University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health: "The Impact of Restarting High School Sports on The Health of Adolescent Athletes."
This study has been approved by the University of Wisconsin Institutional Review Board, is funded by a grant from the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) and has received letters of support from the NATA Secondary Schools Committee, Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (see attached).
The objective of this study is to document the effects that sport participation has on the health of adolescent athletes. We previously found that the cancelation of school sports in spring 2020 was associated with significant decreases in physical activity, mental health and quality of life (see our studies here, here and here).” We are surveying US high school athletes again this year to evaluate the positive impacts of participating in sports this spring. A letter explaining the study and a copy of the actual survey is attached.
To participate, student athletes (age 13 to18 yrs.) are asked to get permission from their parents then complete a short, anonymous, online survey. The survey asks a series of questions regarding their sport participation, level of physical activity, anxiety, depression and health related quality of life. Be aware that we are not asking for any personal identifiers (name, address, contact information etc.) from the students who complete the survey. In addition, the survey data is being collected so that we cannot identify the internet service provider or computer address for any respondent.
INAUGURAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE CLASS CHOSEN
For Immediate Release, May 27, 2021
JACKSON – Thirteen football coaches from across Michigan have been chosen to be part of the first Michigan High School Football Coaches Association’s Leadership Development Alliance class.
“We had more than 40 coaches from around the state apply to be part of the program,” said MHSFCA Executive Director Scott Farley. “For the first year, we were really pleased with the level of interest and hope that by providing a really valuable experience for them, interest will explode in future years.”
Patterned after the AFCA’s 35 Under 35 program, the MHSFCA developed its program to assist with the professional development of coaches throughout Michigan. Through an intensive leadership training program, coaches will learn from some of the top coaches in the state and create a network to build from in the future.
“In all my years with the association I believe this is one of the best things we have done,” said MHSFCA President Andrew Pratley. “Selecting coaches who are looking to learn from some of the best coaches in the state to improve their craft and thus improving the experiences for young people all over the state is extremely exciting.”
The Leadership Development program will begin during the MHSFCA’s All-Star game weekend next month. The game will be played Saturday, June 26 at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield.
“We feel like we have some very eager coaches in this inaugural class,” Pratley said.
Chosen for the first class are:
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Tommy Atkinson - Whittemore Prescott
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Jeff Bacholzky - Almont
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Trevor Dobruk - Woodhaven
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Jack Ginn - Allendale
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Isaiah Gourdine - Harper Woods
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Eric Hartsell - Carsonville Port Sanilac
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Ian Iler - Redford Union
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Michael Mach - Detroit Catholic Central
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Kyle McElvany - Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central
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Matthew Peterson - Midland Dow
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Kurtis Phelps - Vicksburg
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Alex Smith - Holton
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Brian Thomas - Stoney Creek
The coaches are not only spread across the state, they also come from a variety of backgrounds, either assistant or head coaches or previous head coaches.
“It is our hope that by pouring into these future leaders, with a curriculum emphasis targeting areas like program development, player development, community involvement, and other areas of interest to aspiring head coaches, we will set them up for success in their careers and they can create great programs in their communities that will impact hundreds of players and others in the coaching profession as a result,” Farley said.
The MHSFCA and its members have been devoted to the promotion of high school football since its inception in March 1972. For more information about the organization, visit www.mhsfca.com.
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2021 MHSFCA ALL - STAR GAME ROSTERS
ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS ANNOUNCED
FOR JUNE 26 GAME
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LANSING – Rosters for the 39th annual Michigan High School Football Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game have been announced and players are starting to prepare themselves for one last high school football game.
“The MHSFCA is excited to be able to present this all-star game, in conjunction with State Champs, as a reward to some deserving players and coaches,” said MHSFCA Executive Director Scott Farley. “After cancelling our 2020 game, it's even more exciting that we can have a game this summer.”
The game will be played Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield.
Al Gullick of Warren Woods Tower is the East head coach with Rob Zeitman of Jenison slated to be the West head coach.
The rosters include numerous players who made the MHSFCA All-Region and All-State teams from this past season, players headed to play college sports and those who had record-breaking prep careers.
Details such as practice times and other events surrounding the 2021 game will be announced later.
“We are extremely excited to be able to play the game again,” said Andrew Pratley, MHSFCA president. “This past year has been tough on everyone and we are just pleased to be able to bring a little bit of normalcy back to our graduating seniors and some coaches. We are looking forward to an outstanding day honoring some of the best players in the state.”
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LANSING – The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association has announced its 2021 Hall of Fame Class.
The Hall of Fame induction and banquet will be held in the summer of 2022 in conjunction with the annual MHSFCA East-West All-Star Game. The venue will be announced later. Once inducted, each coach will have their Hall of Fame plaque displayed at the University of Michigan.
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Hall of Fame football coach Tom Barbieri passed away Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Barbieri coached 43 years at Hartland High School, Gaylord High School, Boyne City High School, Dexter High School, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and Jackson High School and served 17 years as the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association director.
