NSAA News · December 2019 Page 5. November NSAA Board of Directors Meeting Notes . The November NSAA Board of Directors meeting was held at the NSAA Office in Lincoln on Thursday,

Executive Director’s Notebook

500 Char leston St . , Sui te 1, L incoln, NE 68508 www.nsaahome.org 402-489-0386

NSAA News December 2019

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1, 3 Executive Director’s

Notebook

2 NSAA Board of Directors &

NSAA Staff

4 December U.S. Bank®

Believers & Achievers

5 NSAA Reminders

6 2020 NSAA District

Meetings

7 Music Educator Award

8 #RespectTheRef

9 The NFHS Voice

10-14 NSAA Member

School Spotlight

15 NSATA Training Table

16 NSAA Student Advisory

Committee Spotlight

17 Update School Membership

Directory

18 Statement of Principle on

Conduct Synopsis

19 Requirements for Ejected

Coaches & Players

20 Required Courses for all

Coaches

21 NFHS Heart of the Arts

22 NSAA Speech Judges

Registration

Jay Bellar, NSAA Executive Director

Thank You The final horns have sounded, almost all of the trophies have been hoisted and lifelong memories have been made. The fall Championship season is about to come to a close and what a successful season it has been thus far. Before the flurry of the winter season embarks, I

would like to take a moment and thank all those involved with the fall season. Although it would be impossible to thank each and every person, I would like to blanket my thank you by addressing four specific groups. First, thank you to our officials and judges. As I spoke about in last month’s newsletter, officiating is a difficult job. I feel we are lucky in the state of Nebraska to have high quality officials and judges that truly care about their sport and activity and, more importantly, the students who are participating. Thank you for the time and effort you put into your craft. You are appreciated. Next, thank you, coaches, directors and AD’s. I’m not sure many realize the hours coaches and directors put into their team not only during the season but also in the off-season—watching film, preparing practice schedules, running practices, keeping and sending stats to media outlets, and so much more. Coaches and directors are positive role models who influence our children. We are fortunate to have coaches and directors who take this responsibility seriously and care about our students beyond the season they coach. What would any activity be without the fans? Nebraska is known for having positive and well-informed college fans, and the same can be said for our high school fanbase! Positive, kind, caring, excited, supportive, passionate--all these adjectives describe the majority of the fans sitting at NSAA activities night in and out this fall.

Please see Thank You on page 3

Page 2 December 2019

Kathi Wieskamp

District I

Lincoln Public

Schools

Mark Norvell

District I

Fillmore Central

Thomas Lee

District II

Omaha Northwest

Dr. Bob Reznicek

District II

Boys Town

Dan Keyser

District IV

Sutherland

Dr. Jon Cerny

District III

Bancroft-Rosalie

Jim Kent

District V

Dundy County Stratton

Dr. Troy Unzicker

District VI

Alliance

Jay Bellar

Executive Director

Jennifer Schwartz

Associate Director

NSAA Board of Directors & NSAA Staff

Ron Higdon

Assistant Director

Jon Dolliver

Assistant Director

Nate Neuhaus

Assistant Director

Dan Masters

Assistant Director

Jeff Stauss

Assistant Director

Ashton Honnor

Marketing

Specialist

Rick Colgan

Software

Developer

Cindy Callaway

Office Manager

Ronda Schmidt

Administrative

Assistant

Alicia McCoy

Administrative

Assistant

Megan Huber

Business Manager

December 2019 Page 3

The NSAA Would Like to

Thank Our Corporate

Partners

Thank You from page 1

The players feed off the vibes of the crowd and the “loud and proud” sitting in the bleachers can really make a difference in a game. Thank you, fans, for your good sportsmanship and constant support of our students and their activities. Finally, I want to say thank you to our students. Being a student-athlete is not an easy task. It takes hard work, dedication and time management. Students involved in activities often begin their day before normal school hours and end their day hours after the final bell with practice, games, performances, and homework. Most are involved with more than one fall activity and willingly give up their evenings, Saturdays and summers to compete and perform. Thank you, students, for all you do! As all officials, coaches, directors, AD’s, fans, and students know, practice is vital to success. Today, I invite and encourage you all to practice gratitude. We all have so much to be thankful for—health, families, friends, schools, volunteers, opportunities—the list is endless. And so, I’ll end with a thank you to all who read this newsletter and help the NSAA do what we do. Best of luck to those competing in the remaining fall activities and best of luck to those competing in the winter activities. We are thankful for the opportunity to experience it with you.

