2017 TSSAA Hall of Fame Inductees...Hall of Fame The TSSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2017 has been selected. The luncheon to induct the new members was held on Saturday, April 1 at the

T S SA A N E WSSPRING 2017

2 0 1 7 T S S A A H a l l o f F a m e I n d u c t e e s

Bottom Row (L to R): Marvin Williams, Jean Anne Tye (representing her late father, Doug Hall), Jerrie Henry (representing her late father, Willie Mitchell), Alyce Chism (representing her late husband, Ernest Chism),

Sylvester Ford. Top Row (L to R): James Counce, Ellis Haguewood, James Reed, Walter “Bud” Bales, Gary Dutton.

T S S A A C A L E N D A R 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 8GOLF (FIRST PRACTICE DATE) ..................................................................... JULY 10GOLF (DATE OF FIRST CONTEST) ................................................................ JULY 24FOOTBALL, GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL, GIRLS’ SOCCER, CROSS COUNTRY (FIRST PRACTICE DATE) ................................................................................ JULY 24GIRLS’ SOCCER (DATE OF FIRST CONTEST) .............................................. AUG. 14GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL, CROSS COUNTRY (DATE OF FIRST CONTEST) ..... AUG. 14BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING (HERMITAGE) ........................................... AUG. 14FOOTBALL (DATE OF FIRST CONTEST) ....................................................... AUG. 18

GOLFDISTRICT (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) SMALL ...............SEPT. 13 LARGE .............. SEPT. 20 DII A ...........SEPT. 27REGION (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) SMALL ...............SEPT. 18 LARGE .............. SEPT. 25 DII A ..................OCT. 02 STATE SMALL ..........SEPT. 26-27 LARGE ...........OCT. 03-04 DII ................OCT. 09-10

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALLDIVISION I – CLASS A, AA, AAA

DISTRICT (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) .................................................... OCT. 06REGION (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ...................................................... OCT. 10

SECTIONAL ................................................................................................. OCT. 12 STATE ..................................................................................................... OCT. 18-20DIVISION II

FIRST ROUND – AA .................................................................................... OCT. 10QUARTERFINALS – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................ OCT. 14QUARTERFINALS – AA .............................................................................. OCT. 14STATE – A & AA ..................................................................................... OCT. 18-20

CROSS COUNTRYREGION – (MUST BE COMPLETED BY)

DI SMALL, DI LARGE, DII CLASS A .......................................................... OCT. 28STATE

DI SMALL, DI LARGE, DII CLASS A, DII CLASS AA .................................. NOV. 04

GIRLS’ SOCCERDIVISION I – CLASS A, TAA, AAA

DISTRICT (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) .................................................... OCT. 13REGION SEMIFINALS ................................................................................................ OCT. 17 FINALS......................................................................................................... OCT. 19SECTIONAL ...................................................................................................... OCT. 21STATE QUARTERFINALS ....................................................................................... OCT. 25 SEMIFINALS ................................................................................................ OCT. 26 FINALS......................................................................................................... OCT. 28DIVISION II

FIRST ROUND – AA .................................................................................... OCT. 14QUARTERFINALS – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................ OCT. 21QUARTERFINALS – AA .............................................................................. OCT. 21

STATESEMIFINALS – A & AA ................................................................................ OCT. 26FINALS – A & AA ......................................................................................... OCT. 27

BOWLING (DATE OF FIRST CONTEST) ........................................................SEPT. 25

BASKETBALL, WRESTLING (FIRST PRACTICE DATE) ............................... OCT. 30

FOOTBALL PLAYOFFSDIVISION I – 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A

1ST ROUND ................................................................................................ NOV. 032ND ROUND ................................................................................................ NOV. 10

QUARTERFINALS ....................................................................................... NOV. 17 SEMIFINALS ................................................................................................ NOV. 24DIVISION II

1ST ROUND ................................................................................................ NOV. 03 QUARTERFINALS ....................................................................................... NOV. 10 SEMIFINALS ................................................................................................ NOV. 17DI/DII CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ........NOV. 30 (1A,3A,5A), DEC.01 (2A,4A,6A), & DEC. 02 (DII)

CHEERLEADING – STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ........................................................TBA

REGIONAL MEETINGSEAST – HARDIN VALLEY HIGH (1:00 PM)................................................ NOV. 06WEST – UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JACKSON (10:00 AM) ...................... NOV. 08MIDDLE – HILLWOOD HIGH SCHOOL (10:00 AM) ................................... NOV. 09

BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING (HERMITAGE) ........................................... NOV. 16BASKETBALL, WRESTLING (DATE OF FIRST CONTEST) ............................ NOV. 20LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING (HERMITAGE) ........................................ DEC. 06BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING (HERMITAGE) ............................................ JAN. 11

BOWLINGDISTRICTS (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................................... JAN. 05REGIONS (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ..................................................... JAN. 11DIVISION I GIRLS’ SECTIONAL .................................................................. JAN .13DIVISION I BOYS’ SECTIONAL ................................................................... JAN. 15

STATE ......................................................................................................JAN. 18-20

WRESTLINGDIVISION I

DUAL REGION (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ............................................. JAN. 26DUAL MEET STATE ................................................................................FEB. 02-03REGION (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) .......................................................FEB. 10

STATE ......................................................................................................FEB. 15-17DIVISION II

DAUL MEET REGION (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) .................................. JAN. 27DUAL MEET STATE ................................................................................FEB. 02-03

STATE ......................................................................................................FEB. 16-17

BASKETBALLDIVISION I – CLASS A, AA, AAA

DISTRICTS (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ...................................................FEB. 21GIRLS’ REGION QUARTERFINALS ............................................................FEB. 23BOYS’ REGION QUARTERFINALS .............................................................FEB. 24GIRLS’ REGION SEMIFINALS .....................................................................FEB. 26BOYS’ REGION SEMIFINALS ......................................................................FEB. 27GIRLS’ REGION FINALS ..............................................................................FEB. 28BOYS’ REGION FINALS..............................................................................MAR. 01GIRLS’ SECTIONALS ..................................................................................MAR. 03BOYS’ SECTIONALS...................................................................................MAR. 05GIRLS’ STATE ........................................................................................MAR. 07-10BOYS’ STATE .........................................................................................MAR. 14-17

DIVISION IIGIRLS’ FIRST ROUND – AA ........................................................................FEB. 16BOYS’ FIRST ROUND – AA .........................................................................FEB. 17GIRLS’ QUARTERFINALS – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ....................FEB. 23GIRLS’ QUARTERFINALS – AA...................................................................FEB. 23BOYS’ QUARTERFINALS – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) .....................FEB. 24BOYS’ QUARTERFINALS – AA ...................................................................FEB. 24GIRLS’ STATE – A & AA ........................................................................MAR. 01-03BOY’S STATE – A & AA .........................................................................MAR. 01-03

BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING (MURFREESBORO) – 2:00 PM ................MAR. 13LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING (MURFREESBORO) – 8:00 AM .............MAR. 14

GIRLS’ SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, SOCCER, TRACK, TENNIS (FIRST PRACTICE DATE) ....................FEB. 12

GIRLS’ SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, SOCCER, TRACK, TENNIS (DATE OF FIRST CONTEST) ...............MAR. 12

ATHLETIC DIRECTORS’ CONFERENCE / CHEER COACHES CONFERENCE ..........APRIL 15, 16, AND 17

TRACKSECTIONAL (DI A-AA & DI AAA); REGIONS (DII) (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ....................... MAY 16

STATE ......................................................................................................MAY 22-25

BASEBALLDIVISION I – CLASS A, AA, AAA

DISTRICTS (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................................... MAY 11REGION SEMIFINALS .................................................................................. MAY 14REGION FINALS .......................................................................................... MAY 16

SECTIONAL .................................................................................................. MAY 18 STATE ......................................................................................................MAY 22-25DIVISION II

FIRST ROUND – AA ................................................................................MAY 11-12QUARTERFINALS – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................. MAY 19QUARTERFINALS – AA ..........................................................................MAY 18-19STATE TOURNAMENT – A & AA ............................................................MAY 22-25

GIRLS’ SOFTBALLDIVISION I – CLASS A, AA, AAA


SECTIONAL .................................................................................................. MAY 18 STATE ......................................................................................................MAY 22-25DIVISION II

FIRST ROUND – AA ................................................................................MAY 11-12QUARTERFINALS – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................. MAY 19QUARTERFINALS – AA ..........................................................................MAY 18-19STATE TOURNAMENT – A & AA ............................................................MAY 22-25

SOCCERDIVISION I – CLASS A, AA, AAA


SECTIONAL .................................................................................................. MAY 19STATE QUARTERFINALS ........................................................................................ MAY 22 SEMIFINALS ................................................................................................. MAY 23 FINALS.......................................................................................................... MAY 25DIVISION II

FIRST ROUND – AA ..................................................................................... MAY 12QUARTERFINALS – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................. MAY 19QUARTERFINALS – AA ............................................................................... MAY 19

STATE SEMIFINALS ................................................................................................. MAY 23 FINALS.......................................................................................................... MAY 24

TENNISDIVISION I – CLASS SMALL, LARGE

DISTRICTS (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ................................................... MAY 09REGION GIRLS’ TEAM FINALS ................................................................... MAY 10REGION BOYS’ TEAM FINALS .................................................................... MAY 11REGION SINGLES & DOUBLES .............................................................MAY 14-15SECTIONAL GIRLS’ TEAM .......................................................................... MAY 17SECTIONAL BOYS’ TEAM ........................................................................... MAY 18

STATE TOURNAMENT(TEAM, SINGLES, DOUBLES) ................................................................MAY 22-25

DIVISION IIFIRST ROUND GIRLS’ TEAM – AA ............................................................. MAY 11FIRST ROUND BOYS’ TEAM – AA .............................................................. MAY 12QUARTERFINALS GIRLS’ TEAM – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) ......... MAY 18QUARTERFINALS GIRLS’ TEAM – AA........................................................ MAY 18QUARTERFINALS BOYS’ TEAM – A (MUST BE COMPLETED BY) .......... MAY 19QUARTERFINALS BOYS’ TEAM – AA ........................................................ MAY 19STATE TOURNAMENT ...........................................................................MAY 22-25

BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING (MURFREESBORO) ........................... JUNE 05-07

FEATURES

4 What’s HappeningUpdates on people, rules, standards and equipment.

5 TSSAA Hall of Fame InducteesTSSAA honors members for outstanding achievement.

11 Disciplanary ActionsAn update on Disciplanary Actions.

16 Spring Fling InformationComplete information for the 2017 Spring Fling.

18 Mr. and Miss Basketball AwardsFinalists and winners of these prestigious honors are recognized.

SPRING EDITION 2017

Whistle Notes Information for TSSAA officials and thoughts on the past year.

