Weekly Update - October 5, 2009

October 05, 2009

VHSL Weekly Update, October 5, 2009

“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”

- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

ATTENTION: Principals, athletic/activities directors, superintendents, newspapers, magazine and yearbook advisors, forensics coaches, debate coaches, theatre coaches, scholastic bowl coaches, football coaches, wrestling coaches, golf coaches

Weekly Update, distributed at the beginning of each week, contains current League news and information on website updates (www.vhsl.org), with links that will provide you with immediate access.  Please forward this message to each of the coaches or activity advisers to whom this information pertains.

Football rankings posted on web site

The first set of football ratings has been posted on our website, along with the Top Ten Rankings.  Click on this link to access:  http://www.vhsl.org/athletics/football_boys.  Once you are on this page, go to “Resources “, then click on Football Weekly Ratings and Football Top Ten Ratings.

Zone qualifier and VHSL state girls golf entry/participation concern

The League office has received an increased number of requests from parents regarding accessing as well as filling out the zone qualifier entry form.  Zone Qualifier entries as well as State Girls Open exemption forms must be filled out by the appropriate VHSL member school staff.  It is also required for member schools to send a coach meeting all the VHSL Handbook requirements for coaching as stated in 27-2-1 and its exceptions with the participant(s).  Parents and athletes should be reminded that 30-5-3(1) of the Policy Manual states the penalty (ineligibility at any VHSL school for one year) for giving false information in regards to any VHSL activity.

Coaches recognition

The VHSL has joined with our National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to recognize model coaches in all of the sports in which we sponsor a state championship.  As the superintendent, principal, or athletic director of your school district, we invite you to nominate coaches from your school district who exemplify the positive qualities that help young people become better citizens through sports participation.

The NFHS has developed an online nomination process that allows you to identify those coaches who deserve state, sectional and national recognition.  Go to:

http://www.nfhs.org/CoachSubmissionForm/CoachOfTheYearSubmission.aspx

to complete the required nomination form, or you may ask the nominated coach to fill out and submit the form by giving him/her this URL address.  The coach will need to use your name and title in the space where it asks for “Nominator Information.”

State Coaches of the Year in each sport will be selected by the state association staff.  Deadline for online submissions for your coaches is October 15.  Remember only superintendents, principals, or athletic directors may nominate coaches.

Get to know your handbook

1) I keep hearing about rules for specific sports such as the top 40% of the girls who play in a zone golf qualifier move on to the state girls open; that 4 volleyball officials are required for all district, region and state playoff matches and that volleyball match length may be adjusted by districts.  However when I look for these rules in the VHSL Handbook I cannot find them, nor are they listed in the index.  Do they exist and where?

2) I understand there is information in the handbook regarding interpretations of the out-of-season practice rule.  Is there such a section and if so where is it located?

3) We are trying to finish our VHSL member Lacrosse regular season schedule.  Is there a limit on the number of Club Teams we may schedule?

 (Answers at bottom of weekly update)

Searching the VHSL website

1)  I am trying to find information on spring sport start dates as well as dates for next year.  Does this information exist on the VHSL Website?

This information is available on the website by accessing VHSL Calendars on the right side of the main page or clicking on events from the main page and then clicking on VHSL Calendars on the right side.

2)  Where can I find the football pairings for this year?

The 2009 football pairings can be accessed by going to football under athletics on the main page and then clicking on VHSL Championships.  The 2009 pairings will be located on the left side of the page.