The NFHS Voice: Coaches, Athletic

Directors – Keys to Success in High

School Sports Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS Executive Director

“NSAA activities… the other half of

education.”

This fall, one school canceled the remainder of its football season after reports of hazing surfaced. There have been several incidents of high school student-athletes using racial slurs against members of the opposing teams. As we have noted previously, there have also been multiple reports of parents verbally and – in some cases – physically abusing officials, along with several cases of coaches allegedly running up scores. And then there was the bizarre case of a suspended player appearing in a game disguised as another player. On the positive side, there was a cross country runner who stopped at the one-mile mark of a race to assist a competing runner who had collapsed and was unresponsive. He didn’t finish the race, but he saved the life of the competing runner. Click here for the full article on the NFHS website.

Page 4 December 2019

December U.S. Bank® Believers & Achievers

Jaelle Johnson

Fairbury

Kaitlyn Otto

Freeman Madison Ustohal

Fremont Heath Keiser

Gothenburg

Noah Hass

Guardian Angels

Central Catholic

Carson Moritz

Hastings St. Cecilia

Odessa Ohrt

Heartland

Cory Ruybalid

Heartland Lutheran

Erin Pfeifer

Humphrey St. Francis

Owen Lightle

Kearney Alexis Rutar

Keya Paha County Hallie Epley

Lawrence-Nelson

December 2019 Page 5

November NSAA Board of Directors Meeting Notes

The November NSAA Board of Directors meeting was held at the NSAA Office in Lincoln on Thursday, November 7th, 2019. The meeting minutes can be found on the NSAA website here.

Championship Reimbursement Dates

Fall Championship reimbursement deadlines are listed below. If your school participates in any of the NSAA Championships below, please be sure to complete the reimbursement form before the deadline. The reimbursement forms are found on the AD Login Page and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. CT the night of the due date. If you have any questions, please contact Megan Huber, Business Manager, [email protected]. Play Production – January 10th, 2020 There is no form to fill out for Football. There is no reimbursement for Girls Golf, Boys Tennis, or Unified Sports, Bowling.

NSAA Fall Championship Results

GIRLS GOLF – SOFTBALL BOYS TENNIS – CROSS COUNTRY

VOLLEYBALL – FOOTBALL

NSAA State Unified Sports, Bowling Championships

The NSAA State Unified Sports, Bowling Championships will be held in Lincoln on Monday, December 9th at Sun Valley Lanes. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased online or at Sun Valley Lanes the day of the Championships. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. with a 10:30 a.m. start. For more information including the Championship schedule, head over to the NSAA website.

December Moratorium

The December Moratorium is December 22nd-26th. Other important NSAA dates, including future Moratorium dates, can be found on the NSAA Calendar located here.

Page 6 December 2019

2019-2020 NSAA District Meetings

District 1 Wednesday, January 8th – 10:00 a.m. – NSAA Office, Lincoln District 2 Wednesday, January 15th – 10:00 a.m. – Boys Town Conference Center District 3 Wednesday, January 15th – 12:00 p.m. – Norfolk Country Club

District 4 Wednesday, January 8th – 1:00 pm – ESU #10, Kearney

District 5 Wednesday, January 15th – 1:00 p.m. CST/12:00 p.m. MST – The Tassel, Holdrege

District 6 Wednesday, January 8th – 9:00 a.m. MST – Alliance Public Library

NSAA Important Dates &

Deadlines

NSAA Cup Information

NSAA Publications Order

Form

NSAA Cup

Information about the

NSAA Cup competition

and standings can be

found on the NSAA

website here. NSAA Intern Tales Dylan Ullman, NSAA Intern

In the short two months I have worked with the NSAA, I have already learned and experienced so much. I split my time between working in the office and working the various high school sporting competitions. In the office, my tasks are minor in the grand scheme of things, however, the staff here makes me feel like an integral part of the team. From data entry, to back end organizational tasks, and even pre-competition setup, my experiences here have already taught me more than I could have hoped for.

