April 1999 Bulletin

RI Interscholastic League Monthly Bulletin
April 1999

FROM THE DESK OF …

The Executive Director

The Principals’ Committee on Athletics, at its march meeting, voted to revise Article 3, Sections 9 and 10 of the Rules and Regulations of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. Section 9 pertains to schools receiving tuition and Section 10 speaks to the issue of Recruitment of Student-Athletes. The revisions, particularly in Section 10, help to clarify the rule, thus making it easier for member schools to understand the intent of the rule. The revisions will be sent to all Principals and Athletic Directors and will appear in the new Blue Book (Rules and Regulations) that is being updated.

This is to remind all schools that beginning with the year 2000-2001, Co-ed Swimming will be divided into a Girls’ League and a Boys’ League. More information will be forthcoming.

"We won’t reach our goal until nobody blinks an eye that half of a team is male and half is female. Right now, we’re still going against the grain of a society that says it is not appropriate for girls to play these traditionally male sports. That won’t change until people regularly teach that any sport is open to all children."

Diana Everett, Executive Director
National Association for Girls & Women in Sport
USA Today, February 4, 1999

* STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES *

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League is implementing a new program which will highlight the positive impact of involvement in school activities on students.

Please help us in this endeavor. Enclosed in this Bulletin is an application form which we hope you will encourage your students to complete and submit to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

RENAISSANCE GAMES IN RHODE ISLAND

Well-rounded teenagers will be the focus of attention at the inaugural Rhode Island Interscholastic League Renaissance Games which will be held from April through May 8 at five different sites and is expected to be the forerunner of similar events in other states throughout the United States.

"The Rhode Island Interscholastic League is pleased to make the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Renaissance Games one of the many activities which are available to our member schools. The Renaissance Games are an important concept because they help to provide a bridge between academic, cultural, and athletic participation. This solidifies the fact that athletics are an extension of the classroom," stated Richard B. Lynch, executive director of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

This event is based on pilot-program Renaissance Games that have been held at the University of Ulster in Belfast, Northern Ireland; at Kingswood-Oxford Prep School in West Hartford, Conn.; and at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, which drew 150 student-athletes from three Division II schools and six foreign countries. The Rhode Island Interscholastic League Games will involve athletic, academic, and cultural pursuits. Each of the eight participating schools will be comprised of 16 boys and 16 girls, with each team member competing in two sports specialties and one recreational, academic, and cultural activity.

"We feel that the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Renaissance Games, like the others we have staged, will herald a valuable new tradition for the accomplished well-rounded student," said Daniel E. Doyle, the founder and executive director of the Institute for International sport, which is based at the University of Rhode Island. "Moreover, we hope that this concept will prompt all of us to reconsider the advisability of placing too much emphasis on adolescent specialization."

Sports will include boys’ and girls’ basketball, co-ed softball, mixed doubles tennis, boys’ and girls’ soccer, co-ed track and field, and co-ed volleyball. Recreational activities, all of which will be co-ed, will include board games, flag football, and a skill competition. Academic activities, also co-ed, will feature a spelling bee, mathematics, scientific discovery, renaissance jeopardy and debate. Cultural specialties will involve voice, instrumental, poetry, essay, art, and theater, while co-ed team events include rope pull (men’s, women’s, and co-ed), and a 5K walk/run.

In the opening round of competition, Lincoln High School will host North Smithfield High School on Saturday, April 3. On Saturday, April 10, St. Raphael Academy from Pawtucket will visit Mt. Hope High School in Bristol and Tiverton High School will be at Portsmouth High School. Sunday, April 11 will see Central High School from Providence visiting Moses Brown School, also in Providence. The semifinal round will be held at a site to be determined on Saturday, April 24, with the final round on Saturday, May 8 at Rhode Island College.

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?

Did you name an actor?

Did you name an athlete?

Did you name a woman?

(Did you name any women?)

Why don’t we think of women as heroes? Maybe it’s because no one ever shows them to us. We have to take the time to find them, celebrate them, and make sure these heroes are seen, so we can find the inspiration to achieve whatever we dream.

Look around. We are surrounded by strong, courageous, accomplished women.
Any one of them could be a hero.

A hero could be you.

DOES A HERO KNOW SHE’S A HERO IF NO ONE TELLS HER?

