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, calendar reminders, new service announcements and special events information. Contributions from 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
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
The term "unintended consequences" has been in the news a lot lately. It usually seems to have some sort of political connection but in my world, it relates to unsportsmanlike conduct. If you've read any of my articles over the last 20 years, you already know that unsportsmanlike conduct is my #1 pet peeve and I spend a lot of time harping about the need for better behavior. Regretfully, I have left out WHY I find unsportsmanlike behavior so extremely distasteful and it revolves around those unintended consequences that are the direct result of someone's foolish and out of control actions.
Sports are packed full of emotion and I fully understand that there are times when a person finds it difficult to control those emotions. I have played, coached and officiated, so I've seen, heard and felt all of the emotions that they have experienced. Bad calls will always be part of the game. Erroneous rule interpretations by amateur officials will always be part of the game. Spontaneous reactions will always be part of the game and everyone will experience their fair share of frustration.
Every coach, player and parent should realize this before they ever take their respective positions on the field or court or in the bleachers. Everyone should have a plan for how they are going to react when that moment of choice arrives. Are you going to scream and yell at the officials or are you going to control your emotions and plead your case in a respectful and diplomatic manner? If you take the screaming and yelling approach, be prepared for all of the unintended consequences that will follow.
Frankly, I don't feel much compassion for a coach who gets booted for verbal or physical abuse of the officials. I do, however, feel sorry for the people who are left in the wake of the coach's tirade. The first victims of the unintended consequences are the players who witnessed their coach's temper tantrum. The kids can look at the scenario and come to a number of possible conclusions including: 1) This must be the way to handle the situation and I'll do it the same way when it's my turn; 2) I am embarrassed to be on this team; or 3) I play ball to have fun and this just isn't fun anymore. Yep - the kids are the first casualty of unsportsmanlike behavior. I can't begin to count the number of kids I know who quit playing because their coaches were behaving like idiots on a regular basis.
Officials quitting is the next unintended consequence. When I was the Recreation Director in Pipestone and Winona, recruiting and retaining officials were my biggest challenges. If I've heard it once I've heard it a thousand times, "You can't pay me enough to be an umpire or referee." I used to recruit officials using several tactics. I'd beg them, shame them or dare them to do it! I didn't have many problems retaining the grizzled veterans but it was like pulling teeth to get new officials hired. Most of them were players and they had already seen numerous unsportsmanlike incidents where rage and anger were directed at the officials. Not many people want to invite that kind of turmoil into their lives or relive those moments over and over again.
Think I'm exaggerating? There were several years in Winona when I lost 50% of my basketball referees before the season ended. They just got fed up with the constant bickering and disrespect that was being displayed on a daily basis. The unsportsmanlike conduct got so bad during one flag football season that I had to cancel the second half of the season because I didn't have any officials who would work the games.
The parents also become victims of a coach's unsportsmanlike behavior and usually react in one of two ways when the action between officials and their coach gets heated. They either join in the free for all or they hide their heads in shame and embarrassment. For those who like to join in the mayhem, I am always amused at how bold some of them are in the bleachers and how meek they become as soon as they are standing alone. Far too often, the parents who didn't join in the fray end up making apologies to the officials, tournament administrators or the other team when their coach goes ballistic. Then they must have a heart to heart talk with their children to explain that their coach's behavior was not the way to handle things and the parents don't condone the coach's unsportsmanlike approach to settling disagreements. Then those same concerned parents have to report their observations
to the local youth sports association and the disciplinary process begins, which is no fun for anyone.
Another unintended consequence directly hits the core of any youth sport association - the Board members. When the actions of any coach, player or parent become so egregious that the matter requires Board attention, those volunteers start thinking twice about their involvement at the administrative level. Board members have the responsibility of recruiting, training and evaluating the individuals who are selected to coach their kids. They also have the responsibility of disciplining those coaches when they get out of line. Unfortunately, the coaches are their friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives or local business owners. Not many of us want to be put into a situation where we can make more enemies than we already have. Not many of us want to fire a volunteer coach. Not many of us look forward to adding to the turmoil that we all deal with in our daily lives.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why people don't raise their hands to serve on the Board. As testimony to that presumption, all I have to do is revert back to a recent conversation I had with a Board member from a north metro community who said, "I've been on the Board for four years and I'm tired of babysitting the kids, parents and coaches. I barely have enough time to handle the basics of what needs to be done and now I have to spend a ton of time dealing with the disciplinary process because one of our coaches doesn't know when to shut his mouth. I guess it's time to let someone else take over."