21

Distinguished Service RecognitionA coach, official, administrator and contributor are recognized for achievement.

7

TSSAA STAFF

BERNARD CHILDRESSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

GENE MENEESASSISTANT EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

MATTHEW GILLESPIEASSISTANT EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

MARK REEVESASSISTANT EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

RICHARD MCWHIRTERASSISTANT EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

TRINA MELTONASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

LAUREN JONESASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

HEATHER CARTERADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

EMILY CROWELLADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

TERRY HILLIERADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

GAYLE SIMMSADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

SHONNIE SPEICHERADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

LYNNE SUTTONADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

KIM ALLEYADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

ALLISON BRYANADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

STEPHEN BARGATZEDIRECTOR OF STUDENT

SERVICES

COURTNEY BRUNETZDIRECTOR OF MARKETING

BRADLEY LAMBERTTECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR

BOARD OF CONTROLPRESIDENT - MIKE REED

HAMBLEN WEST HSMORRISTOWN

VICE PRESIDENT - JERRY MATHISTULLAHOMA HS

TULLAHOMA

JODY WRIGHTFULTON HSKNOXVILLE

TOMMY LAYNESEQUATCHIE COUNTY HS

DUNLAP

STEVE CHAUNCYHILLWOOD HS

NASHVILLE

BRYAN TRUELEWIS COUNTY HS

HOHENWALD

GREG SCOTTMILAN HS

MILAN

RICKY CATLETTCHESTER COUNTY HIGH

SCHOOLHENDERSON

GREG MCCULLOUGHMEMPHIS CENTRAL HS

MEMPHIS

DAVID MESKEWEBB SCHOOL OF KNOXVILLE

KNOXVILLE

MIKE ROLLERLIPSCOMB ACADEMY

NASHVILLE

SCOTT GATLINJACKSON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

JACKSON

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILPRESIDENTDAN BLACK

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLSBRADFORD SPECIAL SCHOOL

DISTRICT

VICE PRESIDENT - MICHAEL REYNOLDS

FARRAGUT HSKNOXVILLE

DEXTER WILLIAMS WEST CARROLL HS

ATWOOD

KEITH TURNERSCIENCE HILL HSJOHNSON CITY

BO GRIFFINRALEIGH EGYPT HS

MEMPHIS

LES TROTTERWAVERLY CENTRAL HS

WAVERLY

ART CROOK STATION CAMP HS

GALLATIN

JEFF LUTTRELLWATERTOWN HS

WATERTOWN

STEVE HENRYSODDY-DAISY HS

SODDY-DAISY

KENNY SHOLLMCCALLIE SCHOOL

CHATTANOOGA

LINDSEY JUDD GOODPASTURE CHRISTIAN

SCHOOL MADISON

KEVIN STARKS HARDING ACADEMY

MEMPHIS

15 Stephen BargatzeAn update on The Right Team.

W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Hall of FameThe TSSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2017 has been selected. The luncheon

to induct the new members was held on Saturday, April 1 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Murfreesboro.

Along with the induction ceremony, some of the inductees met the day before at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame to visit the exhibits, including our own TSSAA Hall of Champions exhibit, followed by lunch.

Those individuals inducted at this year’s luncheon were: the late Ernest Chism, administrator from Germantown; Ellis Haguewood, administrator from Memphis; Walter “Bud” Bales, coach from Knoxville, James Counce, coach from Dyersburg; Sylvester Ford, coach from Memphis; the late Doug Hall, coach from Nashville; Marvin Williams, coach from Whiteville; the late William J. Mitchell, official from Lewisburg, James H. Reed, official from Shelbyville; and Gary Dutton, contributor from Loudon.

We are excited to welcome them into a great group of administrators, coaches, officials, and contributors from across the state.

If you would like to nominate someone for the TSSAA Hall of Fame, please go to www.tssaa.org and print off the nomination form. This form is found under ‘Departments’ and then ‘Hall of Fame’ or under ‘Compliance & Publications’ and then ‘forms’. You may also contact Heather Carter at the TSSAA (615-889-6740 or [email protected]).

The nomination deadline for the class of 2018 is November 1, 2017.

Please consider nominating someone to the Hall of Fame, as there are many deserving individuals in our state.

Hall of Champions

Benefit Basketball Games

We had another successful season of Hall of Champions basketball games. We have on record that 228 schools hosted games, and approximately $100,000 was raised. We would like to thank all of the schools that participated, as it will help us to continue to grow the Hall of Champions.

In 2017-2018, you may choose any two dates between Monday, November 13 and Saturday, November 18 to play Hall of Champions games. There is no limit to the number of games you play, but you must only choose two dates.

Upon the conclusion of the game(s), 50% of gate receipts after paying referees ONLY must be sent to the TSSAA Hall of Champions.

All requests to host must be done through the school portal. At the completion of your contest(s) you will fill out the appropriate financial report in the portal and then send a copy in along with your payment.

If you have any questions about these contests please contact Heather Carter at [email protected] or 615-889-6740.

Exhibit

Many of you are aware that the TSSAA Hall of Champions exhibit has found a permanent home! The display can be found at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, located in the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. We are very excited about this location and we hope you will take the time to go for a visit.

The exhibit consists of DVD players, touchscreens, and graphic displays. The purpose of the exhibit is to tell the history of high school athletics in Tennessee, and also to honor our current outstanding teams and athletes.

We are very grateful to our donors that have made this exhibit possible. We would like to continue to make the exhibit even better with additions and enhancements. Please consider contributing to the TSSAA Hall of Champions. Your gift will be greatly appreciated.

Contact: Heather Carter, TSSAA, P. O. Box 319, Hermitage, TN 37076; 615-889-6740

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Seven of the ten 2017 Hall of Fame inductees pictured at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.(L to R): Gary Dutton, Walter “Bud” Bales, Alyce Chism (representing her late husband, Ernest Chism), Sylvester Ford, Jean Anne Tye (representing her late father, Doug Hall), James Reed, James Counce *Not pictured: Marvin Williams, Jerrie Henry (representing her late father, Willie Mitchell), Ellis Haguewood

2017 Hall of Fame Inductees

Ernest Chism (Posthumous)--Administrator--Germantown, Tennessee

Ernest Chism served as an educator and administrator for over 40 years in West Tennessee. He was the Assistant Principal at Hillcrest High School for six years, and the Principal at Raleigh Egypt for seven years before moving to Germantown High School. Mr. Chism served as the Principal at Germantown High School for 28 years. In that time, he turned the small country school into a nationally recognized powerhouse that annually garnered academic, athletic, and fine arts awards. He was the Chairman of the Shelby Co. Schools Principal’s Association and served on the Shelby Co. Board of Education until 2013.

Ellis Haguewood--Administrator--Memphis, Tennessee

Ellis Haguewood has been an educator and leader at Memphis University School for nearly 50 years. He has served in many different roles, and has been the school’s Headmaster since 1995. Under Mr. Haguewood’s tenure MUS has won 37 TSSAA State Championships and numerous state runner-up finishes and Region championships. He has served as a member of the TSSAA Division II committee since its inception in 1997, and served as chairman for a period of time. He currently sits on the TSSAA Board of Control as a representative of the TAIS.

Walter “Bud” Bales--Coach--Knoxville, Tennessee

Coach Bud Bales was the head baseball coach at Central High School in Knoxville for 27 years. He coached the Bobcats from 1974 until 2000 and compiled over 500 wins during his career. His 509 wins and only 207 losses give him a winning percentage of over 70%. In 1990, his team won the TSSAA Class AAA State Championship with an undefeated 31-0 record and were ranked in the Top 25 by USA Today. During his career, Coach Bales earned 17 District titles, 8 Regional titles, and he received numerous Coach of the Year honors. Several of his players went on to play in the Major Leagues, including Todd Helton, Bubba Trammell, and Steve Searcy.

The TSSAA will induct the Class of 2017 on Saturday, April 1. The event will take place at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Murfreesboro at

11:00 a.m. Tickets are available at $25 each and can only be ordered in advance. Order forms are available on tssaa.org.

James M. Counce, Jr.--Coach--Dyersburg, Tennessee

James Counce coached high school football in West Tennessee for over 30 years. He had two stints as head coach at Henry Co. High School (1984-1993; 2010-2014) and his teams there had two perfect seasons and won 2 TSSAA State Championships in Class 5A (2011, 2013). He also coached two separate terms at Dyersburg High School and was an assistant at Montgomery Bell Academy when it won the Division II state championship in 2007. Coach Counce retired at the end of the 2014 season and his son took over the reigns as head coach of the Henry Co. Patriots.

Sylvester Ford--Coach--Memphis, Tennessee

Coach Sylvester Ford was a teacher and basketball coach for 40 years in the Memphis area--most notably at Fairley High School. He made several coaching stops before landing at Fairley in 1987. Coach Ford compiled 687 wins in 40 years as head coach and his 1993 Fairley team went 37-1 and won the TSSAA Class AAA State Championship. His son, Deuce, was an All-American on that team and he is now the head coach at Fairley. Although Coach Ford retired in 2012, he still helps his son as a volunteer coach. The Gymnasium at Fairley High School was renamed in his honor in December of 2014.

