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Welcome to the July 31, 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. It includes notes from the Executive Director, calendar reminders, new service announcements and special event information. 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
BROOKLYN PARK SHINES AT USSSA GLOBAL WORLD SERIES
Like most of you, there are days when I wonder if there isn't a better way to make a living. Those thoughts usually come after a long day of dealing with difficult situations and people, unreasonable expectations, circumstances beyond our control, being pulled in different directions and a lot of other stuff that might pop up on any given day. No, I'm not looking for your sympathy. We all have bad days when the world seems to close in on us and we start wondering if it can get any worse. What will happen next? Am I going to "go postal" on the next person who crosses my path? Will it ever end? Why me? Is it worth it?
When I start asking myself those questions, the only way that I can get out of my funk is to stop dwelling on the negatives and start thinking about the positives. But that can be really tough to do when it seems as though you are surrounded by nothing but very stressful negatives. When that happens, I need some really strong positive "medicine" to relieve the stress and put a smile back on my face. Lucky for me the Brooklyn Park Baseball Association wrote my latest prescription!
We recently partnered with the Brooklyn Park Youth Baseball Association to host the 2009 USSSA 11U Global Sports World Series. This was a brand new regional event for 11U baseball teams. In addition to our Minnesota teams, we also had teams coming in from Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota. The challenge was to conduct a national caliber event on an invitational budget. In order to do that, you need a lot of dedicated volunteers, quality umpires, superb facilities, generous sponsors, cooperation from the City Fathers, quality administration, a mindset for the details and a little help from Mother Nature. Yes, there are a lot of ingredients in running a successful event but in my opinion, the most crucial ingredients are the volunteers.
When we agreed to host the Global World Series, I didn't know any of the Brooklyn Park volunteers. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect. We've partnered with a lot of different athletic associations over the past 20 years and our experiences have been all across the board, from great to absolutely awful. In this case, I am pleased to report that the Brooklyn Park volunteers didn't just meet our expectations - they exceeded them! Mother Nature tossed us some wind, rain and clouds but all I could see was the sunshine coming from the guys and gals who were maintaining the fields, flipping burgers, manning the admissions and apparel sales and going that extra mile to make sure that our guests were having the time of their lives. From opening ceremonies on Wednesday to the final pitch on Sunday, they made me wish that I was 11 years old again.
It would be unfair to single anyone out in this group of Brooklyn Park parent volunteers so I won't do that - even though the core group of this dedicated bunch deserves to be recognized. The fact is that there were a lot of people in that core group who did everything asked of them with a smile and a sense of quality and urgency. Their efforts did not go unnoticed by our visitors. On Saturday and Sunday, all we heard were positive comments coming from the visiting teams. Several people remarked that Brooklyn Park had done a better job of hosting this event than some of the National Championships that they had previously attended. Numerous people commented on how well organized everything was and how they appreciated the effort that was put forth. And you know that you just ran a terrific event when the losing teams start talking about how great the umpires were!
As I drove home on Sunday afternoon, I was thinking about how lucky I was to have had this experience with Brooklyn Park. I felt fortunate to be surrounded by my very talented and dedicated staff that provided the administration for this event. All of the compliments that we had received were swirling around in my head and I felt nothing but pride that I could be a small part of bringing this event to Minnesota. All of a sudden, all of the negative questions that I had in the first paragraph of this article were answered. I knew that once Monday arrived, I'd be back to handling problem people and situations, but for at least one day, I was basking in the glow of the Brooklyn Park volunteers.
On behalf of the entire MYAS staff, I salute the Brooklyn Park volunteers for your superb performance and dedication to youth baseball and I encourage the rest of you volunteers to follow their example. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.
Minnesota Sports Medicine Tip
Nose Injuries & Athletes
by Scott Ahrenholz, D.O., CAQ; Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care
Blows to the face are a common sports injury. Because the face has an ample blood and nerve supply, injuries to the face and nose can be painful and are often bloody.
Nasal (Nose) Injuries
When assessing a nasal injury, it's important to determine severity and the need for further medical referral.
Examine the athlete to see if the nose appears to be in a straight line. A broken nose or nasal fracture may have the appearance of an "S" shape or may appear crooked or flattened, which could cause breathing obstruction. Nasal fractures typically bleed significantly, but not always. Reduction or straightening of nasal fractures should only be performed by a physician.
