Welcome to the November 24, 2006; edition of the MYAS Update

In this Issue

	MYAS Update Info
	Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer
	Attention Traveling Basketball Associations!
	MYAS Services Package
	Invitational Basketball Tournament Books
	Super Saver Basketball Tournaments
	Girls Metro and Boys Traveling Basketball Leagues
	MYAS Youth Day with the Gophers Women's Basketball Team
	MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships
	MYAS Grade State Basketball Championship
	Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps
	2007 MYAS/USSSA Baseball Annual Meeting
	2007 Baseball Invitational Listing on the MYAS Website
	2007 Gopher State Baseball League
	MYAS Gopher State Wrestling
	Upper Edge Volleyball League & Winter Carnival Tournament
	2007 Midwest Regional Swim Meet
	Important Association Services That Work!
	Featured Sponsors
	MYAS Membership Meetings

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MYAS Update Info

Our newsletter is designed to provide timely youth sports information to coaches, athletes, parents and administrators. This includes notes from the Executive Director, calendar reminders, new service announcements and special events. Contributions from our sponsors assist us in delivering high quality youth sport services at the lowest possible cost; contributions partially fund this newsletter and certain sponsors will be featured.

Dan's Notes - from Executive Director Dan Klinkhammer

INJURED?  WHERE TO GO?

Preface
I don’t know about you, but it really bugs me when I see celebrities advertising products on TV and then we find out later that they have never used that product or service. I think that’s very deceptive advertising and we don’t do that here at the MYAS. If we are endorsing a product or service, it’s something that the MYAS has thoroughly researched and is currently in use by our company or staff. We don’t take sponsorship dollars from just anyone. The product or service has to be legitimate and it has to fit our customer base. The following is my personal endorsement for Minnesota Sports Medicine.

Injuries Happen
Nobody takes the field or court with the thought that they are going to get injured. But it happens. Some injuries are minor and some are career ending. It happens. Parents and kids need to accept the possibility of injury as one of those inherent risks that every athlete takes when they lace up their shoes, skates or whatever. I managed to play both high school and college sports without sustaining any major injuries. However, I blew out my right knee in 1978 playing in a charity basketball game against the Minnesota Vikings. It hurt. It hurt a lot and I’ve never been the same since. Over the next 17 years I had four different surgeries on that knee, with the final surgery being a partial knee replacement in 1995. Injuries happen, but the good news is that there is treatment and there is hope!

Where to go?
I don’t recall who referred me to Dr. J. Patrick Smith of Minnesota Sports Medicine, but I can tell you it was the best referral I could have possibly been given. From the moment that I met Dr. Smith, I knew that I was dealing with someone who understood athletic injuries and knew how to treat them. I was especially impressed with his philosophy of, “Let’s treat it medically first and cut only if necessary.” In the end, I needed surgery and I’ve had 12 years of pain free use of my right knee. (FYI, I only spent two days in the hospital and I was able to go golfing within three weeks of the initial surgery.)

About two months ago, my right knee started to give me problems again. I was sure that I had worn out my partial replacement and I was going to need another surgery. I called on Monday and I got an appointment for the following day. I drove to the Minnesota Sports Medicine clinic in Eden Prairie and was surprised to see how Dr. Smith’s organization had grown. I was greeted by a very efficient team that processed my personal health information very quickly. Then I was turned over to a physician's assistant who took care of some of the preliminary tasks associated with the upcoming exam. X-rays were taken four doors down from the exam room. When I returned, I was examined by one of Dr. Smith’s Sports Medicine Fellows and that was followed by a consultation with Dr. Smith. I was glad to hear that his philosophy was still the same as it was 12 years ago. They gave me a cortisone shot (which wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it was going to be) and I was out the door in less than 45 minutes. That was two weeks ago and I feel like a million bucks again, thanks to Dr. Smith and his knowledgeable and efficient staff.

I’m sure that some of you may be thinking that I got special treatment and speedy service because of my position here at the MYAS. Not so! Or you may be thinking that I received this medical treatment and service for free or at a discounted price. Not so! Or you may be thinking that I got special treatment because the MYAS marketing staff and Minnesota Sports Medicine have been discussing the synergy we may have. Not so! I got treated just like anyone else who walks through their doors and I was charged the same fees that you would be charged.

I’m sure that there are some wonderfully talented surgeons in the Twin Cities. But I have had three prior experiences with other surgeons and two experiences with Dr. Smith and his Minnesota Sports Medicine organization. I’m telling you that I cannot imagine getting better care than at Minnesota Sports Medicine! These people are the best and I personally would not go anywhere else. Dr. Smith and his staff have set up the most user friendly patient service in the Twin Cities and they specialize in sports related injury solutions. These people ARE the experts and I trust them with my personal medical needs. What more can I say?

When that unfortunate injury occurs, I suggest that you contact Minnesota Sports Medicine. In my opinion, you cannot find better care. I’ll bet my right knee on it!

Attention Traveling Basketball Associations!