Recently, I had the exciting opportunity to work the Nebraska High School State Volleyball Championships, here in Lincoln. The first two days were held at Pinnacle Bank Arena, with the championship matches being played at the Devaney Sports Center. Each day presented very demanding work hours and small tedious tasks to keep the tournament running smoothly, but in the end, it was all worth it. To see the smiles and tears of joys on the players faces after they accomplished goals that were set months ago was a pretty cool sight. The final championship trophies to be won are football championships, and I am sure the competition will be fierce, and the show; spectacular. Again, I am thrilled to be a part of the NSAA team and will continue to do my very best with each opportunity I am afforded.

NFHS Music Resources

The NFHS has been busy building and sharing new music education resources including new and improved music education courses. Visit the NFHS Music page to learn more about the courses including the updated Music Adjudication course which NSAA District Music Contest Adjudicators will be required to view once every three years. Band Safety, Introduction to Interscholastic Music and Interscholastic Music Event Management are a few other notable topics. NFHS Learn Materials Flyer

December 2019 Page 7

Scottsbluff High School Vocal Director Receives Nebraska’s

2019-20 Music Educator Award

Brad Ronne of Scottsbluff High School has been named Nebraska’s National Federation of State High School Association’s (NFHS) 2019-20 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year. Ronne was nominated for the NFHS award by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) in collaboration with the Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA). Nominations are based upon outstanding service and unselfish devotion to interscholastic music by high school or college music educators. The NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award was first given in 1989. Ronne holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Hastings College and a

Masters Degree in Technology from Lesley University. He is recognized as a passionate music educator, extremely innovative and a model leader. Ronne began his teaching career in 1994 in Mitchell, Nebraska teaching K-12 general music. He has served as the vocal music director at Scottsbluff High School since 2006. Ronne was the dreamer and visionary behind the Scottsbluff school district adopting the music technology program that has grown into a state-of-the-art computer lab, full recording studio and three course levels. Students are given the opportunity to perform in traditional roles during the high school musical but also get real-world experiences as sound/audio technicians, production directors and light show engineers. Ronne was honored with the award in Lincoln at the Nebraska Music Educators Association annual awards banquet held on November 22nd.

Nebraska’s NFHS Music Educator Award Winners since 2002 2002 - Bryan Johnson, Oakland-Craig High School 2003 - Dean Dahlke, Bertrand High School 2004 - Gene Torrens, Elkhorn High School 2005 - Dr. Michelle Bluford, Elkhorn High School 2006 - Fred Ritter, Columbus High School 2007 - Sharon Hoffman, Bayard Public Schools 2008 - Byron Braasch, Lewis & Clark Middle School 2009 - Stan Johnson, Shickley Public Schools 2010 - Dave Klein, Kearney Public Schools 2011 - Cheri Helmer-Riensche, Papillion-La Vista South High School 2012 - William Reichert, Broken Bow High School 2013 - Cheri Helmer-Riensche, Regional Winner, Papillion-La Vista South 2013 - Rita Stinner, Western Nebraska Community College 2014 - Rex Barker, Millard South High School 2015 - Patricia Ritchie, Millard West High School 2016 - Denise Cotton, Lincoln Southwest High School 2017 - Tom Jaworski, Regional Winner, Adams Central High School 2018 - Debbie Martinez, Millard North High School 2019 - Brad Ronne, Scottsbluff High School

Page 8 December 2019

#RespectTheRef

Start the movement – we want to hear what your school is doing to #RespectTheRef! Using #RespectTheRef, tweet @nsaahome on Twitter or tag @nsaahome on Facebook or Instagram how your school and fans are modeling respectful behavior toward the referees!

December 2019 Page 9

I M P O R T A N T L I N K S

2019-20 NSAA Constitution & Bylaws

2019-20 NSAA Media Manual

2019-20 NCPA Academic All-State Information

NSAA Catastrophic Insurance

NSAA Sanctioned Events

Requests – Contests, Officials, Equipment

Become an NSAA Official!

