Another exciting season of Indiana High School Basketball is about to begin. Your professional organization, in an attempt to become more efficient and go paperless, has adopted some new procedures. Instead of the normal September membership mailing by regular mail, all boys and girls head coaches should have received by now, an e-mail outlining the changes in membership procedures.
It is the responsibility of all boys and girls head coaches to see that all the coaches in their program have an opportunity to join the IBCA. When a coach joins the IBCA, he/she actually receives dual membership in our organization as well as the National High School Basketball Coaches Association. This allows member coaches to have a voice on the national level, especially in the area of rules for our game. Also by being an IBCA member, all active high school, middle school and elementary coaches are protected by a $1 million liability insurance coverage.
Another change will happen in January. Instead of receiving ballots and nomination forms via U.S. mail, each head coach will receive an e-mail with instructions outlining new online procedures to nominate players, for the Showcase, All-State teams, Junior All-Stars, Academic All-State and the Crawley, Mannies, Aikman scholarships. New information related to clinic registration, Coach of the Year and District Representative ballots as well as Century Awards will be included in this e-mail. We believe these changes will be more user friendly for our members moving forward. Remember, only member head coaches may nominate and vote. Please note the deadline dates. Don’t hurt a deserving student-athlete’s chances for receiving recognition because you forgot to join the IBCA or missed a deadline.
In looking back over the summer, I would like to thank Charlie Hall, Pat McKee and Beth DeVinney for another successful Indiana All-Star experience for our state’s top junior and senior boys and girls. This is the fourth year in a row that the All-Star Game attendance has increased and money has been raised for the various charities and scholarships. A special thanks to Marty Johnson, Kathie Layden, Renee Turpa, Jane Schott, Pete Smith and all the coaches who took time from heir busy schedules to help conduct another successful boys and girls Showcase. With everyone working together, as well as help from Sandra Walter, IHSAA assistant commissioner, and numerous volunteer basketball officials, for the 14th year we were able to provide a quality event for all participating players.
January again will be “Coaches vs. Cancer” month for Indiana high school basketball. Thanks to all coaches, players, and communities that have embraced this initiative. Over the past eight years, we have raised just nearly $1 million for cancer research and cancer-related charities.
On the legislative front, the IHSAA tabled our summer participation proposal last spring. The IHSAA board will be making a decision this fall. The IHSAA formed a committee made up of representatives from all sports to discuss in-season and out-of-season participation rules. District Representative Bill Zych has represented the IBCA at these committee meetings. We should know soon the results of their efforts. A special thanks to Bill for serving on this committee.
I encourage all active coaches to become members of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. The coaches of today are the future guardians of the Hall of Fame and will be responsible for recognizing the achievements of players and coaches and for preserving the tradition of our great game. Active coaches can join for a reduced rate of $25 (a regular membership is $100.00). This includes the quarterly Hall of Fame Magazine.
On behalf of the IBCA, we thank you for your support. I would like to share with everyone a quote I saw recently by Billy Graham. He said, “A coach will impact the lives of more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime!” As coaches, we must never forget the awesome responsibilities we have for the young people we serve. Good luck this season.
Steve Witty
