Welcome to Our New Executive Director, Lisa Magness

Maryland State Coaches Association

Fall 2017 Bulletin

Thank you to David Hochfor his many years of service as the Executive Director and founder of the Maryland State Coaches Association!

Welcome to our New Executive Director, Lisa Magness

She is a coach and teacher in Anne Arundel County. She has earned her Certified Interscholastic Certification (CIC) as well as her Certified Master Athletic Administration certification (CMAA). She is looking forward to this new position to grow and build relationships with coaches throughout the state.

Current Membership Numbers as of 10/1/2017:

• 144
• Membership Numbers by County:
• Anne Arundel-47
• Baltimore County-1
• Baltimore City-1
• Caroline-1
• Charles-3
• Howard-23
• Montgomery-48
• Prince George’s-1
• St. Mary’s-1
• Wilcomico-18

Did you know, if you are a member and you earn your AIC or CIC, you can earn a $100 reimbursement from the association?

Tips and Tricks:

• You can earn one reimbursement per membership year
• Send your certificate to
• You will receive a check at your school for $100
• Then you can use the designation AIC or CIC after your name and/or signature

What courses to I have to take to become an Accredited Interscholastic Coach (AIC)?

Fundamentals of Coaching

Concussion in Sports

First Aid, Health and Safety

One sport-specific course of your choice

What courses to I have to take to become a Certified Interscholastic Coach (CIC)?

Fundamentals of Coaching (covered by AIC)

Bullying, Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors

Concussion in Sports (covered by AIC)

Teaching and Modeling Behavior

Engaging Effectively With Parents

Sportsmanship

First Aid, Health and Safety(covered by AIC)

One sport-specific course of your choice(covered by AIC)

Two additional courses of your choice

Officiating, Risk Minimization Remain Key in High School Boys Lacrosse Rules Changes

By Cody Porter on August 23, 2017

The 2018 high school boys lacrosse rules changes include clarifications to stick alignment and the use of visibly contrasting gloves and shafts, which are expected to ease the game’s officiating.

Overall, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee adopted and refined numerous officiating-related rules during its July 17-19 meeting in Indianapolis. Collectively, the committee adopted or clarified 15 boys lacrosse rules and officials signals. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The committee believes the sport of boys lacrosse is currently in very good shape,” said James Weaver, director of performing arts and sports and staff liaison for boys lacrosse. “The committee is excited to continue looking into the health and safety of the sport, while minimizing risk during its growth.”

Rules 4-3-3d and 4-3-3n were among the most notable changes to officiating calls. Stick alignment clarification as part of Rule 4-3-3d now states that during faceoffs the reverse surfaces of crosses must match evenly so that the top of one head lines up with the throat of the other and they are perpendicular to the ground. A note was added to Rule 4-3-3n to add flexibility in achieving color contrast between the shaft, glove and head. However, the rule now specifically states the circumference of the shaft shall not exceed 3.5 inches, and a contrasting color between the head and the top glove must be visible on the shaft during faceoffs.

“The committee wanted to have a thickness guarantee as opposed to a color guarantee,” Weaver said. “As long as the shaft contrasts the head of the stick and gloves, the player is fine. The rule is in place because it makes it easier for officials to see if a player is attempting to grip the head of the stick above the throat.”

For the second year in a row, the committee made a point to clarify proper mouthpiece usage. Rule 6-5-2x addresses this with a clarification that a penalty will occur if a mouthpiece is not properly worn inside a player’s mouth. Weaver noted that it must not “fish-hook” outside of the mouth.

Additional changes include better defining home and away jerseys with Rule 1-9-1g(8), as well as the approval of Rule 1-7-5 to allow crosse pockets of manufactured nontraditional synthetic material.

The adoption of Rules 1-2 and 4-9-2o were among the most significant committee changes not closely aligned with officiating, according to Weaver.

From a playing rules standpoint, Rule 4-9-2o states that a goal will be allowed if a shot is released prior to the end of a period. Previously, a goal was awarded only if the ball crossed the plane of the goal prior to the end of a period.

The adoption of Rule 1-2 offers schools a third potential field layout. To provide economic relief, the committee introduced a unified boys and girls field that allows schools to line one set of shared boys and girls lacrosse field markings.