If a broken nose is suspected, the athlete should seek professional medical care. The situation should be treated as an emergency if the athlete is in significant pain, if the bleeding is extensive or doesn't stop, or the if the athlete is having trouble breathing.
If an athlete has sustained a hit to or near the head, it is important to rule out the possibility of a concussion. Symptoms of a concussion include but are not limited to dizziness, vision changes, nausea, loss of memory and changes in personality. If a concussion is suspected, seek further evaluation by a physician or certified athletic trainer.
How to Stop a Bloody Nose
- Use a clean cloth to cover the nose immediately.
- Have the athlete sit upright and lean slightly forward. Never have them lie flat as this could cause blood to drain down the back of the throat and trigger a gagging response. Do not have them put their head down between the knees as this could increase blood loss due to the head being lowered.
- Using the clean cloth, firmly pinch the soft part of the nose just beneath the hard bridge of the nose. Hold for several minutes until the bleeding stops.
- To reduce pain and swelling, place an ice pack over the nose and affected facial area.
- Bleeding must stop completely in order for the athlete to return to play. If nose plugs made of tightly wound cotton are available, place one completely inside the bleeding nostril. Cotton balls or smaller cotton tipped applicators should never be placed in the nose as they will fray or could become dislodged in the nasal cavity.
As with any injury, a quick but calm response from adults is important to lessen the stress level of the injured player, teammates and distraction from the game. Seek appropriate medical attention as needed.
Scott Ahrenholz, D.O., CAQ, provides non-surgical orthopedic care to people of all ages at Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care located at Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming, MN. Dr. Ahrenholz is board certified in Pediatrics and earned a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine. In addition to patient care, Dr. Ahrenholz provides medical coverage for area high school athletic teams and community sporting events including the Burnsville Safe Haven Heart of the City Half Marathon and the Chisago Lakes Triathlon.
Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care, part of Fairview's family of orthopedic services, has clinics in Wyoming and Burnsville, Minnesota. Sports medicine physicians also provide care at Fairview Clinics throughout the Twin Cities metro.
Our team is trained to get you back to activities and sports as quickly and as safely as possible. Keeping you in motion. Learn more at www.fairview.org/fsoc.
Then And Now - by Larry Gallagher
Discrimination in Baseball
How many of you have ever heard of Moses Fleetwood "Fleet" Walker? I venture to guess that only 1 of 100 of you would have ever heard of him. Moses is considered to be the first African-American to have played professional baseball in the United States.
Everyone has heard of Jackie Robinson because he is the first after World War II to have signed a professional baseball contract. Jackie did a lot for the game of baseball and helped do away with the great lie that baseball had been living since the years when Moses Fleetwood Walker faced it in the early days of the sport.
In 1883, Moses signed a minor league contract with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the Northwestern League. The next year, 1884, Moses made his debut as a Major League baseball player when Toledo joined the American Association, which at the time was a major league that was in competition with the National League.
Cap Anson (who became a hall of fame player) of the Chicago White Stockings played an exhibition game against the Toledo team. Anson refused to take the field if Walker played. Manager Charlie Morton called his bluff by playing Walker and told Anson that the White Stockings would forfeit the gate receipts if they refused to play. Anson played the game. If everyone would have stood up to the hate mongers during that time, baseball would have stayed integrated. But like many people at the time, they were afraid to stand up to the schoolyard bullies and we ended up with segregated baseball for about 70 years.
In 1884, Walker had his debut as catcher with the Toledo team on May 1 against the Louisville Eclipse. Walker's teammate, Tony Mullane, stated that "Walker was the best catcher I ever worked with but I disliked a Negro and whenever I had to pitch to him I used to pitch anything I wanted without looking at his signals." Walker was hurt in July and Toledo ended their season by going out of business. He ended up going back to the minor leagues in 1885 and played in the Western League for Cleveland until they folded in June of 1885. Walker then played for Waterbury of the Eastern League in 1886, and in 1887 he moved to the International League with the Newark Little Giants and caught for star pitcher George Stovey, forming the first known African-American battery (pitching/catching combination). During that season, the International League owners voted to exclude African-Americans
from future contracts.
