The NCAA walks a fine line with baseball players selected in the draft. Players are free to seek guidance, but the NCAA distinguishes between agents and "advisers," and makes it clear that athletes who fail to recognize the difference put their eligibility at risk.
The line is hazy, and teams and agents routinely wink at practices that fall beyond the letter of the law. But as the money increases and the draft becomes a prime financial battleground, the signs are pointing toward an attempted NCAA crackdown.
The NCAA Eligibility Center recently distributed a questionnaire to college baseball players that suggests tighter oversight of advisers in the draft. Many agents questioned where the initiative will lead, only seven months after an Ohio judge upheld former Oklahoma State lefthander Andy Oliver's right to representation in the draft.
The NCAA has sporadically punished players who sought assistance in the draft. Oliver was declared ineligible for the 2008 Stillwater Regional amid the revelation that advisers Bob and Tim Baratta had sat in on negotiations with the Twins in 2006. After Oliver switched to Boras in March 2008, the Baratta brothers reportedly turned in Oliver to the NCAA.
Oliver filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and the Barattas and was reinstated at OSU when Tygh Tone, an Eric County (Ohio) common pleas judge, ruled that NCAA regulations limiting the role of attorneys in counseling student-athletes are impossible to enforce and allow for the exploitation of players.
Oliver re-entered the draft in June, with Boras as his adviser, and signed with the Tigers for a $1.495 million bonus as a second-round pick. He is seeking damages in a second phase of the lawsuit, with a jury trial scheduled to begin in October.
Major League Baseball, of course, has a huge stake in the economic ramifications of the draft. Rising bonus payouts have prompted commissioner Bud Selig to call for a hard slotting system with no exceptions. This year MLB recommended that teams reduce draft bonuses by 10 percent, but Baseball America reported that the total payout for the first five rounds stayed even between 2008 and 2009.
Righthander Stephen Strasburg, selected first overall by the Nationals out of San Diego State, set draft records with a $7.5 million bonus and a $15.1 million guaranteed payout while using Boras as his adviser.
The bottom line here is the NCAA's attempts to limit or crack down on advisers could: put draft picks at a distinct disadvantage in negotiations or punish players who seek assistance. So, what is a player to do? If your Stephen Strasburg it is a no brainer, but what of the inner city kid who can not afford the services of Boras? Who speaks for him? and What is he potentially giving up if he makes a mistake with either the NCAA or MLB?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Concussion Safety Programs
This year, educational concussion safety programs are making headlines. The Illinois Athletic Trainers Association and the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch have teamed up for a concussion safety awareness campaign in their state.
In the state of Maine, high schools are making a major effort in pushing for student-athlete safety when it comes to concussions and return-to-play decisions. William Heinz, MD, an orthopedist at Orthopaedic Associates in Portland, and Paul Berkner, DO, Medical Director of Health Services at Colby College, recently established the Maine Concussion Management Initiative. Its goal is to provide ImPact testing to all Maine public high schools for free.
"The (ImPact) test gives us a fingerprint of the brain, tells us how the brain is functioning from a cognitive sense," Heinz told the Portland Press Herald. "It's a very accurate way of monitoring concussions and trying to decide when kids are ready to go back to play. And that's the important thing."
To that end, a highly anticipated batting helmet from Rawlings, the S100, was tested by two All-American high school baseball teams in August, and the players gave it some pretty good reviews. With its extra padding and Polypropylene liner, the S100 is being touted as the safest batting helmet currently available.
With the American Association of Neurological Surgeons reporting almost 27,000 head injuries in amateur baseball in 2008 and the figures for 2009 still mounting, orders for the S100, which cost about $100, have increased.
In the state of Maine, high schools are making a major effort in pushing for student-athlete safety when it comes to concussions and return-to-play decisions. William Heinz, MD, an orthopedist at Orthopaedic Associates in Portland, and Paul Berkner, DO, Medical Director of Health Services at Colby College, recently established the Maine Concussion Management Initiative. Its goal is to provide ImPact testing to all Maine public high schools for free.