So there you have it. Now you know why I'm so peeved about the unsportsmanlike behavior of some of our participants. Bad behavior goes much deeper than the coach being ejected from a game. Bad behavior messes with kids' heads, becomes the #1 deterrent for hiring and retaining qualified officials, places the parents squarely between their kids and the coach, and makes Board members second-guess their volunteer involvement with the association. That is not a pretty picture by anyone's standards, and it could all be eliminated if coaches would learn how to plead their case in an appropriate and respectful manner as opposed to yelling and screaming at the officials and refusing to leave the court or field once they have been ejected.
Everyone needs to remember that your behavior is a choice you make but you don't have any control over the unintended consequences that will follow.
Columbia Heights Golf Tournament / Fundraiser
We are looking for foursomes to play in the 1st Annual Star Bar Golf Tournament on September 18 at Columbia Golf Club. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services and the proceeds benefit the Columbia Heights Police and Fire Departments.
Your $75 per golfer fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch/banquet at Star Bar in Columbia Heights and a chance to win special prizes!
If you have a team you'd like to enter or know of an individual or a business that would be interested in being a Hole Sponsor (which includes recognition on the golf course and at the lunch/banquet), please click here to access the event information and entry application. We hope to see you on the course on September 18!
Sports Medicine Tip
Scaphoid Fractures of the Wrist
by Julie Adams, M.D.
Fairview's sports medicine and orthopedic tip of the month offers ideas to help athletes stay healthy and prevent injury to stay in the game. Our family of orthopedic services includes Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care and the Institute for Athletic Medicine.
When an athlete falls during a sporting activity or sustains an injury to the wrist, the injury may be serious if there is pain and swelling that doesn't go away, if pain is worse with movement or when the wrist is touched. Athletes with these symptoms after injury should see a physician to determine if there is a broken bone or ligament injury.
A fracture, or broken bone of the wrist, can result after a fall on the outstretched hand. The most common bone that is injured is a part of the forearm called the radius bone. Another common fracture is of the scaphoid, or navicular bone in the wrist. Scaphoid fractures have unique healing challenges that require early diagnosis and treatment.
The scaphoid or navicular bone is a small bone in the wrist. It is shaped like a cashew nut and sits below the base of the thumb. Because of the forces on this bone during wrist motion and its very limited blood supply to promote healing, it is important to diagnose this fracture soon after injury.
Your physician should check for tenderness or pain at the "anatomic snuff box," the area at the base of the thumb where it joins the wrist. When the thumb is straightened, the two tendons are visible and the anatomic snuff box lies between them. If a scaphoid fracture is suspected, x-rays are ordered. If they show a fracture of the scaphoid, treatment is initiated.
In some cases a fracture will not be visible on x-rays right away and your doctor may consider casting the wrist and rechecking the x-rays later, or they may order an MRI or a bone scan. Once a fracture is identified, treatment may include casting or surgery. It can take a very long time for this bone to heal with a cast alone because of its unique blood supply and in some cases, fixation of the fracture with surgery may be recommended.
Scaphoid fractures require a long time to heal and unfortunately, in some cases may not ever heal. Accurate and timely diagnosis is important to successfully treat this injury. If the bone fails to heal and the wrist is not treated, a predictable pattern of arthritis may develop.
Julie E. Adams, M.D., is an orthopaedic hand surgeon who treats fractures, tendon and ligament injuries of the upper extremity. She sees patients at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. Dr. Adams completed a fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand Center and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, and her residency in orthopaedic surgery at Mayo Clinic. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Adams, please call 612-273-9400.
Then And Now - by Larry Gallagher
DID YOU KNOW?
In the original baseball rules of 1845 by Alexander Cartwright, the winner of a game was the first team to score 21 aces (runs) in an equal number of hands (innings). There was no provision at that time for a minimum number of innings. Therefore, if either team scored 21 aces in the first inning, the game would be over once the entire inning was completed. In 1857, new rules changed the winner as the team to score the most runs in nine innings of play. This became the standard for the first major league rules in 1876 and has been the rule ever since. Also of note is that three outs constituted an inning (by today's definition that would be a half-inning). The 1857 rule ordered "nine innings for each side."