5



Marvin Williams--Coach--Whiteville, Tennessee

Marvin Williams was a successful boys’ and girls’ basketball coach from West Tennessee. He coached at Morris Chapel, Ramer, McNairy Central, and Bolivar high schools. His teams made four trips to the TSSAA Girls’ State Tournament and one trip to the Boys’. He captured two state crowns with the Bolivar girls’ teams in 1977 (Class AA) and 1978 (Class AAA). Coach Williams also coached on the collegiate level at Jackson State Community College and Austin Peay State University.

Willie J. Mitchell (Posthumously)--Official--Lewisburg, Tennessee

Willie J. Mitchell was a football and basketball official for over 50 years. He worked for 12 years in the Middle TN Athletic Association, the governing body for African-American sports during the segregated era in Middle TN. Mr. Mitchell was a registered TSSAA football official for 40 years and worked in 8 playoff contests. He was recognized for his service to the city of Lewisburg by having June 11, 2011 proclaimed to be “Willie J. Mitchell Day”. In 2002 he received the NAACP Award of Excellence and in 2015 was honored with a monument at Jones Park for his commitment and service to his community.

Doug Hall (Posthumously)--Coach--Nashville, Tennessee

Doug Hall was a coach for over 30 years in the Middle Tennessee area beginning in 1950. He coached several sports including track and field, cross country, football, and basketball. He spent his entire career coaching at Bellevue and then Hillwood High School when the two consolidated in 1980. Coach Hall compiled numerous championships in the NIL and garnered many coach of the year awards for his accomplishments. Because of his honor and dedication to high school sports and his strong involvement in track and field, the Doug Hall Memorial Relays were established in 1987 and they continue to be held to this day.

James H. Reed--Official--Shelbyville, Tennessee

James Reed was a registered TSSAA official for over 50 years. He officiated basketball for over 40 years and worked three TSSAA State Basketball tournaments (1982 girls’, 1984 and 1985 boys’). He worked in almost 30 sub-state tournament games, 35 regional tournaments, and 36 district tournaments during his time as a basketball official. He also umpired baseball for TSSAA for over 30 years and called one state tournament, 19 sub-state games, 21 regionals, and 24 district tournaments. He retired in 2005 and was appounted as an At-Large Supervisor in the South Central Basketball Assoc.

Gary Dutton--Contributor--Loudon, Tennessee

Gary Dutton served as the Supervisor for Instruction at Loudon Co. Schools from 1981 until 1995. In 1995 he began traveling the state conducting coaches’ education courses for the TSSAA. He conducted the “Coaching Principles” class for over 7,000 TSSAA coaches in 18 years. He helped design the 4th Edition of Coaching Principles, which was used as class material for the ASEP coaching class. Mr. Dutton served as a Professor at Lincoln Memorial University for 18 years and was a member of the national faculty for ASEP before retiring in 2014.

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7

D I S T I N G U I S H E D S E R V I C E R E C O G N I T I O N

TSSAA is proud to honor Kelli Smith as the outstanding softball coach at Baylor School.

Kelli played basketball and softball at Baylor where she earned second team all-state honors in basketball and first team in softball all-state her senior year. She was selected her senior year as Baylor School’s Most Outstanding and Best All Around Athlete. Kelli earned a scholarship to Georgia Tech for softball. An injury cut her softball career short and she finished her education at University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

Kelli is in her 15th year as the head softball coach at Baylor after serving as an assistant coach for five years. Under Coach Smith’s leadership, Baylor has won eight state championships and has been runner-up on two other occasions. Her overall record is 437 – 124. Kelli also started the Hits for Hope softball

tournament that has raised $30,000 for the Mary Ellen Lockler Foundation to help fight breast cancer and provide scholarships to students whose families have been affected by the disease.

Kelli has been married to Craig Smith for 18 years and they have two sons, Luke who is 11 years old and Logan who is 8 years old.

She received her degree in history from UTC in 2000 and her MED in education from LMU in 2004.

TSSAA is proud to salute Kelli Smith for her outstanding accomplishments in coaching and the positive influence she has had and will continue to have at Baylor.

Coach - Kelli Smith

TSSAA is proud to recognize Don Myers as its distinguished service honoree as an official in the sport of Track & Field.

Coach Myers has made a career as a dedicated educator and coach. He began teaching and coaching baseball and football in 1986. In 2002, he was named the head track and field coach at Ripley High School where he led his team to 6 region/subsection championships, 1 sectional runner-up,

and 2 top ten finishes at the state meet. In 2003, he coached present Pittsburgh Steeler, Ramon Foster, who was also a Mr. Football Award winner. Mr. Myers also served as the Assistant Principal at Ripley High School for three years. From 2012-2016, Coach Myers served as the head track and field coach at Bolton High School. The girls’ team finished in the top ten at the state meet in 2015. He is currently the head boys’ track and field coach at Bartlett High School.

Mr. Myers began officiating track and field in 2005 at the state track meet, helping with triple jump and also serving as an umpire. In 2006, he began calling triple jump at the state meet, and he became triple jump crew chief for the state meet in 2013. He has served as a sub-sectional referee for A-AA in West Tennessee since 2012. Don Myers was named the TSSAA Field Event Director for the state track meet in 2016. Don Myers married his wife, Jessica Myers, in 1993, and they have a son, Brody, who is a freshman at Ole Miss and a daughter, Heidi, who is a sophomore at Bartlett High School.

The TSSAA state track and field officials are a dedicated group that continues to serve year after year in an often thankless position due to a genuine love for the sport and a desire to enhance the experience of the student-athletes. Don Myers is a valuable member of this team, bringing a service-oriented attitude, leadership, and his experience as an educator, coach, and official. TSSAA is proud to recognize Don Myers for his work, dedication, and the many contributions he has made to student-athletes as a TSSAA track and field official.

Official - Don myerS

TSSAA is proud to recognize Jeff Thomas as its distinguished service honoree as an administrator.

Jeff Thomas received a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Tennessee in 1988 and his M.A. in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Technological University in 2004.

In the Fall of 1990, he began teaching social studies and coaching Junior High boys’ basketball at Washburn High School in Grainger County. In 1992, Mr. Thomas transferred to Powell High

School where he taught social studies for 13 years. He coached the Powell High School girls’ volleyball team for 8 years and served as the assistant girls’ softball coach. In 2005, Jeff Thomas began serving as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Central High School. In 2009, he moved to Gibbs High School where he currently serves in the positions of Assistant Principal and Athletic Director.

He has dedicated himself to public education, and athletics have been an

integral part throughout his career. As a social studies teacher, he was serious about academics and taught A.P. U.S. History at Powell High School, among other courses. Additionally, he served as a coach of at least one sport every year that he taught. He then made the transition to administration and became the Athletic Director, first at Central High School and then at Gibbs High School. While at Gibbs, the girls’ softball team was state champion in the 2011-2012 school year. Mr. Thomas was named TSSAA District 2 Athletic Director of the Year in 2014. In February 2017, Gibbs had 2 state wrestling champions. Mr. Thomas is a caring educator and administrator. His dedication, loyalty, and support of the public education system, coaching profession, and his student-athletes, speaks volumes. He has impacted and encouraged numerous young people. Jeff Thomas is a dedicated family man who serves as Elder in his church. He and his wife, Amy, have two sons, Jack and David, ages 21 and 17, who attend the University of Tennessee and Central High School. TSSAA is proud to recognize Jeff Thomas for his dedication and the many contributions he has made to students through his work as a teacher, coach, and administrator.

Administrator - Jeff thomaS

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D I S T I N G U I S H E D S E R V I C E R E C O G N I T I O N

TSSAA is proud to recognize Benny Jones as its distinguished service honoree as a contributor.

Benny Jones is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and has won local, state and Southern Tournaments in doubles and has achieved a #1 ranking in these sections and a #3 ranking at the national level.

In addition to playing tennis for many years, Benny has also been a tennis official for over 30 years running local, Southern and National USTA events. He has been a referee for college dual

matches and Regional NCAA matches as well.

Benny has worked with the TSSAA State Tennis Championships as the tournament director for the past 15 years. He coordinates the USTA officials and head umpire for this event in addition to all of the court assignments and recording all results of the teams and individuals that participate in the TSSAA Tennis Championships at Spring Fling.

TSSAA proudly salutes Benny Jones for his many years of service to TSSAA and his contributions to student athletes in Tennessee.

Contributor - Benny JoneS

TSSAA is proud to recognize Steve Branton as its distinguished service honoree at the middle school level.

Steve Branton graduated from Maryville High School in 1984. He went on to attend the University of Tennessee and received his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. Since then he has earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education and Education Specialist.

Mr. Branton began teaching at Sevierville Middle School in 1995. He has taught science and physical education while working at Sevierville Middle. He has coached Girls Basketball for the past 18 years at Sevierville and Girls Volleyball for six years. Steve also serves as the AAA East Tennessee Sectional Basketball tournament director and has served in that role for 10 years.

Steve has been married to his wife Toby for 16 years. Together they have three children: Dan 15, Grady 13, and Rosalind 10.

TSSAA proudly salutes Steve Branton for his outstanding efforts in the state of Tennessee.

Middle School - Steve Branton

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To learn more visit: www.musco.com/generations

Local area representative:Greg Gilley800/825-6030 (toll free)641/660-2362 (mobile)[email protected]

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OFFICIAL NOTICES Rules violations by member schools and sanctions imposed. All activities varsity level unless otherwise specified.

SCHOOL SPORT VIOLATION DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Blackman Soccer Independent Game Rule School self-reported. School rendered student

ineligible for four matches.

