Dear Good People,

Kindly accept this confirmation of receipt of your enrollment with the Association.  We very much appreciate your commitment to our student athletes and member schools.

The Mission of education-based athletics is quite different than the mission of other basketball organizations for which you may also officiate.  We have a strong commitment to both exemplary sportsmanship, and to improving the culture/climate associated with school activities in all of the 34 sports recognized by the MIAA.

The vote of our policy-making Council (MIAC) with regard to contest officials’ presence for post-game handshakes in all sports was viewed by Council members to be a significant step in advancing both sportsmanship and improving game culture/climate.  Contest officials are uniquely and critically important to all of the 100,000 competitions which take place among our high schools annually.  The officials’ presence during this end-of-game ceremony sends a positive message.  That participation closes a circle of mutual respect among all of the principal game participants (i.e. student athletes, coaches, and contest officials).

Seven hundred and fifteen men and women are committed to being available to work our many basketball championship tournaments this year.  Be assured that safety and security continues to be a primary MIAA objective in all of our sanctioned and sponsored activities.  This basketball tournament will be no different.  As a matter of fact, because of concerns some of you have expressed, additional efforts and strategies will be undertaken in your behalf.  Earlier this week, for example, the Massachusetts Secondary School Athletic Directors’ Association Executive Board committed their membership to the support of your presence during the post-game handshake ceremony.  If you have any substantive concerns for your safety as a game concludes, you may follow the policy adopted in November for such circumstances (i.e. leave the playing area and submit the report designed for that purpose).

Any concerns you might have with respect to your insurance coverage was addressed weeks ago.  MIAA insurance is, and always has been in place, for all MIAA-sponsored tournaments.

At most of our basketball tournament games there will be a police presence, and at some games there also will be a contingent of parole officers who are committed to support the safety and security objectives of this Association.

We have meetings scheduled today and tomorrow to begin the plans for assigning basketball tournament officials.  We will sort the new database in various ways to ensure reasonable assignment protocols for you, and for the efficient operation of the tournaments.  If we can all keep in mind that these tournaments are for and about the student athletes and their school communities, the inconveniences that present themselves can be overcome.

This may have been a lengthy message, but because of your support we wanted to keep you informed.

Very sincerely yours,

James Peters, MIAA President, Principal, Monson High School, and MIAA Basketball Chair
William N. Gaine, Jr., MIAA Deputy Executive Director