In the News - March 2008
Ruth Rehn to Retire in South Dakota
By Cassie Krisher
After 34 years of developing girls athletics in South Dakota, Ruth Rehn, assistant executive director of the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA), will retire from her position June 30.
"The contributions Ruth have made to high school activities programs are immeasurable," said Wayne Carney, SDHSAA executive director. "Ruth has been a strong voice locally as well as nationally and has seen the growth of activity opportunities for both male and female student-athletes throughout her 34-year career."
"When I started working for the SDHSAA in 1974, the only sports available for girls at that time were tennis, golf, gymnastics, and track and field," Ruth said.
With Rehn's leadership, the list has expanded and now also includes basketball, competitive cheer, competitive dance and cross country.
Rehn was instrumental in developing officials associations for gymnastics, volleyball, basketball/football and wrestling. The SDHSAA was one of the first states to adopt the NFHS Officials Education program.
At the national level, Rehn has served on the NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee, Equity Committee, National Records Committee and Officials Advisory Committee. She has received several NFHS awards, including the NFHS Citation Award in 2000, Officials Association Distinguished National Contributor in 2004, and Spirit Association National Spirit Contributor Award in 2005. She also received the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award in 2005.
Rehn has served as the state chair for the NFHS National Girls and Women in Sports Day. In her home state, she organizes an annual honors program for female student-athletes in South Dakota. She has been the recipient of the South Dakota Girls and Women in Sports Service and Leadership awards.
"I was fortunate to be on the ground floor and to be part of history in the development and expansion of girls sports in South Dakota," Rehn said. "Perhaps my biggest accomplishment may be that I made a commitment to continue to work for the expansion and equality of girls sports in the state."
Rehn plans to spend time with family and friends after retirement and enjoy hobbies and travel.
"Ruth will not only be missed in the South Dakota office and among our member schools, but she will also be greatly missed at the national level for all the work she has done during her career," Carney said.
Endodontists urge importance of mouthguard use
By Cassie Krisher
The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) is urging the use of mouthguards as part of every student-athlete's safety regimen. Mouthguards and other forms of facial protection help prevent teeth getting knocked out.
In support of National Facial Protection Month, the AAE wants all athletic directors, coaches and parents to enforce the use of mouthguards for high school student-athletes.
While many people associate dental and facial injury with football and ice hockey, many other sports have high risk for dental trauma. According to the Journal of Pediatric Care, soccer players suffer mouth injuries three times more often than football players. Basketball players are twice more likely to suffer mouth injury than football or hockey players.
In the event that an athlete does suffer a knocked-out tooth, an endodontist should be consulted immediately. Endodontists are dentists who specialize in the treatment of tooth injuries. With careful and quick action, many knocked-out teeth can be replanted to last for years.
The AAE recommends the following five steps to save a tooth that has been knocked out:
- Handle the tooth by the crown, not the roots. Avoid touching the tooth opening.
- Rinse the tooth with water. Do not use soap or chemicals, and do not wrap it in cloth or tissue.
- If possible, replace the tooth in the socket. Hold the tooth in place gently. If it cannot be placed in the socket, put it in a glass of milk or in the mouth next to the cheek.
- Keep the tooth moist.
- See an endodontist within 30 minutes. Quick professional help greatly increases the chances of saving the tooth.
National survey shows decline in youth drug use
By Cassie Krisher
The results of a Monitoring the Future (MTF) study released in December show significant long-term reductions in steroid use by teens nationwide.
Since 2001, the number of eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders who reported using steroids in the previous month has decreased 33 percent. Additionally, the number of students who reported using steroids in the previous year has decreased 45 percent since 2001.
Research conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America shows that many high school athletes view steroid use as risky. However, the research also shows that parents and coaches do not talk to their teen athletes about the dangers of steroid use as often as they talk about the dangers of other drugs.
Working with Major League Baseball, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America is developing an advertising campaign to educate teens, parents and coaches about the risks of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.
In 2005, the NFHS produced a series of educational videos, posters and pamphlets urging student-athletes to "Make the Right Choice" and avoid steroid use.
The MTF study also reported significant declines in the overall use of illicit drugs among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders nationwide.
Illinois will test student-athletes for steroids
By Cassie Krisher
Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, student-athletes in Illinois will be subject to random mandatory drug tests in an effort to deter steroid use. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors approved the program at its January 14 meeting.