Briarcrest Christian Girls' Basketball Use of Non-faculty

coach School fined $500

Chattanooga Christian Wrestling Playing ineligible player

in one match School self-reported. Forfeiture of all points

earned and team score refigured. School fined $50

Cheatham Co. Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike Conduct by fan

Fan not allowed to attend next 2 games and must pay the $250 fine

Chester Co. Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike

Conduct by head coach Suspended next two games; School fined $250

Clarksville Academy Baseball Recruiting Rule

School suspended coach from all baseball activities 3/1-7/17; reduced 2017

jamboree/scrimmages from 4 to 3; reduced 2017 schedule from 30 to 28 games; coach will have

$500 reduced from his coaches stipend; coach on probation with school for one year; program will eliminate any activities before and after the dead period; spring of 2018 official practice date will be reduced by one week; baseball program on

probation for one year; school will submit a $1000 fine. The student will be ineligible to participate in

athletics at school for a minimum of one year.

Clarksville Northwest Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Concord Christian Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike

Conduct by assistant coach

School indefinitely suspended coach

Cordova Boys' Basketball Practice Rule/Athletic

Coaching Link

Non-faculty coach resigned his position. School to suspend all spring and summer basketball

workouts for the 2016 school year. Student ineligible to participate in basketball at all levels

during 2016-17 school year.

Cornersville Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Craigmont Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike Conduct by fan

School fined $250; School initiated additional disciplinary action

Daniel Boone Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike

Conduct by head coach Pending

Fayette-Ware Boys' Basketball Playing ineligible player

in nine games

Contests forfeited. Student ineligible for next 18 contests or for remainder of season. School fined

$900.

Frederick Douglass Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Pending

Friendship Christian Wrestling Unsportsmanlike


Gibbs Boys' Basketball Independent Game Rule School self-reported. School rendered the student

ineligible on varsity level for 6 contests.

Greenbrier Boys' Basketball (JV) Removal of team from

contest School fined $500

Greeneville Soccer Independent Game Rule School self-reported. Students to sit out first

contest

Halls Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike Conduct by fan

School fined $500

Hendersonville Girls' Basketball Public Criticism of

Game Officials School fined $500

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

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Hillcrest Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Pending

Kenwood Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


LEAD Academy Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Marshall Co. Boys' Basketball Team removed from

competition School fined $500

McCallie Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


McGavock Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Memphis East Boys' Basketball Open Facilities School suspended "open facilities" for the

program from 10/17-10/24/2017.

Milan Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Mitchell Boys' Basketball Tournament Regulations

and Unsportsmanlike Conduct by fan

School fined $250 for fan and $500 for Probation. Boys' basketball program on probation for one

year (until 3/22/18).

Montgomery Central Girls Soccer Off-season Practice Rule

School self-reported. School to add additional two weeks to Dead Period for program during summer of 2017. School suspended the assistant coach for

first week of season in 2017-18.

Morristown-Hamblen West Wrestling Unsportsmanlike


Mt. Juliet Soccer Playing ineligible player

in one game

School self-reported. Contest forfeited. Student ineligible to participate for next four contests or remainder of season, whichever is least. School

fined $50.

Nashville Christian Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike

Conduct by non-player School fined $250

Northeast Boys' Basketball (JV) Playing ineligible player

in two games

School self-reported. Games forfeited. School fined $50. Student ineligible on varsity and JV

levels to participate in athletics due to the academic rule.

Notre Dame Volleyball Off-season Practice Rule

School self-reported. School self-imposed a two scrimmage ban during the 2017 season. Program will not be allowed to begin official practice for

one week after the first official day of practice for fall sports.

Oakhaven Boys' Basketball Use of Non-faculty

coach-3 years School fined $1500

Oakland Football Public Criticism of

Game Officials School fined $500

Oakland Girls' Basketball Playing ineligible player

in 22 games

Forfeit games won. Student ineligible to participate in athletics for 12 months past her last

participation date and not eligible in any sport sanctioned by TSSAA on any level until 1/25/18.

School being fined $2200.

Pigeon Forge Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Power Center Academy Boys' Basketball Playing ineligible player

in seven games

School self-reported. Contests forfeited. Student ineligible to participate for next 14 contests or

remainder of season, whichever is least. School fined $700.

Raleigh Egypt Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Suspended next two games; School fined $250


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Raleigh Egypt Boys' Basketball Team removed from competition/Public

Criticism School fined $1000

Ravenwood Wrestling Unsportsmanlike


Coach resigned

Red Boiling Springs Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Silverdale Baptist Acd. Baseball Off-season Practice Rule

School self-reported. School is requiring all baseball off-season workouts to occur on campus

going forward. Baseball program will not be allowed to begin official practice until one week

after the first official practice date for spring sports this school year.

Smyrna Wrestling Independent Game Rule School self-reported. Student ineligible on varsity level for 25% of the number of dates allowed by

the Wrestling sports calendar.

Stratford Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike Conduct by fan

School fined $250

Stratford Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike

Conduct by non-player School fined $250

Stratford Boys' Basketball Playing ineligible player

in one game

Game forfeited. Student ineligible to participate in athletics at all levels in all sports at any member

school for 12 months past his last date of participation. School fined $50.

Sullivan Central Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Sullivan South Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike

Conduct by head coach Suspended next three games; School fined $250

Union City Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike Conduct by fan

School fined $500

Union Co. Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike Conduct by bench

personnel Suspended next two games; School fined $250

Univ. School - JC Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Washburn Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike Conduct by bench

personnel Suspended next two games; School fined $250

Watertown Girls' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Webb School Girls' Basketball Practice Rule

School self-reported. School will not allow the girl's program to start official practice until

11/7/16. 10/31-11/6/2017, team not allowed to participate in any basketball activities. Coach will

not be involved with any basketball activities during that week.

West Creek Girls' Wrestling Unsportsmanlike

Conduct by head coach Suspended first two games 2018 season; School

fined $250

White Station Soccer Pre-Season Practice

Rule School self-reported. School removed the non-

faculty assistant coach as a coach at their school.

Whitehaven Boys' Basketball Unsportsmanlike


Whitehaven Girls' Basketball Playing two ineligible players in two games

Games forfeited. School fined $200


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CORPORATE SPONSORSThe corporate sponsors and supporters play an integral part in the TSSAA and the TSSAA State Championships. TSSAA would like to thank our corporate sponsors and supporters for their dedication and hard work this winter during the state championships.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee- The 2016-2017 high school sports season marks the 17th year BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has been a corporate sponsor of the TSSAA. As a long-time supporter, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has played a major role in creating the BlueCross Bowl, BlueCross Basketball Championships and all TSSAA Championships. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is proud to support high school athletics and the TSSAA. Whether it’s playing sports or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, you’re never too young or old to move towards a healthy future. So get on your feet, cheer on your team and join BlueCross in making a healthier Tennessee.

Tennessee Highway Safety Office not only sponsors the Right Team, but the Tennessee Highway Safety Office takes their message to our state championships. At the state championships the Tennessee Highway Safety Office reminds our fans to Booze It & Lose it! For more information about the Tennessee Highway Safety programs visit tntrafficsafety.org.

Regions Bank- Regions Bank will continue to play a role as a corporate partner at Spring Fling. To learn about the banking education initiatives for your students visit Regions.com.

Southeast United Dairy Industry Association- The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) re-joins the TSSAA as a partner making Chocolate Milk the “Official Beverage” of the TSSAA and promoting SUDIA’s Fuel Up with Chocolate Milk campaign. Why Chocolate Milk? Chocolate milk is an ideal beverage for student athletes. It provides them with the unique nutrition needed after sporting events and practices: carbohydrates to provide energy and help fuel muscles, protein to support growth and repair muscles, and vitamins and minerals to help build strong bones and bodies. Visit www.southeastdairy.org

Musco Lighting- Musco Sports Lighting is the Official Lighting Partner of the TSSAA. Please check the TSSAA website for the Lighting Standards developed to show optimum lighting for safety on the field and in the stadium. One of the opportunities available to our member schools through our partnership is a free lighting assessment from Musco Sports Lighting. To find out if your school's lighting meets the Lighting Standards for safety, please contact Greg Gilley at 641-660-2362 or email him at [email protected] for a free assessment.

Fair Play- With thousands of scoreboard solutions installed around the world today, Fair-Play has earned a reputation for performance and reliability that spans over 80 years. Get Fair-Play into your game plan and score big on performance, reliability and value. Contact Jeff Hamblen at MT Score, Inc. at 615-513-9618 or [email protected].

Vanderbilt Sports Medicine provides world-class orthopaedic care to Nashville and surrounding communities. Their physicians evaluate and treat bone and joint injuries in patients of all ages, not just athletic injuries. The Vanderbilt Sports Medicine Center specializes in knee and shoulder injuries, but also cares for ankles, hips, necks and backs. If you have a bone or joint injury, contact the Vanderbilt Sports Medicine Clinic today. Call 93-ORTHO or visit online at www DOT vanderbilt orthopaedics DOT com

Wilson Sporting Goods- Wilson Sporting Goods will begin its second year as the official ball for football (NCAA 1003 GST/WTF1003B), basketball (NCAA Official Gameball/WTB0700 for boys or WTB0701 for girls), volleyball (ICor High Performance/WTH7700XWHI), soccer (NCAA Forte Hyrbrid/WTH9905XB) baseball (A1010 Pro Series/WTA1010BHSISST) and softball (ASO11/WTA9011BSST Champion Series). For more information please check out the TSSAA.org website or contact your local dealer.

Our sponsors play an important role at the state championships. The TSSAA thanks the sponsors for their continuous support and encourages you to be involved in the sponsor programs. In addition, if you know of a potential corporate sponsor, please contact our marketing coordinator, Courtney Brunetz at [email protected]

15

The Right Team is alive and doing well. Please contact Courtney Brunetz to schedule the Right Team at your school. You can contact her at: [email protected].

I was surprised to get an email from Gene Menees. I was more surprised that Gene knew how to forward an email. Not only is it good, but it must have been written by a woman, because never has so much truth been in one email.

Enjoy!

S T E P H E N B A R G A T Z E

T H E R I G H T T E A M : A N U P D A T E

If you choose A, then you are not meant to be a coach. If you choose B, then you are meant to be a TSSAA board member. Here are some other tests to see if you would qualify to be a TSSAA board member.