Coaching Steps to Certification

The NFHS Voice: Respect for Everyone in High

School Sports and Activities Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS Executive Director

Case studies have revealed that kids want to participate in high school sports because they are fun. Being a part of a team gives them an identity, a sense of self-worth and, in some cases, a reason for engaging in academics. They are included, accepted and feel like a valued member of a community. This describes the ideal and the goal of high school sports. Fortunately, that atmosphere exists at a majority of the 19,500-plus high schools within the NFHS family. And since it is the desire of high school leadership throughout the country that these ideals continue, we are concerned about the growing decline in respect, integrity and unacceptable behavior in and around high school sports. Racism is one of our greatest concerns nationwide. We have heard of students posting videos to social media with racist comments. We read about racial comments by team members of nearly all-white schools to opposing players from schools composed of nearly all minority students. There have been cases of white players disrespecting Native American players on the opposing team by addressing them in an unacceptable manner. This type of behavior could be a reflection of events occurring in our society, or due to lack of a respectful environment at home. Regardless, they are not defensible reasons for the occurrence of these horrible acts within education-based high school sports and activities. High school sports and activities exist to lift people up, not demean or tear people down. National politics or lack of role modeling by adults at home aside, coaches, administrators and other leaders in high schools nationwide must direct programs with respect, acceptance and dignity and demand the same from the school participants. More than 50 years ago, Special Olympics began a global movement to break down barriers and end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. Since then, lives have been changed for the better all around the world. Many schools have implemented Unified programs in sports, performing arts and even physical education. We must do the same for everyone. All student-athletes – regardless of race, religion, political views or gender identity – should be treated equally. As baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson said, “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me . . . All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” As schools hire individuals to fill coaching positions, character must be the top prerequisite for the job. They must be guided by honesty, integrity and ethics, and they must be positive role models for students. And this is certainly not a new idea. Click here for the full article on the NFHS website.

Page 10 December 2019

NSAA Membership Spotlight

District 1: Lincoln Lutheran Location: Lincoln 9-12 Enrollment: 167 School Mascot: Warriors Twitter Handle: @LLactivities NSAA Participation: Boys & Girls Cross Country Girls Golf Softball Football Volleyball Play Production Wrestling Boys & Girls Basketball Speech Music Boys & Girls Soccer Baseball Boys & Girls Track & Field Boys Golf NSAA State Championships: 10 What’s Happening at Lincoln Lutheran: “One of the unique issues we face involves the many coops we need to participate in to be able to offer some activities,” said Assistant Principal/Activities Director Joel Brase. “Being in a city with lots of opportunities for kids growing up, we get many students that want to participate in a lot of different activities. Being a small school, we sometimes don't have enough participants to field our own team so we need to look at Coops. Our school and families have embraced this and work with the challenges that present themselves so our students can participate in the activities they desire.”

December 2019 Page 11

District 2: Archbishop Bergan Location: Fremont K-12 Enrollment: 430 School Mascot: Knights Twitter Handle: @BerganSports NSAA Participation: Softball Girls Golf Boys Tennis Boys & Girls Cross Country Volleyball Football Play Production Wrestling Swimming Boys & Girls Basketball Speech Music Boys & Girls Soccer Baseball Girls Tennis Boys & Girls Track Boys Golf NSAA State Championships: 11 What’s Happening at Archbishop Bergan: “Archbishop Bergan Catholic School has made sportsmanship a priority with our fans, students, players, coaches, and parents,” said Assistant Principal/Activities Director Chris Rainforth. “Three years ago during the 2016 boys basketball state tournament, a local network television station aired a story featuring the lack of sportsmanship among the student sections at the tournament and basically spotlighted the Bergan student section as an example of poor sportsmanship. Our community took that report to heart. Since that time, our school administration’s work towards promoting not just good sportsmanship, but exemplary sportsmanship, has been constant and repeated.”

Page 12 December 2019

District 3: Allen

Location: Allen K-12 Enrollment: 150 School Mascot: Eagles Twitter Handle: @SchoolsAllen NSAA Participation: Football Volleyball Play Production Wrestling Boys & Girls Basketball Speech Music Boys & Girls Track & Field Boys Golf What’s Happening at Allen: “Allen Consolidated Schools is one of the smaller districts in the state, but in many ways our small size is also a great strength,” said Principal Lana Oswald. “In recent years, we have had to coop some of our sports activities with another district and that has been a challenging but very rewarding experience for our kids. They have handled meeting new students and working and playing with new teammates with great poise and that has been a great learning experience. Relationship-building is a strong focus for us, for teachers, students, and support staff alike. We have a strong peer mentoring program where secondary students are paired with elementary students who may need a good role model or just a “big kid” to look up to. We also have a volunteer staff advisory program where adults are paired with a secondary student or students who need some extra attention or someone to help motivate them. Strong relationships promote a safe and healthy learning environment and we are committed to that belief!”