High school and college rules do not have this history as they followed professional rules until they came up with their own rule committees.
Protective gear for catchers was introduced in the early 1900s. This type of gear for batters did not come into play until the 1930s. Helmet liners were introduced and were being used in the late '30s. Another form of innovative headgear featured a topless, wrap-around style device that fit over the conventional cap. It looked more like today's boxing or wrestling headgear. The bill of the regular cap stuck out in front and the two sides did not quite meet in the back. Through 1970, there was no rule that mandated the use of helmets by members of the offensive team. Rule 1.16 was added in 1971 and introduced the idea of mandatory helmets with the following provisions:
- All players shall use some type of protective helmet while at bat.
- Starting in 1971, all players in the class A and rookie leagues shall wear ear-flap helmets while batting.
In 1972, the ear-flap helmet was mandatory for all batters in class AA. All National Association leagues were required to use the ear-flap helmets in 1973 while all major leaguers could use any type of protective helmet. A transition rule was implemented in 1974 and stayed in effect through 1982. It mandated that major league players who had played the previous year in the minors had to wear the ear-flap helmets while batting.
Rule changes in 1983 stated that all players entering the major leagues that year and all succeeding years must wear the ear-flap helmet while at bat, except those players who were in the majors during the 1982 season and who officially (in writing) objected to that particular helmet. In other words, the helmet liner and regular cap-style helmet were "grandfathered in." Double ear-flap helmets became mandatory for all National Association players in 1983. This is the rule today, but there are no players that are still playing from the time period prior to 1983 so there are no longer any active grandfathered players.
Helmets for bat boys/bat girls and ball boys/ball girls were added to the required list in 1988. Even though Rule 1.16 does not state it, all professional leagues require base runners to wear helmets. High school and college rules require batters and runners to wear double ear-flap helmets.
From the beginning of the game of baseball until 1886, it was normal for the home team to bat first.
However, in 1887 the "captain of the home club" was given his choice of innings. This remained the rule until 1950 when the rule book was re-codified and mandated the present day procedure of the home team taking their defensive positions first. In my opinion, it would be great to have football and soccer rule books get rid of the coin toss to determine first possession. It would also be a way to do away with the jump ball in basketball or the beginning face-off and after goals scored in hockey. The home team would start with the puck or the team scored upon would start with the puck at center ice. Anyway, it would change the games a bit and get rid of gambling on coin tosses or the luck of the draw on face-offs and jump balls.
High school and college rules do not have this history because they followed the professional rules and did not start having rules committees until after this rule changed in 1950.
Bat color was not mentioned in professional rules prior to 1964. The present day rule was incorporated into the rule book that year. Traditionally, baseball bats were lacquered in their natural state or stained in a darker, natural wood color. To maintain the integrity of the game, rules committee members opposed the experimental introduction of various colored bats. Not only did colored bats create problems by frequently discoloring the ball, but they promoted a circus-type novelty alien to the traditional values of the game. In the earliest days of baseball, colored bats had been the gimmick of the day. Rules makers soon outlawed them.
Bats that have been authorized by the Rules Committee are the following: 1) natural finish; 2) brown wood stain; 3) black and 4) half stain (Walker finish). Umpires should constantly be aware of the type of bat a hitter brings to the plate. Should he enter the box with an unapproved bat, the umpire should order him to replace it. If he refuses, he is subject to ejection. In the event that an unapproved bat is not detected until after it has been used, all actions by the batter using such bat shall be legal provided this bat does not violate Rule 6.06(d). See Rule 1.10(c) regarding similar enforcement. Umpires in professional baseball have been fined for failing to notice and enforce the prohibition against colored bats. Charley Finley once wanted to use a green bat while playing for the Oakland A's and they would not allow him to do it. In amateur baseball, colored bats have been
allowed but if we followed the strict letter of the rule book, they should not be allowed.
High school and college baseball have allowed colored bats as well as metal and composite bats, so there is a large disparity in this one piece of equipment in any league that umpires work in Minnesota. The key is to know what type of league you are umpiring in before you keep a bat out of play. For example, District #4 in the St. Paul American Legion League is a strict wood or composite bat league - no metal bats are allowed. However, once outside that league players can use metal bats because American Legion baseball in Minnesota and nationally allows metal bats. If you watch the scores in American Legion state tournaments, you can see that scores are very high for both winning and losing teams. For the past few years the Minnesota Baseball Association has adopted the rule allowing wood and composite bats and disallowing metal bats and it has brought the high scoring down quite a bit,
and it looks like this rule will stay in effect for a long time.