1) You DVR all Pro Wrestling matches because most are on while you are at work.2) You take your garbage to the dump and come back with more than you brought there.3) Several of your co-workers have been seen on Jerry Springer.4) You gave your mate a homemade fur coat.5) You have been married more than once, but your in-laws have not changed.6) You put things on layaway at the dollar store. 7) The school encourages you to stay away from PTA meetings.8) One of your ancestors invented the toothbrush. If it would have been anyone else’s family, it would of been called a teethbrush. 9) They want to raise the drinking age to 25 to keep alcohol out of their schools.10) Most worked on their PHD while attending a university: Pizza Hut Deliveryman

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S P R I N G F L I N G I N F O R M A T I O N 2017 SPRING FLING SCHEDULE

May 22-26, 2017Spring Fling Venues:

*1 Session per day--$10 per session

Track and Field: MTSU Boys’ Soccer: Siegel Soccer ComplexTennis: Old Fort Park Softball: McKnight and Starplex FieldsBaseball:Class A - Riverdale & Middle TN Christian School Division II - LaVergne & Wilson CentralClass AA - Smyrna & Blackman Championship Games: MTSUClass AAA – Oakland & Siegel

2017 Spring Fling Schedule Monday, May 22, 2017 – Session I

Decathlon & Pentathlon: MTSU 9:00 a.m. (Decathlon); 9:30 (Pentathlon)

Tuesday, May 23, 2017– Session II

Tennis: Team Semifinals @ Old Fort (A-AA, AAA, D-II) – 9:00 a.m.

Decathlon: MTSU – 9:00 a.m.

Baseball: MTCS (A); Riverdale HS (A); Blackman HS (AA); Smyrna HS (AA); Siegel HS (AAA); Oakland (AAA); LaVergne HS (DII-A); Wilson Central HS (DII-AA) – 4:00 p.m. (2 games all fields)

Soccer: Richard Siegel Park – 4:00 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. (Division I quarterfinal rounds)

Softball: Starplex & McKnight Ballfields – 4:00 p.m. 4 fields/Starplex, 2 fields/McKnight (2 games all fields)

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 – Session III

Tennis: Team Finals @ Old Fort (A-AA, AAA, D-II) – 9:00 a.m.

Baseball: MTCS (A); Riverdale HS (A); Blackman HS (AA); Smyrna HS (AA); Siegel HS (AAA); Oakland (AAA); LaVergne HS (DII-A); Wilson Central HS (DII-AA) – 10:00 a.m. (2 game all fields); 5:00 p.m. (1 game all fields)

Softball: Starplex & McKnight Ballfields – 10:00 a.m. 3 fields Starplex & 1 field McKnight (2 games), 1 field Starplex & 1 field McKnight (1 game) Starplex – 4:00 p.m. (4 fields only) 2 games all fields

Soccer: Richard Siegel Park – 4:00 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.; 7:00 p.m. (Semifinals all classifications)

Track & Field: MTSU – 2:00 p.m. Girls AAA pole vault

Thursday, May 25, 2017 – Session IV

Tennis: Singles & Doubles Quarterfinals and Semifinals @ Old Fort – 9:00 a.m. (A-AA, AAA, D-II)

Track & Field: MTSU (Girls A-AA, D-II, AAA) Girls Field Events – 9:00 a.m. (all day) Boys AAA pole vault – 2:00 p.m. Girls Running Events – 3:00 p.m.

Baseball:Division II: DII-A Championship – MTSU 10:00 a.m. DII-AA Championship – MTSU 12:30 p.m.; If necessary, games to follow.

Division I: MTCS (A); Riverdale HS (A); Blackman HS (AA); Smyrna HS (AA); Oakland HS (AAA); Siegel HS (AAA); 2:00 p.m.; If necessary, games to follow.

Softball: Starplex – 10:00 a.m. (4 fields only, 2 games all fields) Starplex – 4:00 p.m. (4 fields only, 2 games all fields)

Soccer: Richard Siegel Park DII-A Championship – 1:30 p.m. DII-AA Championship – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, May 26, 2017 – Session V

Tennis: Old Fort – Singles & Doubles Girls’ Finals (A-AA, AAA, D-II) – 9:00 a.m. Old Fort – Singles & Doubles Boys’ Finals (A-AA, AAA, D-II) – 11:00 a.m.

Track & Field: Boys Field Events – 9:00 a.m. Boys Running Events – 3:00 p.m.

Softball: StarplexStarplex: 9:00 a.m. (3 fields only, Division I)

Starplex: Championship Games Field #3 – Division II, Class A – 10:00 A.M. (If Game – 3:00 P.M.) Field #3 – Division II, Class AA – 12:30 P.M. (If Game – 5:30 P.M.) Field #4 – Division I, Class A – 2:00 P.M. (If Game – 5:30 P.M.) Field #2 – Division I, Class AA – 2:30 P.M. (If Game – 6:00 P.M.) Field #1 – Division I, Class AAA – 3:00 P.M. (If Game – 6:30 P.M.)

Baseball: Class A Championship – MTSU – 11:00 a.m. Class AA Championship – MTSU – 2:00 p.m. Class AAA Championship – MTSU – 5:00 p.m.

Soccer: Richard Siegel Park Class A-AA Championship – 1:30 p.m. Class AAA Championship – 4:00 p.m.

2017 SPRING FLINGTSSAA Division I and II Spring Sports Championships

Dates:Baseball: Tue. - Fri., May 23-26Soccer: Tue. - Fri., May 23-26Softball: Tue. - Fri., May 23-26Tennis: Tue. - Fri., May 23-26Track: Mon. - Fri., May 22-26

Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.Baseball: AAA – Oakland HS and Siegel HS; AA – Smyrna HS and Blackman HS; A – Riverdale HS and Middle TN Christian School; DII-A – LaVergne HS, DII- AA – Wilson Central HS; Championship games – MTSUSoccer: Richard Siegel Soccer ComplexSoftball: McKnight and Star*Plex FieldsTennis: Old Fort ParkTrack: Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium at MTSU

Champions Crowned: 44 total champions crowned in five days

Baseball: A, AA, AAA, Division II-A, Division II-AASoccer: A-AA, AAA, Division II-A, Division II-AA boysSoftball: A, AA, AAA, Division II-A, Division II-AABoys Tennis: A-AA, AAA, Division II-A, Division II-AA, for team, singles and doublesGirls Tennis: A-AA, AAA, Division II-A, Division II-AA, for team, singles and doublesBoys Track: A-AA, AAA, Division IIGirls Track: A-AA, AAA, Division II

Number of Participants: Athletes – more than 4,200

Baseball: 32 teams Tennis: 24 teamsSoccer: 24 teams Track: More than 1,500 athletes from more than 100 schoolsSoftball: 32 teams

Tickets:Session tickets are $10

Media Contact:Contact: Matthew Gillespie, Assistant Executive DirectorPhone: (615) 889-6740; Fax: (615) 889-0544

Web Sites and Social Media:www.tssaa.org – results and scoreswww.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/tssaa – live and/or archived video coverage track, soccer, and baseball championshipsTwitter: @TSSAA

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M R A N D M I S S B A S K E T B A L L

DIVISION I, CLASS A Josh Conrad

W.E.B. DuboisTyreke KeyClay County

Parker StewartUnion City

DIVISION I, CLASS AAParrish Hewitt

DouglassBo HodgesMaplewoodLuke Smith

Knoxville Catholic

DIVISION I, CLASS AAATyler Harris

CordovaTajion Jones

Oak RidgeAlex Lomax

Memphis East

DIVISION II AChase Hayden

St. George’sMalik Riddle

Rossville ChristianChase Ridenour

Webb School of Knoxville

DIVISION II AAJr. ClayMcCallie

Darius GarlandBrentwood Academy

James WisemanEnsworth

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Winners and finalists of the 2017 Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards were honored on the floor of Murphy Center on the campus of MTSU on Tuesday, March 7.

A statewide committee of sportswriters selected winners based on performance during the 2016-2017 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head basketball coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

DIVISION I, CLASS A Ali GoldenHuntland

Taylor LambSouth Greene

Kara MeadowsClarkrange

DIVISION I, CLASS AAAkira LevyUpperman

Jacobi LynnMcMinn Central

Erica Haynes-OvertonEast Nashville

DIVISION I, CLASS AAAAnastasia Hayes

RiverdaleJayla Hemingway

HoustonRhyne HowardBradley Central

DIVISION II AAshtyn Baker

Northpoint ChristianAnna Jones

USJAntoinette LewisHarding Academy

DIVISION II AAJordyn Cambridge

EnsworthSydni Harvey

Brentwood AcademyMyah LeFlore

St. Benedict

MISS BASKETBALL 2017 FINALISTS MR. BASKETBALL 2017 FINALISTS

DIVISION I CLASS AKARA MEADOWS - Clarkrange High School 6’4”, senior, post. She is a three-year starter for the Buffaloes who averages 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal per game. She shoots 56% from the field, 30% from three-point range, and 68% from the free throw line. This season she was named the District 7-A regular season MVP. She set the school’s record for most points in a game this season with 42 and has scored over 30 points six times this year. Prior to being sidelined as a junior due to injury, she was named the District 7-A and Region 4-A tournament MVP her sophomore season. Kara was also an All-State selection and a member of the All-Tournament team at the state tournament that year as well. Head Coach: Lamar Rogers

TYREKE KEY - Clay County High School6’3”, senior, guard. He is a three-year starter for the Bulldogs who averages 38.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. He shoots 70% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 75% from the free throw line. This season he was named the District 7-A Player of the Year for the third consecutive time. He was a Region 4-A All-Tournament pick and an All-State selection both as a sophomore and junior. Tyreke has scored more than 2,800 points and has over 700 rebounds in his career at Clay County.Head Coach: Rob Edwards