The IHSA is the fourth member association of the NFHS to establish a program to test for steroids in student-athletes, but it is the first to do so without a state legislative mandate, said Kurt Gibson, assistant executive director of IHSA and liaison to the state's sports medicine advisory committee.
New Jersey, Florida and Texas have already established statewide programs to test for performance-enhancing drugs in high school student-athletes.
The push for steroid testing in student-athletes comes on the heels of the Mitchell Report on illegal steroid use in Major League Baseball (MLB). The report was released in December 2007 and called for higher standards to eliminate steroid use from MLB.
However, the IHSA's steroid-testing program has been in the works for almost three years. The sports medicine advisory committee has had initiatives to raise awareness about steroids, but the association felt that "to be comprehensive, we also needed to have a testing component," Gibson said.
"Our staff, committee and member schools realized that this is a problem," Gibson said. "The most important part of this whole thing is that we're trying to protect the safety of our children."
The IHSA program will test high school student-athletes at random at any level of postseason tournaments. New Jersey also tests only during state competitions, but Florida and Texas test at any time during the season.
"We expect to conduct between 800 and 900 drug tests during the school year," Gibson said.
The IHSA Board of Directors has yet to determine which sports will be affected and the consequences for a student-athlete who tests positive, as well as consequences for a team or school whose student-athlete tests positive. New Jersey, Florida and Texas suspend student-athletes from competition for a certain amount of time as a penalty for a positive test.
Currently, the IHSA is partnering with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to provide publications about "competing in a clean and fair manner" to its member schools, Gibson said. The Illinois state legislature recently set a requirement for all high schools to provide steroid education to students. The IHSA helped schools meet that requirement with educational units, such as "Success Without Steroids" and "Integrity of Competition," available on the IHSA Web site.
Steroids can have dangerous side effects, such as stunted growth, severe acne, mood swings, insomnia and paranoia. In boys, steroid use can cause breast tissue to develop and testicles to shrink. In girls, steroid use can cause increased body hair and irregular menstrual cycles.
The NFHS encourages athletic directors, coaches and parents to talk with their student-athletes and encourage them to "Make the Right Choice" when pressured to use steroids.
Cassie Krisher is a spring semester intern in the NFHS Publications/Communications Department. She is a senior at Butler (Indiana) University, majoring in journalism and media arts.
2008 edition of "Court and Field Diagram Guide" published
The 2008 edition of the "NFHS Court and Field Diagram Guide" has been published and may be ordered at this time.
The Guide is a comprehensive publication containing current diagrams, descriptions and dimensions of playing fields and courts used in 50 sports. It also contains ball specifications, metric-to-English distance conversions, a directory of national sports governing bodies and how to set up different types of tournament drawings. All of the diagrams, specifications and information contained in the Guide are accurate and current as of February 2008.
"The NFHS is pleased to be able to offer this latest edition of its very popular ‘Court and Field Diagram Guide,'" said NFHS Executive Director Bob Kanaby. "It is an ideal resource for athletic directors, coaches, building and grounds supervisors, architects, and others involved with athletic administration. Since first published 16 years ago, it consistently has been one of the NFHS' most-requested publications, and is an invaluable resource. No high school in America should be without at least one copy of it."
The cost of the Guide is $19.95. To order the 2008 edition of the "NFHS Court and Field Diagram Guide," call toll-free 1-800-776-3462 or order online at <www.nfhs.com>.
Girls and Women in Sports Day luncheon held
By Jennifer Searcy
Ruth Riley, former high school standout at Denver (Indiana) North Miami High School, college basketball player of the year at the University of Notre Dame in 2001, and a seven-year veteran of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), was the special guest speaker at the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Luncheon February 7 at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott.
The ninth annual event, hosted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), was presented by the Oxley Financial Group of Raymond James & Associates and celebrated the many opportunities and achievements of girls and women in interscholastic activities.
Riley is a seven-year WNBA veteran and currently plays for the San Antonio Silver Stars. Riley helped the Shock to WNBA titles in 2003 and 2006, and was most valuable player of the 2003 WNBA finals. In 2004, Riley was a member of the U.S. women's basketball team that won a Gold Medal at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Riley won the Naismith Award and was named Associated Press Player of the Year in 2001 after leading Notre Dame to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship.