“If schools choose to use the unified field option, fields will all be 120 yards like the girls field is currently,” Weaver said. “It would also use the girls arch, but the notable changes include additional space behind the goal for boys. In the past, this was a 10-yard space behind the goal but is now a 15-yard space. On the girls side, the goal is becoming two inches smaller while the boys goal remains the same.”

A complete listing of the boys lacrosse rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Lacrosse-Boys.”

According to the 2016-17 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, there are 111,842 boys participating in lacrosse at 2,900 high schools across the country.

Parent Tips for Approaching the Coach About Playing Time

By Dr. Chris Stankovich on September 06, 2017

A student-athlete is working hard but still isn’t playing much, what should a parent do? Of course, parents can’t make the coach play their son or daughter, but there are things parents can do to improve their child’s chances for more playing time. Following are some ideas that athletic directors can share with parents.

The Coach as a Teacher

One of the many hats that coaches wear is that of being a teacher. Granted, rarely do you see “teacher” in the formal job description for coaches, but this is exactly what coaches do every day when working with student-athletes. In fact, coaches teach countless important things, including teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, motivation, resiliency and so many more life skills and lessons it is impossible to count. Coaches, like teachers, are expected to help their athletes learn, grow and develop, making communication with parents an important part of the job.

The vast majority of interscholastic coaches not only see themselves as teachers, they embrace this role with pride. Accordingly, parents should approach coaches in similar ways they would approach their child’s teacher when trying to learn what needs to be done to improve conditions. This means to view the coach (teacher) as an ally (not adversary), to respectfully ask for feedback, and to show appreciation for the time given to help their child improve for the future.

Tips for Approaching the Coach

Instead of immediately asking to meet with the coach, parents should watch their child and see how he or she interacts and plays with the team. Parents should attend practices and see if there are noticeable reasons why their child is not playing as much as they would like. Are there any off-field reasons playing in to the coach’s decision, like grades, missed practices or other social issues? If a student-athlete is still recovering from an injury, could that be the reason he or she is sitting on the bench? Parents should consider holding off on setting up a meeting with the coach until all obvious factors are examined and dismissed.

If parents still believe playing time is an issue, they might request a meeting with the coach. Following are some tips that athletic directors could share with parents regarding meeting with the coach.

Be polite. Remember, most coaches are very busy and may find it difficult to schedule a meeting. Additionally, coaches know that the No. 1 reason a parent asks to meet is about playing time, and often these meetings start with a disgruntled parent visibly frustrated, often calling “politics” rather than trying to understand the coach’s decision. Parents should be polite and respectful, and ask if there is a convenient time for the coach to meet for a brief meeting – in most cases, this approach sets the table for a productive eventual meeting.

Listen first, ask questions second. When parents meet with the coach, they should first provide the coach an opportunity to offerany feedback about their child. When the coach talks, parents should pay attention, not interrupt and clarify any advice that might be confusing.

Have specific questions. Parents should ask questions that are specific rather than vague whenever possible. For example, the coach will likely have a much more difficult time answering a broad question like “What’s my kid got to do in order to play?” versus a specific question like “You have mentioned the importance of conditioning, do you have specific advice on how my child can improve in this area?”

Leave out the other kids. While it may be tempting for parents to point out to the coach how their child is better than another individual who is playing more, that’s probably not the best approach. Parents should view the coach as an ally, and immediately accusing the coach of wrongly playing another individual over their own will only put the coach on the defense. Again, parents should ask about how their child can improve, and what things their child n eeds to do in order to gain more playing time.

Say thank you. Finding extra time to meet is not always easy – for the parent or the coach. It is also challenging, if not impossible, to make everyone on the team happy all the time – especially for kids/families who rarely experience meaningful playing time. In some ways, coaching can be a thankless job – some good coaches go unrecognized, but many are noticed when their player selections do not measure up. Parents should be genuine and simply say “thanks” for the invaluable feedback they receive. As a result of the meeting, parents should work with their child to develop new, specific, measurable goals for the future.

