athletics around the state resumed activity Wednesday. It occurred after the 15 schools that were closed due to concerns over the swine flu epidemic were given clearance to re-open.
Here is a story from the Associated Press regarding the decision.
The New Mexican will have a story on the impact it will have in Santa Fe and the north.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NM_SWINE_FLU_NMAA_NMOL-?SITE=NMSAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
May 3, 2009
Athletic activities canceled for this week
In response to new cases of the Swine flu breaking out in the Socorro, Lordsbug, Carlsbad and Deming areas, those school districts have canceled school for a week. The New Mexico Activities Association responded by suspending athletic events for the coming week.
So the small-school track meets, team tennis, and the first round of state baseball will be delayed at least by a week. Regular season golf, softball and big school track and field also will cease competition.
Also, schools will not be allowed to practice during this time. I will have a story on local reaction to the cancellation in Monday's New Mexican.
So the small-school track meets, team tennis, and the first round of state baseball will be delayed at least by a week. Regular season golf, softball and big school track and field also will cease competition.
Also, schools will not be allowed to practice during this time. I will have a story on local reaction to the cancellation in Monday's New Mexican.
Apr 29, 2009
The trouble with athletics and Santa Fe Public Schools
To say that Santa Fe Public Schools has been mismanaged is like saying the Titanic should have seen that iceberg coming. It's apparent to everyone.
There are no easy answers for SFPS when facing a huge budget crunch. But if there is a way to preserve a component of middle school athletics - and activities, for that matter - please do it. While coaches and administrators are wringing their hands over the prospect of seeing middle school programs altered (perhaps forever?), let's hope they do not lose sight that athletics are not gone.
Just in a different format. Plenty of question exists about how a middle school intramural system (How would it be structured? Where would coaches and officials come from, especially if it's done on a volunteer basis? How would the kids - and it's always about the kids, right? - get to those events? How would the cost of maintaining fields and courts and having them available be paid?) But the most important part is that it's still there.
The alternative can be viewed just 55 miles to the south in Albuquerque, where middle school sports' demise came in 1981. Since then, only middle school basketball has been funded by Albuquerque Public Schools, but district athletic director Ken Barreras has seen its effect.
There is no school spirit or a connection between the feeder middle schools and their high school parents.
Students struggle to maintain interest in school, especially those who lack the ability to pay to play in the Young American Football League, or AAU basketball, or club soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball.
Truancy rates have risen.
The athletes who do participate often lack fundamental skills and spend the first couple of years trying to catch up.
That could be the future of Santa Fe Public Schools if it's not careful.
If it's going to do intramurals, it has to be done right.
Or else ...
There are no easy answers for SFPS when facing a huge budget crunch. But if there is a way to preserve a component of middle school athletics - and activities, for that matter - please do it. While coaches and administrators are wringing their hands over the prospect of seeing middle school programs altered (perhaps forever?), let's hope they do not lose sight that athletics are not gone.
Just in a different format. Plenty of question exists about how a middle school intramural system (How would it be structured? Where would coaches and officials come from, especially if it's done on a volunteer basis? How would the kids - and it's always about the kids, right? - get to those events? How would the cost of maintaining fields and courts and having them available be paid?) But the most important part is that it's still there.
The alternative can be viewed just 55 miles to the south in Albuquerque, where middle school sports' demise came in 1981. Since then, only middle school basketball has been funded by Albuquerque Public Schools, but district athletic director Ken Barreras has seen its effect.
There is no school spirit or a connection between the feeder middle schools and their high school parents.
Students struggle to maintain interest in school, especially those who lack the ability to pay to play in the Young American Football League, or AAU basketball, or club soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball.
Truancy rates have risen.
The athletes who do participate often lack fundamental skills and spend the first couple of years trying to catch up.
That could be the future of Santa Fe Public Schools if it's not careful.
If it's going to do intramurals, it has to be done right.
Or else ...
Apr 17, 2009
More inclement weather
As if you couldn't figure it out from looking out your window, snow has blanketed Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.That means another day lost to weather. The Gene Templeton tennis tournament was postponed, and Saturday's action could face the same fate.
The would put a halt to the Capital City Invitational and a key softball matchup between Santa Fe High and Albuquerque Valley, which lost to Albuquerque La Cueva on Wednesday. The forecast from the National Weather Service is predicting intermittent rain in the morning and afternoon and partly cloudy skies by the evening. So there might be a chance to get games in.
