Sometimes after our best efforts to explain a rule are not successful and a request to waive the rule is not approved, someone will want to change the rule for the future.  Administrators of school sports should then be ready with a description of the process, and cautions for proceeding too quickly.

Whenever we consider why we have a rule, we should first consider carefully:  “What would happen if we did away with the rule?”

• What problems might emerge or re-emerge?
• What problems were our predecessors trying to solve by this rule and would the problems return if we were without this rule?

Nevertheless, one thing that is certain from a look at the history of rules for interscholastic athletics in Michigan is this:  there will continue to be proposals for change.

Proposals come from the boards of education and/or administration of member schools, from their local leagues, from associations of coaches and administrators.  They usually are directed through one of the association’s committees (e.g., a proposal regarding football would be referred to the Football Committee, which consists of football coaches, school administrators and contest officials).  If the committee recommends adoption of the proposal, that is reported to the 19-member MHSAA Representative Council.  If the Council adopts the recommendation, it becomes a part of the terms and conditions for that sport’s tournament or a part of the Handbook which each school district receives with the MHSAA Membership Resolution.  When the local school board approves the Membership Resolution, it adopts the change and agrees to its application locally.

If the subject matter of the proposal is to make a change in the MHSAA Constitution, then all member schools are invited to vote and a two-thirds majority of those voting must affirm the change for it to become effective.

In many cases, MHSAA staff will conduct surveys regarding some of the topics either before or after the idea has been made into a formal proposal.  Many proposals will be discussed at MHSAA Update Meetings in October and at a meeting for league and conference leadership in February, and at any meetings where staff is invited to lead discussion of the topic (e.g., meetings of athletic directors, principals, superintendents, boards of education, officials and coaches).
 
 Ideally, all proposals for change would be evaluated against the MHSAA’s stated mission.  Does the proposal . . .

 “1. Increase and promote the educational value of interscholastic athletic programs throughout the state.

 “2. Assist member institutions in their regulation of interscholastic athletic eligibility and competition.

 “3. Promote uniformity, predictability and competitive equity in the application of eligibility rules for athletic contests.

 “4. Promote the physical welfare of participating students.”