Final Thoughts

Coaches are busy people, but they also care about the student-athletes they coach and want them to succeed. Most coaches will make a few minutes to meet with concerned parents, but these meetings should only be requested after parents have done their own observing of the situation to see if there are obvious reasons why their child is not playing much. If parents are granted a meeting with the coach, they should try to understand the coach’s position, keeping in mind that with human, subjective decisions, some students will end up not playing as much as others. Parents should be patient, listen closely and employ the advice they receive from the coach – and do not forget to say “thank you.”

The Importance of a Strong Coach-Athlete Relationship

By James Gels on September 18, 2017

A team’s success is mostly measured by its season record and overall amount of victories, yet winning is only a minor part of success. Success alone does not make a team great until it is paired with effective coaching. Effective coaching runs deeper than wins and losses, it also includes reaching athletes on an individual level. Coaches who focus on positive, personal relationships with their athletes are ensuring success beyond their record on the field.
Relationships are the foundation of coaching and even though a relationship is a two-way street, it’s the coach’s responsibility to pursue a real relationship with their athletes. Coaches hold a place of respect and authority, but still feel reachable enough for athletes to open up and view their coach as a role model or mentor. The challenge of coaching is balancing rationale and logic along with empathy and emotional awareness. A strong coach-athlete relationship is important not only for theathlete’s growth as a positive, ethical and moral person, but for the team’s performance as a whole.
Positive Relationship Skills

Coaches who value and focus on effective, personal relationships with their athletes are guaranteed benefits regardless of wins and scores because they will have helped to influence positive moral and ethical behaviors. Through strong relationships and a holistic approach to coaching, young athletes will develop as people and play better as a team.
The skills that an effective coach possesses revolve around honesty and positivity. Coaches who genuinely want to connect with their athletes need to be empathetic and understanding. They must accept, support and respect their athletes as well as the people around them. They must realize that being a role model is a 24/7 job. Approachable and interested coaches will attract players, both those interested in a relationship and those who don’t know if they want one.
If coaches are willing to create a relationship but are unsure how to begin, they can try a few simple methods. They can host events outside of the athletic program, like a meal or fun activity during the weekend. It gives the athletes an opportunity to connect with their coach outside the usual relationship structure.
Another method is being available as a tutor or advisor. Before or after school, coaches can hold office hours that figuratively and literally promote an open door policy. Sometimes athletes won’t respond and sometimes they will. It is really about going more than halfway and giving athletes every chance to build a possible relationship.
Negative Relationship Characteristics

The coach-athlete relationship is considered particularly crucial because of its effect on the athlete. Young athletes are susceptible to the effects of their surrounding environment and to the ideas of others, making the coach-athlete relationship critical to the development of athletes as professionals as well as sports participants. If a coach is obsessed with victory and their sole goal is winning, they may be able to reach that goal. However, it comes with the strong possibility of introducing ethical and professional dilemmas.
Success without effective relationshipsproduces athletes with ability, but with no personal growth. Coaches must understand their job isn’t just about physical progress, it’s about setting their young athletes up for success in life. A lack of interest, remoteness, deceit and pessimism are key characteristics to avoid as a coach. Apathy and irritability set a poor example to be followed and lead to ineffective relationships.
These characteristics do not provide a healthy foundation for positive relationships, and exploit malleable minds in pursuit of victories on the field, when the real victories are found in teamwork and personal connections.

Effective and Successful Coach-Team Relationships

When an individual is strengthened, the team is strengthened. Genuine relationships between athletes and coaches generate more trust,better communicationand a winning attitude. An open line of communication helps everyone be more honest with one another, which leads to stronger training, athletic progress and personal growth. Winning will become a byproduct of relationships the team and coach/coaches have created with one another.
Victories, success, winning or goals measured through numbers are attainable without relationships, but that has its drawbacks. Coaches become remote and distant, and players adopt a “win at any cost” attitude, characterized selfishness and poor sportsmanship. By promoting a positive competitive environment, athletes can have the opportunity for unlimited personal growth both on and off the field.

Learn More

The Ohio Universityonline Master’s in Athletic Administration programspecializes in developing interscholastic Athletic Directors, building on the students’ passion for serving young student-athletes and running a highly-successful athletic department. Ohio University is the pioneer in sports education. By establishing the first academic program in the field of sports administration, this online program is recognized today as the premier professional training program for candidates seeking careers in the sports industry.