Rules committees for high schools (in 2012) and NCAA baseball (in 2011) will require that the Coefficient of Restitution in metal bats equal the COR in wood bats in order for metal bats to be legal. We should then be able to see if a change in the bat rule will result in a significantly better game down the road.
What changes in the game of baseball do you think should take place, regardless of whether you're an umpire, coach or player? If you have a rule change in mind, e-mail me at lump2bug@q.com and let's discuss your ideas.
Sources for this article are Annotated Official Baseball Rules (1994) by Jim Evans; Baseball By the Rules (1990) by Glen Waggoner, Kathleen Maloney and Hugh Howard; The Official Rules of Baseball: An Anecdotal Look at the Rules of the Game and How They Came to Be (1994) by David Nemec.
Velocity Sports Performance - Champlin
Training to Increase Vertical Jump
Many sports and their respective athletes have evolved to a point where they are not just played on the surface provided. Another whole dimension has been added to some sports since their inception. Elite athletes now play above the parameters set in their sport. Basketball is played above the rim. Running backs in football often leap over large piles of large men. Receivers and defensive backs fly high into the air to retrieve passes. Outfielders in baseball jump higher than the top of many walls to rob hitters of home runs. If you don't jump high these days you don't play high-level volleyball. These are just a few examples.
Vertical jump is a fairly predictable performance measure. The ratio of body mass to force generated by the lower extremities will determine an athlete's vertical jump. Thus the more power an athlete is able to generate and the lower their body mass, the higher they will be able to jump. Interestingly, the same is true for horizontal movement, broad jump and sprint speed. That being said, an athlete should not attempt to lose as much weight as possible. The muscle mass required to jump high will give most athletes a significant body mass. Low body fat percentage is the key.
While power is important to jumping, neuromuscular recruitment is just as important, meaning that the muscles must become accustomed to the speed of the movement. In order to accomplish both tasks, multiple training methods must be employed.
To generate power, the lower extremities must be progressively loaded. Back squats are a great place to start. Begin with light weight, making sure that form is correct, and gradually increase weight. The next step in the power production chain is front squats. Form is even more important here and follows the same weight progression. These two lifts will prepare the athlete for cleans.
Cleans are a high velocity Olympic lift which will increase vertical even more than squats due to the velocity of the movement. However, the preparatory squat work must be done first. Cleans are also a very complicated lift and should not be attempted without proper instruction from a qualified coach.
Once cleans are mastered, you can move on to loaded jump squats. These are most easily done on a Vertimax or a Smith Machine. They are accomplished by loading weight onto the athlete, who lowers into a squat position just above 90 degrees and then explodes into a jump. Again, these should be done starting with light weights and gradually adding more resistance.
Another high velocity training method for vertical is plyometrics. There are a wide variety of plyometrics that can be used and most are very effective. The surface being used should be taken into consideration. Plyos should never be done on concrete or asphalt. Hard wood floors are acceptable but are not as good as a smooth grass field, and sand is even better. There is also research that supports doing plyos in knee-high water. Plyos are very hard on knees and ankles and should only be done in four- to eight-week cycles.
Training vertical is of the utmost importance and when done properly will result in a dangerous athlete.
This article was submitted by Aaron Stevenson, Sports Performance Coach at Velocity Sports Performance.
Get Your Team on Dick's Sporting Goods SportSpace Community for FREE!
Dick's Sporting Goods has created a new interactive clubhouse for your team/league, and it's completely FREE! A great communication tool for your team - scheduling, special events, special offers - the content is up to you. Please click here for more information.
Gopher State Volleyball Fall Championships
*** DATE CHANGE ***
Due to conflicts with several tryout dates of other organizations, the date of the 2009 Gopher State Volleyball Fall Championships has been changed to November 8.
This tournament is being held at Burnsville High School and is open to girls' teams in grades 5-9.
For complete information, please visit the Gopher State Volleyball web page or contact Jessica Christopherson at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org.
Gopher State Wrestling Information
The MYAS Gopher State Wrestling Championship has earned the reputation of being the toughest and best run tournament in Minnesota. In 2009 we had 900 registered wrestlers. The tournament has drawn wrestlers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan and California. Wrestlers from all states are eligible to participate in all Gopher State wrestling events.