Back Row (L to R): Chase Hayden, Darius Garland, Tyreke Key, Bo Hodges, Alex LomaxFront Row (L to R): Ashtyn Baker, Akira Levy, Anastasia Hayes, Kara Meadows, Sydni Harvey

DIVISION I CLASS AAAKIRA LEVY - Upperman High School5’7”, junior, point guard. She is a three-year starter for the Bees who averages 20.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 3.9 steals per game. She shoots 52.4% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range, and 76.3% from the free throw line. She was named the Dis-trict 8-AA regular season and tournament MVP last year as a sophomore and was a member of the All-State tournament team as well. Akira surpassed the 1,000-point mark during her sophomore year and has over 1,600 career points. She was a finalist for the 2016 Class AA Miss Basketball Award. Head Coach: Dana McWilliams as MVP of the state tournament her sophomore season. She was the winner of the Class AA Miss Basketball Award last year. BO HODGES - Maplewood Comprehensive High School6’3”, senior, guard. He is a four-year starter for the Panthers who averages 25.8 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks per game. He shoots 56% from the field, 42% from three-point range, and 70% from the free throw line. Last season he was the District 10-AA MVP and was a member of the Region 5-AA All-Region team. Bo was the winner of the 2016 Class AA Mr. Basketball Award as well as an All-State selection. He has scored more than 1,500 points in his career at Maplewood. Head Coach: Ty Wilson

DIVISION II CLASS AASHTYN BAKER - Northpoint Christian5’6”, senior, point guard. She is a four-year starter for the Trojans who averages 16.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 5.3 steals per game. She shoots 52% from the field, 41% from three-point range, and 71% from the free throw line. This season she was named the Division II-A West Conference MVP and was a member of the All-Tournament team at the DragonFire Classic. Ashtyn is a three-time All-Region selection and a two-time All-State pick. She was MVP of the 2016 Division II-A state tournament and was a finalist for the 2016 Miss Basketball Award. Head Coach: Barry GrayCHASE HAYDEN - St. George’s Independent School5’11”, senior, guard. He is a five-year starter for the Gryphons who averages 24.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. He shoots 47.5% from the field, 47.4% from three-point range, and 87.1% from the free throw line. Chase is a three-time All-Region selection and a two-time All-State selection. He was named MVP of the 2015 Division II-A state tournament. He has eclipsed the 2,000 career point mark and is the career scoring leader at St. George’s. Head Coach: Jeff Ruffin

DIVISION I CLASS AAAANASTASIA HAYES - Riverdale High School5’7”, senior, guard. She is a three-year starter for the Warriors who averages 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.8 steals per game. She shoots 54% from the field, 34% from three-point range, and 70% from the free throw line. This season she has been named a 2017 McDonald’s All-American and one of five finalists for the Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year. Anastasia was an All-State selection and named the Class AAA state tournament MVP in 2016. She was a finalist for the Class AAA Miss Basketball Award last season. Head Coach: Randy CoffmanALEX LOMAX - Memphis East High School5’11”, junior, guard. He is a three-year starter for the Mustangs who averages 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 4.3 steals per game. He shoots 53% from the field, 34% from three-point range, and 78% from the free throw line. This season he was named to the All-Tournament teams at the City of Palms and Bass Pro Shop Tournament of Champions. He was named to the Region 8-AAA All-Tournament team as a sophomore and junior. Alex was MVP of the 2016 Class AAA state tournament and was the winner of the 2016 Class AAA Mr. Basketball Award. Head Coach: Robert Jackson

DIVISION II CLASS AASYDNI HARVEY - Brentwood Academy5’9”, junior, guard. She is a four-year starter for the Eagles who averages 16 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. She shoots 41% from the field, 35% from three-point range, and 77% from the free throw line. She has been named the Region Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons. Sydni is a three-time finalist for the Division II-AA Miss Basketball Award and has been named MVP of the state tournament three times as well. Head Coach: Rhonda Brown

DARIUS GARLAND - Brentwood Academy6’1”, junior, point guard. He is a three-year starter for the Eagles who averages 23 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game. He shoots 61% from the field, 38% from three-point range, and 84% from the free throw line. This season he was named the Division II-AA Region Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He is a two-time All-State selection and was the 2016 Mid-State Player of the Year. Darius has scored over 1,500 points in his career and was the winner of the 2016 Division II-AA Mr. Basketball Award. Head Coach: Hubie Smith

19

M R A N D M I S S B A S K E T B A L L

THE OFFICIALBALL OF THETSSAA.

© 2015 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. WINNING MOMENTS BEGIN AT WILSON.COM

15-0449_TSSAA_All_Sport_Official_Ball_Ad.indd 1 3/31/15 1:58 PM

21

REGISTRATION PROCEDURE

Registration will be open starting June 1st, 2017. Registration will be completed online and payment will be completed online. It is the responsibility of the official to register in a timely manner for the sport(s) in which they are interested. All links to officiating are located on the TSSAA (www.tssaa.org) website by clicking on “Officials”.

The non-refundable registration fee for the first sport in which you register is $70. The registration fee for additional sports is $60 for each sport. You will be required to agree to a background check during the online registration process. These fees apply to new officials and renewing officials.

***TSSAA EXAMS***

ALL officials are required to pass an exam “Part I” to be eligible to officiate any games/contests. The official’s registration will not be complete until this exam has been passed. You are allowed TWO attempts (only) to pass. Passing score is 70. We urge all officials to complete your online registration and complete your exam as soon as possible for each sport in which you register to officiate.

To contact Terry Hillier, Officials Administrator, email: [email protected]

This issue of the NEWS will recognize the officials who worked the state championship series during the winter in wrestling and basketball.

2017 DUAL WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIALS Official Association Arnold, Jeff Northeast Baughn, Gene Chattanooga Bowler, P.A. Middle TN Brewster, Gary Middle TN Calloway, Carlos Middle TN Campbell, Ron Knoxville Clark, Barry Middle TN Coover, Chris Knoxville Craft, Mike Chattanooga Gannon, John Middle TN Hedges, Andrew Middle TN Heffington, David Chattanooga Householder, Buck Knoxville Jordan, Hayden Knoxville Lowry, Jeremy Mid-South Lowry, Rick Middle TN Martin, Shaun Chattanooga Pemberton, Don Mid-South Ridge, Justin Knoxville Rufolo, Jeff Chattanooga Simmons, Ryan Middle TN Strang, Larry Knoxville Vineyard, Walt Chattanooga Wright, Travis Chattanooga

2017 WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIALS Official Association Abel, Tim Middle TN Arnold, Mike Middle TN Bowler, P.A. Middle TN Brewster, Gary Middle TN Calloway, Carlos Middle TN Clark, Barry Middle TN Coover, Chris Knoxville Craft, Mike Chattanooga Cross, Chad Knoxville Croxdale, Rob Northeast Davenport, David Middle TN Davis, Eddie Chattanooga Elsea, Don Chattanooga Feris, Ryan Middle TN Gilbert, Danny Chattanooga Goodin, Chris Knoxville Hedges, Andrew Middle TN Heffington, David Chattanooga Herron, Kurt Middle TN Householder, Buck Knoxville Lane, John Chattanooga Linderman, Greg Chattanooga McCool, Jim Middle TN McGinley, David Knoxville Murphy, Neal Knoxville Pfeiffer, Carl Mid-South Selph, Bret Middle TN Sewell, Jake Chattanooga Simmons, Ryan Middle TN Stafford, Tim Knoxville Stevenson, Mike Knoxville Trussa, Ken Middle TN Vineyard, Walt Chattanooga White, Jeremy Knoxville

2017 GIRLS’ STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Official Association John Anderson Knox South Kenneth Beard West TN Rico Beasley Middle TN Cedric Coleman Memphis James Davis South Central Luke Dycus North Central Steven Grocock North Central Sam Layne Athens Robert Perkins Smokey Mtn. Robert Ramsey Tri-cities Mark Thacker Southeast Lawson Watson Middle TN

2017 BOYS’ STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Official Association Joey Beach Middle TN Deon Brown Southeas Larry Crum Memphis Larry Davis Northwest Ted Kessler West TN Marcus Kinzer Middle TN Barry Mapp Knox Darrell Mitchell Memphis Scott Reed South Central Bryon Trantham Tri-cities Bobby Vann Knox Ridge Frederick Walker West TN

2017 DIV. II STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS Official Association Travis Barnett Athens Dwight Bell Northwest Larry Bray Knox South Shanee Daniels Wallace North Central Paul Moffett South Central Jon Peters Tri-cities Greg Porter Knox Ridge Charles Simpson Smokey Mt.

Volleyball State Tournament OfficialTommy Cepparalo was inadvertently left off the list of officials who officiated the 2016 State

Volleyball Tournament.

2016-17 WINTER STATE CHAMPIONSThe TSSAA would like to congratulate the following state champions for

the 2016-17 winter sports

BOWLING

Division I GirlsHardin County High School

Division I BoysHardin County High School

Division II GirlsSt. Agnes Academy

Division II BoysSt. Benedict at Auburndale

WRESTLING (DUALS)

Division I A-AAPigeon Forge High School

Division I AAABradley Central High School

Division IIFather Ryan High School

WRESTLING

Division I A-AAPigeon Forge High School

Division I AAABradley Central High School

Division IIFather Ryan High School

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Class ASouth Greene High School

Class AAUpperman High School

Class AAARiverdale High School

Division II-ANorthpoint Christian School

Division II-AAEnsworth High School

BOYS BASKETBALL

Class AHarriman High School

Class AAMaplewood Comprehensive High School

Class AAAMemphis East High School

Division II-ALausanne Collegiate School

Division II-AABrentwood Academy

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TMSAA SECTIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSWe would like to congratulate the TMSAA Sectional Basketball Champions. Members of our championship teams were given the opportunity to

attend and be recognized during the TSSAA Girls’ and Boys’ State Basketball Tournaments.

