NSAA News
May
2015
Mail to: P.O. Box 85448
Lincoln, NE 68501
402.489.0386 Office • 402.489.0934 Fax
www.nsaahome.org
THE NSAA AND OUR
MEMBER SCHOOLS
WOULD LIKE TO
THANK OUR
CORPORATE
PARTNERS FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF
NEBRASKA HIGH
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S
CORNER
“STANDARD OF CARE”
a
The buzz phrase for legal counsels, catastrophic insurance providers,
medical personnel and State Associations is “Standard of Care”. What
does it mean? “Standard of Care” is the degree of care an ordinary,
reasonable and prudent person would exercise in given circumstances.
Used as a test of liability in cases of negligence, this standard is not
applied uniformly on all persons because of varying degrees of
reasonableness, understanding and exposure to education. The bottom
line is once we are aware of the potential of harm, our educational
awareness has to increase and our “Standard of Care” must become
more direct and intentional.
Over the past few years athletic entities (NFL, USSF, NCAA, NFHS,
NSAA, etc.) have developed and adopted policies and mandates to
ensure that they are providing the highest level of protection for their
participants. Many say that this is a reaction of fear to potential
lawsuits. However, I disagree. Once an administrator does their
homework, reviews the studies/data and educates themselves on the
preventable practices, “Standard of Care” becomes their mission.
Accountability and safety becomes our end goal on behalf of the
students that have entrusted us with their care.
Our focus areas and how we do business have changed over the years
but our mission remains the same - “To organize, develop, direct, and
regulate an interscholastic activity program which is equitable and will
protect and promote the health and physical welfare of all participants.”
*** As the season winds down, my hope is that our readers have the
opportunity to get out and enjoy an NSAA District or State
Championship! ***
NSAA Important Dates & Deadlines
“NSAA…the other half of education.”
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NSAA News – May – Page 2
Spring Championships
Reimbursements Reminder
NSAA Membership/Activities
Registration Dates Change
As the school year comes to an end and spring
championships conclude, don’t forget to fill out
your reimbursement forms! Deadlines for ALL
spring championships are Friday, June 5, 2015.
New for the upcoming school year, you will now
be able to access the NSAA
Membership/Activities Registration form for the
2015-16 school year beginning May 4, 2015.
Reimbursement forms can be found on the AD
login page. Once logged in, scroll to the bottom to
the “Other Forms” section and then go to
“Reimbursement Forms for State
Championships”.
The form can be found on the AD login page.
Once logged in, scroll to the bottom to the “Other
Forms” section and then go to “NSAA Activities
Registration Form”.
If you have any questions, please contact Megan
Huber, [email protected].
The NSAA Membership/Activities Registration
form is due July 1, 2015.
If you have any questions, please contact Megan
Huber, [email protected].
MAY U.S. BANK®
BELIEVERS & ACHIEVERS
 Victoria Doffin – Winside
 Matt Exstrom – Minden
 Christian Hadden – Gretna
 Toree Hempstead – Columbus
 Jennefer Lopez – Schuyler
 Adam Starr - Mullen
NCPA Academic All-State Update
Links for certificates and letters will be available as
soon as they are submitted and processed AHEAD
of the deadline so schools can prepare them for
presentation at their awards events.
The list of Spring Season Winners will be released
to the Media and posted on the NSAA website on
Tuesday, May 6.
14-Day Heat-Acclimatization Period – At the April NSAA Board of Directors meeting, the board voted
to approve the Heat Acclimatization guidelines as mandatory protocols beginning in the fall of 2015 for
fall outdoor activities. More information can be found by clicking HERE.
Further information can be found on the NSAA website.
“NSAA…the other half of education.”
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NSAA News – May – Page 3
Cedar Bluffs High School named 2014-2015
“Cheer 4 Your Team!” Sportsmanship Banner Contest Winner
The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) and the Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA) are proud to
announce Cedar Bluffs High School as the 2014-2015 winner of the “Cheer 4 Your Team” Sportsmanship Banner
Contest.
The winning design was voted on by the district delegates at the NSAA Representative Assembly. Over twenty
designs were submitted this year by NSAA member schools. Judging criteria was based on creativity, diverse use of
colors, school activities and participants, it must also embrace sportsmanship and Nebraska activities and use the
“Cheer 4 Your Team!” theme.
Cedar Bluffs High School will receive state-wide visibility with their winning design. The design will be used at
NSAA State Championships, in NSAA Publications and on NCA and NSAA Websites. Cedar Bluffs will also receive
a $1,000 donation to Activities Department.
