TMSAA Committee Meeting Minutes

November 14, 2001

 

The Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association held its first meeting of the new school year on November 14, 2001, at the TSSAA building in Hermitage.  All committee members were present.

 

A TMSAA membership update was given along with the area and sectional alignments.  To date, we have a total of 251 member schools which includes 14 new schools this year.

 

As you are aware, we conduct Administrators’ meetings across the state in September of each year.  During these meetings, we try to discuss rule changes, eligibility requirements, and any issues deemed vital that will help our member schools athletic programs run smoothly.  Attendance at these meetings are not mandatory but are very much recommended.  The committee discussed how we could get the word out and increase attendance without making the meetings mandatory.  It is the feeling of each committee member that someone from every member school should be represented at the administrators’ meetings.

 

In a continuation of a discussion from the last meeting, our committee discussed the possibility of recommending to the Legislative Council that off-season practice in girls’ volleyball be the same as basketball and football.  This would allow girls’ volleyball to have 10 days of spring practice within 15 consecutive school days.  After a lengthy discussion, the committee voted not to take this proposal before the Legislative Council.

 

Committee members were informed that the state office has asked our basketball supervisors and assigning officers in each of our local associations to consider naming the same number of middle school coordinators as they have high school supervisors.  These coordinators would be responsible for attending games, evaluating, training, and providing guidance to our young officials.  Some associations have already named their coordinators and everyone is excited about this possibility.

 

Committee members discussed the use of non-faculty coaches at the middle school level.  We must keep in mind that all non-faculty coaches must be approved by the principal, director of schools, and school board each year.  The principal must, also, submit the names of those individuals to the state office.  Each non-faculty coach must attend a meeting for non-faculty and beginning coaches within their first year.  They must attend a NFHS Coaches Education course within their first five years.  The committee voted to recommend to the Legislative Council that the second set of courses within the next five years be eliminated.

 

The committee voted to recommend to the Legislative Council that the number of regular season contests in girls’ volleyball remain at 20 matches and the 10 date limitation be eliminated.  This will allow more flexibility in scheduling.  This will go into effect January 1, 2002.

 

It was recommended to the committee that we consider allowing middle schools to have two basketball jamborees instead of one.  This is due to the fact that many schools use jamborees as their major fundraiser.  After a lengthy discussion, the committee took no action.