The 2010 Gopher State Championship is scheduled for February 13-14. 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
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. Following a second down play, Player A89 comes onto the field as a substitute for Player A93 but A89 stops five yards from the sideline as his team is ready to snap the ball. Following the snap, A89 goes downfield and catches Player A1's legal forward pass for a first down. What is the ruling?
2. Backs A1 and A2 simultaneously move to new backfield positions prior to the snap. In less than one second after both are stationary: (a) Player A3 goes in motion and is in motion at the snap; or (b) the ball is snapped. What is the ruling in each case?
3. Quarterback A1 runs wide and while near the neutral zone, decides to throw a forward pass. As A1 releases the ball: (a) his foremost foot is touching the ground in the neutral zone; or (b) his foremost foot is breaking the plane of Team B's side of the neutral zone. What is the ruling in each case?
Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship
The MYAS is looking forward to the 2009 Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship, and we hope that many of you will be able to participate in the second year of this event. The 2009 Championship will take place on November 1, 3, 4 and 5.
All of the pertinent information is now available on the Football Championship page of the MYAS website. If you have questions, please contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
Good luck in the 2009 football season, and we hope to see you this fall at the Gopher State Twin Cities Football Championship!
Basketball Rules of the Month
In our ongoing education mission, we would like to highlight three basic high school basketball playing rules. The answers appear later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link).
1. Following a violation in the first extra period, the timer beckons the referee to the table. The timer informs the referee that, by mistake, the period started with: (a) more than; or (b) less than four minutes on the clock. What is the ruling in each case?
2. During the jump ball to start the game, after the ball is tossed: (a) Player B1 violates; (b) Player B1 fouls Player A1; or (c) Player A1 intentionally fouls Player B1. When is the possession arrow set in each case?
3. The ball is in flight during a try or a tap for goal by Player A1 when time for the third quarter expires. After time expires, the ball is on the ring or in the basket or is touching the cylinder above the basket when it is touched by: (a) Player A2; or (b) Player B1. The ball then goes through the basket or does not go through. What is the ruling in each case?
MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League
There is still time to get your team registered for the 2009 MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League. We have extended the entry deadline to Wednesday, September 2. The entry form for the Fall League is posted here.
Last year there were more than 400 registered teams in grades 4-12. The Fall League was developed as and is intended to be a "tune-up" for winter travel/school basketball, and it is always our hope that teams will enjoy the experience the league provides. Make your plans to join us on September 20 & 27 and October 4 & 11. Come see why the Gopher State Fall Basketball League is the largest fall league in the state!
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 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.
For more information on the Gopher State Fall Basketball League and/or the Second Session, please click here.
MYAS Winter Basketball Jamboree
The 2009 MYAS Winter Basketball Jamboree is for boys' and girls' teams in grades 4-8. The date for the girls' Jamboree is Saturday, October 24 while the boys' event is scheduled for Sunday, October 25. The Jamboree will be held at St. Louis Park High School and Junior High.
The Winter Jamboree was created to provide newly formed traveling basketball teams with an opportunity to play multiple scrimmage games in one day. We had a whopping 96 boys' and girls' teams participate last year, and the 2009 event should prove to be another great weekend of youth basketball!
If you would like more information, please contact Jeremy Innes at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org.
MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournaments
The first MYAS Super Saver Basketball Tournament of the 2009-10 season will be held at Mahtomedi High School on November 1. Super Savers are scheduled for every weekend during the months of November through early March for boys' and girls' teams in grades 4-12.
The tournaments provide your team with three games in just one day! You'll save money on gas and admission fees since you only have to travel to the tournament site once. So if you're feeling the crunch during these economic times, MYAS Super Saver Tournaments are your economic stimulus plan for the upcoming basketball season.
Please click here to access more Super Saver information and entry forms.
New for the 2009-2010 Winter Basketball Season!
The MYAS is proud to announce our partnership with various basketball groups to offer Winter Invitational Basketball Tournaments. These invitationals will be two-day events to bring you more basketball and more games! The tournaments will offer bigger brackets and more competition.
If you enjoy our MYAS Gopher State Invitational Tournaments in the spring, you will certainly like these winter invitationals! Please click here to access more information on our winter basketball tournaments.