Do you know a hero no one else knows?
A hero doesn’t have to save a busload of school kids from certain disaster.
Or score the winning point in the big game.

A hero can be anyone who inspires you, anyone you look up to,
anyone who cheers you on, makes you better than you were before,
just as they made themselves better than they were before.

Do you know a hero?

Tell her.

Then tell everyone.

Reprinted from Sports Illustrated for Women
Spring 1999

"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."

Henry Ford

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS: Right for the Best and Right for the Rest

While some media reports would suggest that involvement in out-of-school athletic programs is growing at the high school level, information compiled by the NFHS through its member state associations indicates that participation in high school-based athletic programs continued to rise.

For the eighth consecutive year, participation in high school athletics increased during the 1997-98 school year. The figure now stands at 6.3 million participants in high school-based athletic programs across the nation, second only to the 6.4 million during the 1977-78 school year.

We believe the reason for this continual increase in high school based programs in a time of increased out-of-school programs is that high school athletics are right for the best and right for the rest.

Yes, the seemingly contradictory goals of excellence, on the one hand, and mass participation on the other hand, can both be – and are – achieved at the interscholastic level. Both the elite athletes, who may comprise a mere one percent of that 6.3 million, and everyone else who laces up shoes each week to compete can find fulfillment of their goals through their experience in high school sports.

Only about one of every 40 high school football and basketball players will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level, but involvement in interscholastic competition is just as vital and beneficial to the one individual who will continue to compete at the collegiate level as it is to the 39 who will see their competitive athletic days come to an end. The reasons are numerous.

First, because the time commitment during concentrated high school seasons is where the fundamentals of the game are taught, and where skills are developed. In high school –based programs, the practice to game ratio is 4 to 1, while out-of-school programs are generally the opposite.

Good coaches will tell you that student-athletes learn in practice as well as during games. Therefore, the preparation at the high school level is three times as effective, and three times as valuable. So much for the best when it comes to skill development.

Of much greater importance for all is what follows that type of concentrated involvement with caring, trained human beings.

In addition, the values learned through participation in high school sports help to shape and mold individuals for the rest of their lives, whether or not they compete in competitive athletics after high school.

Through participation in interscholastic athletics, individuals learn much about respect for self and respect for others. Values such as teamwork, loyalty, compassion, tolerance, courtesy, fairness, integrity, humility, honesty, poise, pride, responsibility, and discipline are equally important for everyone who competes in high school sports.

While the three or four years in interscholastic athletics can be the groundwork for an athletic career at a higher level, those years, for everyone, are crucial in helping students to become responsible adults and productive citizens. These are lessons that prepare individuals for active participation in life.

Another benefit of school-based programs is in the area of relationships. The kind of relationships formed by individuals who compete in interscholastic athletics are, many times, the most solid and long-lasting ones that will occur in a person’s lifetime. Likewise, many successful college and professional athletes look back to their high school days as the most crucial and valuable experiences of their lives.

We have inducted many successful professional athletes into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame based on their accomplishments in high school-based programs. A large percentage of these individuals, many of whom have been inducted into other halls of fame as well, indicate the fact that they are being honored for their accomplishments in high school sports is one of the most meaningful honors they have received because high school was where it all began, where the groundwork was laid, where the life-long lessons were learned.

Lastly, many studies have shown that individuals who compete in interscholastic athletics, as well as other activity programs, have better performances across the board than those who do not. For those few student-athletes who are looking to advance to higher levels of athletic competition, the high school-based athletic arena provides accountability in many areas, including academics.

It has been documented that students who compete in high school sports, and other activities, make high grades and have better attendance. A New Mexico survey indicated that students who competed in activity program had a 2.80 GPA, compared to 2.00 for non-participants. In North Carolina, athletes in Grades 9 through 12 in one school system with four high schools recorded an 86.0 average, compared to 79.0 for the general population.

Academic performance in high school sets the stage for the rest of one’s life, regardless of the level of athletic ability and advancement of one’s athletic career. The motivation for strong academic performance and development of positive attitudes and strengths cannot be duplicated anywhere as well as high school-based programs.

If uninformed, one could easily reach the conclusion that the flow of events over the past two decades requires that a choice must be made between strikingly different and strongly competing philosophies – those who advocate multiple sport participation versus those who believe in specialization. Not so. Not so.