"The (ImPact) test gives us a fingerprint of the brain, tells us how the brain is functioning from a cognitive sense," Heinz told the Portland Press Herald. "It's a very accurate way of monitoring concussions and trying to decide when kids are ready to go back to play. And that's the important thing."
To that end, a highly anticipated batting helmet from Rawlings, the S100, was tested by two All-American high school baseball teams in August, and the players gave it some pretty good reviews. With its extra padding and Polypropylene liner, the S100 is being touted as the safest batting helmet currently available.
With the American Association of Neurological Surgeons reporting almost 27,000 head injuries in amateur baseball in 2008 and the figures for 2009 still mounting, orders for the S100, which cost about $100, have increased.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Winning and Losing
It’s been statistically proven that out of the 162 Major League baseball games that make up a full season of play, every team will win at least 60 games and lose at least 60 games. In other words, the worst team will still manage to win 60 games, and the best team will still manage to lose 60. It’s what happens with the other 42 that makes or breaks a season. It’s an interesting way to think about a baseball season and another reason why I think baseball is a lot like life.
Winning teams experience a lot of losses. Losing teams experience a significant amount of wins. For 120 games out of 162, everybody looks the same. That’s almost 75%of the season. It’s what happens with the remaining 25% that makes the difference between a champion and a cellar-dweller.
Life is all about ups and downs. We’re all going to have good days and bad days. Winners don’t win all the time; losers don’t lose all the time. In fact, most of the time, it’s hard to tell the difference. You can’t make one’s experience the judge of everything. Pretty much all of sports tells us that winning is only a slight edge.
So what’s the point? Experience isn’t everything. If you’re having a hard day, be patient, things are about to change. If you are cruising on top of things, enjoy it, because things are about to change. Change is the one constant for all of us, and those who are best prepared for it will have the best experience. If you expect things to always go well and get upset when they don’t, you’re in for making tough times tougher. If you are simply grateful for what each day brings, you will fare much better in the long run.
Winning teams experience a lot of losses. Losing teams experience a significant amount of wins. For 120 games out of 162, everybody looks the same. That’s almost 75%of the season. It’s what happens with the remaining 25% that makes the difference between a champion and a cellar-dweller.
Life is all about ups and downs. We’re all going to have good days and bad days. Winners don’t win all the time; losers don’t lose all the time. In fact, most of the time, it’s hard to tell the difference. You can’t make one’s experience the judge of everything. Pretty much all of sports tells us that winning is only a slight edge.
So what’s the point? Experience isn’t everything. If you’re having a hard day, be patient, things are about to change. If you are cruising on top of things, enjoy it, because things are about to change. Change is the one constant for all of us, and those who are best prepared for it will have the best experience. If you expect things to always go well and get upset when they don’t, you’re in for making tough times tougher. If you are simply grateful for what each day brings, you will fare much better in the long run.
Friday, September 11, 2009
The NCAA Puts The Brakes on Composite Bats
The Playing Rules Oversight Panel last week affirmed a decision made in July to put an immediate and indefinite moratorium on the use of the often-tampered piece of hardware. It will keep examining the issue to see if the moratorium can be lifted.
Here are some of their findings from the improved trampoline effect of a composite bat -- the ball comes off the bat as much as 20 mph faster, which means better offensive numbers. During 2007-2009, offensive statistics averages from the entire NCAA went up in multiple categories. Batting average improved from .291 to .302. The average runs scored in a game went from 6.1 to 6.88. Earned run averages ballooned from 5.12 to 5.85. Not only is the speed of the ball coming off the bat threatening the integrity of the game, it's threatening the pitcher's life. With the ball traveling well over 100 mph, many coaches believe that a pitcher doesn't have enough time to react if the ball is hit straight at him.