Register now for the Championship Journalism Workshop for student and adviser publications training

The Championship Journalism Workshop, a (one or) two-day event, will be held in Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University on October 31 and November 1.  Sessions are brought to you by professional media, college level instructors and member school advisers across the state who have achieved consistent success with their publications and who are eager to share new ideas!  There is no limit to the size of the delegation attending this workshop, so join us in our 39^th year of scholastic journalism training – the state’s largest program for high school students and advisers!  The Holiday Inn Express (201 East Cary Street) is the official host hotel for this event and a limited number of rooms have been reserved at $84 + tax per single, double, triple or quad.  To receive this rate, call 804-788-1600 and mention that you are with the Virginia High School League Championship Journalism Workshop room block.  Workshop registration materials are available at http://www.vhsl.org/files/journ-workshop-registraton-draft-2009.pdf.  Sneak Peek Schedule available at:  http://www.vhsl.org/files/pubseval-workshop-descriptions-2009.pdf.  Questions may be directed to Lisa Giles (lgiles@vhsl.org) or Sharon Condoulis (scondoulis@vhsl.org).

Attention:  principals, athletic directors, wrestling coaches

Wrestling practice will begin on November 16.  VHSL’s weight control program mandates that all wrestlers have their body fat measurements done from Nov. 3 through Nov. 22, 2009.   As a reminder, ONLY a VHSL certified measurer may perform the official testing of wrestlers.  He/she must be a degreed medical professional (MD, DO, ATC, RN, NP, PA, etc.) who has completed the appropriate VHSL training workshop(s), completed the documentation of experience and credentials forms, and passed an examination.  For new certified measurer’s, there will be NATA BOC CEU’s offered to attend the workshop.

We are offering training sessions for new certified measurers in various geographic locations over the next few weeks.  Any medical professionals interested in attending a VHSL Certified Measurer for 2009-10 should check the website for workshop dates and locations:  http://www.fcps.edu/supt/activities/atp/WCP/wcpscheduleworkshop.htm.  Each school should confirm that the VHSL WCP Certified Measurer they plan to use is eligible to perform the measurements for your team at this time.

Plan ahead to avoid SAT conflicts

Help SAT-taking juniors and seniors plan now to avoid SAT conflicts.  This year’s SAT dates are:  October 10, November 7, December 5, January 23, March 13, May 1 and June 5.  If you are directing/hosting a district/regional tournament, remember that those tournaments may be scheduled prior to, but not after established deadline.

Martin Screen Prints will be set up at the VHSL Group Boards and Membership Meetings

League staff has asked Martin Screen Prints to be on hand at the VHSL Group Board and Membership Meetings.  Their representative will have embroidered apparel for sale and they can also take your order for official VHSL logoed items.

Sports feature writing contest deadline for volleyball October 16

At 297, the number of VHSL schools with girls volleyball programs is more than quadruple the number of schools with boys volleyball programs (69).  All told, over 8,500 high school students across the state participated in the sport during the 2008-09 school year.  Based on number of participants in Virginia, the sport ranks higher on the popularity scale than cheer, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, swim/dive, tennis and wrestling.  With this degree of popularity, there are hundreds of players, teams, coaches and schools that have human interest stories worthy of being shared.  Or perhaps it’s the water boy, the team mascot or the fans that are more compelling at your school? Either way, we want to hear funny stories, sad stories… poignant stories of triumph and tribulation.  The writer submitting the winning story will: (1) have his/her story published in the 2009-10 VHSL State Championship Souvenir Program, (2) receive 3 copies of the 2009-10 VHSL State Championship Souvenir Program, (3) receive VHSL plaque with story mounted and (4) receive 4 tickets to the VHSL State Championship games for which the story was written.  Entry form may be found at http://www.vhsl.org/files/featurewriting-entry.pdf.  

Nominations for Hall of Fame

There are many outstanding individuals who have been inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame.  There are also many outstanding individuals who have NOT been inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Why?  Because deserving candidates haven’t been nominated.  If you know of someone who would make a good candidate for the Hall of Fame, please take a few moments to submit their nomination packet.  The nomination packet is posted on the VHSL website under Forms on the home page (http://www.vhsl.org/files/awd-hof-application.pdf).   Nominations are due by Oct. 31 for consideration for the next year’s class.  If you have any questions, please contact Mike McCall, mmccall@vhsl.org or Sharon Condoulis, scondoulis@vhsl.org, 434-977-8475.

