Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Ten $500 Scholarships Awarded by IGCA

The 2004-05 school year has been a record setting year for the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. With over 4,600 members, we have established an all-time high. Thank you for being a member.

Due to the increase in memberships and successful clinics, the IGCA Executive Committee voted to increase the number of scholarships given. The increase was prompted by an exceptional return of outstanding scholarship applications.

"The scholarship committee was overwhelmed and quite amazed by the high quality of applicants this year. The grade point averages, the ACT scores and essays were remarkable, and frankly too close to choose just four (which was the original design). Bonus points were given to daughters of IGCA members and also athletes that are choosing to go into education or coaching. This number was also high. When the scholarship committee presented their dilemma to us, our executive group determined that rewarding more than four athletes was within our means this year. Everyone felt it was a wonderful way to distinguish the very best of our Iowa Girls and give back something to our membership." said IGCA Executive Secretary Mark Tiby.

The ten athletes who will receive a $500 check from your Iowa Girls' Coaches Associations include:

Katie Beeler-Interstate 35 (Truro)

Reilly Brandershorst-Fort Dodge

Emily DeJong-Ankeny

Alyssa Clark-Marion

Jayna Fischbach-Carroll High School

Emily Foura-Interstate 35 (Truro)

Angela Hartwig-North Scott (Eldridge)

Angie Jenkins-Atlantic

Ellen Majewski-North Butler (Greene)

Rashawn Rupe-Wayne (Corydon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Players 55 Years and Over Needed for Granny League

Some old players--and I mean OLD--will be playing six on six basketball again via a Granny Basketball League. The underlying motivation for this project is not only fun and exercise, but to earn funds to save a historic school building in Lansing, Iowa. We will be playing 1920's rules and wearing 1920's uniforms. Wearing middy blouses and bloomers, we will play in three courts. Players are allowed just two dribbles. No physical contact and no running or jumping. We would like to invite ladies of a certain age (55 or older) to participate in a tournament in Lansing, Iowa on August 12-13-14, 2005. Contact Barb McPherson (563-538-4016), if interested.

2005 Coach of the Year Finalists Announced

The 2005 National Coach of the Year finalists have been announced. Iowa had 13 of the 15 nominees make it through. This year's convention will be held in Orlando, Florida. The finalists from Iowa are: Athletic Director, Dan Delaney; Softball, Joyce Tiarks; Swimming, Richard L. Marcussen; Tennis, Dan Staggs; Volleyball, Tom Keating; Boys Track, Gary K. Hollingsworth; Girls Track, Al Kerns; Girls Basketball, Scott DeJong; Boys Basketball, Steve McGraw; Girls Cross Country, Davis I. Eidahl; Boys Cross Country, Jerry K. Becker; Baseball, Jim Donohue; and Wrestling, Bob Dyer. Good luck to all of our finalists.

2004 National Convention a Success

Las Vegas, Nevada was the site of the 2004 NHSACA national convention. Jerry Wetzel was the recipient of the highest award the NHSACA gives out, the Dwight T. Keith Award. Wetzel is the former executive secretary of the IGCA, longtime coach and is a past president of the NHSACA.

Connie Shafer, Pleasant Valley and Bill Coldiron, West Des Moines were named to the NHSACA Hall of Fame at the Hall of Fame luncheon. Shafer coached softball and basketball at Bedford, Hampton, Hudson and Pleasant Valley. Coldiron was a long time golf coach at Valley High School.

David Wills and Rick Dillinger were named National Coaches of the Year in tennis and softball. Will, Waterloo Columbus, has coached girls tennis for 30 years at Waterloo Columbus. He has produced thirty girls' state champions and won ten team championships. His career record is 407-41. Dillinger, North Polk, has coached for 28 years at Danville and North Polk. He is nearing 800 wins in softball and has coached seven state qualifying teams with one state championship.

The following coaches were named National Coach finalists and received awards the same evening. Bill Kibby, Athletic Director; Ed Thomas, football; Rob Chapman, soccer; Jerry Nikkel, boys basketball; Teresa Kehe, volleyball; Brad Smith, wrestling; Dave Fetterman, cross country; John Raffensberger, track; Vic Belger, baseball; Gail Hartigan, girls basketball.

The IGCA congratulations all of the award winners.

Membership Renewal 2004-05

Have we met our mission statement of Support, Recognize and Eduate?

For the membership fee of $50/$65 we provide services for four girls sports, no separate membership fees. Look at some of the highlights of 2003-04. Fifteen Iowans received national recognition through our nomination......over 300 girls received an all-state certificate in their sport......almost 1,000 girls in four sports received all district certificates.....80 coaches were honored as District Coach of the Year.....over 150 girls received academic all-state certificates....over 20 girls and coaches received the E. Wayne Cooley "You Can" award, sponsored by the Iowa National Guard....over 200 girls played in IGCA sponsored all-star games.....almost 500 coaches attended IGCA sponsored clinics.....many long time assistant coaches were honored.....many career coaches been inducted into our various halls of fame (volleyball will be inducting the first hall of fame class this fall)....officials in all sports are honored for their dedication.....36 basketball teams have received an extra game and over 100 teams receive an extra scrimmage in our annual Preseason Shootouts.....IGCA coaches and athletic directors are sent information about graduate credit classes we sponsor, specifically designed for today's coach....in conjunction with the IGHSAU, the IGCA chose select coaches to receive training in the Pursuing Victory with Honor program. We will be a state leader in this endeavor.