High school sports can and does serve both interests.

Robert F. Kanaby, NFHS Executive Director
James W. Desmarais, NFHS President
Reprinted from OFFICIALS’ QUARTERLY Spring 1999

"Tomboy. All right, call me a tomboy.
Tomboys get medals.
Tomboys win championships.
Tomboys can fly.
Oh, and tomboys aren’t boys."

Julie Foudy

COACHES CODE OF ETHICS
National Federation of State High School Assoc.

The function of a coach is to properly educate students through participation in interscholastic competition. The interscholastic program is designed to enhance academic achievement and never should interfere with opportunities for academic success. Each child should be treated as though s/he was the coaches’ own, and the child’s welfare shall be uppermost at all times. In recognition of this, the following guidelines for coaches have been adopted by the NFICA Board of Directors.

The coach must be aware that s/he has a tremendous influence, either good or bad, in the education of the student-athlete and, thus, shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character.

The coach must constantly uphold the honor and dignity of the profession. In all personal contact with the student-athlete, officials, athletic directors, school administrators, the state high school athletic association, the media, and the public, the coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct.

The coach shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse and under no circumstances should authorize their use.

The coach shall avoid the use of tobacco products when in contact with players.

The coach shall promote the entire interscholastic program of the school and direct his or her program in harmony with the total school program.

The coach shall be acquainted thoroughly with the contest rules and is responsible for their interpretation to team members. The spirit and letter of rules should be regarded as mutual agreements. The coach shall not try to seek an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules.

Coaches shall actively use their influence to enhance sportsmanship by their spectators, working closely with cheerleaders, pep club sponsors, booster clubs, and administrators.

Contest officials shall have the respect and support of the coach. The coach shall not indulge in conduct which will incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical.

Before and after contests, rival coaches should meet and exchange friendly greetings to set the correct tone for the event.

A coach shall not exert pressure on faculty members to give student-athletes special consideration.

It is unethical for coaches to scout opponents by any means other than those adopted by the league and/or state high school athletic association.

Reprinted from the
Kansas State High School Athletic Association

"Short words are best,
and the old words when short are best of all."

Winston Churchill

SUMMARY OF MEETING

The following is a summary of the Principals’ Committee on Athletics March 22, 1999 meeting:

Executive Director’s Report

The Executive Director’s Report was approved.

Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer’s Report was approved.

Communications

Mr. Lynch referred to several letters and publications which were placed in member’s folders or filed in the League office.

Of particular note, Mr. Lynch reported on a letter received in the League office regarding a student-athlete’s participation in a spring sport while also participating in field events in track. This issue was tabled for further discussion and will be reviewed by the Track Standing Committee at the end of the season.

Mr. Lynch also reported on a letter from Gary Spremullo, Chairperson, Committee on Junior Athletics, regarding the RIIL assuming jurisdiction of Grade 9 sports beginning with Fall 1999. This matter was tabled to the April meeting of the Committee on Athletics.

Appointment of Director of Boys’ Soccer

Victor Mercurio, Assistant Principal, Pilgrim High School, was appointed Director of Boys’ Soccer. The Committee thanked David Andrews for his years of service and dedication to Boys’ Soccer.

Recruiting Policy – Article 3, Section 10

Richard Magarian, Assistant Executive Director, distributed copies of the proposed manual changes of Article 3, Section 10, Recruitment of Student-Athletes.

Following a discussion of the rule, the Committee on Athletics unanimously voted to approve the proposed changes. A copy of the revised rule will be sent to all member schools.

Transfer Rule – Article 3, Section 5

Mr. Lynch reported on a clarification of the Transfer Rule. The rule presently states that whenever a student-athlete transfers from one school to another without a change of residence, a Transfer Waiver Affidavit must be filed with the RIIL office. Inasmuch as the word ‘waiver’ was mistakenly causing the misconception that a waiver hearing would be necessary for such a transfer, it was proposed that the word ‘waiver’ be removed from the rule.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee unanimously voted to remove the word ‘waiver’ from the Transfer Rule as it applies to the Transfer Rule Affidavit and the overall clarification language of the Rule.