Only two weeks remain to the regular season for most sports, and that means there will be some tired athletes by the time the state championships are decided.
The would put a halt to the Capital City Invitational and a key softball matchup between Santa Fe High and Albuquerque Valley, which lost to Albuquerque La Cueva on Wednesday. The forecast from the National Weather Service is predicting intermittent rain in the morning and afternoon and partly cloudy skies by the evening. So there might be a chance to get games in.
Only two weeks remain to the regular season for most sports, and that means there will be some tired athletes by the time the state championships are decided.
No-hit mastery
Patrick Schuster's fame has shot right through the roof in the last 48 hours, no thanks to his prowess on the pitcher's mound. The senior at J.W. Mitchell High School in Trinity, Fla., (just northwest of Tampa) fired his third straight no-hitter this past week and is flirting with the national high school record of six straight no-nos. He made an appearance on ESPN2's morning program "First Take" this morning and his fame has done more than just become a national story.
Here is a link to a story from the Tampa Tribune on the phenom:
Here is a link to a story from the Tampa Tribune on the phenom:
Apr 11, 2009
When not reading the rulebook goes wrong ...
Jim Gabella might be a minor-league manager, but he made an major-league blunder that costed his son, Cody, his eligibility.
Here is the story from The Associated Press. Moral of the story is: Ignorance of the rules is no excuse.
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — What was supposed to be a great day at the ballpark for Cody Gabella and his father has wound up costing the youngster his junior season.
Gabella, a junior infielder at Notre Dame High in Burlington, has been suspended for the upcoming prep season after making two plate appearances with the Class A Burlington Bees — who are managed by his father, Jim Gabella — in an exhibition against a local community college.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association ruled that Cody Gabella violated a rule that prohibits prep athletes from playing with or against collegians in their own sport.
The Bees, a Kansas City Royals affiliate from the Midwest League, played an exhibition game against Southeastern Community College on Tuesday. Jim Gabella said he cleared it with Southeastern’s coach and the Royals to allow Cody an at-bat late in the game if possible.
Jim Gabella told The Associated Press on Saturday that he had no idea the rule was on the books and would have never jeopardized his son’s eligibility if he did.
Jim Gabella said an appeal is in the works, and he’s hoping that the high school association will factor in his lack of knowledge of the rule.
“He wants to play at the next level, and it was an idea of having him play against a junior college who is recruiting him and have a chance to see him play myself,” Jim Gabella said of Cody. “It didn’t work out the way we planned.”
It wasn’t all bad for Cody Gabella, though. He ripped a single up the middle and finished 1-for-2.
Here is the story from The Associated Press. Moral of the story is: Ignorance of the rules is no excuse.
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — What was supposed to be a great day at the ballpark for Cody Gabella and his father has wound up costing the youngster his junior season.
Gabella, a junior infielder at Notre Dame High in Burlington, has been suspended for the upcoming prep season after making two plate appearances with the Class A Burlington Bees — who are managed by his father, Jim Gabella — in an exhibition against a local community college.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association ruled that Cody Gabella violated a rule that prohibits prep athletes from playing with or against collegians in their own sport.
The Bees, a Kansas City Royals affiliate from the Midwest League, played an exhibition game against Southeastern Community College on Tuesday. Jim Gabella said he cleared it with Southeastern’s coach and the Royals to allow Cody an at-bat late in the game if possible.
Jim Gabella told The Associated Press on Saturday that he had no idea the rule was on the books and would have never jeopardized his son’s eligibility if he did.
Jim Gabella said an appeal is in the works, and he’s hoping that the high school association will factor in his lack of knowledge of the rule.
“He wants to play at the next level, and it was an idea of having him play against a junior college who is recruiting him and have a chance to see him play myself,” Jim Gabella said of Cody. “It didn’t work out the way we planned.”
It wasn’t all bad for Cody Gabella, though. He ripped a single up the middle and finished 1-for-2.
So much for Saturday's action ...
If there was an event that took place today, it's news to me.
All of Saturday's action was canceled because of a storm that passed through the state late Friday night and continues to do so today.
The only make-up date I have available is the Pojoaque Invite track and field meet will be held on April 22.
Any other updates surely will be appreciated.
All of Saturday's action was canceled because of a storm that passed through the state late Friday night and continues to do so today.
The only make-up date I have available is the Pojoaque Invite track and field meet will be held on April 22.
Any other updates surely will be appreciated.
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