MYAS Gopher State Winter Basketball League
The dates for the 2009-10 MYAS Gopher State Winter Basketball League (formerly the BTBL and GMBL) have been set. League games will be played on December 5 & 19; January 9, 16 & 30 and February 6. The dates for the league playoffs are February 20 & 21.
The Winter League provides opportunities for all levels of play: "A" (advanced), "B" (intermediate), "C" (beginning) and "Rec" (in-house) teams can all receive a quality 12-game schedule.
The league deadline is Friday, November 13. Further information and registration materials are available on the MYAS website. Click on this link to access the Winter League web page.
MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships
The MYAS is already looking forward to the 2010 Grade State Basketball Championships, and we hope that you will be able to participate in our version of March Madness. The 2010 event will take place on March 6-7 (girls) and March 13-14 (boys).
All of the tournament information will be available on the Grade State page of the MYAS website in the coming weeks. Keep checking back for updates, and we'll see you next spring for March Madness - Minnesota Style!
If you have questions about the Grade State Championships, please contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships
It's not too early to mark your calendars for the 2009-10 MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships. The tournament will be held on March 20-21, 2010 at various locations in the metro area. Some of the sites include Cottage Grove, Edina and Minneapolis.
The Rec State Championship is the premier state tournament for in-house and park & recreation teams. The tournament is held for boys' and girls' teams in grades 4-12 and features Division I (highest), II and III levels of play to accommodate all team skill levels.
Don't miss out on the opportunity for your team to play in a big tournament with a championship environment! Registration materials will be available in September on the Rec State Basketball portion of the MYAS website. If you have questions, please contact Kevin Wilson at 763-746-1712 or kevin@myas.org. GO REC STATE!
Congratulations!
The MYAS would like to congratulate Paige Johnson of the Minnesota Thunder 17U girls' basketball team for being named to the All American Team at the 2009 USSSA National Basketball Championships! Way to go Paige!
MYAS Rec State Baseball Championships
This year's Rec State Baseball Championships witnessed 128 metro area teams in five age divisions have a blast competing for a state title. Complete tournament results are available on the Rec State page of the MYAS website. We'd like to congratulate all the teams that helped make this one of the most competitive tournaments in the history of the Rec State Championships. Great job everyone!
We would like to congratulate the following teams for their first place finishes in the 2009 MYAS Rec State Baseball Championships!
4th Grade/10U Champions -- Midway Lime Away
5th Grade 11U Champions -- Prosperity Rec Center
6th Grade 12U Champions -- Soderville Athletic Association - Zimmer
7th Grade 13U Champions -- Robbinsdale Twins
8th-9th Grade/14-15U Champions -- Chaska Klein Bank
The Prosperity Rec Center 5th Grade/11U team was kind enough to submit a photo of their championship squad:
The MYAS would like to send a huge thank you to our 2009 Rec State hosts: Andover, Blaine/Ham Lake, Brooklyn Park, Edina/Minnetonka and Fridley. Without the help of these great hosts, this tournament would not be possible.
Steve Lombardozzi Baseball Camp
August 31; September 1 & 2
10U-14U * 9:00am-12:00pm -- OR -- 15U-18U * 1:00pm-4:00pm
The Minnesota Baseball Academy presents what is considered to be the country's most comprehensive analysis and detailed breakdown of the fundamentals of middle infield play available. Aside from Steve Lombardozzi's extensive knowledge of the most subtle movements of the positions, he is known for being an excellent communicator and a highly effective teacher. He will discuss and demonstrate the intricacies of the middle infield positions from a perspective that only someone who performed on the ultimate pressure stage could do.
Whether you are the parent of a young player wanting to ingrain that perfect muscle memory early; a travel, high school or college player looking to gain an edge over the competition; or a coach at any level seeking new knowledge and drills to help give your players an edge, this is the clinic for you!
This camp will also include a large portion of hitting stations, mechanical overview and throwing stations. Instructors will include Minnesota Baseball Academy and MN Blizzard staff.
STEVE LOMBARDOZZI
Minnesota Twins Rookie of the Year
1986 Major League Baseball Second Base Fielding Champion
1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins Second Baseman
1987 World Series Leading Hitter (.412 average)
1988 Established new American League single season record for double plays
REGISTRATION
Blizzard Members: $200
AFBL (Advanced Fall Baseball League) Members: $225
Non-Members: $250
If you would like to attend the Steve Lombardozzi Baseball Camp, you must click here to access the online registration page.