"Everyone is fearing the day in college or high school baseball that something bad happens because the bats are too dangerous," Benedictine coach Sean Ryan said. "It's one of the things I worry about the most."
But high schools and youth leagues, where composite bats also are prevalent, aren't ready to take such decisive action. The National Federation of State High School Associations says it doesn't intend to ban composite bats. Tom O'Connor, a division director of the East Zone in the PONY League, predicts that USA Baseball, which governs youth leagues in America, will follow the NCAA's lead. But no one knows if that will happen any time soon.
"If I was coaching a high school team, everyone would be swinging a composite bat," said Chuck Bowen, baseball manager at Disco Sports. "You do get a competitive edge with a composite bat." Disco Sports already has its bats in stock for 2010. Manufacturers already have made the bats they plan to sell in 2011. Disco Sports has sold between 150-200 composite bats this year. At $400 a bat, if all that merchandise can't be sold, a substantial amount of money will be lost, probably on the manufacturer's end.
So, what should the bottom line be? Better numbers for players, teams and manufactures or safer playing conditions while safeguarding the integrity of the game? For me it is a no-brainier....protect the game and those who play it.
Here are some of their findings from the improved trampoline effect of a composite bat -- the ball comes off the bat as much as 20 mph faster, which means better offensive numbers. During 2007-2009, offensive statistics averages from the entire NCAA went up in multiple categories. Batting average improved from .291 to .302. The average runs scored in a game went from 6.1 to 6.88. Earned run averages ballooned from 5.12 to 5.85. Not only is the speed of the ball coming off the bat threatening the integrity of the game, it's threatening the pitcher's life. With the ball traveling well over 100 mph, many coaches believe that a pitcher doesn't have enough time to react if the ball is hit straight at him.
"Everyone is fearing the day in college or high school baseball that something bad happens because the bats are too dangerous," Benedictine coach Sean Ryan said. "It's one of the things I worry about the most."
But high schools and youth leagues, where composite bats also are prevalent, aren't ready to take such decisive action. The National Federation of State High School Associations says it doesn't intend to ban composite bats. Tom O'Connor, a division director of the East Zone in the PONY League, predicts that USA Baseball, which governs youth leagues in America, will follow the NCAA's lead. But no one knows if that will happen any time soon.
"If I was coaching a high school team, everyone would be swinging a composite bat," said Chuck Bowen, baseball manager at Disco Sports. "You do get a competitive edge with a composite bat." Disco Sports already has its bats in stock for 2010. Manufacturers already have made the bats they plan to sell in 2011. Disco Sports has sold between 150-200 composite bats this year. At $400 a bat, if all that merchandise can't be sold, a substantial amount of money will be lost, probably on the manufacturer's end.
So, what should the bottom line be? Better numbers for players, teams and manufactures or safer playing conditions while safeguarding the integrity of the game? For me it is a no-brainier....protect the game and those who play it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Safer Batting Helmet Draws Resistance
Rawlings is about to introduce its newest batting helmet, the S100, a bulkier but far more protective helmet that can withstand the impact of a 100-m.p.h. fastball, according to Rawlings and an independent testing organization. Most other models, when hit flush by a ball, are compromised at speeds in excess of 70 m.p.h. As helpful as the new helmet may be, there is resistance to it from some major league players who are not prepared to sacrifice comfort and style for added protection.
Three weeks after absorbing the potentially deadly impact of a 93-mile-per-hour fastball on his batting helmet, Edgar Gonzalez still feels dizzy whenever he lies down. Because of the lingering effects of a concussion, Gonzalez, a second baseman for the San Diego Padres, has not played since that experience. When he finally returns, it may be with the newest protective device, one that could one day come to define the look of a major league batter. “After this happened to me, I would wear anything,” he said. “I don’t care how goofy it is, as long as it could help protect me.”
Athletics infielder Nomar Garciaparra said, “I want a helmet that’s comfortable, and that doesn’t look bad.”
”Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira said the new helmet would make him feel as if he were wearing a football helmet in the batter’s box. “The one I’ve used for my entire career is fine,” he said.
It will be hard to predict the number of professionals who will convert to using the new helmet as Major league players are a fearless and traditional bunch. For many, any kind of change (even for the sake of safety) is anathema. I think the Mets third baseman David Wright, who last week dodged a Brad Thompson fastball traveling on a frightening vector toward his head, summed it up best: “I’m not worried about style or looking good out there. I’m worried about keeping my melon protected.”
Three weeks after absorbing the potentially deadly impact of a 93-mile-per-hour fastball on his batting helmet, Edgar Gonzalez still feels dizzy whenever he lies down. Because of the lingering effects of a concussion, Gonzalez, a second baseman for the San Diego Padres, has not played since that experience. When he finally returns, it may be with the newest protective device, one that could one day come to define the look of a major league batter. “After this happened to me, I would wear anything,” he said. “I don’t care how goofy it is, as long as it could help protect me.”
Athletics infielder Nomar Garciaparra said, “I want a helmet that’s comfortable, and that doesn’t look bad.”
”Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira said the new helmet would make him feel as if he were wearing a football helmet in the batter’s box. “The one I’ve used for my entire career is fine,” he said.
It will be hard to predict the number of professionals who will convert to using the new helmet as Major league players are a fearless and traditional bunch. For many, any kind of change (even for the sake of safety) is anathema. I think the Mets third baseman David Wright, who last week dodged a Brad Thompson fastball traveling on a frightening vector toward his head, summed it up best: “I’m not worried about style or looking good out there. I’m worried about keeping my melon protected.”
Monday, August 17, 2009
Recession Squeezes Everyone
Coaching stipends are being slashed. Vice principals are being forced to double as athletic directors. Trainers' salaries are being eliminated - And that's just in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. The sagging economy is pummeling high school athletic departments throughout Southern California, with nearly every school being hit in some way.
In the Long Beach Unified School District, most high schools will experience additional cuts in site budgets for the 2009-10 school year. This will increase the need to rely more on the fund raising efforts of boosters clubs, parents and student athletes who are already giving extra time, energy and dollars to keep sport programs running at a high level. Additionally, the Board of Education adopted a resolution on June 16 that preserved its ability to reduce employee compensation in 2009-10 if necessary.
"It's a bad deal for everybody," said Thom Simmons, a spokesman for the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section, the governing athletic body for 571 local schools. "When tax revenue is down, the level of services has to go down. And any time you have to cut services, whether it's for drama, band or athletics, it's just a bad deal."
High schools are not the only institutions to feel the pinch of the economy in athletics. It is being implemented at every level. UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said, "With the state -- and their university -- struggling through difficult economic times; that He, UCLA football Coach Rick Neuheisel and head basketball Coach Ben Howland have agreed to take pay cuts of 10% this year.
The three men volunteered to take cuts that were mandated for other state employees even though, because they have multi-year contracts, they were not subject to a reduction. Neuheisel was hired in December 2007 for $1.25 million a season and incentives that could add $500,000 a year. Howland received salary and incentives last year totaling $2.17 million. Guerrero recently had his base salary raised to $465,000. Needing to slash his annual budget, the athletic director said he was looking for additional areas to save. "We haven't yet approached other coaches," he said. "But we will."
How did we get to this point? What's next? Thank you to all of you who have done more with less for so many years. Fight the good fight. May the force be with you always.
In the Long Beach Unified School District, most high schools will experience additional cuts in site budgets for the 2009-10 school year. This will increase the need to rely more on the fund raising efforts of boosters clubs, parents and student athletes who are already giving extra time, energy and dollars to keep sport programs running at a high level. Additionally, the Board of Education adopted a resolution on June 16 that preserved its ability to reduce employee compensation in 2009-10 if necessary.