2017 TMSAA BOYS’ SECTIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSEAST TENNESSEE

School Principal CoachClass A: Mary Hughes Middle School Alesia Dinsmore Mark Mason, John Johnson Class AA: Rush Strong Middle Schoo Jerry Bouler Jason FranceClass AAA: Alcoa Middle School Scott Porte MIDDLE TENNESSEE School Principal CoachClass A: Summertown Middle School Brent Long Jason Burleson School Principal CoachClass AA: E.O. Coffman Middle School Sarah Cope Michael Hollman

WEST TENNESSEE School Principal CoachSmall School Division: Bellevue Middle School Kevin Malone Bryon HarrisLarge School Division: White Statin Middle School Charlotte Danley Ronald Mcclain, Andre Applewhite

HAMILTON COUNTY School Principal Coach Orchard Knob Middle School Tiffany Earvin Paul Gaffney, Eddie Mccoy

2017 TMSAA GIRLS’ SECTIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSEAST TENNESSEE

School Principal CoachClass A: Cloudland Middle School Lisa Benfield Matt BirchfieldClass AA: Central Middle School Terry Morley Chelsea AndersonClass AAA: Cleveland Middle School Leneda Laing Amy Mcgowan, Michele Bradley

MIDDLE TENNESSEE School Principal CoachClass A: South Lawrence Middle School Brian Tucker Kelli Weathers School Principal CoachClass AA: Charlotte Middle School Justin Barden Russell Wilson, Billy Burgess, Kristina Pardue

School Principal CoachClass AAA: Christiana Middle School Crystal Hastings Cory Bransford, Rodney Bonds

WEST TENNESSEE School Principal CoachSmall School Division: Bellevue Middle School Kevin Malone Rashida King Large School Division: Colonial Middle School Marqui Fifer Kevin Sanford School Principal Coach Signal Mountain Middle School Tiffany Earvin

HAMILTON COUNTY School Principal Coach Morton Ana, Kayla Phillips

TMSAA Committee Minutes - February 9, 2017 The Tennessee Middle School Committee met for the second time this school year on February 9th. Members in attendance were Chic Nute, Stacy Salyer, Bret Eller, India Weaver, Matt Calvert, Michael Carter, Jeff Jones, and Rob Cummings. The TMSAA Committee submitted nominees from their area for this coming years Distinguished Service Awards.The Committee reviewed the Athletic Directors’ Conference that will be April 3-4, 2017 with the forum being on April 3, 2017 at 5:00 pm. The Committee turned in the results for their Area and Sectional Basketball Tournaments. These athletes will be recognized during the TSSAA Girls’ and Boy’s State Basketball Tourna-ments. The Independent game rule was discussed and will be keep the same for the next school year. It was proposed to change the drop 5 bat rule in baseball, the proposal was denied. The Committee reviewed TMSAA having state tournaments at the middle school level. The next TMSAA Committee meeting is set for July 20th at 10:00am.

B Y - L A W C H A N G E S

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Below is a summary of the TSSAA/TMSAA Bylaw changes which, unless otherwise specified, will go into effect at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. Each change was discussed at our TIAAA Conference in April. They will also be discussed during our Administrators’ Meetings which will begin the last week of September.

Please be reminded that the TSSAA Board of Control’s mandated heat and concussion policies apply to every sanctioned sport during practice and games. The state law concerning “Cardiac Arrest” must also be followed at all times. This information is always avail-able on our website (www.tssaa.org). It is vital that every administrator and coach have copies of these policies and understand their importance. They must be followed at all times in all sports whether indoors or outdoors.

The following is a summary of the Bylaw changes and where they can be found in the TSSAA or TMSAA handbook. An updated version of the TSSAA and TMSAA handbooks will be available on our website prior to member schools receiving the 2017-18 print-ed copies. When they become available, the updated copies should be used to conduct coach’s meetings. The changes are as follows:

1. Addition to Article IV, Section 8 (TSSAA/TMSAA Sports Calendar):

This addition states that, in all sports, coaches may give individual instructions to a maximum of three (3) student-athletes per day during pre-season and off-season. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY COACHES YOU HAVE IN A PARTICULAR SPORT. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENT-ATHLETES THAT ARE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS IN THAT SPORT PER DAY IS THREE (3).

2. Article I, Section 9 (Coaches) of the TSSAA Bylaws:

This change removes the requirement that classified employees and non-faculty coaches must have five (5) or more years of experi-ence and meet all educational requirements before serving as a head coach in football, baseball, softball, basketball, and track and field. They still must be submitted to the state office properly and complete the NFHS Coaches Education courses prior to coaching.

3. Article IV, Section 1 (TSSAA/TMSAA – Schools Which Member Schools May Play or Scrimmage):

This change allows member schools to play one Alumni game, in all sports except football, and count it as one of the four scrimmages allowed after the first official date of practice. If the game is played during the season, it must be counted as a regular season contest and put on the schedule.

4. Addition to Article I, Section 6 (Cooperative Programs):

This addition states that Division 1 schools may only request to form a cooperative agreement with another Division 1 school. Divi-sion II schools may only request to form a cooperative agreement with another Division II school.

5. Addition to Article I, Section 9B (Coaches):

This addition states that the use of a full time certified teacher/coach who has not been submitted to the state office prior to the date of the first contest allowed in that sport shall result in a fine of $50.00.

6. Modification to Article II, Section 21 (Independent Game Participation):

This change will allow the Principal to remove a student’s name from the school’s eligibility report prior to the first official contest date allowed in that sport and resubmit the student without penalty. If a Principal requests the state office to remove a student after the first official contest date allowed in that sport, such student may not again be certified during the season of that sport.

7. Article I, Section 2 (Membership) of the TSSAA/TMSAA Bylaws:

Membership contracts for the upcoming school year will now be signed and submitted by the Principal of the school no later than August 1st of that school term. The original date of May 15th was causing some individuals to sign a contract who may or may not be at the school the following year.

N F H S R U L E C H A N G E SNew Blocking, Kicking Rules Address Risk Minimization

in High School Football

New rules on blindside blocking are the most recent steps taken by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee in minimizing the risks associated with the sport.

The establishment of a new definition of a blindside block in Rule 2-3-10 and the addition of Rule 9-4-3n prohibiting a blindside block were two of 11 rules changes recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its January 20-22 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The NFHS Football Rules Committee’s actions this year once again addressed risk minimization, officiating, competitive balance and game administration,” said Bob Colgate, director of sports and sports medicine at the NFHS and staff liaison for football.

The definition of a blindside block established by the committee is “a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching,” and now results in a 15-yard penalty.

The committee stated that the blindside block “involves contact by a blocker against an opponent who, because of physical positioning and focus of concentration, is vulnerable to injury. Unless initiated with open hands, it is a foul for excessive and unnecessary contact when the block is forceful and outside of the free-blocking zone.”

“As has been the case for many years, the NFHS Football Rules Committee continued to place their main emphasis on risk minimization,” said Todd Tharp, chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and assistant director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. “With this new definition of a blindside block and the penalty to be assessed, the committee stresses the importance of proper coaching techniques under the rules and accurate enforcement by the game officials.”

Another significant risk-minimization change was elimination of a pop-up kick in new Rule 6-1-11. A new definition of a pop-up kick in Rule 2-24-10 is defined as “a free kick in which the kicker drives the ball immediately to the ground, the ball strikes the ground once and goes into the air in the manner of a ball kicked directly off the tee.”

The committee implemented this change in an effort to reduce risk of injury due to the increased use of the pop-up kick on onside kickoffs. Such kicks will be penalized as a dead-ball free-kick infraction, as noted with new Rule 6-1-11 PENALTY.

The NFHS Football Rules Committee also expanded Rule 2-32-16 regarding a defenseless player by adding specific examples of a defenseless player. Those examples include, but are not limited to:

a) A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass;b) A receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to

clearly become a runner;c) The intended receiver of a pass in the action during and

immediately following an interception or potential interception;d) A runner already in the grasp of a tackler and whose forward

progress has been stopped;e) A kickoff or punt returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or

one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier;

f) A player on the ground including a ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first;

g) A player obviously out of the play or not in the immediate vicinity of the runner; and

h) A player who received a blindside block with forceful contact not initiated with open hands.

“A great deal of time was spent by the committee creating specific criteria to define exactly what a defenseless player is,” Tharp said. “Coaches can use these examples to focus on the proper mechanics of blocking and tackling, and game officials now are able to use this expanded definition to focus on continued risk minimization of the players.”

Changes to Rule 7-1-6 expand on the situations required for encroachment to occur after the ready-for-play and after the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball. The rule previously stated that encroachment occurred if “any other player breaks the plane of the neutral zone.” In addition, now defensive players are restricted from contacting the ball prior to the end of the snap or making contact with the snapper’s hand(s) or arm(s) until the snapper has released the ball.

The remaining changes approved by the NFHS Football Rules Committee touched on a new ball specification (1-3-1h), uniforms [(1-5-1b(3)], game officials (1-5-4), post-scrimmage kick fouls (2-16-2h), penalty time clock management (3-4-7), prosthetic limbs (4-2-2l) and forward-pass interference (7-5-10), in which the previous foul for non-contact face guarding was eliminated as forward-pass interference.

Regarding the uniform change in Rule 1-5-1b(3), effective with the 2021 season, “the jerseys of the home team shall be a dark color that clearly contrasts to white.”

“The committee revised the rule to provide schools and manufacturers more clarification regarding the game’s current trend of utilizing lighter gray shades,” Colgate said. “The requirement for teams to wear contrasting colors to white is not a new rule, and it is the committee’s expectation that this new clarification will allow changes to be made during normal replacement cycles.”

A complete listing of all rules changes will be available soon on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Football.”

According to the 2015-16 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, football is the most popular sport for boys at the high school level with 1,083,308 participants in 11-player football. Another combined 28,943 boys participated in 6-, 8- and 9-player football. In addition, 2,140 girls participated in one of the four football offerings during the 2015 season.

Kickoff Procedure Tweaked in High School Soccer

A new rule allowing the kicking of the ball in any direction to begin play in high school soccer is among the rules changes approved for the 2017-18 season.

