LPA features the latest in training techniques used by the Minnesota Twins. Erik Lovdahl is the lead instructor for the Twins Training Camps and we are excited to have him join our Winter Camp staff again this season. The LPA brochure and registration form will be available on the MYAS website on Friday, October 26. Please stay up to date with the latest camp information on the Winter Camp section of the MYAS website. If you have questions regarding the camps, please don't hesitate to contact Jeremy Barbe at 763-781-2220 x 1731 or jbarbe@myas.org. Calendar Updates (as of 10/25/07) Do You Want to Play at the Target Center? Click Here HS Basketball Winter Training Series FREE!!! Tubby Smith Youth Basketball Coaches Clinic Winter Basketball Opportunities for 9th, 10th, 11th/12th Graders ATTENTION IN-HOUSE BASKETBALL DIRECTORS MYAS Position on Waivers For Winter Basketball Registration Materials Now Available!! 2008 Rec State Basketball Championships Did you get cut and still want a traveling basketball experience? Contact the MDB. Gopher State Wrestling Information Now Posted Timberwolves Pre-Season Skills and Performance Camp MN Heat Basketball High School Training Camp Winter Basketball Information and Programs Gopher State Girls Basketball Apparel MYAS TRAVELING BASKETBALL GUIDELINES Important Association Services That Work! The Minnesota Youth Athletic Services offers three important services: 1. Association and Player Sports Accident Insurance Coverage The MYAS has partnered with the agency that handles the majority of insurance concerns for the Police Athletic Leagues (PAL) around the nation. There are two broad types of insurance coverage that are both included in the MYAS insurance program: General Liability and Player Sports Accident. This program is offered by the American Insurance Group (AIG) company and provides a liability and player sports accident insurance policy that, in some cases, is cheaper than what some associations pay for just a liability policy. We also offer Director’s and Officer’s Insurance for participating associations. For more information, please contact Mike DeWane at 952-393-1929 or mike@myas.org. 2. Criminal Background Checks 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 Systems (RHR), has designed a criminal background check system that offers three affordable options to youth sports associations. RHR, a local Twin Cities company, incorporates a “user-friendly” process combined with flexible information delivery to make this system easy and inexpensive for your organization. For more information, please contact Mike DeWane at 952-393-1929 or mike@myas.org. 3. Coaching Education Program
Heads Up: Concussions Are Serious Getting tackled in football or shoved into the turf during a soccer practice is part of the game, but it can give players a headache. Literally. Athletes are at high risk for injury, particularly concussion. Young athletes are at even greater risk: the teen brain is still developing and problems can occur even after symptoms have gone away. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. It occurs from a direct blow to the head, or from a blow to another body part, then traveling up to the head. Most athletes who have a concussion remain conscious. In some cases, symptoms don’t appear right away. Symptoms include but aren’t limited to: confusion or change in thinking ability; memory loss; feeling dizzy or off balance; headache; blurred vision; nausea or vomiting; sluggishness; numbness in an arm or leg; a headache that keeps getting worse; and abrupt changes in personality. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help at once. When there are signs of a concussion, athletes need a detailed medical exam before returning to the game. Before returning to play, athletes should be: • symptom-free For more information about concussion, visit mnsportsmed.org. Minnesota Sports Medicine (MSM) is a network of sports and orthopedic physicians who treat athletes at medical clinics throughout the Twin Cities metro area. To locate a sports medicine physician or for more information about MSM, call 612-273-4800.
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MYAS membership meetings are held at our offices (4111 Central Avenue NE, Columbia Heights) on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00am (unless notified otherwise). All MYAS members are welcome to attend. |
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