 

IGCA Scholarship Winners

The winners of the 2004 IGCA scholarships are Melissa Jay of Ottumwa, Sarah Harms of Hampton Dumont and Maggie Harms of Oskaloosa.

Melissa Jay plans on attending Western Illinois and major in biology. Sara Harms plans on attending college and major in secondary mathematics education and coaching and Maggie Harms plans on attending the University of Northern Iowa and major in accounting/pre-law.

 

Contacting the IGCA

Contact Executive Secretary Mark Tiby at tibym@urbandale.k12.ia.us. He will either answer your question or forward your message to the IGCA sport chair who can help. Stan Rupe, Ottumwa, is current IGCA president. Jill Hulsing, Grinnell is currently vice president.

New Chairman for Volleyball

Tom Keating, one of the great volleyball coaches in state history and new principal of Xavier High School, has passed the torch to Bob Fessler, Pella. Bob will become the new IGCA volleyball chairman. All existing sport chairs will remain the same.

 

Softball and Basketball Memorabilia Needed

Dick Rasmussen is looking for softball or 6 on 6 basketball memorabilia to highlight the progress of the two sports. He would like equipment, old uniforms, balls, or anything that depicts the history of the sports. He would like to have these items but if you would like to keep them, he will take a picture of them and return the items to you. Contact Dick Rasmussen at 703 NW School Street, Ankeny, Iowa 50021 or call 515-964-3354.

 

Online College Scouting Hits Iowa

A web site that is free to your students, your parents and your school. Help your students receive college financial aid. At no cost. It's new and in Iowa today.

I was recently approaced about listening to a presentation about ONLINE COLLEGE SCOUTING. Online College Scouting (OCS) is currently in Iowa and their representatives will call on your school soon. When your school hears the offer to help every Iowa student, you will want to join immediately, like every school is doing.

Here is how it works: your school signs on with OCS (remember it's free). Supply OCS with e-mail addresses of your coaches. Your school will receive information to instruct students how to place their profile on the OCS web site ( at no cost to the student or parent). Once a student places their file on the OCS web site, the coach will be e-mailed to verify the information and will be able to add comments (only colleges will be able to access coach/teacher/sponsor comments, never the parent or the student; it's totally confidential). Next, universities, colleges, community colleges, etc, all over the country will be able to "recruit" your athletes, your scholar students and your fine arts participants.

Who pays for this? The colleges and universities.

What are you doing to help my kid to get a scholarship is now answered. OCS will change the face of recruiting and puts the burden of cost on the colleges and universities and off the families in your district.

There are many exciting parts of the program that I want you to hear about first-hand. Look forward to an OCS representative visiting your school. The Iowa Girls' Coaches Association endorses OCS and is eager to see all Iowa students and their families receive no-cost help with the high cost of continuing education. You can visit the OCS web site at www.onlinecollegescouting.com

For information in:

West Iowa contact Chris Loudon (515) 491-7400 or email: clouden@collegescouting.com

Central Iowa contact George Long (515) 276-6564 or email: glong@dwx.com

Eastern Iowa contact Tom Davis (515) 278-9709 or email: tdavis@collegescouting.com

 

Communication as a Coaching Organization....and a Coach

As we coach our teams, if we do not communicate to our players and parents, we are neglecting an important part of coaching today.

What is the most effective way of communicating news about the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association? A variety of communication tools is always best. Newsletters, verbal communications (at clinics) and use of newer forms such as web pages or e-mails seem to fit best.

You can expect everything we communicate to be found on our web site. We will mail important sport-specific information to each head coach at each high school, in Iowa.

We will continue (as we started last year) with e-mail communication to athletic directors. We have to rely on AD's to forward the information on to you. E-mail is our most effective method. Our response last year was great.

As a head coach, make sure you check with your AD to make sure you get all the forms of communication.

 

The Goals and Expectations of the IGCA

As your representative in the IGCA, I would be remiss if I didn't communicate these things to our members.

Our goal or mission is two fold: To offer sport education through coaching clinics and rule clinics and to provide recognition for the Iowa Girl and her coach.

Our expectation is to keep the organization growing by adding recognition programs and making our current offerings stronger.

We constantly work to improve one of our strongest offerings: The all-district teams. Suggestions are appreciated.

We do not legislate or make recommendations to the IGHSAU. We work together at every opportunity. The vehicle is already in place to have opinions heard: The specific sport advisory committee for the sport you coach.

How do you contact us?

Phone calls are one choice. To avoid phone tag, e-mail is preferred. Contact me at: tibym@urbandale.k12.ia.us and I will make sure your note gets to the correct person.