During the off-season, the owners modified their ban on black players and Walker ended up signing and playing with Syracuse for the 1888 season. In September of that year, he had his second incident with Cap Anson. The Syracuse Herald published the next day that "Big Anson at once refused to play the game with Walker behind the bat on account of the star catcher's color." Syracuse relented and someone else did the catching. Walker remained with the team until they released him in July of 1889.
Shortly after this time, the American Association and the National League both unofficially banned African-American players, make the adoption of Jim Crow in baseball complete.
Walker's life after baseball was not that easy either. He was attacked by a group of white men in Syracuse in April of 1891. Walker ended up stabbing Patrick Murray with a knife slash to the groin, a wound that proved fatal. He pleaded not guilty by virtue of self defense and was acquitted of all charges in June of 1891. The Cleveland Gazette reported that when the not guilty verdict was announced the court house was thronged with spectators who received it with a tremendous roar of cheers.
So as you can see, it wasn't easy being an African-American baseball player in the early days of the game. If it wasn't for a few narrow-minded players and owners in that time period, we may have had the likes of Moses Walker, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Bullet Joe Rogan and others in the Hall of Fame.
Baseball could have been so different if people had stood up to the bullies of the time. I can only imagine what it was like to have been discriminated against and prevented from playing the game in the early years. Let's hope we can all learn from this mistake and never let anything like it occur again.
Velocity Sports Performance - Champlin
Why Do the Power Clean?
Most of the time when we think of strength training, we think of bench press, squats and bicep curls. Now these three mentioned exercises are good choices for building strength, but the exercises alone will not help build the explosive strength that is needed for competing athletes. The Power Clean and its variations are one of the best choices for athletes in helping build explosive power, strength and muscular coordination.
The movement of the Power Clean consists of lifting a weighted bar off of the ground until the bar rises above the knees and then rapidly and forcefully extending the hips and pulling the bar straight up until the ankles, knees and hips are fully extended and then quickly pulling yourself under the bar and catching it in the "racked" position. The Power Clean itself does not directly mimic a certain movement that will be used on the playing field or court, but what it does is teach the body to recruit the maximum amount of motor units in order to be fast and explosive. Once you have trained your body to recruit more units through Power Cleans it will be easier to transfer that ability to the playing field.
While most exercises are focusing on one area of the body, the Power Clean involves several major muscle groups that are very important for athletic performance. The major group involved is known as the posterior chain, which includes the hamstrings, gluteus and lower back or erector spinae. There are also several other muscles activated during this movement, including the calves, quads, traps, deltoids, forearms and core.
As you can see, the Power Clean recruits several of the major muscle groups along with several stabilizing muscle groups at the same time and in an explosive and powerful manner. All of these muscles are very important in athletic performance and in helping to stay injury free, which is a key element for any athlete in training.
When thinking about incorporating Power Cleans into your program there are several things to consider. Power Cleans are not an exercise that you generally see being performed at your local fitness center. Most commercial facilities are not set up to accommodate Olympic lifting movements. Also, the Power Clean is a complicated move to learn and if done improperly can be a risky exercise. There are several exercises that need to be mastered before one can properly begin doing Power Cleans. It is crucial that when an athlete begins doing this exercise it is under the supervision of a qualified Olympic lifting coach.
At Velocity Sports Performance, we have everything that is needed to successfully incorporate Power Cleans and other explosive movements into your program. We have the proper equipment and a qualified staff that has experience teaching these movements. The Power Clean is one of many exercises that can be utilized in a successful strength training program, and with the right coaching and technique will only improve performance on the playing field.
This article was submitted by Derrick Noble, M.S., NSCA-CSCS, USAW, Assistant Sports Performance Director at Velocity Sports Performance - Champlin.
Gopher State Volleyball Fall Championships
Registration information is now available for the 2009 Gopher State Volleyball Fall Championships.
This tournament is being held on November 1 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.
Coaching Boys into Men - FREE Event!
In cooperation with Fox Sports Network, the Domestic Violence Council of Anoka County and the National Sports Center will, on August 10, kick off distribution of a publication for coaches called the Coaching Boys into Men Playbook. The book is designed to help young athletes recognize and value respectful behavior among friends, role models and especially toward women and girls.
