Notes from Neal
From the Desk of Richard Neal, MIAA Executive Director

August 23, 2005

The following information is designed to enhance communication between school leaders and the Association, while providing information that will support the efforts and responsibilities of member school and athletic leaders.

This information is current and accurate as of the date above, but may be altered by future Association actions or decisions.

102.  School bells are soon to ring.  My hope is that each of you has enjoyed, and continues to benefit from, a peaceful and pleasant summer.

103.   At the start of fall practice, students will arrive in various levels of physical condition.  Special care must be taken not to push student athletes too far, too soon.  The added potential danger associated with heat and humidity suggests that constant vigilance be exercised. Click here for hot weather hints and other related medical information.

104. We hardly have missed a fall season without some scandalous hazing event.  Please be certain that adult supervision is such that hazing incidents could not possibly occur.  Education of fall student athletes and their coaches may be necessary.

105.   Your goal should be to certify as eligible every student who is interested in a fall sport.  This should be done prior to each student’s initial day of practice.  Part of that certification is assurance that each student has satisfied the physical examination requirement.  Click here for support on this issue.

106.   It is a good idea to regularly attend MIAA workshops.  “Veterans” who follow this advice claim that they learn something new and helpful at every session.

107. The number of new member school principals and athletic directors is practically astounding.  The executive staff, Board of Directors and District Athletic Committees are all of the mind that mentoring new principals and athletic directors is a valuable objective.  Veteran school and athletic administrators, please consider reaching out to a new colleague.  A simple phone call of introduction and an offer of support would be appreciated by your new colleague.  Look for an opportunity to extend an invitation to a League, District, or Association meeting or workshop.  Driving together would be a time-efficient way to provide support.  Executive staff members plan to identify and contact new principals and athletic directors as well.  Your efforts, combined with our efforts, could provide a welcoming and helpful connection. New administrators: if we somehow miss you, please do not hesitate to be in touch with me or any other member of staff.  Click here for a directory of staff responsibilities.

108.   Whether a veteran or brand new, you should commit to participating in association governance as a member of at least one of approximately 35 MIAA district and statewide committees and boards. Click here for the current Leadership Document, and look for vacancies that exist in your district.  Most statewide association committees provide for a principal and an athletic director from each MIAA district.

109.   It is a priority of mine to visit your league or district athletic committee meeting.  During the last academic year I appreciated the opportunity to sit, listen and learn, or to address topics of concern to you.  Please consider inviting me to one of your meetings this year.

110.   Kindly include on your school’s MIAA web profile (“Members Only”) your phone extension number.  Also, please provide directions to your athletic facilities.  THANKS!

111. Difficult-to-resolve non-league scheduling conflicts between schools could be avoided if simple contracts were executed.  In the way of an example, at tournament seeding time, there is often dispute as to whether non-league contests can be cancelled in order to make up a league contest.  This is the kind of issue that a contract should address.

112.   Each school should have scheduled and planned a parent/student athlete event to kick off the fall season.  The subject matter to be presented should include school or athletic handbook matters that student athletes and parents should be reminded about, sportsmanship expectations, the mission of educational athletics, the relationship of the high school to the MIAA, along with the expectations of behaviors associated with educational athletics.  Bringing together student athletes with their parents prior to the start of your competition season is a great opportunity to establish a climate, change the culture (if you are dissatisfied), and present expectations, policies and standards that will identify your athletic program during this fall season.  This should create understandings which will avoid meetings and angst as the inevitable disappointing moments occur during the season.

113.   Be certain to let us know if you plan to offer a sport that was not offered last year.  This information should have been included with your membership renewal, but if such was overlooked, please be in touch with Jan Martin here at the MIAA Office..

114.   Please make an effort to ensure that both the principal and athletic director attend one of the MIAA regional workshops, which are scheduled accordingly:

September 13             (Tues.)             District E                    Hudson HS
September 15             (Thurs.)            Districts B/H             Waltham HS
September 22             (Thurs.)            District A                    Tewksbury Memorial HS
September 23             (Fri.)                 Districts C/D             Middleboro HS
September 29             (Thurs.)            District F                    West Springfield HS
September 30             (Fri.)                 District G                   TBA

Continental Breakfast will be available at 8:30 a.m., and the workshop will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Core agenda items will include an Open Forum with questions from participants being the focus of attention; a review of the advantages of Association Technology; and a presentation of Association/Tournament Financial Challenges and Possible Solutions.  The District Committees during their August meeting suggested that the “open forum” be designed in such a fashion that it focus on an exchange between member school representatives (in the persons of principals and athletic directors) and me (as your Executive Director).  In order to best serve you, I would benefit by having your questions or topics emailed to me as early in advance of your meeting as is practical or possible. The aforementioned is not at all intended to limit discussion, but simply to help me prepare.  (Questions and issues not forwarded in advance will be given the best possible treatment that my knowledge of the subject allows at that time.)  Additional agenda information and materials will be forwarded as meeting dates approach.

115.   Remember the deadline for submitting eligibility waiver requests for fall sports is Thursday, September 22.  Waivers are processed on a first-in, first-out basis.  Please only forward requests that you judge to be compelling with respect to the intent of the rule in question.

116.  Do note that none of the seven high schools housed in the former West Roxbury and Hyde Park high schools in Boston is an MIAA member.  It is possible that these schools may be combining to form (unapproved) cooperative teams.

117.   Welcome to new MIAA member, Another Course to College (Boston), which completed its final membership requirement with attendance at the August 11 Orientation/Induction workshop.

118.   Soon we will add to the “Members Only” web page another section entitled “Recent Decisions/Information.”  This was suggested by the District Athletic Committees as an additional opportunity to improve the flow of information between the school leaders and their Association.