19th Annual Earl Barden Football Classic

Just want to give a plug out there for the 19th Annual Earl Barden Football Classic All-State game. This game will be played on Saturday June 22, 1 pm, at Earl Barden Field on the campus of East Valley High School in Yakima. Quincy AD Bill Alexander and the Washington Football Coaches Association always do a superb job of hosting this great football game.

The East will be coached by Jim Fisk of Chewelah and will be assisted by Pat Gaffney of Chewelah, Keith Stamps of Deer Park, and Zac Farnam of Deer Park.

The West will be coached by Aaron Poquette of Morton-White Pass and will be assisted by Dan Teeter of Lakewood, Terry Jensen of Montesano and Lee Metcalf of Morton-White Pass.

I will posts the rosters of the game soon.

New WIAA Amendments restrict Summer Football Participation

In an effort to regulate the physical grind of year-round high school football, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association passed new regulations on Monday limiting the amount of summer football participation.

The 53-member WIAA Representative assembly ratified an amendment (57.3.0) effective immediately, that allows a maximum 20 team summer practices, with no more than 10 of them full-contact days.

Summer practices can be held from the day after spring-sports season ends until July 31.

According to the new amendment, if a high school player wants to turn out for team-related summer activities, he or she must first participate in three-consecutive non-contact practices, which count toward the 20-practice allotment.

Only after that will he or she be allowed to partake in full-contact football in any setting - a practice, scrimmage or team camp.

Players who travel to individual camps, combines or passing leagues will not be limited in their participation.

Other notable WIAA amendments which go into effect for 2013 and 2014:

NEW MERCY RULE: In Class 1B Football, games will allow a running clock to start when the winning team first leads by 40 or more points, and not delaying until the start of the second half. (Amendment 57.6.0)

Rosalia To Go On Own

A proposal by the Rosalia School Board to combine all sports with Tekoa and Oakesdale has been rescinded.

Due to lower numbers in some grade school classes, Rosalia put forth the idea in January which culminated in community meetings in Oakesdale and Rosalia. The proposal would have expanded the existing Tekoa-Oakesdale-Rosalia arrangement for football, baseball, softball, track, cross-country and golf, to include basketball and volleyball.

"The board decided to go on our own and just be Rosalia", said Bill Thurston, Rosalia Superintendent. The change will affect all three schools, beginning with Rosalia, which will compete as a 1B team this fall playing 8-man football. Thurston said the Rosalia district made the proposal to Tekoa and Oakesdale because of those declining enrollment numbers. "We didn't think we'd have enough kids to offer a jayvee and varsity in sports." Thurston said.

The result of Rosalia being on its own, he indicated, is that they will likely have the varsity level in every sport, but no junior varsity. The Rosalia school board voted to go it alone on March 28. As TOR, the combo competed as a 2B team in the Southeast 2B in District 9.

During the basketball season, Rosalia and Tekoa-Oakesdale competed at the 1B level in District 9. "There are alot of uncertainties," said Oakesdale Athletic Director Ken Lindgren. "What I'm hoping to see happen is we just get enough kids from Tekoa-Oakesdale that want to play football and go from there."

We Are Back!!!!

Wow....It's been a long while since I posted on here. You might have noticed that the title of the blog has changed. I am putting together a newsletter for small school football and basketball teams beginning the fall of 2013. Our newsletter will have standings, scores, schedules and statistics as well as stories and features on small school teams.

People say, why do a small school newsletter??? Well, you see all of those websites that just concentrate on the top athletes in our state. Nobody puts a lot of emphasis on the small schools (1A, 2B, 1B) in the State of Washington. We want to change that.

If you are interested in our A & B Football & Basketball Guide, feel free to contact me at (360) 237-4574 or by e-mail at: tuengel@comcast.net I will be posting more about our Football and Basketball Reports. Enjoy what is left of spring and I can't wait for fall to arrive!!!!