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August 24, 2007 |  |
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Welcome to the August 24, 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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Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer THANKS EVERYBODY! The MYAS fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. Yes, we still have one more month left in this fiscal year, but all of our fall program income, expenses and participation numbers will be credited to next year’s bottom line. So our 2006-07 program year is basically over and I am pleased to report that we had great year. We had participation increases in everything we offered, so today’s notes are directed at all of you! Thanks to the event hosts for securing the facilities and providing the work force to conduct 200+ events in 2006 and 2007. Your willingness to put forth the effort to conduct these events is testimony to your dedication to youth sports and your association’s bottom line. Based upon our estimates, our host organizations raised almost $2 million for their respective associations during the past year. While there is always room for improvement, we feel very fortunate to have so many capable organizations willing to provide the volunteers to conduct our events. Every year we seem to have a nice mix of seasoned veteran organizations mixed in with some “first timers.” Regardless of experience, it’s glaringly obvious to me that it’s the people behind the scenes who make all this happen. Most of those people are nameless and faceless to the participating teams but we know who you are and we thank you! Umpires and referees are always getting the least credit for successful youth sporting events, but in reality it couldn’t be done without them. Yes, I know that you’ve run into a few officials who reminded you of the backside of a Clydesdale, but overall you have to admit that these guys and gals do a pretty good job! As a retired football, basketball, baseball, volleyball and softball official, I can identify with the trials and tribulations of these officials and at the same time, we hold them to some pretty high standards for part time employees. The overwhelming majority of these weekend warriors are really good people and their focus is on doing the job right. Nobody gets ‘em all right and from past experience, nobody feels worse than they do when they blow a call. Like a lot of things in life, it always looks easier from the sidelines. So today, we take the time to say thank you for doing a job that 98% of the general population wouldn’t even consider doing! Volunteer coaches are the backbone of youth sports in Minnesota. How many times have you been asked to coach or assist with the team but you’re too busy to commit to the long hours of practice and even longer weekend leagues and tournaments? How many times have you sat in the bleachers criticizing the coach’s decisions when you haven’t been to a practice all year long? How many times did you forget to say thank you for all the time your coach spends teaching life skills as well as game skills? Yes, there are a few knuckleheads out there who probably need to be moved to the bleachers (or maybe the parking lot), but just like officials, the overwhelming majority of volunteer coaches are out there day in and day out giving of their time so your kid and my kid and your neighbor’s kid can learn the game and have fun. Just how much is that worth to you? I don’t have any idea because I’ve always viewed volunteer coaches as priceless and saying “thank you” seems so insufficient - but that is what they need to hear. Hats off to all the volunteer coaches out there for unselfishly giving your time! I want to thank the MYAS staff for their contributions toward getting the job done. In my early years of directing the MYAS I used to look at credentials, grade point averages, experience, recommendations and a lot of other stuff that the “book” suggested when hiring staff. While I do still consider those things, over the past 10 years I’ve tried to look deeper into these wannabe employees and I try to find those who care. I try to find people who aren’t just looking to secure a paycheck. I try to find people who have a good work ethic and care about the end product. We encourage our staff to pretend that they are the coach, parent, player, official and host for any of our events. When they do that, our end product will be the best that it can be. We're human and we do make some mistakes and, like officials, nobody feels worse than we do when it happens. I am very thankful that those situations are very few and far between. If you can’t tell by now, I am very proud of the MYAS staff and you should be too. They may work with me but they work for you! Let them know that their hard work and attention to detail have not gone unnoticed. To our sponsors and vendors we also send our thanks. It does make our lives easier when the trophies arrive on time, the basketballs actually hold air, the baseballs don’t disintegrate on the first pitch and the trainers show up on time. It’s also quite welcome when our website functions as intended, our