December 2019 Page 13

District 4: Ansley

Location: Custer County K-12 Enrollment: 175 School Mascot: Spartan Twitter Handle: @AnsleySchool NSAA Participation: Boys & Girls Cross Country Volleyball Football Play Production Wrestling Boys & Girls Basketball Speech Music Boys & Girls Track NSAA State Championships: 12 What’s Happening at Ansley: “Ansley High School partners with the CAPABLE (Custer Alliance for Preparing and Advocating for Business Labor and Education) Program, which allows us to offer our students many experiences that will help to prepare them for the future,” said Activities Director Troy Schirmer. “Through the help of CAPABLE, we are able to offer our 11th grade students a Career and Professional Studies course. This course provides them career exploration, soft skills training, and job shadowing opportunities. As 12th graders, CAPABLE helps connect students to internship opportunities in Ansley and the surrounding areas. In addition, the CAPABLE Program also provides HEROs training for our high school students so that they can serve as mentors for our elementary students.”

Page 14 December 2019

District 6: Banner County Location: Harrisburg 9-12 Enrollment: 130 School Mascot: Wildcat Twitter Handle: @BannerWildcats NSAA Participation: Boys & Girls Cross Country Volleyball Football Play Production Wrestling Boys & Girls Basketball Speech Music Boys & Girls Track NSAA State Championships: 8 What’s Happening at Banner County: “Banner County School has implemented Option Enrichment Fridays for the 2019-2020 school year,” said Activities Director Kari Gifford. “Students in kindergarten through 12th grade have the option of coming to school on Fridays to participate in a variety of activities including STEM labs such as Lego lab, design lab, 3D printing lab, simple machines lab, and robotics. In addition, students can participate in Maker Space, coding, drones, fishing, hiking, gymnastics, and many more engaging activities. Community volunteers are bringing in a variety of classes to help meet student interests, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, and the National Solar Observatory in Boulder, CO. Students have traveled to Yellowstone National Park, Agate Fossil Beds, Scottsbluff Public Library, and the Wildcat Hills.”

December 2019 Page 15

NSATA Training Table

Ashley Conrad, ATC

Hydration Testing: A How-To Guide and Why It is Important For athletes, drinking water should be an automatic response. Every coach and athletic trainer preaches this sentiment, emphasizing that it is essential for peak performance. Our bodies are approximately 60% water, with the brain and heart using the most. For the typical athlete, consuming the appropriate amount of water is no issue – but wrestling is a whole different story. Wrestling, believe it or not, is a numbers game. Wrestlers have to maintain a certain body weight to compete, and it can get hairy. Choosing a weight class comes down to multiple factors: natural body weight, body fat percentage, height, strength, etc. Ultimately, the wrestler looks to contend at a weight where they have the most advantage. Water can throw a wrench in that plan. Some wrestlers put themselves on restrictive diets to keep the optimal physique, and water can tip them over their weight threshold. In the past, wrestlers have dehydrated themselves to the point of death, trying to achieve that perfect number on the scale. In light of this, numerous organizations, including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, have released statements regarding the practice of safe weight loss. And thus, hydration testing was created. As an athletic trainer at a high school, I have been trained to implement hydration testing through the month of November. The goal of the procedure is to ensure the wrestlers are properly hydrated before calculating their official weight class for the season. The following are the guidelines that are followed throughout Nebraska:

• Before the wrestler comes for testing, they should have maintained adequate hydration for a few days

prior to the test, and especially on test day. Working out is not discouraged, but intense exercise is not

ideal.

• The wrestlers enter a controlled environment (a locker room or bathroom) with a minimum of one

assessor and one person other than a coach.

• The wrestlers must take off any extra clothing (sweats, hoodies, etc.) and take everything out of their

pockets.

• While their information is written on a data information form, they must stick out their tongue and state

their name (this is to prevent water being stored in the mouth).

• The stool will have colored dye previously placed in the water. The wrestler enters the stall with a paper

cup and is instructed to produce as much urine in the cup as possible, and the rest in the stool...no

flushing!

• The sample is then tested by the assessor with either urine test strips or a refractometer.

o The strips are looking for the amount of specific gravity in the urine, which compares the density

of urine to water.

o The refractometer uses light to detect the specific gravity.

• For the wrestler to pass, they must have a specific gravity at 1.025 or below, with 1.000 being pure

water, and 1.030 being too dehydrated.

