Minnesota State High School Nordic Ski Coaches' Association

by Susan Waananen
April 23, 2009

Spring Meeting Minutes


April 18 , 2009

Mora Vasaloppet Nordic Center

Agenda

1.Welcome - Mike Hecker, MSHSNSCA President
Meeting called to order at 9:35 am

2. Introductions and reports
  • Group introductions: 25 schools represented by 30 coaches in attendance
  • Winter meeting recap - Mike Hecker
  • Treasurer's report - Susan Waananen
    • Charlie Banks Relays
      • Waiting for invoice from Giant's Ridge
    • State Meet Banquet
      • 277 people attended
    • Membership 2008-09
      • 123 members, up from 96 last year, a 22% increase
  • Victor C. Dunder Award - Mike Miller
    • 18 applications this year
    • Will try to match skiers with shops before school lets out
    • Corporate sponsor possibility
  • Charlie Banks Relays - Mark Walters
    • Ran smoothly this year; only one bib missing!
    • 23 girls teams, 26 boys teams

3. Rules
Review of uniform rule change proposed to the high school league
  • Bring uniforms into compliance with FIS standards, instead of NCAA
  • Reasoning: Would ease the process of checking uniforms. Would reduce the number of teams that would be required to purchase new uniforms, lessening the burden on financially strapped programs.
  • MSHSL decision in June; proposal is expected to pass based on committee's recommendations
4. Structure review
Mike gave a powerpoint presentation illustrating how the Nordic ski coaches association fits into the MSHSL and the MSHSCA:
  • The MSHSCA provides insurance and representation on the MSHSL board
  • The MSHSL makes decisions on format changes and issues rulings on our proposals.
  • Implementation of a change in our sport begins with a proposal and discussion at a coaches meeting. Currently, votes are cast electronically after the fall meeting. Proposals can only be presented to MSHSL on March 1st of any year. Thus, implementation takes at least one year.

5. Memo from MSHSL regarding State meet date change 2010-2013
  • 5 year contract with Giants Ridge beginning in 2009
  • Meet date has been changed from the Friday to the Thursday before President's Day weekend
  • Should alleviate lodging issues; teams will be allowed a later checkout time
  • Potential cold weather make-up date on Friday
Alpine is also shifting to a day earlier; our relays will be held on Wednesday.

6. Review of State Meet format
  • Feedback from coaches:
    • Positive response to classic first and the Silver trail
    • Silver course provided a challenge to the athlete, requiring the use of all the classic techniques
    • Skate course was too crowded, not wide enough
    • Skate course was too flat
  • Statistics: (Boys skate pursuit used for example)
    • 103 athletes went out between minutes 1 and 3.
    • All skiers were out in less than 8 minutes.
    • 91 skiers crossed the finish within 3 minutes of the winner
  • Options:
    • Modified pursuit interval start: 10 second intervals, 120 skiers out in under 20 minutes. Drawback: Less excitement at finish, don't know winner right away
    • Partial true pursuit: First 25 athletes true pursuit start, interval start for remaining athletes Drawback: Still crowded for top skiers, advantage for first interval start skiers
    • Change format from 5k classic/5k skate pursuit to multi-event
    • Change format back to 5k classic, 5k skate with individual champions and a combined time overall champion.
All options would require approval from the MSHSL.
  • Discussion:
    • Bob O'Hara: We can change courses if we want because that is not a format change; no problem going back to classic in the afternoon as long as the format (pursuit) stays the same.
    • Terry Waslund: Coaches prefer to wax classic first but the kids didn't like to skate pursuit because it was too hard to pass.
    • Ben Dubay: Is it possible for coaches to have a say in course layout?
    • Bonnie Fuller-Kask: It would be optimal to have four lanes at finish and have the bibs start at 1
  • Advisory Committee:
Mike has asked Pat Lanin, John Strand, Jack Jeffery, Bill Simpson, and Phil Rogosheske to work with John Filander and Ben Croft to come up with a few options for courses at Giant's Ridge which the coaches will then rank in the fall.

7. Review and discussion of current proposal ideas
Multi-event State Format presentation by Rollie Ring-Jarvi:
Great time to promote skiing and grow our sport, to change format with the Olympics next year. Get more kids involved by diversifying events. Give more medals, improve numbers. Goal at high school level is participation.

8. Award presentations
  • Coach of the Year - Larry Myers, Wayzata
  • Assistant Coach of the Year - Ben Croft, Mesabi East
  • Volunteer of the Year - Neil Igo, Duluth Marshall
  • Coaches Hall of Fame - Leroy Martinson, comments and anecdotes

Lunch Break

9. Review and discussion regarding Team v. Individual Format
  • Current rule:
    • Team: The first-place team in each section shall advance to the state meet. Consists of a maximum of 7 skiers and 2 alternates.
    • Individual - Pursuit: The first 8 pursuit skiers not on the winning team shall advance to the state meet.
  • Proposed change:
    • Each section may advance 15 contestants in each event to the state meet.
  • Rationale:
    • Many athletes qualifying for state who are not the best athletes from each section.
    • In best 15, section winning schools will still score for a team champion, but will be based off the athletes that are in the state meet.
    • Any school with athletes in the state meet will score and be eligible for the team title. Some of the best teams in the state do not score at state because they did not win the section meet.

10. Review/Discussion on State Course and Format options
  • John Filander spoke of a few different options at Giant's Ridge for the classic course.
  • Straw poll conducted: Most coaches present preferred running the skate race in the morning since there are virtually no courses at GR appropriate for a skate pursuit. Mike will be sending a survey out to all coaches asking for their vote on moving back to skate first on the Silver trail since there were not enough coaches for a quorum at the meeting. 
  • Electronic vote will take place next fall regarding format change proposals:
    • Multi-event format (Roland Ring-Jarvi)
    • Team vs. Individual qualification (James Kyes)



Meeting adjourned at 2:00pm.