MHSBCA Legislative Issues Questionnaire Results

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out a questionnaire at the clinic.  We had a total of 87 surveys returned.  Although I would have liked for this number to be higher, we will use the results as a representation of our association as a whole.  Click on the link below to view the table, where you can find the results:

Click to view table for results in Adobe pdf format.

So where do we go from here?  First of all, on the ‘Dead Period’ and playoff proposal issues, please talk to your administration and share the results.  The playoff proposal has made the questionnaire, and is being presented as an option for all classes.  Work is still being done on the dead period issue, but it is important that we as baseball coaches have our voice heard as this could have a major impact on those of us who are involved with coaching summer baseball.

Next, I will take the results from the questionnaire regarding pre-season scrimmages or jamborees and construct a proposal to present to the Baseball Advisory Committee at the June meeting.  Many good suggestions were made on this topic, but the majority involved some type of jamboree setting with multiple teams playing shortened scrimmages at one site.  This type of structure with some built in flexibility is probably our best option.

Finally, with the majority being in favor of splitting into 5 classes we will begin work on this issue.  As I mentioned at the clinic, this will take a MSHSAA By-Law change.  In order for this to happen, someone must write a petition and have it signed by 10% of the member schools participating in baseball in order to get it on the ballot.  I have had a few contacts with people interested in helping with this, but if anyone else is interested please let me know.  I will assist with this process and George Blasé indicated that he would also help to ensure that the wording used was inline with current writings. 

As a coach this is an exciting time for me as I see the beginnings of positive change taking shape for high school baseball in Missouri.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the questionnaire and especially to the coaches who attended the area meetings.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

J. Michael Hunt
Eureka High School
MHSBCA Legislative Committee Chair