• If the wrestler passes, they may get their official weight and body fat with a Tanita scale or skinfold

caliper. If they fail, they have to wait two days to try again.

The wrestlers who are still not at their target weight after hydration testing will be put on a descent plan, where they can only lose 1.5% body weight per week. With this in mind, wrestlers should strive to be close to their goal weight before going through testing. The NSATA, NATA, and all governing bodies of wrestling and athletics are committed to safe weight loss practices. Through this process, all parties can have confidence that wrestlers will achieve peak performance, without the severe consequences of dehydration.

Page 16 December 2019

Student Advisory Committee Spotlight Hollianna Watson, Senior at McPherson County High School

The NSAA Student Advisory Committee has been a great addition to my life. It has opened so many doors to opportunity. As a member of the NSAA SAC, I belong to a group of great people with creative and bright minds who I can look to for advice on activities in my community and school. I have been able to take unique and impressive ideas back to my school that would never have been achieved without the motivation from the NSAA SAC. As a member of the NSAA SAC, I have been challenged to step outside of my comfort zone. The biggest step I have taken to step outside of my comfort zone, was attending

the National Student Leadership Summit held in Indianapolis, Indiana. To say the least, big cities are not necessarily my thing. Living outside of a small, unincorporated town with a high school filled with a whopping 30 students, makes big cities seem pretty scary, and I had to go there without my family or anyone I knew. All I knew were the names of the three other members selected to attend with me, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I learned so many valuable lessons that I have and will continue to use. One thing that really stood out to me was some advice from speaker Adrienne Bulinski. She found that if you have a goal, all it takes is five minutes a day to achieve that goal. Five minutes a day leads up to 1,825 per year. Five minutes a day is rather easy to give up. Five minutes when you wake up, go to sleep, or are just sitting around could lead you to a successful outcome. Excuses can be thrown out the door with this mindset. This strategy works for even the person who thinks they are “too busy” to achieve the goals they set for themselves. A simple five minutes a day can make a world of difference and be just the right motivation to help anyone reach their goals. Simple tips such as Ms. Bulinski’s have greatly impacted my life and pushed me to step out of my comfort zone while building on my leadership skills. Since this once in a lifetime trip, I have seen a change in myself and those around me. At school, even a small one like mine, you see cliques. Using the tactics taught at NSLS, I have been able to make sure everyone is included and others have been following suite. Inclusivity and positivity work hand in hand and are contagious. If you start it, others will do the same and soon, everyone will have the same kind and positive mindset. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to attend the National Student Leadership Summit Indianapolis and be a member of the NSAA SAC. Through the trip, I have made amazing new friends that I would have never otherwise gotten close to as well as grown as a leader and person in general.

Baseball – New NOCSAE Chest Protector Pad

Recently, the NFHS released a MEMO outlining a new NOCSAE certified chest pad option offered by several manufacturers. The memo outlines three options for schools as they prepare for the upcoming season and staying compliant with the new chest/body protector rule. Information will be included in the 2020 NSAA Baseball Online Rules Meeting for coaches and umpires.

December 2019 Page 17

Have you followed the NSAA social media channels?

We’re on the tail end of the Fall Championships! Be sure to follow all of the NSAA social media channels to stay updated on the latest NSAA happenings and Championship scores and updates.

Update Your School Membership Directory

The NSAA utilizes your School Directory to send communication to the administration and coaches listed. Please make sure that this information is correct and updated at all times. To do so, login to your AD login page and under OTHER FORMS select School Directory, which will then take you to your School Directory Information page where you can make changes as necessary. This is also where you’ll go to see if your coaches have completed their online rules meetings. Please contact the NSAA office at 402-489-0386 with any questions.

Page 18 December 2019

Statement of Principle on Conduct Synopsis Adopted by the NDE, NSAA, NCSA, NASB, NSEA, NRCSA, NCA and NSIAAA

Recently, students in our schools have been experiencing negative, harassing, and bullying conduct during the school day, and at school activities by the spectators attending those events or, and at times by opponents in an activity, that is directed at the school’s participants and spectators, often with a racial component. Such conduct is unacceptable and does not reflect the foregoing basic tenants of our society. It is the responsibility of our organizations to promote and respect the liberty interests of all persons who may participate in or attend any educational endeavor sponsored by our organizations which includes ensuring that common courtesy is shown for all persons, insuring tranquility for all, and being responsible that no one person abuses their liberties to the detriment of other persons. As the educational leaders of Nebraska’s school system, we firmly support Nebraska schools and communities in proactively involving teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community members in developing and maintaining a positive school and community culture that supports learning opportunities for all persons, and ensures that respect and courtesy are shown to all persons. Conduct by any person that does not show respect for and courtesy of other persons in Nebraska schools and any school activity is prohibited and shall not be tolerated – period.