Good sportsmanship is the attitude and behavior that exemplifies positive support for the interscholastic activities in
Nebraska High Schools. Positive experiences do not occur by chance, rather they are a result of educational structure,
the right perspective, the right leadership, and the true understanding of sportsmanship. The focus of activities and
competition is too often mistaken with winning. It is essential that participants, coaches, parents and fans are
constantly reminded to "Cheer 4 Your Team"!
2015 Mandatory Football Contact Limitations & Contact Definitions – The NSAA Board of Directors has
also approved mandatory football contact limitations & contact definitions. Those can be found on the
football page of the NSAA website or by clicking HERE.
“NSAA…the other half of education.”
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NSAA News – May – Page 4
Nebraska School Activities Association Announces
Dan Masters as New Assistant Director
The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) is pleased to announce Dan Masters as the new
Assistant Director for the NSAA. Dan brings to the NSAA a strong background in coaching, teaching and
school administration. Dan is currently the Activities Director and Assistant Principal at South Sioux City
High School.
Dan graduated from Battle Creek High School where he participated in athletics, activities and student
council. Dan attended Concordia University graduating in 2005. He spent eight years at Concordia High
School as a Business and PE teacher, Head Boys Basketball Coach and FBLA Sponsor. As an administrator
at South Sioux City High School, Dan oversees event management, district music contests and strives to
create equitable visibility and opportunities for all activities.
“We are excited to have Dan as a member of the NSAA team. Dan will provide a diverse skill set as he has
administrated in both the public and private school environments” said NSAA Executive Director, Rhonda
Blanford-Green.
“Through ten years of experience, my teaching and coaching philosophies have evolved into preparing
students for their lives after their educational experiences. There is no better way to do this than through
activities. I was passionate as a coach and teacher, I have always served my students with this end goal in
mind” said Dan Masters.
Dan will assume the Assistant Director position in July 2015.
NSAA Website Tip on the Month – Curious about how changes are made to the NSAA Constitution
and Bylaws? Check out our NSAA Legislative Process Flowchart on our website for more
information!
“NSAA…the other half of education.”
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NSAA News – May – Page 5
LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL NAMED APRIL
PUMP & PANTRY SCHOOL SPIRIT AWARD WINNER
The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) is proud to announce Lexington High School as the Pump & Pantry School
Spirit Award recipient for the month of April.
The School Spirit Award Program features NSAA member schools sharing photos of their students and fans emphasizing
positive support and excitement at NSAA events via social media. Winning photos are selected monthly and may be featured
throughout the year on the NSAA website, additional publications and at NSAA State Championships. As the April honoree,
Lexington High School will also receive a $250 gas card provided by Pump & Pantry to support team and fan travel.
The winning photo was taken at Lexington High School at an Autism Awareness event. “Our student body is very unique and
diverse. We always strive to include and support one another. We have various clubs that surround many initiatives like this
which our students and community have really embraced,” said Lexington Activities Director, Alan Frank.
The Pump & Pantry School Spirit Award program is a part of NSAA activities with more than eighty (80) NSAA member
schools participating to date. Follow @nsaahome #schoolspirit, to see the excitement and spirit across Nebraska! The final
monthly winner of the 2014-2015 school year will be announced on May 15 th, 2015.
THE NSAA AND OUR MEMBER
SCHOOLS WOULD LIKE TO THANK
OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS FOR
THEIR SUPPORT OF NEBRASKA
HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
“NSAA…the other half of education.”
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NSAA News – May – Page 6
**Important Links**
STATISTICS LEADERS
2014-15 NSAA Constitution &
Bylaws
2014-15 NSAA Media
Manual
Girls Soccer – Boys Soccer – Baseball
2015 OUTSTANDING SERVICE
MUSIC AWARD RECIPIENTS
NSAA Catastrophic
Insurance
NSAA Sanctioned Events
Requests - Contests, Officials,
Equipment
Become an NSAA Official!
NSAA CHAMPIONSHIPS YOUTH TICKET
PACKAGE INFORMATION
Please forward this information to any youth group
organizations that may be interested in attending the 2015
NSAA State Soccer and Baseball Championships. Youths must
be 8th grade or younger.
For further details, please view the following links:
2014-15 NCPA Academic AllState Information
Coaching Steps to
Certification
Soccer Championships Youth Ticket Information
Baseball Championships Youth Ticket Information
NSAA CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
NSAA Journalism Championships Results:
Class A | Class B
THE NSAA AND OUR MEMBER
SCHOOLS WOULD LIKE TO THANK
OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS FOR
THEIR SUPPORT OF NEBRASKA
HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
“NSAA…the other half of education.”
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