New seasons present many obstacles: State's attempt at equity may result in opposite for female basketball players
by Pete Cunningham
*As printed November 14, 2007 in The Homer Index 

Since 1998 a debate has raged on the MHSAA’s arrangement of sports seasons. Nine years ago, two parents claimed that, because Michigan’s girls’ sports seasons did not fall in line with the majority of other states, Michigan’s youth were at a disadvantage in terms of college recruitment. In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed and mandated a season switch in the state of Michigan.

The first fall season under the new rules is officially in the books, and there has not been much of a local effect one way or the other. Homer’s volleyball coach Greg Pullen didn’t mind the change from winter to fall, joking that the only real difference was that his team didn’t have to wear winter coats to their matches.

The problems that could have presented themselves for the fall season mainly came down to players’ choices. For example, if an athlete used to run cross country and play volleyball without any conflict, that player would now have to choose between the two. Or, if someone was a volleyball player and a football cheerleader, again, a choice would have to be made.

Litchfield senior Ashleigh Pitts was faced with such a decision. Pitts had played basketball and run cross country in the past. Although she always had to choose a primary sport in case competition dates conflicted - she chose basketball, which caused her to miss most weekday cross country events – Pitts had always been able to make every Saturday cross country invitational. That had always worked because basketball, unlike volleyball, never competed on Saturdays. With the new system, Pitts had to miss most Saturday cross country events as well.

“I didn’t like it at first, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” admitted Pitts. “I actually think it will work better for me because of the conditioning for track.”

Homer senior Chelsea Hayes has also been affected by the season change. For her it has presented an opportunity to try something new, competitive cheerleading.

Hayes had always played volleyball in the winter and was never able to go out for the competitive cheerleading squad. This year, Hayes chose not to play basketball and try out for the cheer squad; she says that never would have happened with volleyball.

Although she could have given up basketball and gone out for the fall cheerleading squad in the past, sideline cheering was less appealing to her. The allure of the winter cheer season was that she could participate in the competitions and still attend games as a fan.

“If the seasons were the same, I probably would have played basketball again,” commented Hayes. “I like being in the crowd at the games.”

The true test of the new rules will be the winter season, where there are many more potentially problematic scenarios. One in particular is with referees. With twice as many basketball games, twice as many officials will be needed.

“At the MHSAA meeting I attended, they said (officials) will be sparse,” reported Homer’s varsity girls basketball coach Bill O’Dell. “Hopefully the girls will get as good of officials as the boys, but either way it comes down to how you play.

“I’m more concerned about the following we’ll get,” said O’Dell, who fears fans and the press will now have to choose between attending one or the other. “Across the board will girls get captions or will they get the stories? Will fans go to girls and boys games, or will they just follow the boys? I hope the girls get the exposure they deserve.”

Twice as many basketball teams also means twice as many basketball practices.

“Gym space is a problem,” admitted O’Dell. “We’d normally have two hours (for practice), now we’ll have about an hour and 15 minutes. During the season that won’t be a problem but, right now, during tryouts and the preparation stages, it is.”

The first new sports season has passed, at least at the local level, without incident or complaint. With all the looming problems with coverage, officiating, coaching, gym space and fan following, however, only time will tell if the same will be said three months from now.