The MYAS basketball staff would like to meet face-to-face with your association. We would like to discuss the changes we have made to our programs and other information regarding the winter basketball season. Topics would include MYAS programs, renegade teams, insurance options, coaches' certificiation, background checks, MYAS tournament services and any concerns you may have. Please let us know if we could attend one of your meetings. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with your group. If you are interested, please contact Jeremy Innes at jeremy@myas.org or 763-781-2220 x 1720.

MYAS Services Package

The MYAS wants to assist your organization in any way we can. We have put together a services package that includes tournament scheduling, coaches' education, insurance options and criminal background checks. You are welcome to select any or all of the services offered. Let our expertise and know-how help you! For more information, contact Jeremy Innes at 763-781-2220 x 1720 or jeremy@myas.org.

Invitational Basketball Tournament Books

Are you looking for a basketball tournament this winter/spring? You’re in luck, because the MYAS has once again put together girls’ and boys’ invitational basketball tournament books. There are flyers for events from September through June, so there’s something for everyone! Please click here to find out more or to download a copy of the tournament book order form.

Super Saver Basketball Tournaments

It's hard to believe, but we're already a month into the new basketball season! MYAS Super Saver Tournaments are as popular as ever because they give teams three quality basketball games in just one day. To check out the 2006-07 Super Saver calendar, click on either boys or girls to access the web page you'd like to visit.

Girls Metro and Boys Traveling Basketball Leagues

Schedules and playing locations for the 2006-07 Girls Metro Basketball League (GMBL) and Boys Traveling Basketball League (BTBL) are now available online. To access more information for either league, click on GMBL or BTBL to view the applicable web page. If you have additional questions after visiting the web page(s), please call the MYAS office at 763-781-2220.

MYAS Youth Day with the Gophers Women's Basketball Team

Please join us on Sunday, January 7 for the "MYAS Youth Day with the Gophers!" The purchase of a reduced price ticket includes a pre-game reception and reserved seating to see the Gophers women's basketball team take on rival Wisconsin in their annual border battle. Please click here for more information and to download a ticket order form.

MYAS Rec State Basketball Championships

The MYAS is currently accepting registrations for the 2007 MYAS Rec State Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Championships. NEW: There will be two tournaments in 2007! The first tournament will be held on January 12-14 and the second tournament is scheduled for March 23-25. Click here to access a Rec State Tournament brochure. Contact Kevin Wilson at the MYAS office at 763-781-2220 x 1712 or kevin@myas.org for more information.

MYAS Grade State Basketball Championship

Are you already gearing up for March Mania? We are, and information for the 2007 MYAS Grade State Basketball Championship is now available on our website. Last year more than 1,100 teams played all over the metro area vying for the title of MYAS Grade State Champion. Don't miss your chance in March - please click here to access the 2007 tournament brochure and registration information.

Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps

We invite you to check out a great opportunity to train and prepare for the 2007 baseball season. The Minnesota Baseball Academy and Lovdahl Pitching Development have partnered with the MYAS Gopher State Winter Baseball Camps to provide the best in baseball-specific training. Adam Barta (MBA) and Erik Lovdahl will assist athletes throughout another successful Winter Baseball Camp season.

For further details, contact Jeremy Barbe at the MYAS office or go to the Winter Camp portion of the MYAS website to download more information and entry forms. Space is limited, so don't delay!

2007 MYAS/USSSA Baseball Annual Meeting

The baseball staff would like to invite you to the MYAS/USSSA annual baseball meeting, which will be held at 6:30pm on January 8, 2007 (site TBD). Please pass on the following information to all current Association Presidents, Travel Directors, Tournament Directors and coaches.

The purpose of the meeting will be twofold. In 2007, we will be offering the Gopher State Mid-Summer Challenge as an exclusive USSSA World Series Qualifier. We are excited to bring you a World Series Qualifying event that does not require additional membership fees in order to play.

The second half of this meeting is designed to benefit all local invitational tournaments. If your association holds an invitational tournament, you can post your event free of charge on the MYAS website (www.myas.org). To do so, click on the “Youth Baseball Tournaments” page on the left-hand side of the home page under “Baseball”. Once you have linked to that portion of our website, you will be able to post each tournament specifically by age group. It’s a great chance to maximize your tournament’s revenue potential.

Please post your tournaments online by January 6, 2007. If you do not know your tournament dates now, please bring the tentative dates with you to the January 8 meeting and we will add them to the list. We will use the information to chart all available tournaments in the area.

This will enable associations to change their dates (if needed) and find a weekend that best fits the overall youth baseball tournament schedule. We hope that by doing so, everyone’s local tournament will be a huge success. Once we compile information on invitational tournaments, we will then award Gopher State Tournament of Champions Qualifying Tournaments to some associations. We award qualifiers based on past history, such as which associations ran quality tournaments at top facilities.

The annual meeting provides a tremendous opportunity for your association to learn about the MYAS/USSSA Gopher State Baseball program. If you have any questions, feel free to call the MYAS office at 763-781-2220 and ask for Dawson (ext. 1719), Tony (ext. 1728), or Jeremy Barbe (ext. 1731).