For more information, please click on this link or contact Donna McDonald at 763-422-7047.
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. (a) Player A1's forward progress is stopped, but he continues to struggle forward despite repeated blasts of the whistle by the covering official; or (b) Player B1 intercepts, is tackled and then intentionally runs off the field with the ball. What is the ruling in each case?
2. Substitutes A12 and B12 properly enter the game between downs. The replaced player of Team A remains in the team huddle while the replaced Team B player leaves the field immediately. What is the ruling?
3. A forward pass strikes: (a) an official standing inbounds, after which it rebounds into the air and is caught by Player A1 or B1; or (b) a dog or a spectator inbounds. What is the ruling?
Gopher State Football 7 on 7 Passing League
The inaugural Gopher State Football 7 on 7 Passing League wrapped up on July 27. The league, which is designed for high school football teams, was a huge success. It began the week of June 15 and continued for the next seven weeks.
We would like to congratulate the squad from St. Paul Johnson, winners of the 2009 Passing League with a record of 7-1. Please check the 7 on 7 page of the MYAS website for league results.
Keep watching for upcoming information on next year's Passing League, which will be held June 7 to July 26, 2010. If you have other questions, please contact Eric Rathke at 763-746-1730 or eric@myas.org.
Thank you to all the teams that participated this year, and good luck this fall!
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 rules. The answers appear later in the newsletter (see "In this Issue" for the link. Good luck!
1. Player A1 attempts to catch the ball while running rapidly. A1 muffs the ball, but succeeds in securing it before it strikes the floor. A1 then begins a dribble, taking several steps between the time the ball was touched until it was caught. What is the ruling?
2. Following a personal foul by Player B3, the official indicates to Team A that they shall inbound from a spot 10 feet from the sideline. In (a), Player A1 jumps in the air, over the designated spot, and passes the ball inbounds; (b) A1 has one foot within the designated-spot area but lifts it from the floor as the inbounds pass is made; or (c) A1 moves directly backwards from the designated spot by 6 feet and passes the ball inbounds. What is the ruling in each case?
3. Following the jump between Players A1 and B1 to start the first quarter, the jump ball: (a) is touched by A2 and it then goes out of bounds; (b) is touched simultaneously by A2 and B2 and it then goes out of bounds; (c) is simultaneously controlled by A2 and B2; or (d) is caught by A1. What is the ruling in each case?
MYAS Winter Basketball Meeting
The MYAS Winter Basketball meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 12 from 6:30-7:30pm at Grumpy's Rosevine Hall in Roseville. The meeting is held for Association Presidents, travel directors, in-house directors and coaches.
Information will be presented for the 2009-10 MYAS winter basketball programs and services including the Gopher State Winter Basketball League (formerly the Girls' Metro Basketball League and the Boys' Traveling Basketball League), Super Saver Tournaments, the MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships and the MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships. At the conclusion of the meeting, the MYAS Invitational Basketball Tournament Books will be distributed. We hope to see you there - no RSVP is required.
If you have questions, please contact Jeremy Innes (boys' basketball) at 763-746-1720 or jeremy@myas.org or Jessica Christopherson (girls' basketball) at 763-746-1733 or jessica@myas.org.
MYAS Basketball Invitational Tournament Books
The 2009-10 MYAS boys' and girls' basketball invitational tournament books are currently in production and will be available in mid-August.
Included in the books are flyers for more than 200 girls' and boys' invitational tournaments throughout the metro area and greater Minnesota. The books also feature the latest information on MYAS fall and winter basketball programs as well as important information and special offers from a number of our generous sponsors.
If you would like to order one or more copies of the 2009-10 tournament books, please click here to download the order form.
Gopher State Prep Showcase Basketball Tournament
The 2009 Gopher State Prep Showcase was held July 18-19 at Bloomington Kennedy High School. Participating in the tournament were 32 boys' and girls' high school varsity and junior varsity teams, and they gave us a great preview of the competition we can look forward to during the upcoming season. We had more than 30 NCAA Division II and III college coaches and recruiters in attendance watching our Minnesota players. Last year over 20 players were offered opportunities to play college basketball after the Prep Showcase and we hope even more will get that opportunity this year.
