Scheduling Recommendations

posted on February 04, 2011 03:01

After a Federal Court ordered the MHSAA to schedule both its Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments in late winter, schools moved girls regular-season games to a winter season; and there were some requests for the MHSAA to determine statewide when boys and girls games would be scheduled.

The advocates of this strong arm approach by the MHSAA predicted difficulties in filling non-conference schedules if different leagues took various approaches to the nights chosen for boys and girls basketball games.

However, many more people preferred that leagues make their own decisions, noting that different areas of the state and different sizes of schools have different travel distances and/or facility limitations and/or community programs to factor into scheduling. And it was also noted that if every school played on the same night, there would not be enough contest officials to go around.

The MHSAA was without authority to mandate days or times of regular-season contests. However, based on what was learned from other states, we made some recommendations in 2007 that appear to have been largely forgotten or ignored. We said:

Don’t play boys and girls basketball games on the same nights. Home and away has one set of problems. Boy/girl doubleheaders has another set of problems.
Use Saturdays. In some places there are religious conflicts; in more places there are union contracts that add costs. But Saturdays were frequently used for volleyball in the past; and they should be used at least as often in the future.
Be consistent. People need to know and depend on who’s playing on what night at what time. For example, play girls (subvarsity and varsity) on Tuesday and Friday; and play boys (subvarsity and varsity) on Thursday and Saturday. Whatever is selected, stick with it, week to week all season, and season to season.

This would both treat people fairly and reestablish traditions.

Posted in: Basketball

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Comments

# [email protected]

Friday, February 4, 2011 9:01 AM

Valid points and solid reasoning. I have never understood why Saturday's have not been utilized more for basketball scheduling. Almost every other sport uses Saturday's on a regular basis. Because we schedule boys and girls on the same nights in our part of the state, providing experienced and qualified officials has been an on-going issue. All leagues need to look at these issues and determine solid and valid solutions based on what works for them and not make policy based on what won't get them sued.

# [email protected]

Saturday, February 5, 2011 2:16 AM

First, the member schools should have used all the advice shared by the MHSAA and coordinated with league schools and communities. The research and the intelligent thought by Mr. Roberts was strictly for the benefit of the whole. It is no secret that many of the girls games have very little fans and may not have the most experienced officials as it used to be when there were separate seasons. While athletics is an extension of the classroom it is also a revitalizer of community and family. We need this cohesion in a time when the valley is ruff and the hearts are low. While we can not return to the way the seasons ran before we can utilize the information to bring about a format that will bring the best for the sports areana and for the betterment of the most important participant, the student athlete.

# Tom Markowski

Tuesday, February 15, 2011 9:31 AM

Thanks, Jack, for providing some guidelines. Hopefully school districts will look at their scheduling, research the data and reach a sensible solution to the problem of when to schedule a boys basketball game and when to schedule a girls basketball game. After speaking to a number of athletic directors answers to these problems differ from one area to the next.
But I must say I agree with your first guideline. But there are those who say my opinion in regards to this is wrong.
What should be looked at first is how scheduling affects the participants. Cost will always be an issue. Looking at different ways to schedule, and trying different ways to schedule should be tried. From my talks with those involved there doesn't seem to be one way that works for eveyone.

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