Contact: John Johnson or Geoff Kimmerly  
517.332.5046 or [email protected]

Sportsmanship Summit Series Returns in November

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Oct. 2 – Sportsmanship is an important part of educational athletics, and student cheering sections can be a key factor in creating a festive high school event. The Michigan High School Athletic Association will present its Sportsmanship Summit series in November, with this year’s focus on appropriate cheering and creating a fun and positive experience.

MHSAA staff, with assistance from school administrators and the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, present Sportsmanship Summits every other school year. More than 1,000 students from more than 100 schools are expected to take part in the four workshops, where they will discuss the line that separates good from bad sportsmanship, especially when it comes to cheering at athletic events.

Instruction will be based in part on insights gained during the Student Advisory Council’s Battle of the Fans competitions. The contest annually recognizes the best student cheering section in Michigan. The first Battle of the Fans champion was awarded at the end of the 2011-12 winter season.

This fall’s Summits again will feature hands-on breakout sessions – including one session developed and instructed by members of the Student Advisory Council. To conclude the Summits, the delegation from each participating school will meet to develop a youth sportsmanship campaign to implement upon returning to school.

Sessions will take place at the following:

•  Gaylord – Nov. 3 – Treetops Resort – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
•  Saginaw – Nov. 5 – Saginaw Valley State University Conference Center – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
•  Grand Rapids – Nov. 10 – Crowne Plaza – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
•  Warren – Nov. 12 – DeCarlos Banquet Center – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Registration at each site is limited to the first 300 students and administrators. Schools are welcome to bring as many as 10 total representatives, including two administrators. For additional registration information, contact Andy Frushour at the MHSAA office – [email protected] or (517) 332-5046. Registration information also is available on the MHSAA Website at www.mhsaa.com on the “Students” page under the “Schools” tab.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,400 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.

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