The competition was outstanding throughout the weekend. Rosemount HS showed a lot of skill and depth as their JV team won the Boys' Junior Varsity Division, while the varsity team squared off with St. Paul Johnson in the championship game of the Boys' AAAA Division. Johnson came out on top 50-40; watch out for St. Paul this winter, as they are an extremely talented squad. Cooper and Centennial will also make headlines this winter. Cooper lost by two to Rosemount in the semis while Centennial fell to SP Johnson. Cooper beat Centennial 71-64 in a very entertaining third place game.
Our Boys' Class A/AA Division saw Concordia Academy come away with the title. This year's tournament had a little UP (Michigan's Upper Peninsula) flavor. Coach Chris Katona and the Negaunee (MI) Miners came down and showed that they can play more than hockey in the UP. The Miners took second place overall and we want to thank Coach Katona and his players and parent for participating in this year's tournament. We hope they'll come back and visit us again.
The Girls' Varsity Division capped off with Lakeville North beating Burnsville in the championship game and Benilde-St. Margaret's finishing in third place.
Congratulations to all the teams that participated!
MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League
The entry packet for the 2009 MYAS Gopher State Fall Basketball League is posted on our website
. 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. Mark your calendars now and 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 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 will be available in early August. Click on this link to access the Winter League web page and keep checking back for new information in the coming weeks.
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 months. 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.
USSSA Global Sports World Series
In 2009, USSSA Baseball held a variety of Global Sports World Series tournaments regionally throughout the country. The MYAS and the Brooklyn Park Baseball Association teamed up to host an 11U World Series event from July 22-26.
Teams in attendance represented Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. The inaugural Global Sports World Series was a huge success and left teams wanting more. We hope to welcome even more teams to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for the 2010 USSSA Global Sports World Series!
Feel free to log onto the GSWS page of the MYAS website for results from our 11U tournament, or go to the USSSA Global Sports Baseball site to view results from all of the World Series events.
Gopher State Baseball League
In 2009, the Gopher State Baseball League included 410 teams from communities in all geographic areas of the Twin Cities, western Wisconsin and central Minnesota. Congratulations to all the teams that participated this year, and we hope to see you back again in 2010!
2009 GSBL DIVISION CHAMPIONS
10AA Central * Fridley Fightin' Tigers
10AA Northeast * Roseville Area Raiders
10AA Northwest * Zimmerman Thunder
10AA Southeast * New Richmond Tigers
10AA West * Delano Tigers
10AAA Central * STMA Knights
10AAA East * Forest Lake Rangers
10AAA West * Sartell Sabres
11AA Central * Plymouth/Wayzata Gold
11AA East * Forest Lake Maroon
11AA North * Andover Gold Huskies
11AA South * New Richmond Tigers
11AA West * STMA Knights
11AAA Central * Osseo/Maple Grove Storm
11AAA East * Brooklyn Park Bulldogs
11AAA West * STMA Knights
12AA Central * Anoka/Ramsey Tornadoes
12AA East * North Branch Vikings Black
12AA North * Big Lake Hornets
12AA South * Prescott Cardinals
12AA West * Osseo/Maple Grove Blue
12AAA Central * Champlin/Dayton Rebels
12AAA East * Mahtomedi Zephyrs
12AAA West * STMA Knights
13AA Central * Shoreview Area Blue
13AA East * Centennial Cougars
13AA North * Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets
13AA West * Osseo/Maple Grove Blue
13AAA Central * Brooklyn Area Bulldogs
13AAA East * Mahtomedi Zephyrs
13AAA West * Big Lake Hornets
