I am shocked at the vast animosity towards the KSHSAA (Kansas State High School Activities Association) in this post. While I too do not agree with every rule the KSHSAA has in place, the rules are there for a reason, and that reason is THE PROTECTION OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES. The KSHSAA is not necessarily concerned with developing the best wrestlers, football players, basketball players, or debaters. They are concerned with assuring "that the state's middle level and high school students gain a balanced preparation for life, work, and post-secondary education." (taken from the KSHSAA home page). Their job is bigger than making students better wrestlers, they are concerned with making them better people, and protecting them from individuals/organizations that may not share the same goal.

While it is a shame that sometimes opportunities are lost due to rules that are in place, the rules serve to protect our children. In regards to the issue that started this topic, I very seriously doubt that the KSHSAA would have suspended any athlete for watching a clinic. They are not concerned with attendance, they are concerned with participation. In the same way a wrestler can watch a tournament that they are not competeing in, they could watch the clinic and not participate.

In regards to the home school issue, the KSHSAA has rules regarding eligibility from "Accredited" institutions. In addition they have rules involving age, which must be documented. The KSHSAA's stance on this is to make sure their is a level playing field.

Also, since the member institutions pay for the KSHSAA services, why should people (home schools/nonaccredited private schools) that are not part of the instituions recieve its benefits?

Also, I don't want my students to get the idea that bending the rules is ok. If a rule needs to be changed, it should be done through the approriate channels, but while it is the rule it should be enforced, and anyone not doing that is teaching the person a bad lesson. Why should they learn to follow the rules if they aren't enforced. Pretty soon they will think that all rules are subject to change for them and they don't have to follow any of them.

In closing, I do think that sometimes opprotunities are lost due to the KSHSAA's rules, but their #1 priority is to protect our student athletes, and I feel they do a remarkable job with that!

Kale Mann
Biology/Chemistry Teacher
Assistant Wrestling Coach
Mill Valley High School