Rule changes were needed

As the 2007-08 high school activities came to a close, the Missouri State High School Activities Association held its annual election.
Twenty-one out of 22 proposals made for the 2008-09 high school activities passed. Some of the key proposals will have an immediate impact.
A major passing proposal is the approval of non-faculty coaches to become head coaches. This will allow schools to permit individuals who only meet the qualifications to serve as an assistant coach (possess at least 60 college hours and a substitute teacher’s certificate) to be approved to serve as a head coach after being approved for two years as an assistant coach.
This should help relieve some of the coaching shortages at many of the smaller schools.
Another major proposal to pass that has been a long time in coming is to allow students involved in high school activities to accept awards of up to $100. The old rule was set at a limit of $25.
A third rule change will allow for the increase of allowable boys and girls cross country meets in the regular season from nine meets to 10.
Two of the most important rule changes relate to residence and transfer requirements. The stipulation is that a transfer student must be eligible in all respects at the school from which he or she is transferring in order to be eligible at the school to which he or she is transferring.
Wording was added that would clarify that when a student is believed to have transferred because of athletic reasons and/or undue influence, eligibility is denied pending appeal.
The above criteria were established in an effort to monitor and clarify any type of illegal recruiting.
A final big rule change will affect high school golf and tennis players who will now be allowed to participate in two non-school competitive events during the school sport season under certain conditions.
This change aligns tennis and golf more closely to girls and boys swimming programs.
• Congratulations to Gary Parker and his family. The Blue Springs High School track facility was named after him at the district track meet last Saturday.
• The Royals need a couple of players with some punch in their bats.
• The NBA playoffs could have the golden years return if the Lakers and Celtics make the finals.
• Golf is not the same without Tiger in the hunt.
• My quote of the week is from Hall of Fame NFL player Larry Csonka: “Anytime you try to win everything, you must be willing to lose everything.”