14AA Central * Blaine Area Bengals
14AA East * Shoreview Red
14AA North * Andover Huskies
14AA West * Brooklyn Area Bulldogs
14AAA Central * Coon Rapids Cardinals
14AAA East * Forest Lake Rangers
14AAA West * Rocori Spartans
15AA East * Centennial Cougars
15AA West * Andover Huskies
15AAA Central * Andover Huskies
15AAA East * Forest Lake Rangers
15AAA West * Zimmerman Thunder
16U East * Soderville Red Sox
16U North * Mora Mustangs
16U West * Champlin/Dayton Rebels
17/19AA East * Roseville Black Sox
17/19AA North * Robbinsdale Area
17/19AA West * Osseo/Maple Grove Twins
17/19AAA North Suburban * Brooklyn Stingers
17/19AAA Suburban East * Centennial Cougars
2009 GSBL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
10AA Tier I * Delano (def. White Bear Lake in League Championship)
10AA Tier II * Elk River Red (def. Forest Lake Maroon in League Championship)
10AAA Tier I * STMA Knights (def. Elk River in League Championship)
10AAA Tier II * Cambridge/Isanti (def. Blaine in League Championship)
11AA Tier I * STMA Knights (def. New Richmond in League Championship)
11AA Tier II * Champlin/Dayton (def. Mahtomedi in League Championship)
11AAA Tier I * Brooklyn Park Blaze (def. Roseville in League Championship)
11AAA Tier II * St. Cloud Blue Sox (def. Champlin in League Championship)
12AA Tier I * Woodbury Black / Anoka-Ramsey (co-Champs; tied 3-3)
12AA Tier II * Elk River Elks (def. Cambridge in League Championship)
12AAA Tier I * Osseo/Maple Grove (def. Roseville in League Championship)
12AAA Tier II * St. Anthony Huskies (def. Delano in League Championship)
13AA Tier I * OMGAA Blue (def. Brooklyn Panthers in League Championship)
13AA Tier II * Roseville (def. Champlin/Dayton in League Championship)
13AAA Tier I * Brooklyn Area Bulldogs (def. Robbinsdale in League Championship)
13AAA Tier II * St. Paul Dunning (def. St. Cloud in League Championship)
14AA Tier I * Shoreview Red (def. St. Francis in League Championship)
14AA Tier II * Forest Lake (def. Robbinsdale in League Championship)
14AAA Tier I * Osseo/Maple Grove (def. Coon Rapids in League Championship)
14AAA Tier II * St. Paul Spartans (def. Elk River in League Championship)
15AA Tier I * Mahtomedi Zephyrs (def. River Falls Wildcats in League Championship)
15AA Tier II * (to be played 7/30/09)
15AAA Tier I * Andover Huskies (def. Centennial Cougars in League Championship)
15AAA Tier II * (to be played 7/30/09)
16U Tier I * Anoka-Ramsey (def. Mora Mustangs in League Championship)
16U Tier II * White Bear Lake (def. Brooklyn Twins in League Championship)
17/19AA Tier I * Centennial Blue (def. OMG Twins in League Championship)
17/19AA Tier II * Oakdale Lighting (def. Hudson in League Championship)
17/19AAA Tier I * Brooklyn Stingers (def. Lake Elmo in League Championship)
17/19AAA Tier II * North Metro Barons (def. Forest Lake in League Championship)
Gopher State Baseball Tournament of Champions
Congratulations to all 356 teams that participated in the Gopher State Tournament of Champions during our two weekends of competition. This year we saw the most competitive and exciting tournaments in the history of the GSTC. In our 2009 tournaments, 11 of the 12 champion teams won their first rings! The lone repeat champion was the Chaska Hawks 12AAA team, who won the GSTC back in 2007 as a 10AAA team (they were runner-up in 2008).
All teams are to be commended for their hard work and determination to compete at such a high level throughout a long weekend tournament. The mixture of teams from different leagues and affiliations was once again a prominent feature of this year's GSTC. We appreciate the interest of teams from our own Gopher State Baseball League and all the other areas from which teams originate.
All information on tournaments the MYAS will be administering in 2010 will be updated no later than November, so check back on the Gopher State Spring Training Series, the USSSA State Tournament and the Gopher State Tournament of Champions later this year. We are already looking forward to an exciting 2010 season. Thanks again for a great 2009!
