MIAA Track and Cross Country, Sportsmanship Committee Highlights

The following are highlights from MIAA Committee meetings that took place September 25, 2024 at the MIAA Offices in Franklin. These highlights are not intended as a substitute for official meeting minutes, which will be posted if approved by the respective commitments at a future date.

Cross Country and Track Committee Highlights - September 25, 2024

Election of Officers

• Amanda Alpert – Chair
• Pete Rittenburg – Vice-Chair
• John Monz – Secretary

2024 Outdoor Track Tournament Review

• D3 & D5 – Bridgewater: $450 not enough to get a team willing to assist, no BSU staff
  o    D5 – Bridgewater: one DQ for unsportsmanlike conduct, delay day 1 with a thunderstorm
  o    Power issues both days at BSU
• D2 & D6 – Merrimack: good facility, North Andover provided a lot of help; medical coverage was a problem. Issue lining the javelin. Girls’ hurdle final needed to be re-run.
• D1 & D4 – Westfield: all good, meet went well, good help from Westfield State people
• Meet of Champions – Fitchburg: lots of help, great meet.
• Questions: 
  • 2-day format, all the buses, atmosphere: do we need it? 
  • Some of the rationale for the 2-day meet was to allow athletes with graduation or prom conflicts to have an option to compete on one of the days. 100/200, 400/800, mile/2 Mile on different days.
  • Do we need standards or can we just take the top 24/32 in each event? Hand times in 100/200 might be an issue.

Cross Country

• Dates/Locations - 11/9  Northfield (D1), Devens (D2), Wrentham (D3);  11/16  Devens (State Championships)
• Class Waves were approved and will be posted to the website.
  • Boys / Girls
  • Summary

Indoor Track

• Indoor Track tournament was finalized and qualifying marks and schedule will be posted. 
• The committee adopted Minnesota scoring system, for Para-Athlete Scoring in the existing 3 para events. Para athletes can request additional events.
• High Jump Opening Height Letter - motion to reduce opening heights 2” below lowest qualifier. DENIED 0-12-2.

Officials Topics

Pete Rittenburg requested a fee increase for officials citing that MIAA meets are lower paid than regular season double duals and the MSTCA and MTFOA scales. Proposal attached. Discussion ensued about relative times official spend at various meets and different events.

• RECOMMENDATION: MIAA pays the same fees for all 7 meets, 6 divisions and MOC. Officials fees: $145 for all officials except starters and referees who get $165. Lynx and Hy-Tek operators fees stay the same. APPROVED 6-0-0. This will be moved to the game officials meeting next Month.

Sportsmanship Committee Highlights - September 25, 2024

Election of Officers

• Chair:  Derek Atherton, Hopedale
• Vice Chair: Kelley St. Couer, Ashland 
• Secretary: Michelle Hopkinson, Reading

Sportsmanship Essay/Multimedia Contest

• This year’s theme is “Sportsmanship Beyond the Game: High School Athletes as Positive Role Models”
• The entry deadline is October 10 at 12:00pm.
• A subcommittee will meet on October 17 at 10:30am to review the finalist entries. A rubric was created as a guide for the judging process.

Sportsmanship Summit Planning

• The event will take place at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, November 7.
• Discussed options for the student breakout sessions. The topic will focus on student spectator behavior. Breakout groups will be utilized to encourage discussion, interaction and to obtain feedback for the Sportsmanship Committee.
• Sessions and speakers will be finalized over the next few weeks.
• Nominations for the William N. Gaine Jr. Sportsmanship Award will be submitted by committee members for full committee review.

Final Contest Disqualification Data

• Reviewed the complete contest disqualification data for the 2023-24 school year.
• This data will be shared with the MIAA membership through the Executive Director Update.
• Seasonal updates will be shared throughout this school year.

MIAA Handbook Rule Change Proposals

• The committee will meet virtually on October 16 at 11:00am to vote on the proposed rule changes.

Other

• Discussed challenges with monitoring pregame music and appropriate songs.