A Reminder to Compete with Respect

Concerns have been expressed regarding the lack of respect being afforded to students, coaches, officials, spectators and host staff. Schools should understand the seriousness of their responsibility to everyone and the privilege of representing their school and community. As educators, we must recommit ourselves to the preservation of respect. Unfair acts prohibited by the spirit and intent of the rules include the use of disconcerting acts or words.

Deliberately disrespecting the rules and fellow participants in the hope or expectation of gaining an advantage is deplorable and indefensible. It is imperative that administrators, coaches, officials and students make an extra effort to model the type of behavior that illustrates the educational values of activity participation. Conduct that berates, intimidates or threatens anyone, based on gender, ethnicity, or sexual preference is unacceptable.

Medical Personnel at Regular Season Contests

Severe injuries, sudden illnesses and other critical incidents do not often occur during school activities, but it is important for every school to have an emergency action plan (EAP) for administrators, faculty, coaches and staff members to follow should emergencies occur. Due to lack of universal availability of medical coverage and other logistical reasons, NSAA does not require that schools have a physician, trainer or ambulance on-site at regular season activities; however, each school should have a plan in place should there be an emergency involving students, coaches, officials or spectators requiring medical attention.

December 2019 Page 19

Requirements for Ejected Coaches & Players

Enforcement of the “sit-out rule” for ejections from high school contests for unsportsmanlike conduct is a responsibility of the member school. Failure to properly enforce this rule could result in other sanctions by the NSAA. Administrators will be expected to promptly file a report with the NSAA whenever a participant or coach from their school has been ejected from any high school contest. Such filing must be done online under the AD login section of the NSAA website. Enforcement of the “sit-out rule” is expected to begin immediately, regardless whether it is regular-season or tournament play. Any athlete ejected from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be ineligible for the next athletic contest at that level of competition and any other athletic contest at any level during the interim. Any athlete ejected for a second time during a season from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be ineligible for the next two contests at that level of competition and all other athletic contests at any level during the interim. Any athlete ejected for a third time during a season from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be ineligible for the next three contests at that level of competition and all other athletic contests at any level during the interim, in addition to other penalties the NSAA or school may assess. During the time of their “sit-out” suspension, athletes who are ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct may not suit up or participate, but it is the school’s discretion whether such athlete is able to travel with the team or sit on the team bench. (The athlete is permitted to practice per school’s discretion.) Coaches who are ejected for the first time will be required to sit-out the next contest at that level, plus all other contests at any level during the interim. Coaches may not be present at the contest site during the time of their “sit-out” suspension. The coach will also be required to successfully complete the NFHS online course “TEACHING AND MODELING BEHAVIOR” within 10 days of the ejection. Coaches who are ejected a second time in a season will be required to sit-out the next two contests at that level, plus all other contests at any level during the interim. Coaches may not be present at the contest site during the time of their “sit-out” suspension. The coach will also be required to successfully complete the NFHS online course “FUNDAMENTALS OF COACHING” within 10 days of the ejection.

Are your officials on the NSAA Officials Roster?

3.12.2 Officials for Varsity Contests. Only those officials who are registered with the Association may be used by member high schools to officiate varsity competition in football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, soccer, softball and volleyball competition, and start track & field meets. Athletic Directors are expected to confirm that all officials hired to officiate varsity contests have been classified by the NSAA. The NSAA Officials Roster is available on your AD login page under “NSAA OFFICIALS & JUDGES.”

Page 20 December 2019

Are your head and assistant coaches C.E.R.T.I.F.I.E.D?

