| Equality in MI sports headed for court
By Lauren Befus
Staff Writer
A season of change may be just around the corner for high school sports in Michigan.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has made its final appeal to U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen to change the seasons in which girls play basketball and volleyball, as well as when boys and girls play golf and tennis. If the plan passes through Enslen and the Sixth Circuit Court in Cincinnati, it will be implemented into the 2004-2005 school year.
As early as 1972, conflicts have arisen over Michigan female high school athletics being played opposite of traditional collegiate seasons. Many coaches, athletic directors and schools are now pushing for a change. Supporters of this change deem these off-seasons as “disadvantageous” to the girls, making it difficult for them to receive scholarships, school support and college recruitment, and to compete fairly in academics.
“This change is a step in the right direction,” said Northview High School Athletic Director Mark Thomas. “It lends equity to how we treat students at a high school level.”
According to Thomas, many female basketball players are required to play on two school nights per week, whereas the boys are only required to play on one. The revised plan will prevent this “inequality” and put boys’ and girls’ games on the same night.
Girls currently play basketball in the fall and volleyball in the winter. The plan will flip-flop these seasons and align them with collegiate seasons. Girls’ tennis and boys’ golf will be switched to the fall, while boys’ tennis and girls’ golf will be changed to the spring. This plan will result in placing three sports for boys and girls in the advantaged seasons.
“This is an important message to send out not only to girls, but to boys,” Thomas said. “We want them to be able to do whatever they want and it to be valued the same. The possibilities are positive with this.”
There is debate surrounding this new plan. Grand Valley’s women’s basketball Coach Dawn Plitzuweit said Michigan has an advantage with seasons set up like they are.
“From the standpoint of girls’ basketball, Michigan has a major advantage in recruiting because playing in the fall allows coaches to come in before their own seasons have started,” Plitzuweit said. “Since we are not in season it allows us to watch the girls and gives us more time to see them.” ـ
Many high school coaches also coach more than one sport, and switching the seasons will cause conflict and force them to choose, to quit one or the other. Officials are often also in short supply during the collegiate seasons. Their pay is increased at the college level. Class “C” and “B” schools may also have difficulties creating space for all of the teams to practice.
Despite these setbacks, Thomas is certain that the future ahead with this plan is a bright one.
“Openings for coaches and officials create opportunities for students, especially the girls, to see and to have more female role models,” he said.
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