Gopher State Fall Baseball League
The 2009 Gopher State Fall Baseball League is looking great with more that 260 teams this year! The league coaches' meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00pm at the Ramada Mpls. NW/Grand Rios. At this meeting, coaches will receive their league informational folder (roster, game schedule, rules, score reporting information for Competitive League teams and more), game baseballs and a league scorebook. It is imperative
that every team's coach (or a responsible team representative) attend this mandatory meeting, as we will cover highlighted league rules, umpire policies and other important league procedures.
The first league play date is Sunday, September 13. All teams will play two games each Sunday for five consecutive weeks, ending on October 11. Sunday, October 18 will be used as a potential make-up date due to any weather-related cancellations that may occur over the course of the league. Questions on cancellation policies and game rescheduling procedure will be answered at the September 1 coaches' meeting.
We look forward to meeting all the coaches on September 1 and getting the league going. Thank you to everyone who is participating in the 2009 Gopher State Fall Baseball League. We are working hard to ensure a great experience for our 260+ teams this fall!
You can read more about the league and follow game results on the Fall League web page. If you have any questions, please contact the MYAS baseball staff at 763-781-2220.
MYAS Latest News (as of 8/27/09)
Fall Basketball - Entry Deadline August 28
Columbia Heights Golf Tournament / Fundraiser
Winter Basketball Tournament Dates Set
Are you looking for a basketball team to play on?
Order Your Basketball Tournament Books Now!
Twin Cities Football Championship
Minnesota Viking Ticket Offer - Save up to $61 per seat!
Insurance - USSSA Basketball
MYAS Calendar Updates (as of 8/27/09)
Friday, August 28, 2009
Gopher State Fall Basketball League entry deadline (begins Sept. 20)
Monday-Wednesday, August 31-September 2, 2009
Steve Lombardozzi Baseball Camp
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Gopher State Fall Baseball League Coaches' Meeting
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Gopher State Fall Basketball League extended entry deadline (begins Sept. 20)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Columbia Heights Golf Tournament / Fundraiser entry deadline (event on Sept. 18)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Gopher State Fall Baseball League play date
Friday, September 18, 2009
Columbia Heights Golf Tournament / Fundraiser
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Gopher State Fall Basketball League play date
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Gopher State Fall Baseball League play date
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Gopher State Fall Basketball League play date
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Gopher State Fall Baseball League play date
Answers to Football Rules of the Month
The answers below are derived from the National Federation of State High School Associations Football Rules Book and/or Football Case Book.
1. This is an illegal formation and if the penalty is accepted it would be marked off from the previous spot. Depending upon the situation, this could also be illegal participation (Case Book 7.2.1 Situation A page 49).
2. Illegal shift in both (a) and (b). Following a huddle or a shift, all players of Team A must come to a complete stop and must remain stationary simultaneously for at least one second before the snap or before a player goes in motion (Case Book 7.2.6 Situation B page 51).
3. In (a), it is a legal forward pass. In (b), it is an illegal forward pass because the location of the passer's foremost foot was beyond the neutral zone (Case Book 7.5.1 Situation page 53).
Answers to Basketball Rules of the Month
The answers below are derived from the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Book, Basketball Case Book and/or Rules by Topic publication.
1. In (a), if the mistake is discovered before the clock reaches four minutes, the clock shall be set at four minutes and play resumes. If discovered after four minutes, no correction is allowed. In (b), the appropriate amount of time shall be added to reflect a four-minute period (Rule Book 2-5-5 page 15; Case Book 5.7.3 Situation page 43).
2. In (a) and (b), when the ball is in the possession of the thrower from Team A, Team A has gained control for purposes of establishing the procedure and the arrow is immediately pointed in the direction of Team B's basket. In (c), the arrow is pointed in the direction of Team A's basket when a player of Team B has the ball or is at the thrower's disposal for the throw-in following the free throws (Case Book 6.4.1 Situation E page 51).
3. In (a) and (b), the ball became dead as the try ended with the violation. In (a), no points can be scored because of the offensive basket interference by Player A2. However, in (b), since the touching is defensive basket interference by Player B1, two points are awarded to Player A1. Whether or not the ball goes through the basket has no effect upon either ruling (Case Book 6.7 Situation A page 53).
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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