She drew from her experiences in the WNBA and other sports to encourage female athletes to set goals to help reach their dreams. Riley's message to the 450 people in attendance was to "believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Several awards were presented to Indiana student-athletes and coaches at the luncheon. They include:
- Leadership Award: Ashley Thomas, Indianapolis (Indiana) Lutheran High School
- Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award: Aubrey Little, Indianapolis (Indiana) Park Tudor High School
- IHSAA Sportsmanship Award: Deb Webster, Terre Haute (Indiana) South High School
- Achievement Award: Brittany Bedwell, Campbellsburg (Indiana) West Washington High School
- Courage Award: Mahogany Williams, Indianapolis (Indiana) Arlington High School
- NCAA Robert F. Kanaby Citizenship Award: Lauren Marshall, Garrett (Indiana) High School
- Spirit of Sport Award: Jacquie Rost, Elkhart (Indiana) Memorial High School
Jennifer Searcy is a spring semester intern and a junior at Franklin (Indiana) College.
Illinois High School Association to begin first fishing competitions next year
By Bob Herman
Illinois high school students, like all high school students, are fishing for a genuine high school experience and education. By spring 2009, these Illinois students can participate in actual fishing.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has received approval from its Board of Directors to pursue a statewide sanctioned fishing event, and everything is already in the works. A bass fishing ad hoc committee has been formed that will iron out all the terms and conditions of the sport.
"We have a lot of bass clubs and charter boat clubs that are willing to help and provide boats and drivers," IHSA Assistant Executive Director Dave Gannaway said. "A lot of schools said they would utilize their own boats to help put kids out on the lake for a sectional tournament, too.
"We have to make this an event that we can handle. We're going to start small with teaming and pairing."
Funding also does not appear to be a problem, as many sponsors have already voluntarily offered their services.
"We have several sponsors," Gannaway said. "We'll be able to release everything once we finalize the deals with them which will be later this school year, probably just prior to the summer."
Other details of the fishing events, such as the use of life jackets, the speed of the boats and the time participants must return to the dock, among other factors, will also be handled by the ad hoc committee.
There will be a two-day scoring event for state finals and a one-day scoring event for sectionals. There will be up to eight sectionals before state finals, and the scoring of the tournaments will be similar to professional events. A weigh-in at the end of the day will determine the winning team with the greatest total weight. The fish then have to be released, or a penalty will be incurred.
Gannaway thinks this opportunity, which is not offered at the high school level anywhere else in the country, has many benefits that any sport with rules and regulations offers.
"I think it's popular, but it's a different type of sport that reaches a different kid," Gannaway said. "The more activities you can provide the kids, the better off they're going to be with their high school experience."
Lacrosse championships now a part of FHSAA
By Bob Herman
Roughly six months after the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) approved competitive cheer as a recognized sport with state championships, another sport - lacrosse - was added to the mix.
The FHSAA Board of Directors approved boys and girls lacrosse as a recognized sport (which means the interested schools pay a participation fee to the FHSAA to have the sport), and the state championships are scheduled to be held April 18-19, 2008, at a site not yet determined.
"We have a classification policy," FHSAA Assistant Executive Director Paul McLaughlin said. "When you have 48 or more schools (interested in a sport), you can offer an invitational state championship. We put a survey on our Web site during the last week in August, and enough schools wanted it. We made a conscientious effort."
There currently are 66 schools that offer boys lacrosse and 65 schools that offer girls lacrosse. The championship site has not yet been determined because different areas are still submitting hosting bids, but a decision should be made by the end of January.
"We'll take a look at the different venues that are proposed and then we'll go from there," McLaughlin said. "We have received excellent cooperation from the lacrosse community and people (who were involved with) club sports."
McLaughlin said bowling is the one recognized sport in Florida that has grown more than any other. Provided that the participating schools have the facilities, coaches and other necessary items to succeed, lacrosse could experience a similar growth.
"It gives a different part of the student body an opportunity to participate, and high school sports are about participation," McLaughlin said.
Bob Herman was a fall semester intern in the NFHS Publications/Communications Department. He is a junior at Butler (Indiana) University, majoring in journalism (news editorial) and minoring in Spanish.
