TMSAA Committee Meeting Minutes

February 20, 2002

 

The Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association Committee held its second meeting of the school year on Wednesday, February 20, 2002 at the TSSAA office in Hermitage, Tennessee.  All committee members were in attendance.

 

Members of the committee approved the current membership list.  We had a total of 14 schools that applied for new membership this school year.  This brings the total number of schools in the TMSAA to 251 which is approximately the same as last year.  We lost some member schools due to a change in grade configuration in their system.

 

The committee decided on the items they felt needed to be discussed with our Athletic Directors during their conference at Opryland Hotel on April 23^rd.  Those items were as follows:

 

Ù     Girls’ Volleyball – Change in the regular season matches

Ù     NFHS Coaches Education Courses – Change in the number of classes required

Ù     Physical Examinations on file

Ù     TMSAA Wrestling Weight Classifications

Ù     Independent Game Participation Rule

Ù     TMSAA Basketball Tournament Schedule

Ù     TMSAA Sportsmanship Efforts

 

Committee members were informed that the Legislative Council passed both proposals that were submitted to them in December.  They were the elimination of the number of dates middle schools were given to play 20 matches in girls’ volleyball during the regular season.  Girls’ volleyball teams will still be allowed to play 20 matches but may do so within their own time frame.  The other proposal was the elimination of one set of NFHS Coaches Education Courses for non-faculty coaches.  Non-faculty coaches will be required to attend the Coaches Training Session within their first year and the NFHS Coaches Education Courses (Coaching Principles & Sport First Aid) within their first five years.

 

The committee discussed sportsmanship and whether or not to require Game Administrator’s Meetings.  In high school the Board of Control requires a Game Administrator to be appointed by the Principal of each host school to supervise every varsity athletic contest in football, basketball, girls’ soccer, and soccer.  The Game Administrator must be someone other than the participating coaches.  The Game Administrator of the host school is required to conduct one meeting which includes the coaches, officials, and security personnel prior to the start of each varsity contest.  Included in the pre-game discussion is a review of the expected behavior of everyone involved in the contest.  This is a very positive meeting that sets the tone for an enjoyable contest.  After looking at the number of reported incidents of unsportsmanlike behavior this year, the committee voted to ask the Board of Control to require Game Administrator’s meetings in football and basketball.  The committee also voted to monitor the number of reported ejections and unsportsmanlike incidents this year and decide whether to require the meetings in other sports.

 

Committee members were presented proposed TMSAA weight classifications for wrestling.  This was approved and submitted to the TSSAA Board of Control.