"It's a bad deal for everybody," said Thom Simmons, a spokesman for the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section, the governing athletic body for 571 local schools. "When tax revenue is down, the level of services has to go down. And any time you have to cut services, whether it's for drama, band or athletics, it's just a bad deal."
High schools are not the only institutions to feel the pinch of the economy in athletics. It is being implemented at every level. UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said, "With the state -- and their university -- struggling through difficult economic times; that He, UCLA football Coach Rick Neuheisel and head basketball Coach Ben Howland have agreed to take pay cuts of 10% this year.
The three men volunteered to take cuts that were mandated for other state employees even though, because they have multi-year contracts, they were not subject to a reduction. Neuheisel was hired in December 2007 for $1.25 million a season and incentives that could add $500,000 a year. Howland received salary and incentives last year totaling $2.17 million. Guerrero recently had his base salary raised to $465,000. Needing to slash his annual budget, the athletic director said he was looking for additional areas to save. "We haven't yet approached other coaches," he said. "But we will."
How did we get to this point? What's next? Thank you to all of you who have done more with less for so many years. Fight the good fight. May the force be with you always.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Meggs Named New UW Baseball Coach
SEATTLE - After three years spent building the Indiana State baseball team into a winning program, Lindsay Meggs returns to the West Coast as he has been named the new head baseball coach at the University of Washington, athletic director Scott Woodward announced today.
Meggs, 46, who won two NCAA Division II national titles while at Chico State, served as the Indiana State head coach for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons. This past year, he was named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year after leading Indiana State to a 33-21 overall record and a 15-7 mark in MVC play, good enough to earn the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
Prior to his 13 seasons in Chico, Meggs was head coach at Long Beach City College for three seasons, going 75-51-1 with three trips to the playoffs during his term with the Vikings. He was also head coach at Oxnard College (1989-90) and was an assistant coach at Cal Lutheran (1988-89) and De Anza Junior College (1987-88)
Congratulations to coach Meggs and the Washington Huskies.
Aug 4, 2009 ... Well, the Huskies once again have made a statement with the addition of San Francisco assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Greg Moore. GIARRATANO ON MOORE: "Greg has emerged as one of the nation's elite after having two quality left-handed pitchers that were undrafted after high school, go in the first round.(Aaron Poreda and Evan Fredrickson) We wish him all the best."
Gregg, a product of Millikan High School and LBCC is a tireless recruiter and excellent talent evaluator. He will make an immediate impact at UW. Congratulations to Gregg....another Viking makes good.
Meggs, 46, who won two NCAA Division II national titles while at Chico State, served as the Indiana State head coach for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons. This past year, he was named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year after leading Indiana State to a 33-21 overall record and a 15-7 mark in MVC play, good enough to earn the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
Prior to his 13 seasons in Chico, Meggs was head coach at Long Beach City College for three seasons, going 75-51-1 with three trips to the playoffs during his term with the Vikings. He was also head coach at Oxnard College (1989-90) and was an assistant coach at Cal Lutheran (1988-89) and De Anza Junior College (1987-88)
Congratulations to coach Meggs and the Washington Huskies.
Aug 4, 2009 ... Well, the Huskies once again have made a statement with the addition of San Francisco assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Greg Moore. GIARRATANO ON MOORE: "Greg has emerged as one of the nation's elite after having two quality left-handed pitchers that were undrafted after high school, go in the first round.(Aaron Poreda and Evan Fredrickson) We wish him all the best."
Gregg, a product of Millikan High School and LBCC is a tireless recruiter and excellent talent evaluator. He will make an immediate impact at UW. Congratulations to Gregg....another Viking makes good.
Friday, July 24, 2009
College Sports
College baseball is getting ready to crack down on composite-barrel bats.
The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee this week proposed an indefinite ban on the bats after anecdotal evidence and research conducted during this year's Division I national tournament, which culminated with the College World Series, indicated many of the bats didn't comply with NCAA standards.