Horatio Alger Association offering $20,000 college scholarship

The $20,000 Horatio Alger Association scholarship is an outstanding opportunity for high school seniors who have overcome adversity, who have demonstrated financial need, who have integrity, and who have made a commitment to making a contribution to society by continuing their education.

The on-line application for seniors is available through October 30, 2009.  Visit the website at www.horatioalger.org for all the essential details. 

Follow us on Twitter

The VHSL is now using Twitter, a free micro-blogging service, to communicate timely, short messages to its constituents.  Follow us at: 

General:  www.twitter.com/vhsl

Athletics:  www.twitter.com/vhsl_athletics

Activities:  www.twitter.com/vhsl_activities

VHSL activities now have Facebook Groups

In an effort to network and build community among the VHSL activities populations the VHSL has created Facebook groups.  These groups are open to coaches, students, judges and others who are linked to the activities community and are intended to be a constructive, supportive environment where coaches/students may ask questions, share coaching tips and resources, solicit VHSL tournament officials/staff, etc. within the VHSL community.  Official groups are: 

• VHSL Forensics
• VHSL Theatre
• VHSL Debate
• VHSL Scholastic Bowl
• VHSL Publications
• VHSL Creative Writing

The VHSL reserves the right to remove any post or user from any group.  The following are guidelines for group use:

• Obscene, abusive, insulting, hateful, racist or sexually explicit language is prohibited as are defamatory comments or personal attacks.  Posts that may be construed as threatening may be deleted and made available to the proper law enforcement officials.
• Commercial solicitations and/or advertisements are prohibited. 
• All posts must be in English.

Allstate for Cash for Quotes: Opportunity for VHSL schools to earn up to $10,000

Through December 1, 2009, or until funds are exhausted, VHSL corporate partner Allstate will donate $5 per auto quote back to your school (up to $10,000 total for VHSL Schools). The donation is made on a first-submit, first-donate basis.   Pass this link along to your parents, faculty and fans and they can easily submit their information on-line.  Click here to earn cash for your school.  (Or paste http://magnumwerks.com/virginia to your web browser)

Record Book updates needed

The VHSL Book of Records, 14th Edition has been updated to include 2008-09 champions and independent submissions.  To access the record book, go to http://www.vhsl.org/files/pub-vhsl-recordbook-jan08.pdf .  The record book is updated twice a year, at the conclusion of the fall season in December and at the conclusion of the spring season in June.  Schools may submit applications for recognition with corresponding documentation at any time.  This application may be found on the last two pages of the record book.  Any questions may be directed to Mike McCall at 434-977-8475.

VHSL program inserts sent to schools

In an effort to build greater awareness of the Virginia High School League and VHSL programs, we e-mailed each school inserts to use in your game programs and other school publications. 

To fulfill this awareness initiative as part of our overall strategic plan, we’re asking for your cooperation.  Attached are two camera ready inserts:

• VHSL insert.
• VHSL Foundation insert.

In addition, you may use your own photo.  If you choose to use your own photo, please e-mail a vertical jpg to Mike McCall (mmccall@vhsl.org).  Your photo will be inserted and a PDF will be sent back to you for use in your game program and/or other school publications.

If you do use the insert(s), please send a copy of the program and/or publication to the VHSL office.

Get to know your handbook answers

1) They do exist and are part of the Policy Manual which is in the back of the VHSL Handbook and Policy Manual.  The specific policies are denoted under the same reference section in the Policy Manual as in the handbook (i.e.  There are references to Volleyball under section 86 in both the handbook, beginning on page 123 and in the policy manual, on page 199).

2) The VHSL Handbook and Policy Manual includes 17 Appendices located at the end of the book.  The VHSL Out-of-Season Practice Rule Interpretation can be accessed in Appendix 6 on page 224 and 225.

3) There is no limit however athletic competition with “outside” or “independent” teams must be approved by the Executive Director and is not recommended when sufficient competition can be scheduled with member schools.  VHSL Handbook 27-3-3(5).