2009 GSTC TOP TEAMS
10AAA
Champions -- STMA Knights
2nd Place -- Rochester Rebels
3rd Place -- Wayzata
4th Place -- Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets
10AA
Champions -- Little Falls Flyers
2nd Place -- Elk River Elks Black
3rd Place -- Mankato Royals Gold
4th Place -- Mankato Royals Maroon
11AAA
Champions -- Osseo/Maple Grove Storm
2nd Place -- Brooklyn Park Blaze
3rd Place -- STMA Knights
4th Place -- Melrose Dutchmites
11AA
Champions -- Little Falls Flyers
2nd Place -- Plymouth/Wayzata Blue
3rd Place -- Orono Spartans
4th Place -- Plymouth/Wayzata Gold
12AAA
Champions -- Chaska Hawks
2nd Place -- Cottage Grove Wolfpack
3rd Place -- Eden Prairie Eagles
4th Place -- Osseo/Maple Grove Storm
12AA
Champions -- Eastview Lightning Black
2nd Place -- Cloquet
3rd Place -- Alexandria Cardinals
4th Place -- Mankato Maroon
13AAA
Champions -- Plymouth/Wayzata Trojans
2nd Place -- Brooklyn Area Bulldogs
3rd Place -- STMA Knights
4th Place -- North St. Paul Polars
13AA
Champions -- Minnetonka Warriors
2nd Place -- Burnsville White
3rd Place -- Little Falls
4th Place -- Eden Prairie Black
14AAA
Champions -- Eden Prairie Eagles
2nd Place -- Eagan Wildcats
3rd Place -- Coon Rapids Cardinals
4th Place -- Osseo/Maple Grove Storm
14AA
Champions -- Brooklyn Area Bulldogs
2nd Place -- Chisago Lakes
3rd Place -- Lakeville North Panthers
4th Place -- Shoreview Red
15AAA
Champions -- Eden Prairie Eagles
2nd Place -- Forest Lake Rangers
3rd Place -- Burnsville Black
4th Place -- St. Paul Midway Bombers
15AA
Champions -- Woodbury Bandits
2nd Place -- Burnsville Gold
3rd Place -- Eagan Wildcats
4th Place -- Shoreview Area
MYAS Rec State Baseball Championships
This coming weekend (July 31-August 2), we will see 127 teams in five divisions compete for the title of 2009 Rec State Baseball Champion. The MYAS would like to personally thank the communities that are making this tournament a success: Andover, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Edina, Fridley and Ham Lake. Without their hard work and support this event would not be possible.
All schedules are posted and teams will be able to view their tournament results on the Rec State Baseball home page. This will be the third year that the Ramada Minneapolis NW (featuring Grand Rios Indoor Water Park) will be the sponsor of the Rec State Championships. They will have awesome room rates with water park passes available for your entire teams' year end celebration!
We would like to wish all the teams the best of luck in the tournament and - most importantly - have a fun and memorable weekend!
Gopher State Elite Baseball Umpire Camp
The second annual Gopher State Elite Umpire Camp is scheduled for August 29, 2009 at the Rich Valley Complex in Inver Grove Heights. This camp is for umpires who want to take their game to the next level. Umpires looking for the best training in the Upper Midwest are encouraged to attend the Elite Camp. It is designed to allow umpires the opportunity to see live plays by local elite baseball players and to be trained and critiqued by some of the best umpires and instructors in the upper Midwest. All of the instructors are excited about this training opportunity and are dedicated to teaching the up-and-coming umpires of Minnesota.
Student instruction will include philosophy, mental approach and attitude toward baseball, including appearance and equipment. On-field training for the two-person umpiring system will be offered, which includes proper positioning and duties of the plate and base umpires.
New for this camp: Each umpire will receive a DVD of their plate work with live commentary from the instructors at each field. Every umpire will have the opportunity to participate in live games as the plate and base umpire, where you will see the play and make the call. The clinic will utilize batting cages with pitching machines so umpires can receive one on one instruction. It will also cover handling game situations, balks, ejections, etc.
Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity! For more information on the Elite Camp or other Gopher State Umpire Clinics, please contact Jeremy Barbe at 763-746-1731 or jbarbe@myas.org.
Gopher State Fall Baseball League
The 2009 Gopher State Fall Baseball League, held on Sundays from September 13 through October 18, 2009, will include three levels of play: Advanced, Competitive and Recreational. The Fall 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 a new division of play called the Advanced Fall Baseball League (AFBL). In addition to league play, teams will also compete in a double elimination weekend tournament in the 13U, 14/15U and 16-18U divisions. AFBL teams will be formulated through either Blizzard tryouts conducted by the Minnesota Baseball Academy or via MYAS sign-up. (Players who try out for but don't make a Blizzard team must sign up through the MYAS.) Team standings, statistics and team and individual bios will be posted online to showcase the players in the AFBL.