Basketball

Mr. Lynch distributed copies of the 1998-1999 Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Championships as follows:

Boys

Division Championships

Division I North St. Raphael Academy

Division I South Bishop Hendricken High School

Division I Central Toll Gate High School

Division II North (tie) Lincoln High School

The Feinstein School

Division II South Pilgrim High School

State Championships

Division I St. Raphael Academy

Division II Lincoln High School

Girls

Division Championships

Division I North LaSalle Academy

Division I South North Kingstown H.S.

Division II North North Smithfield H.S.

Division II South Exeter/West Green. H.S.

Division II East Barrington High School

Division II Central Central Falls High School

State Championships

Division I LaSalle Academy

Division II Scituate High School

On a motion made and seconded, he Committee approved the 1998-99 Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Championships.

In other business, Mr. Lynch reported that the Providence Civic Center has proposed that the 2000 Basketball Championships be held on the 3^rd weekend in March (March 18, 2000), rather than the 2^nd weekend. However, this date may conflict with hockey playoffs as well as the beginning of Spring sports. This issue will be reviewed by the Basketball Standing Committee and reported to the Committee on Athletics at a future meeting.

Hockey: Daniel Sheehan

Mr. Sheehan reported that the 1999 playoffs are underway with all three (3) divisions being extended into a third game. The deciding game of the Met A division between Bishop Hendricken High School and Mt. St. Charles Academy will be played on Monday, March 22^nd at 7 pm. The Division C game between Tolman High School and North Providence High School will be played on Tuesday, March 23^rd at 6:00 pm, followed by the Division B game between Cranston High School West and Lincoln High School at 8:00 pm.

In other business, Mr. Sheehan reported on an incident which took place at the second game of the Division B series between Cranston High School West and Lincoln High School. Cranston High School west filed a protest of that game as the result of too many {Lincoln} players being on the ice. The Hockey Executive Committee met on Sunday, March 21, 1999.

After hearing testimony and reviewing evidence by all concerned parties, the Committee voted to deny the protest based on the following facts:

That it was the understanding of all officials and coaches that the five-on-five face-off alignment, just before the goal was scored, was correct.

That the game had come to an official end, all post game activities were concluded, and all parties had left the ice without a complaint being registered. However, there were opportunities to notify the officials of an error on the penalty time clock at the following times.

before the face-off following an icing call

following the goal

while the teams and officials were still on the ice at the end of the game

Wrestling: Mr. Edmond Lemoi

Mr. Lemoi reported on the following 1998-99 Wrestling Championships:

Class Championships

A-1 Warwick Veterans High School

A-2 Cranston High School East

B-1 Johnston High School

B-2 North Kingstown High School

C-1 Smithfield High School

C-2 Exeter/West Greenwich High School

Sectional Tournaments

Class B Johnston High School

Class C Smithfield High School

R. I. State Champions

Johnston High School

Coventry High School – 2^nd place

Mr. Lemoi also distributed copies of the 1998-99 Wrestling Financial Report for review by the Committee.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee unanimously approved the 1998-99 Wrestling Championships and Financial Report.

Gymnastics

Mr. Magarian reported on the following 1998-99 Gymnastics Championships:

Individual Gymnasts

Vault

Jennifer Iacoi, Westerly High School

Lindsay Shaw, St. Mary Academy-Bay View

Chrissy Scambio, North Kingstown High School

Uneven Bars

Mariah Raynes, North Kingstown High School

Lindsay Shaw, St. Mary Academy- Bay View

Stephanie Sylvia, Portsmouth High School

Balance Beam

Sarah Mulholland, North Kingstown H. S.

Terri D’Alfonso, St. Mary Academy-Bay View

Lindsay Shaw, St. Mary Academy-Bay View

Floor Exercise

Jennifer Iacoi, Westerly High School

Laurie Hoffman, Coventry High School

Stephanie Sylvia, Portsmouth High School

All Around

Lindsay Shaw, St. Mary Academy-Bay View

Tie - Jennifer Iacoi, Westerly High School

Tie - Stephanie Sylvia, Portsmouth High School

Divisional Championships

Division A North Kingstown High School

Division B Barrington High School

State Championship

North Kingstown High School

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics unanimously approved the 1998-99 Gymnastics Championships.