The new kickoff procedure is one of eight changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Soccer Rules Committee at its January 24-25 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Previously, the ball had to be kicked forward from the center of the field to begin play at the beginning of the game, after halftime and after each goal. The new rule states that the ball may clearly move in any direction.

“There have been a number of rule changes in soccer (at other levels), so we look to see if they are appropriate for high school competition,” said Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials and liaison to the Soccer Rules Committee. “We want to ensure that the rules we consider are what is best for the (high school) game and not difficult for officials to implement.”

The change to the kickoff procedure in Rule 8-1-3 requires a change in Rule 13-1-2, which now states that all free kicks, with the exception of penalty kicks, may be taken in any direction. The kickoff has been eliminated as an exception.

In addition, Rule 10-1-3f states that a goal may not be scored directly from a kickoff into the kicking team’s own goal. This change is consistent with the concept that a team cannot score against itself from a free kick.

Players are now permitted to use a stutter step or a hesitation move when taking a penalty kick as long as there is continuous movement according to a change in Rule 14-1-4. Stutter-stepping is not an interruption of movement toward the ball.

A change in Rule 4-2-9 permits a soft-padded headgear that meets the ASTM standard to be worn. This allows, but does not require players to use the newer headgear styles that are not just headbands. Wynns said

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N F H S R U L E C H A N G E Sschools, students and parents are free to make their own assessments of this equipment. Due to this rule change, Exception No. 1 to Rule 4-2-1 is no longer necessary and has been removed from the rules book.

An addition to Rule 4-1-1d allows players to wear visible arm compression sleeves and visible leg compression sleeves as long as they are a single, solid color matching the predominant color of the jersey or shorts. This addition to the existing rule is to maintain consistency with current uniform rules requirements and color restrictions.

The final change to Rule 5-1-3f allows officials to use electronic communication devices if permitted by the state association. Wynns said this change will permit officials to use devices currently available to improve communication and allow for a better officiated game.

A complete listing of all rules changes will be available soon on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Soccer.”

According to the 2016-17 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, soccer is the fifth-most popular sport for boys with 440,322 participants and the fourth-most popular sport for girls with 381,529 participants. A total of 12,054 schools offered boys soccer in 2016-17 and 11,676 schools offered girls soccer.

Risk Minimization Key Focus of High School Spirit Rules Changes

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Spirit Rules Committee revised several rules for the 2017-18 season, including adjustments to release transitions and inversions, in an ongoing effort to minimize risk of injury for participants in high school cheer and dance.

All rules revisions recommended by the committee at its March 4-6 meeting in Indianapolis were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The term “static” was removed from several places in the rules book and replaced with wording that more clearly defines the intent of the rules. One particular example involves allowing braced extended stunts to transition in such a way as to allow for more creativity and better technique.

Rules 3-3 and 4-3 had extensive revisions to reduce risk of injury for the top person in a stunt in cheer and dance. The rules were reorganized and clarify the requirements that must be followed in order for the top person to be in an inverted position.

Rules 3-3-8 and 4-3-8 were also added to prohibit a swing roll-down stunt because the person in the swing is being moved facedown toward the performing surface. Additionally, in Rule 3-3-3, inverted stunts that go to a non-inverted position may pass through the inversion without having to stop in a stationary position. This change will allow more creativity and proper technique for certain inverted skills.

“The Spirit Rules Committee takes risk minimization very seriously and looks at the rules for cheer and dance to ensure the most amount of success – from beginners to advanced – with minimal risk for all involved,” said James Weaver, NFHS director of performing arts and sports and staff liaison to the Spirit Rules Committee.

Rules 3-2-7 and 4-2-7 in cheer and dance, respectively, allow for stunts that don’t end in an extended position to be performed without a spotter. However, a spotter would still be required for stunts that stop in an extended position.

Rule 3-8-2 in cheer and Rule 4-8-2 in dance now state that props cannot be held in the hands during tumbling skills, where the supporting hands are not on the performing surface. The committee believes props are a safety concern when a tumbler is using her/his hands for support during a cartwheel or round-off.

A new rule (4-10-14) states that when transitioning from a prop to a stunt/lift, the new bases shall be in contact with the top person before he/she leaves the prop. This rule minimizes the risk to participants when

transitioning from props as bases to people as bases so that at no time the top person is free of contact from a base.

In addition, the Spirit Rules Committee approved revisions or removal of 11 definitions in Rule 1.

“The revision of definitions is to ensure accurate understanding of rules by clarifying the language and removing repetitive definitions,” Weaver said.

A complete listing of all rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Spirit.”

According to the most recent survey of NFHS-member state associations, there are more than 400,000 high school cheerleaders in the United States and, as of 2015-16, about 130,000 of those participants are involved in competitive spirit squads. The 2015-16 NFHS High School Athletics Participation survey lists competitive spirit as the ninth-most popular sports for girls. There are also about 43,000 girls who participate in dance or drill/pom teams, according to the same survey.

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2017-2018 REGIONAL RULES MEETINGS

2017-2018 ADMINISTRATORS’ MEETINGS

Monday, Sept. 18 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 21 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

Cookeville, Cookeville High School Gray, Daniel Boone High School Middle School MeetingKnoxville, Hardin Valley High School Middle School MeetingChattanooga, Silverdale Baptist Academy Middle School MeetingNashville, Hillwood High School Middle School MeetingMemphis, White Station High School Middle School MeetingJackson, University School of Jackson Middle School Meeting Columbia, Spring Hill High School Middle School Meeting

2017-2018 REGIONAL MEETINGS

Monday, November 6 1:00 p.m. Knoxville, Hardin Valley AcademyWednesday, November 8 10:00 a.m. Jackson, University School of JacksonThursday, November 9 10:00 a.m. Nashville, Hillwood High School

2017-2018 BASEBALL RULES MEETINGS

Monday, Nov. 20 10:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7 3:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 3:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 6:30 p.m.

Baseball Assigner’s Meeting – TSSAA Softball Assigner’s Meeting - TSSAA Cookeville, Cookeville High School Gray, Daniel Boone High School Knoxville, Fulton High School Chattanooga, Silverdale Baptist Acad. Nashville, Hillwood High School Lewisburg, Marshall Co. High School Memphis, Memphis University School Jackson, University School of Jackson

There will be NO UMPIRE’S CLINIC at the 2017-2018 rules meetings.

2017-2018 BASKETBALL RULES MEETINGS

Monday, Sept. 18 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 2:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 6:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 6:00 p.m.

Middle School Coordinators - TSSAA Supervisors – TSSAA Shelbyville Central High School Silverdale Baptist Academy, Chattanooga MUS (Coaches), MemphisMUS (Officials), MemphisDresden High School University School of Jackson DeKalb County High School, Smithville Daniel Boone High School, Gray Morristown East High School, Morristown Hardin Valley Academy, Knoxville Hillwood High School, Nashville

2017-2018 WRESTLING RULES MEETINGS

Friday, October 6 9:00 a.m. Supervisors/Assigning Officers – TSSAAMonday, October 16 6:00 p.m. Science Hill High School, Johnson CityTuesday, October 17 6:00 p.m. Bearden High School, KnoxvilleWednesday, October 18 6:00 p.m. Notre Dame High School, ChattanoogaThursday, October 19 6:00 p.m. Memphis University School, MemphisMonday, October 23 6:00 p.m. John Overton High School, NashvilleTuesday, October 24 6:00 p.m. Siegel High School, Murfreesboro

2017-2018 FOOTBALL RULES & MECHANICS MEETINGS

Wednesday, July 19 9:00 a.m. Supervisor’s Meeting – TSSAA, HermitageThursday, July 20 6:00 p.m. Rossview High School, ClarksvilleSunday, July 23 3:00 p.m. Watertown High School, WatertownMonday, July 24 6:00 p.m. McMinn County High School, AthensTuesday, July 25 6:00 p.m. Daniel Boone High School, GrayWednesday, July 26 6:00 p.m. Hardin Valley Academy, Knoxville Thursday, July 27 6:00 p.m. Notre Dame High School, ChattanoogaSunday, July 30 3:00 p.m. UT Martin Student Center RM111, Martin Monday, July 31 6:00 p.m. Memphis University School, MemphisTuesday, August 1 6:00 p.m. University School of Jackson, Jackson Wednesday, August 2 6:00 p.m. Shelbyville Central High School, ShelbyvilleThursday, August 3 6:00 p.m. Hillwood High School, Nashville

2017-18 TRACK RULES MEETINGS

Tuesday, January 23 6:00 p.m. Hardin Valley Academy, KnoxvilleWednesday, January 24 6:00 p.m. Daniel Boone High School, GrayThursday, January 25 6:00 p.m. Girls Preparatory School, ChattanoogaMonday, January 29 6:00 p.m. Riverdale High School, MurfreesboroTuesday, January 30 6:00 p.m. University School of Jackson, JacksonWednesday, January 31 6:00 p.m. Memphis University School, MemphisThursday, February 1 6:00 p.m. Hillwood High School, Nashville

2017-2018 SOFTBALL RULES MEETINGS

Monday, Nov. 20 10:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7 2:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 2:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 5:30 p.m.

Baseball Assigner’s Meeting – TSSAA Softball Assigner’s Meeting – TSSAA Cookeville, Cookeville High School Gray, Daniel Boone High School Knoxville, Fulton High School Chattanooga, Silverdale Baptist Acad. Nashville, Hillwood High School Lewisburg, Marshall Co. High School Memphis, Memphis University School Jackson, University School of Jackson

THE FOLLOWING SPORTS’ RULES MEETINGSWILL BE OFFERED ONLINE:

GOLF, VOLLEYBALL, BOWLING, GIRLS’ SOCCER/SOCCER

Documents

2017 TSSAA Hall of Fame Inductees...Hall of Fame The TSSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2017 has been selected. The luncheon to induct the new members was held on Saturday, April 1 at the