2007 Baseball Invitational Listing on the MYAS Website

The MYAS baseball staff is again offering every baseball association, regardless of affiliation, free advertising for their local invitational tournaments in 2007. Simply log onto the MYAS website and follow the pages through the “Youth Baseball Tournaments” portion of our baseball menu and add your tournaments to the list. Make sure to include all pertinent information regarding your tournament and add a flyer/entry form to help with your promotion.

GSTC Qualifiers will be designated after the MYAS Annual Baseball Meeting on January 8, 2007. Please have your tournaments posted by January 6 so we can provide a full list to the attendees of our big kick-off meeting. Click here to be directed to our baseball tournament listings page.

2007 Gopher State Baseball League

The MYAS baseball staff has recently posted important dates to remember for the 2007 Gopher State Baseball League. Please click here to go directly to the GSBL portion of the MYAS website with these newly published dates.

MYAS Gopher State Wrestling

Information for the 2006-07 MYAS Gopher State Wrestling program is continually being added and updated on our website. The first Gopher State Qualifier is slated for early December. Please visit the Wrestling section of the MYAS website to access all the program information. You may also contact Jeremy Innes at 763-781-2220 x 1720 or jeremy@myas.org.

Upper Edge Volleyball League & Winter Carnival Tournament

Registrations are currently being accepted for the 2007 Upper Edge Volleyball League and Winter Carnival Tournament. Please click here to access all the pertinent registration and hosting information, or contact Jessica Christopherson at 763-781-2220 x 1733 or jessic@myas.org.

2007 Midwest Regional Swim Meet

Complete information for the 2007 Midwest Regional Swim Meet is now available online! Please click here to download a program brochure and registration materials. Don't miss out on one of the largest youth swim meets in the country!

Important Association Services That Work!

The Minnesota Youth Athletic Services offers three important services:

1. Association and Player Sports Accident Insurance Coverage
Association liability and player accident insurance are always a concerns for youth sports organizations in our increasingly litigious society. Some associations spend a lot of money and others go into denial and “run naked” without even minimal liability coverage for their members. Yet if insurance is not obtained, the personal assets of the individuals running the association may be at risk. Many sports facility managers, especially municipalities and schools, will not permit the use of their property or facilities unless it can be demonstrated that youth sports associations are covered under an insurance policy. Without insurance, the opportunity for young athletes to compete in organized sports programs may be substantially limited.

The MYAS has partnered with the agency that handles the majority of insurance concerns for the Police Athletic Leagues (PAL) around the nation. There are two broad types of insurance coverage that are both included in the MYAS insurance program: General Liability and Player Sports Accident. This program is offered by the American Insurance Group (AIG) company and provides a liability and player sports accident insurance policy that, in some cases, is cheaper than what some associations pay for just a liability policy. We also offer Director’s and Officer’s Insurance for participating associations. For more information, please click here.

2. Criminal Background Checks
How do we protect our children? Reports of sexual predators and child abuse involving the clergy, day care workers and youth volunteers are all too familiar. Unfortunately, this includes a disturbing number of youth sport coaches who have a history of incidents of sexual misconduct and/or violence. This is a complex issue and many youth sports organizations are unclear about what to do or how to approach this threat, yet they must take proactive steps to prevent their children from becoming innocent victims. Don’t put your children at risk!

In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that $50 billion is lost annually due to employee theft and fraud. Youth sports associations must protect themselves from this threat as well. Don’t put your association at risk!

Fortunately, youth sports associations now have a simple and inexpensive tool to avoid some of society’s worst fears. The MYAS, with its partner RHR Information Systems (RHR), has designed a criminal background check system that offers three affordable options to youth sports associations. RHR, a local Twin Cities company, incorporates a “user-friendly” process combined with flexible information delivery to make this system easy and inexpensive for your organization. For more information, please click here.

3. Coaching Education Program
The MYAS has partnered with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) to offer youth sport associations and their coaches the Coaching Youth Sport education program designed specifically for youth coaches. It provides coaches with a solid foundation in coaching principles, sport first aid and sport-specific techniques and tactics. These courses are available for baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and wrestling, and can be delivered in the classroom or online. For more information, please click here.

Featured Sponsors

Visit Minneapolis North is dedicated to making each event in our area a showcase event and example to follow. A staff of three full-time sports personnel is here for all your planning needs...from the beginning to the end. An easy call for all of your accommodation needs, transportation, restaurants, entertainment and more. The biggest win...it's FREE!

Visit Minneapolis North offers numerous complimentary services and a wealth of resources to ensure your next sporting event will be a success:

• Draft formal bid proposals and presentations
• Research dates and venues for your event
• Arrange lodging and on-site tours
• Provide team-friendly room rates and lodging information
• Assist in marketing and promotions for your event
• Provide media/press release assistance
• Organize maps and welcome packets for event participants
• Secure discounts from restaurants and provide attraction information
• Assist with transportation needs and rental car discounts
• Handle any on-site requirements leading up to your event

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MYAS Membership Meetings

MYAS membership meetings are held at our offices (4111 Central Avenue NE, Suite 208 in Columbia Heights) on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00am (unless notified otherwise). All MYAS members are welcome to attend.