Swimming: Mr. Kenneth Reall

Mr. Reall reported on the following 1998-99 Swim Championships:

Divisional Championships

Division B-II Rogers High School

Division B-I Cranston High School East

Class B Cranston High School East

Class A Bishop Hendricken High School

State Championship

Bishop Hendricken High School

Girls State Championship

Cumberland High School

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics unanimously approved the 1998-99 Swim Championships.

Golf

Mr. Lynch reported on the following proposed golf rules changes which were recommended by the Golf Coaches’ Association and submitted and supported by John Gray, Director of Golf.

Currently each golf team consists of five players and the low four scores count. The coaches recommended expanding to six players on a team and still only the low four scores count.

Currently, female players utilize the forward (red) tee markers. Male players use the middle (white) tee markers during regular season matches and the state tournament. The coaches recommended changing the rule as follows: male players will use the middle (white) tee during the regular season matches and the state tournament. Female players may utilize the forward (red) tee markers of the middle (white) tee markers during regular season matches and the state tournament. However, female players must declare which of the tees they will use prior to the start of the regular season. Whichever tee they select will be the tee that they must use throughout the remainder of the regular season and throughout the state championship.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics unanimously approved the above recommendations.

Volleyball: Mrs. Patricia Pitocchi and Ms. Elaine Botelho

Ms. Botelho reported that everything is in place for the 1999 girls’ volleyball season, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 1^st.

Baseball Mr. Martin Biancuzzo

Discussion ensued regarding the [baseball] injury fund schedule In the past, the first game of the second half of the season was designated as the injury fund game. Mr. Biancuzzo reported that the baseball coaches have agreed to play injury fund games on Saturday, April 3^rd. It was noted that injury fund games do not count toward the total game cap.

In addition, Mr. Biancuzzo reported that the R. I. Baseball Umpires’ Association has already made a donation to the R. I. Interscholastic Injury Fund, which was included in their annual dues. Therefore, baseball officials will be paid the regular fee of $53.00 for injury fund games.

Outdoor Track: Mr. Robert Littlefield

Mr. Littlefield reported that the season is underway and going well.

Indoor Track

Mr. Lynch distributed copies of the 1998-99 Boys’ Indoor Track Championships which were submitted by Charles Sweeney, Director, Boys’ Indoor Track, as follows:

Divisional Champions

Northern Division Cumberland High School

Southern Division Bishop Hendricken H. S.

Eastern Division St. Raphael Academy

Central Division Hope High School

Class Championships

Class A Bishop Hendricken High School

Class B Warwick Veterans High School

State Championship

Bishop Hendricken High School

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics unanimously approved the 1998-99 Boys’ Indoor Track Championships.

Softball

Mr. Lynch referred to a letter from Anthony Carbone, in which Mr. Carbone resigned as Director of Slow Pitch Softball. Further, it was proposed that Tony Torregrossa, Director of Athletics, Smithfield High School, be appointed Interim Director of Slow Pitch Softball.

On a motion made and seconded, the Committee on Athletics unanimously approved the appointment of Tony Torregrossa as Interim Director of Slow Pitch Softball.

Other Sports / Issues

The issue of the proposed change for the starting date of winter sports was discussed. This matter was tabled to the April meeting of the Committee on Athletics.

Hearings

Westerly High School – Boys’ Indoor Track

Representing Westerly High School at this hearing were James Murano, Principal; Kevin Kelleher, Head Boys’ Indoor Track Coach; and John Saparita, student-athlete. This was a show cause hearing to determine whether or not Westerly High School should be suspended from the Interscholastic League boys’ indoor track program.

On a vote of 8-1, the Committee on Athletics voted:

To suspend the Westerly High School Boys’ Indoor Track Program for two (2) years from RIIL competition

At the end of the two-year suspension, Westerly High School must petition the Committee on Athletics for reinstatement into the RIIL Boys’ Indoor Track program.

Westerly High School must submit a written plan outlining steps which will be implemented to prevent further violations of the Rules and Regulations of the Rhode Island Interscholastic league.

Brandon White – Ponaganset High School

Present for this hearing were Ronald Palmieri, Principal; Allen Huestis, Director of Athletics; Tim Conlon, Attorney; Mr. And Mrs. William White, applicant’s parents; and, Brandon White, applicant.

This was an appeal of a decision of the Waiver Hearing Committee on March 8, 1999 which denied Brandon’s request for a waiver of Article 3, Section 5, the Transfer Rule - granted

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