A longtime association board member, Barbieri was involved in numerous MHSFCA activities, coached in the all-star game and won numerous coaching awards throughout his distinguished career.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
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Congratulations for our MHSFCA 2021
All-Star Game Coaches
East Coaches: Head Coach Al Gullick - Warren Woods Tower
1st Asst. Deon Godfrey - Detroit Denby
Tim Brandon - Grosse Pointe South
Bill DeFillippo - Livonia Churchill
West Coaches: Head Coach Rob Zietman - Jenison
1st Asst. Tim Peterson - Kingsley
Randy Cole - Grass Lake
John Crose - Calumet
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ROB ZIMMERMAN OF DEWITT HIGH SCHOOL FOR BEING NAMED
THE 2020 DETROIT LIONS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
Detroit, MI—The Detroit Lions have named Rob Zimmerman of DeWitt High School the 2020 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year. Zimmerman’s Panthers defeated the defending state champion River Rouge Panthers 40-30 to win the Michigan High School Football Division 3 state championship. This is DeWitt’s first football state championship and Zimmerman’s first as a head coach. The Panthers, from the Capital Area Activities Conference-Blue Division, finished the season undefeated at 12-0 outscoring their opponents 496-80.
Zimmerman concluded his 30th season coaching high school football, his 25th season overall as a head coach and 22nd as head coach at DeWitt. During his time at DeWitt, Zimmerman has gone 222-45 (83.1%) with 5 state finals appearances, 12 state semi-final appearances, 12 regional titles, 14 district titles and 18 conference titles in addition to reaching the playoffs in 20 of 22 seasons. Zimmerman, a 2016 inductee into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, was a Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week in week 7 of the 2004 season. Lions Head Football Coach Dan Campbell called Zimmerman to inform him of his High School Football Coach of the Year selection on Head Coach Hangout. See his reaction and the entire interview by visiting www.DetroitLions.com/hangout for this Coach of the Year announcement as well as interviews from past 2020 Detroit Lions Coach of the Week recipients.
High School Football Coach of the Week/Year Program
Each week throughout the 2020 high school football regular season, one coach that best demonstrates success on and off the field, develops players’ character, discipline, and football skill in addition to emphasizing player health and safety in their program, will be recognized for his commitment to the team, school, and community. The winner is selected by a panel of high school football media members—Mick McCabe (Detroit Free Press), Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News), Bret Bakita (WOOD Radio-106.9 FM, ESPN 96.1 FM-Fox 17/Grand Rapids), James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and Scott DeCamp (MLive-Muskegon Chronicle). Zimmerman was selected as Coach of the Year by the votes of the aforementioned media members, as well as one vote from the public online voting at DetroitLions.com/coachoftheyear.
Each Lions High School Football Coach of the Week during the regular season received a $1,500 donation to his school’s football program. For being named the 2020 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Year, Zimmerman will receive a $3,000 donation to his school’s football program and will be honored as the Detroit Lions nominee for the Don Shula NFL High School Football Coach of the Year. Concluding its’ 24th year, this season’s Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week/Year program awarded $12,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan, while overall the program has awarded $467,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan.
All-Time Coach of the Year recipients:
1997-John Herrington, Farmington Hills Harrison, 1998-Thomas Mach, Detroit Catholic Central, 1999-Don Durrett, Saginaw, 2000-Herb Brogan, Jackson Lumen Christi, 2001-John Schwartz, Mendon, 2002-Mike Boyd, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 2003-Scot Shaw, Three Rivers, 2004-Noel Dean, Lowell, 2005-Jack Pratt, Flint Powers, 2006-Tony Annese, Muskegon, 2007-Jim Reynolds, Detroit King, 2008-Peter Stuursma. East Grand Rapids, 2009-Rich Hulkow, Marshall, 2010-Chris Bell, Lake Orion, 2011-Thomas Wilcher, Detroit Cass Tech, 2012-Terry Hessbrook, Ithaca, 2013-Kurt Richardson, Clarkston, 2014-Dan Rohn, Grand Rapids West Catholic, 2015-John Shillito, Zeeland West, 2016-Elliot Uzelac, Benton Harbor, 2017-Mike Giannone, Warren De La Salle, 2018-Rick Bailey, Reading, 2019-Jim Ahern, Lansing Catholic, 2020-Rob Zimmerman, DeWitt
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MHSFCA Honors 10 Coaches From Across State
LANSING – Ten coaches in Michigan have been honored by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association as 2020 coaches of the year across the state.
Rob Zimmermann of DeWitt was selected as the Dream Team Coach of the Year and will be honored on Saturday along with other members of the Dream Team by the MHSFCA and the Michigan Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Zimmerman led DeWitt to the Division 3 state championship this past weekend at Ford Field, concluding an undefeated season with a 40-30 win over River Rouge, giving Zimmerman his first state championship in 22 years as the Panthers head coach. He was inducted into the MHSFCA Hall of Fame in 2016.
The list of coaches of the year named by the MHSFCA are:
• Division 1, Ron Bellamy, West Bloomfield (state champion)
• Division 2, Matt Koziak, Mona Shores (state champion)
• Division 3, Rob Zimmerman, DeWitt (state champion)
• Division 4, Cody Mallory, Cadillac (state runner-up)
• Division 5, Phil Martin, Frankenmuth (state runner-up)
• Division 6, Pat Collins, Montague (state champion)
• Division 7, Clint Galvas, New Lothrop (state champion)
• Division 8, Jerry Schultz, Centreville (state champion)
• 8-Player, Division 1, Bill Wilharms, Lenawee Christian (state champion)
• 8-Player, Division 2, Leo Gorzinski, Powers North Central (state champion)
The MHSFCA began its post-season awards in November with the announcement of its all-region teams and all-region coaches of the year. The All-State team was announced in December with the Dream Team being announced this month.
The high school football season came to a close this past weekend with the state championship games in all eight 11-player divisions. The 8-player state finals were held the weekend prior.
The MHSFCA and its members have been devoted to the promotion of high school football since its inception in March 1972. For more information about the organization, visit www.mhsfca.com.