The beef is with the barrel, which softens over time, creating a trampoline effect. This doesn't happen to factory-fresh bats -- it's what happens later, after repeated use or after the bat is put through a process known as "rolling." Composite-barrel bats that are broken in or "rolled" tend to have more pop and often violate NCAA limitations on the allowable speed at which the ball comes off the bat. The NCAA requires that this so-called "exit speed" be no greater than that of its wooden counterpart, lest it become a safety hazard for infielders and pitchers.
The committee said the ban should remain in place until manufacturers and the baseball community suggest ways that would allow composite-barrel bats to be used within NCAA guidelines.
The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee this week proposed an indefinite ban on the bats after anecdotal evidence and research conducted during this year's Division I national tournament, which culminated with the College World Series, indicated many of the bats didn't comply with NCAA standards.
The beef is with the barrel, which softens over time, creating a trampoline effect. This doesn't happen to factory-fresh bats -- it's what happens later, after repeated use or after the bat is put through a process known as "rolling." Composite-barrel bats that are broken in or "rolled" tend to have more pop and often violate NCAA limitations on the allowable speed at which the ball comes off the bat. The NCAA requires that this so-called "exit speed" be no greater than that of its wooden counterpart, lest it become a safety hazard for infielders and pitchers.
The committee said the ban should remain in place until manufacturers and the baseball community suggest ways that would allow composite-barrel bats to be used within NCAA guidelines.
Monday, July 20, 2009
High School Showcase at UCI
The University of California at Irvine is offering a very unique Showcase experience called The Big 3 of the West. It will be held August 11 - 13 for all high school age players. Each player will play a game at UCI, CS Fullerton, and Long Beach State. Players will also have the opportunity to play in front of the coaching staffs of all three schools. This will be one of the best showcases of the entire year!
UCI is a member of the Big West Conference, one of the most competitive baseball conferences in America. Their schedule generally includes the best teams in Southern California as well as around the country. The "Anteater Ballpark" located on the campus of UCI is an excellent facility and will provide an experience which will long be remembered.
If interested in participating, go to www.ucirvinesports.com for further information regarding their showcase camp.
UCI is a member of the Big West Conference, one of the most competitive baseball conferences in America. Their schedule generally includes the best teams in Southern California as well as around the country. The "Anteater Ballpark" located on the campus of UCI is an excellent facility and will provide an experience which will long be remembered.
If interested in participating, go to www.ucirvinesports.com for further information regarding their showcase camp.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Snooze to Improve
Athletes are constantly tinkering with their nutrition and training plans to gain an edge. But a study performed by Stanford University researchers suggests that good old fashioned sleep, and plenty of it, may help an athlete's performance as much as anything. Therefore, student-athletes at Stanford University are not reaching for a needle or pills, but rather hitting the pillow--getting as much as 11 hours of sleep a night.
According to research presented at the 2009 SLEEP Conference, there has been a great deal of study on sleep deprivation and its negative effects on reaction time, and physical and cognitive performance, but not much done on the flip side. If you really want to see the biggest change in your performance, sleep is something that should be prioritize in your training regimen just as much as nutrition, workouts, recovery, and strength training.
Most college students believe they are getting adequate sleep and operating at a decent level of performance. They don't realize there could be a difference until they actually experience something else. While it would seem easier to convince an athlete to grab some extra sleep than extra wind sprints, changing routines can be difficult. For some, extra sleep cuts out time in their social lives or other areas they have prioritized. To some extent we are all sleep deprived and what we may perceive as our best effort, may not truly be our peak performance and could be much improved with a few extra hours of sleep.
Standford will continue the study for at least another year and hopes athletic trainers can relay the importance of athletes getting adequate shut-eye.
According to research presented at the 2009 SLEEP Conference, there has been a great deal of study on sleep deprivation and its negative effects on reaction time, and physical and cognitive performance, but not much done on the flip side. If you really want to see the biggest change in your performance, sleep is something that should be prioritize in your training regimen just as much as nutrition, workouts, recovery, and strength training.
