NFHS to Host Behavior in Sports Summit in Indianapolis

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN (August 8, 2023) – Anne Marie Anderson,Ā three-time Emmy Award winning broadcaster, heads a group of more than 35 speakers and panelists at theĀ NFHS Behavior in Sports Summit: Understanding Your InfluenceĀ August 14-16 at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis.

The Behavior in Sports Summit is a follow-up to two Officials Consortiums sponsored by the NFHS the past two years during which officials’ groups addressed behavior issues that have caused thousands of individuals to leave the officiating avocation and impacted others from becoming officials.

ā€œRecent surveys indicate that despite the efforts of many individuals, groups and organizations, the behavior at events and abuse of officials is continuing across the country,ā€ said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS chief executive officer. ā€œWe are tired of talking about the problems. It is time to start formulating solutions to the behavior issues at high school – and middle school – sporting events nationwide.

ā€œWe are excited about the incredible group of speakers assembled for this first-ever Behavior in Sports Summit. We have individuals from all aspects of the high school sports scene involved in this Summit because we know it will require efforts on the part of everyone to change the culture in interscholastic sports.ā€

Anderson, who has been involved in sports television for more than three decades and has covered six Olympic Games, will deliver the keynote address ā€“Ā ā€œThe Roadmap to Healthy Behavior in Education-based Sportsā€Ā at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, August 14. In addition to her vast professional accomplishments, which also includes covering Super Bowls, and NBA and Major League Baseball playoffs, Anderson is a mother of three who has seen first-hand the behavior challenges at high school sporting events.

Anderson will also moderate the First General Session at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 15. The session onĀ ā€œWorking with Parents and Other Fans to Promote Better Behaviorā€Ā will include the following panelists:Ā Khristen Vanderwey, tennis coach at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona;Ā John Varlas, high school sports reporter, Daily Memphian in Memphis, Tennessee;Ā Alva Amaker, high school coach, official, athletic director, consultant from Maryland; andĀ Jennifer Beck, a television anchor/producer with WTLW-TV, in Lima, Ohio.

Later that morning, Anderson will serve as a discussion leader for the breakout session onĀ ā€œAdjusting Media Coverage from High School to College and Pro Sports.ā€Ā Assisting Anderson will beĀ J.P. Murrieta, sports information director of the New Mexico Activities Association in Albuquerque. The other breakout topic for this session is ā€œBe the Authority at High School Eventsā€ and will be led by Rich Barton, assistant director of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association; and Mike Mossbrucker, athletic director of Mooresville (Indiana) High School.

Another general session on theĀ agendaĀ Tuesday morning is titledĀ ā€œConsidering all Stakeholders in Social Media Sharing.ā€Ā Roger Harvey, principal and managing director of strategic communications with Bose Public Affairs Group in Indianapolis and former Emmy-award winning television journalist, will moderate the session intended to explore the positive and negative impacts of sharing high school sports-related content on social media.

Panelists for this session includeĀ Nick Stevens, senior editor of HighSchoolOT.com, the online high school sports hub for WRAL-TV, Raleigh, North Carolina;Ā Tom Kreager, high school sports editor, USA Today Network, Nashville, Tennessee; andĀ Kevin Conrad, director of the Center Grove Sports Network, Indiana.

Because of the importance of setting behavior expectations for student-athletes, parents and fans prior to high school, the Third General Session at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, addresses ā€œLaying the Foundation for Good Behavior: Invest in Your Middle Schools.ā€

Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports who is the staff liaison to the newly formed NFHS Middle School Committee, will moderate the session, which includesĀ Nicole Schaefbauer, executive director, andĀ Chris Frasco, assistant executive director, of the Illinois Elementary School Association in Bloomington;Ā Marti Reed, director of national partnerships and DEI programming manager with the Positive Coaching Alliance; andĀ Richard McWhirter, assistant executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.

Four NFHS member state association executive directors will share new sportsmanship efforts and programs during the Fourth General Session at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15. The session, which will be moderated byĀ Karissa Niehoff, will include executive directorĀ Doug Ute, Ohio High School Athletic Association;Ā Lauren Thomas, director of student activities, Vermont Principals’ Association;Ā Mike Krueger, commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association; andĀ Ron Nocetti, executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation.Ā 

The second breakout session on Tuesday afternoon includes the topics ofĀ ā€œBalancing Sportsmanship and Successā€Ā andĀ ā€œMessaging Your Expectations-Event Security.ā€Ā Discussion leaders for the Sportsmanship session includeĀ Monica Maxwell, assistant executive director of the Oregon School Activities Association;Ā Meagan Frank, a coach, speaker and author from Menomonie, Wisconsin; andĀ Stephen Baldwin, athletic director, Brookfield (Connecticut) High School.

Jay Hammes, former high school athletic director and president of Safe Sport Zone, will direct the session on event security, along withĀ Rhonda Blanford-Green, former commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association.Ā Ā 

The final breakout session on Wednesday morning will address the topics ofĀ ā€œNot Just for Clicks: Seeing the Good with the Bad in All Coverage of High School Sportsā€Ā andĀ ā€œModeling Behavior from the Sideline – Working with Officials.ā€

John Holt, director of media/sports information with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, andĀ Marty Bannister, sports radio host, WONE-AM, Dayton, Ohio, are the panelists for the first topic, whileĀ Barb Chura, soccer coach, Xavier College Prep, Phoenix, Arizona;Ā Tim Leighton, communications director and official, Minnesota State High School League; andĀ Marti Reed, Positive Coaching Alliance, will direct discussion for the modeling behavior topic.

The final general session at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, onĀ ā€œMental Health: Parent Triggers and Student Impactā€Ā will be led byĀ Meagan Frank,Ā coach, speaker and author from Menomonie, Wisconsin,Ā Ā andĀ Teg Cosgriff, a retired athletic director from Connecticut and vice-president of The Mental Game Academy.Ā 

The Summit will include five general sessions and three breakout sessions and concludes at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16. Along with closing comments fromĀ Karissa Niehoff, perspectives on the state of officiating nationwide will be provided byĀ Bill Topp, the newly named president of the National Association of Sports Officials, andĀ Dana Pappas, NFHS director of officiating services.

Registration for the SummitĀ is free and remains through this week.

Online link to article:Ā https://www.nfhs.org/articles/nfhs-to-host-behavior-in-sports-summit-in-indianapolis/

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