telephone voice mail works and the copy machine actually makes copies. Yes, we are thankful for a lot of things but none more than for you, our participants. Without you, none of what I just said would have any relevance. Thank you so much for your support! The MYAS Junior Golf season will conclude with our Tour Championships on August 23-24 at Majestic Oaks G.C. Final results will be posted next week on our web site (www.myas.org). On the home page, simply select Golf and click on either the Junior Players Tour or Rookie Tour to view the results. Winter Basketball Informational Meetings The MYAS will be conducting winter basketball informational meetings. We would like to invite representatives from both traveling and in-house programs. We'd really appreciate your attendance - bring your entire board! Topics will include MYAS programs, renegade teams, insurance, coach certification, background checks, tournament services, and your concerns. Please click here to view the entire schedule of meetings and find one in your area. Gopher State Fall Basketball League The entry deadline for the 2007 MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League is just one week away (August 31), and teams are pouring in for their chance to start the season on the right foot. We hope that you take advantage of this great opportunity to get the year up and running as we head into the 2007-08 basketball season. This year's Fall League will be held on September 23 & 30 and October 7 & 14. League information and entry applications are available on the MYAS website. Gopher State High School Basketball Winter Training Series Begin planning right now to participate in the second annual MYAS Gopher State High School Basketball Winter Training Series. This program began last year and is designed for ninth grade and high school varsity and junior varsity teams to give them an opportunity to play some games prior to the start of their high school tryouts. Teams can elect to play one weekend or they can sign up to play all four weekends. Teams play three “scrimmage” games each day. This year’s Training Series will be held on Sundays, October 21 & 28 and November 4 & 11. More detailed information and entry materials are now available online. MYAS Basketball Invitational Tournament Books Don't miss your chance to own your copy of the MYAS Boys and/or Girls Invitational Tournament Books. Each book contains flyers for tournaments throughout the 2007-08 winter basketball season. Click here to download the form and order your copy - supplies are limited! 2007-08 MYAS Basketball Information The winter basketball season is just around the corner. Updated information and entry forms for all MYAS traveling basketball programs are posted on our website as soon as they are available. Click on a specific program below to access more information. MYAS Boys Super Saver Basketball Tournaments MYAS Girls Super Saver Basketball Tournaments Boys Traveling Basketball League (BTBL) Girls Metro Basketball League (GMBL) MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships Gopher State Wrestling Program to Revamp Tournament The Gopher State Wrestling program has experienced tremendous growth, which has created both great competition and unforseeable glitches. The MYAS staff has been working diligently to improve the program. We are exctied about the 2007-08 season and believe that the changes we have implemented will solidify the Gopher State Wrestling Championship as the premier event in Minnesota. Look for more information to be posted soon on the Gopher State Wrestling portion of the MYAS website. 2007 10A (AAA) Tier I North Star Rec Baseball League The third annual season of the North Star Rec Baseball League featured 62 teams from seven different communities including Andover, Centennial, Coon Rapids, Forest Lake, Mahtomedi, Shoreview Area and Soderville. Two divisions of play are offered in the North Star League - 7th Grade/13U and 8th-9th Grade/14-15U. The league is looking to expand in the future to include additional age levels for community "C" (A) teams that want to mix their in-house schedules with other surrounding communities. If you are interested in learning more about the North Star Rec Baseball League, please contact Tony Groff or visit the MYAS website. Gopher State Fall Baseball League The 2007 campaign of the Gopher State Fall Baseball League is drawing near and is shaping up wonderfully. We will boast more record numbers, with more than 220 teams extending their baseball seasons into the nice, cool fall weather. The Fall League coaches' meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm on Thursday, August 30 at the Ramada NW/Grand Rios Hotel in Brooklyn Park. Directions are available on the league website. Good luck to all the teams this fall! Calendar Updates (as of 8/23/07) Mauer Baseball School - September 15 & 16 Gopher State Fall Basketball League ATTENTION IN-HOUSE BASKETBALL DIRECTORS Winter Basketball Informational Meetings Winter Basketball Opportunities for 9th, 10th, 11th/12th Graders 2007 Boys' Prep Showcase Results 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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