Most college students believe they are getting adequate sleep and operating at a decent level of performance. They don't realize there could be a difference until they actually experience something else. While it would seem easier to convince an athlete to grab some extra sleep than extra wind sprints, changing routines can be difficult. For some, extra sleep cuts out time in their social lives or other areas they have prioritized. To some extent we are all sleep deprived and what we may perceive as our best effort, may not truly be our peak performance and could be much improved with a few extra hours of sleep.
Standford will continue the study for at least another year and hopes athletic trainers can relay the importance of athletes getting adequate shut-eye.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Landmark Case
District's Inquiry says, Coach didn't break rules.
Superintendent Sheldon Berman said he was "outraged" that Pleasure Ridge Park football players were told at a practice last August that they would have to continue running until one of them quit the team.
But releasing the findings of what he called the most extensive investigation in the history of Jefferson County Public Schools, Berman said Wednesday that neither then-head coach Jason Stinson nor his assistants violated state rules or district policy at the Aug. 20 practice where sophomore lineman Max Gilpin collapsed from heat exhaustion and later died. Berman also said the district investigation, which included interviews with 125 witnesses, "clearly indicated that Max Gilpin did not die as a result of any restriction in water breaks or denial of water."
Berman said he hopes the district's findings, which took 10 months to complete, will provide a better understanding of what happened Aug. 20. "Nothing will bring Max back," he said. "It deeply saddens all of us that one of our students passed away after collapsing on the practice field. This tragic event has heightened our awareness — as parents, teachers, coaches, athletic directors and administrators — of the need to constantly seek ways to improve safety for our student athletes."
But the report outraged Max's parents, Jeff Gilpin and Michele Crockett, who said they felt it "only presented information that made (the district) look good."
Attorney David Stengel, whose office is scheduled to try Stinson Aug. 31 on a charge of reckless homicide, declined to comment on whether the district report would undercut the criminal case. "We'll do our talking in court," Stengel said. The district's findings — that Max and his fellow players got plenty of water —contradicts the conclusions of Stengel's office, which alleges that Stinson repeatedly denied players water and forced them to run extra wind sprints as punishment for not practicing hard enough.
More to come on this. See January post on conditioning.
Superintendent Sheldon Berman said he was "outraged" that Pleasure Ridge Park football players were told at a practice last August that they would have to continue running until one of them quit the team.
But releasing the findings of what he called the most extensive investigation in the history of Jefferson County Public Schools, Berman said Wednesday that neither then-head coach Jason Stinson nor his assistants violated state rules or district policy at the Aug. 20 practice where sophomore lineman Max Gilpin collapsed from heat exhaustion and later died. Berman also said the district investigation, which included interviews with 125 witnesses, "clearly indicated that Max Gilpin did not die as a result of any restriction in water breaks or denial of water."
Berman said he hopes the district's findings, which took 10 months to complete, will provide a better understanding of what happened Aug. 20. "Nothing will bring Max back," he said. "It deeply saddens all of us that one of our students passed away after collapsing on the practice field. This tragic event has heightened our awareness — as parents, teachers, coaches, athletic directors and administrators — of the need to constantly seek ways to improve safety for our student athletes."
But the report outraged Max's parents, Jeff Gilpin and Michele Crockett, who said they felt it "only presented information that made (the district) look good."
Attorney David Stengel, whose office is scheduled to try Stinson Aug. 31 on a charge of reckless homicide, declined to comment on whether the district report would undercut the criminal case. "We'll do our talking in court," Stengel said. The district's findings — that Max and his fellow players got plenty of water —contradicts the conclusions of Stengel's office, which alleges that Stinson repeatedly denied players water and forced them to run extra wind sprints as punishment for not practicing hard enough.
More to come on this. See January post on conditioning.
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