NSAA Bylaw 2.12 stipulates, “In order to serve as a head or assistant coach or sponsor of any activity sponsored by the NSAA, the individual must possess a valid Nebraska Teaching Certificate or Nebraska Administrative and Supervisory Certificate and have a written contract of employment as a coach or sponsor with the schools in which he/she is to perform these duties.” Yes, this does include coaches/directors/sponsors/advisers in the non-athletic activities as well: Play Production, Music, Speech and Journalism. Individuals that do not possess either of the certificates listed above, may serve as a head or assistant as long as they successfully complete the requirements for a Special Services Coaching Permit (NSAA Bylaw 2.12.2). This information can be found on the NSAA webpage under the Coaches tab. It is important to remember that certification is not complete until the individual has applied and received their certificate from the Nebraska Department of Education Certification Office. Schools should request a copy of the certificate and have it on file at the school. Non-certified personnel may be contracted by the school, but such personnel shall be Coaches Aides. (NSAA Bylaw 2.12.3). There are restrictions and limitations for Coaches Aides. Refer to the respective Bylaw for a complete listing in regard to Coaches Aides. If you should have questions in regard to coaching requirements, contact NSAA Associate Director Jennifer Schwartz at [email protected].

Required Courses for All Coaches

This is a reminder that ALL head, assistant and volunteer coaches are required to take the three online NFHS courses at least once every three years: Concussion in Sports, Heat Illness Prevention and Sudden Cardiac Arrest. These courses can be accessed on the NFHS website, and all three courses are free. These courses should be taken prior to any preseason or regular season physical workouts in which the coach would be present for or involved in administering. Any course taken after May 1st would be considered valid to the following school year.

Social Media Handles Needed

NSAA Marketing Specialist Ashton Honnor is in need of your school’s main activities account social media handles. Below you will find the three accounts that we are in search of if your school utilizes those platforms. If your school does not utilize the social media platforms listed below, please let Ashton know regardless.

• Twitter Handle (ex. @nsaahome)

• Facebook Handle (ex. Nebraska School Activities Association)

• Instagram Handle (ex. @nsaahome) Social media handle information can be sent to Ashton at [email protected].

December 2019 Page 21

NFHS Heart of the Arts Award

The NFHS has developed its “National High School Heart of the Arts Award,” which will be conferred to eight section winners as well as one national winner. The recipient must be an individual from a high school that is a member of an NFHS-member athletic or activity association. The recipient could be any student, adult or group associated with the school’s performing arts program. This award, which is similar to the Spirit of Sport Award, covers a plethora of performing arts disciplines: Music, Speech, Debate, Theatre, Visual Arts and other performing arts activities that state associations may sponsor. This award seeks to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the positive heart of the arts that represent the core mission of education-based activities. The award may be given in recognition of a specific act or for an activity of longer duration. For example, it could be awarded to an individual (or group) that:

*has demonstrated exemplary “heart,” sportsmanship and/or citizenship in participation as it should occur;

*has exceeded normal expectations in assisting others within the school or community; or *has overcome adversity or a challenging circumstance. In the instance of a student, that student must be in good academic standing within his or her respective high school. Among the qualifying criteria that will be used are the student’s grade-point average, the activities in which he or she is involved, and community involvement. Other candidates should possess similar positive character traits, such as a high level of integrity and ethics. The nomination must be for something that occurred between January 1st, 2019 and December 31st, 2019. Nominated individuals do not necessarily need to still be enrolled in high school at the time of the nomination. The section winners and the national winner will be publicized in an NFHS press release, as well as in the “High School Today” magazine. In addition, the national winner will be recognized in person at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Denver in June of 2020. If you have someone that is deserving of a nomination, please contact NSAA Assistant Director Ron Higdon at [email protected]. Nominations are due by February 1st, 2020 to the NSAA. Please contact Ron with questions.

Page 22 December 2019

Activity Fee Deadline

Speech $25.00 January 24, 2020

NSAA Speech Judges Registration & Rules Meeting

The NSAA Speech judges application for the 2019-2020 school year is available online at https://nsaahome.org/speech/.

Rules Meeting. All judges must view the online rules meeting to meet the rules meeting requirement. Attendance at the July Speech Workshop fulfills this requirement.

HEAD COACH AND JUDGE

Rules Meeting Schedule

All HEAD COACH and JUDGES are REQUIRED to complete an online rule meeting.

*Make sure to pay specific attention to the rules meeting schedule to avoid additional fees.

2019-20 Online Rules Meeting Dates

Speech

October 1 to January 15 No Charge to Head Coaches & Judges

January 16 to January 22 Basic $25 Fee – Head Coaches & Judges

January 23 to January 24 Late/Penalty $50 Fee – Head Coaches & Judges

Questions? Contact Cindy Callaway at [email protected] or 402-489-0386.