The Competitive League is geared toward more experienced players and is designed for players/teams that participated in a traveling baseball league during the 2009 season. Teams may be comprised of players from multiple communities. Players may sign up individually, as a small group or as a complete team for the appropriate age level with May 1, 2010 being the age determining date.
The Recreational League is geared toward helping to prepare players and teams for a higher caliber of play and is designed for "C" level player/teams or in-house and recreational players. Teams may be comprised of players from multiple communities. Players may sign up individually, as a small group or as a complete team. The Recreational division is grade-based, so please make sure to sign up for the appropriate level. Use the 2009-10 school year for determining which division to enter. Recreational leagues are available for 4th-9th grade players.
Please call the MYAS baseball staff at 763-781-2220 or log onto the Fall League web page for more details and answers to all of your questions. Additional information and registration forms are also available on the Fall League web page.
MYAS Latest News (as of 7/30/09)
Youth Football Camp 2nd-8th Grade
Updated Schedules for 13U & 14/15U Rec State Baseball
Winter Basketball Meeting - Tournament Flyer Books
2009 10-13 & Under GSBL Playoffs
2009 14-15 & Under GSBL Playoffs
2009 16-17/19 & Under GSBL Playoffs
Free Event - "Coaching Boys Into Men"
Winter Basketball Tournament Dates Set
Start Planning for Fall Basketball
Minnesota Viking Ticket Offer - Save up to $61 per seat!
Are you looking for a basketball team to play on?
Insurance - USSSA Basketball
MYAS Calendar Updates (as of 7/30/09)
Friday-Sunday, July 31-August 2, 2009
Rec State Baseball Championships
Monday, August 10, 2009
Free Event - "Coaching Boys Into Men"
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
MYAS Winter Basketball Meeting / Flyer Book Distribution
Monday, August 17, 2009
Gopher State Fall Baseball League entry deadline (begins Sept. 13)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Gopher State Fall Baseball League coaches' meeting
Friday, August 28, 2009
Gopher State Fall Basketball League entry deadline (begins Sept. 20)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Gopher State Elite Baseball Umpire Camp
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. Delay of game in (a) and unsportsmanlike conduct in (b) (Rule Book 9-5-2 page 72 and 3-6-2 pages 47-48; Case Book 3.6.2 Situation B page 26).
2. In this situation, Team A is charged with a 5-yard dead-ball foul for an illegal substitution because the replaced player of Team A did not leave immediately as required (Rule Book 3-7-1 page 40; Case Book 3.7.1 Situation B page 27).
3. In (a), A1 or B1 has caught a live ball. Nothing has occurred to cause the ball to become dead. In (b), the ball becomes dead immediately and is administered under the provisions of the inadvertent-whistle rule with a replay of the down (Rule Book 4-2-2e page 49 and 4-2-3a page 50; Case Book 4.1.5 Situation page 29).
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. There has been no violation provided A1, after catching the ball, released the ball to start the dribble before the pivot foot was lifted from the floor (Rule Book 4-15 pages 31-32; Case Book 4.44 Situation A page 35).
2. Legal in (a), (b) and (c). As long as the thrower maintains any portion of his/her body on or above the 3-foot designated-spot area while making the throw-in, the throw-in shall be legal (Rule Book 4-42-6 page 40; Case Book 4.42.6 Situation page 35).
3. In (a), Team B will have a throw-in. The alternating-possession procedure is established and the arrow is set toward Team A's basket when a player of Team B has the ball for the throw-in. Team A will have the first opportunity to throw-in when the procedure is used. In (b) and (c), A2 and B2 will jump in the center restraining circle regardless of where the ball went out or where the held ball occurred. In (d)
, Team B will have a throw-in because of the violation and the arrow for the alternating-possession will be pointed toward Team A's basket (Rule Book 4-12-1 page 30 and 4-28-1 page 36; Case Book 6.4.1 Situation C pages 49-50).
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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