Fast Tracks
December, 2007
by Paula Anderson
President – MSHSNSCA

Winter 2007 is looking up! As I write this a big winter storm is bearing down on almost the entire state and hundreds of ski coaches are crossing their fingers and holding their breath! One thing can be said for skiers and coaches . . . we are always hopeful. Best wishes to all of you during this busy post-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas, early ski season time of year.

Our fall meeting was held on October 27th at the Mora Vasaloppet Nordic Center and was very well attended. We concluded the meeting with an excellent technique clinic led by CXC coaches Bryan Fish and Yuriy Gusev. Here are some of the highlights from the fall meeting along with additional developments that have occurred since then:
• Fred Kueffer nominated John Strand (Roseville) to the Nordic Ski Coaches Hall of Fame; passed by all.
• Kevin Brochman has volunteered to do the State Rankings this year. Remember to submit all race results to: www. skinnyski.com.
• Contact information for high school coaches is listed on our website. Go to www.mshsca.org/nordicski and click on 2006-07 members.
• The State Meet banquet earned money for our association, but the venue (Giant’s Ridge) was not ideal. We are looking for another venue, but there aren’t many options.
• Treasurer’s report (Anne Flueckiger): Our account has close to $3,000, and we have not yet received coaches’ association dues for this season. 44 coaches had joined prior to 10/27; the deadline is December 15th. Encourage your assistant coaches to join, too.
• Rules book: Matt Laue suggests switching from NCAA to FIS rules book, b/c FIS is more comprehensive and is updated annually. Approved by coaches but will have to meet with MSHSL and get their input. No action taken on this at this time.
• Uniform Rule: Athletes must wear team uniform and apparel for warming up, racing, cooling down, & awards. If a team does not have warm-ups, skiers must wear “neutral” warm-ups. Hats are included (i.e. no Biathlon or USSA hats). This rule has not been enforced by all coaches— suggestion that coaches be required to sign a verification form indicating that they are aware of the rule when they submit their Section and State meet rosters. This was approved. Uniform rule will be revised to indicate that athletes not wearing team or neutral apparel will not be allowed on podium for awards ceremony (but will receive award). Coaches will sign a uniform verification form (similar to CC) before section and state meets and this form will be in their packets this year (2008).
• Charlie Banks/Coaches’ Association Relays: Mark Walters, coach from Bemidji asks for teams to please bring a properly dressed volunteer if you participate. The races were delayed last year b/c not enough parent/coach volunteers.
• Multi-event state meet proposal, presented by Matt Laue (sprint, pursuit, relay). Discussion, suggestion that sections experiment with multi-event format in 2008-09 to see how it works.
• By-law amendment to allow electronic voting for Coach of the Year (since not all coaches are at State meet). Approved. This means sections must choose their coach of the year at the section meet and forward to Dave Johnson right away.
• Giant’s Ridge will be enforcing ski pass requirement on Nordic trails more strictly this year—they will escort you off the property if you are found skiing without a pass.

Two proposals were discussed and passed. The medals proposal, which would add 5 individual medals at the section and state meets raising total individual medals from 10 to 15; and the alternates proposal which would allow for the addition of 2 alternates to the section team. Both of these proposals are supported by almost 100% of coaches and will be forwarded by the advisory committee to the MSHSL for their revue in March, 2008.

A survey was sent out to coaches in mid-November asking them to vote on whether they want to ask the MSHSL to move the date of the State Meet to the Tuesday after President’s day. As of 11/31 the results of this survey are: 43% of head coaches voting yes to move the date, 57% of head coaches voting no, don’t move the date. Voting will end Dec. 15. The following schools have voted as of today, 11/31: Duluth Marshall, Southwest, Lakeville North, Duluth Central, Buffalo, Duluth East, Bemidji, SLP/St. Anthony, Burnsville, St. Cloud Tech, Stillwater, Park H.S., Grand Rapids, Mesabi East, Prior Lake, Wayzata, Benilde-St. Margaret, Northfield, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, Hastings, Eden Prairie, Irondale, Anoka, Apollo, Osseo, Roseville, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Holy Family Catholic, Maple Grove, North, Eastview, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Mora, Park Center, Mounds Park Academy, Ely.

The uniform rule has been revised. It reads as follows:

UNIFORM REQUIREMENT

All team members and individual skiers shall compete in school-issued uniforms. Coaches are responsible for proper team attire and should encourage uniformity in team dress. Team uniforms (racing suits) should be appropriate to Nordic ski racing and shall not include advertisement of ski products of companies or other ski team names (i.e. US Biathlon, USSA, etc.). A team’s uniform or any item of apparel that is worn by a student/athlete during competition may contain only a single manufacturer’s or distributor’s logo or trademark on the outside of the apparel. The logo or trademark shall be contained within a four-sided geometrical figure (i.e. rectangle, square, parallelogram) that does not exceed 2 ¼ square inches. This restriction is applicable to all team apparel worn by the student/athletes (i.e. team warmups, hats, etc., it does not apply to neutral warm-up apparel). Please refer to NCAA Rule 11.7.

All coaches will sign a uniform verification form prior to Section and State meets confirming that they are in compliance with the uniform rule. All coaches will discourage the wearing of warm-ups, hats, patches on jackets, etc. that are not team issued or neutral at all competitions during the season. Any athlete wearing a non-team issued or non-neutral piece of apparel at awards’ ceremonies will not be allowed onto the podium (if applicable) but will receive his or her award .

All competitors are expected to present a personal appearance that will reflect the highest credit upon the sport and their school. No clothing, hats, or head gear displaying product, slogans, or graphic illustrations that are inappropriate to MSHSL principles will be acceptable.


All coaches and meet managers are to enforce this rule at every meet during the season.

Best of luck to all coaches this coming winter! May we have record snow!