Northville NXN team barred ability to go to NXN nationals by MHSAA rule after qualifying in regionals

The rule is that Michigan teams can't travel more than 300 miles out of state for competitions or compete against teams who have traveled more than 300 miles for the competition. The intent of the rule is to keep high school teams from traveling all over the country (spending extra money, missing school, ignoring local competition) when they can compete locally. The thought is that if HS teams focus on local competition, the schools will save money and more students will have the opportunity to participate.

I think the rule is good 90% of the time. In most cases, there is no need for high school teams to travel all over the country. There is plenty of competition in state. In fact, the best competitions are usually with local rivals (from an emotional standpoint).

A case like this is part of the other 10%. I believe they should have the opportunity to go and compete. Northville's team this year isn't the best example of a team not getting competition locally. They were fourth at state meet and all three teams that beat them are less than 40 minutes away. They had a much better argument two,years ago when they won the state meet.

Back in the early 2000's, I would have loved to see Rockford girls (who sometimes came close to beating the field at the state meet) have the chance to go to a national meet. They truly had no peers in state and needed to travel to get real competition.

Like I said before, I do think this is a case where they should be allowed to compete as a team. However, if they don't, it shouldn't be viewed as crime, tragedy, or in any other term like that. The girls on the team have received so many positive experiences this season, including camaraderie, team work, goal setting, and thrilling competition. Not to mention the exposure and opportunity to compete at the college level. Whether or not they compete at NXN, they have had a great experience this season.

I would love to see the MHSAA comment on this issue. I cannot fathom any defensible reason why a state association would disallow this. Rules like this are basically about "evening the playing field" by keeping the top end down and/or trying to apply rules to sports where they don't really apply.

Michigan has some other crazy rules limiting the length of seasons and very tight restrictions on in-season travel. I am not from Michigan but as a meet director in a (somewhat) nearby state I have learned that no Michigan teams or individuals can ever attend.

This is why we never saw any of MI's legends racing at in-season meets like Arcadia or Penn. Again, I am not from MI so I may be mis-informed and would love to hear someone from MI speak on this.

My personal opinion is that decisions like this erode the legitimacy and strength of scholastic sports and drive up club participation. Many of the states that have the most oppressive state association rules also have the most developed club systems (club coaches coaches HS kids during the scholastic season, etc.).

As a scholastic coach this kind of thing is so frustrating. I understand that state associations need to have a standard, but when they act like bullies it drives athletes away.

Can they still run track? If yes then who gives a crap. Go run the meet. If they suspend you just go run some road races during next cross season like everyone else in this country does. They will be more competitive races half the time anyway.

And at the same time - this is the end of the high school XC season. I can understand this "300 mile limit" in the middle of the regular season, but come on. All of the local competition is done, but they can compete among the best in the nation! Why not have some state pride and all your athletes the chance?

I don't see how, in any way shape or form, they can possibly lose NCAA eligibility over this.

I haven't read the whole thread but:

It seems illegal for a state to tell kids where they can and can't run.

They are not sponsored by their school so it's not a school function.

It seems a judge can just say- go.

This happened to Dexter back in 2007. Ranked #3 in the country at one point but they couldn't go. Surprised this rule still exists!

Rule seems outdated. Nothing like limiting participation and repping your state there Michigan.

#FreetheFro

The Michigan XC season is over. They are running as a club. A parent is the coach. I can't see where MHSAA has any say in this.

GO TO NXN!! You all deserve it!!

MHSAA is skating on very thin legal ice by even threatening to sanction students acting independently in a club on their own dime. As long as the kids don't miss too much school, it's really none of the MHSAA's business whether this club runs a race in Portland, London, Rome, or freakin' Beijing!

This team has earned their spot and should be on the line! Great Oak is hoping to see you ladies there!

Let's run community needs to let the association know that you support them going:

https://www.mhsaa.com/contact-us

Doug

Ray wrote:

I don't see how, in any way shape or form, they can possibly lose NCAA eligibility over this.

It would have no effect on their NCAA eligibility. Others were incorrect.

Just go compete anyways. MHSAA cont stop them. Cant they suspend them from future competition? Sure. But going to something like NXN is 10x cooler than a State Meet. Trust me I have competed at State Championship and at NXN and I would rather take the free swag and experience of NXN over the experience of going to States where the only thing you get is a medal. In NY FM boys didn't even compete at States and theyll most likely be going to NXN and im sure they are more excited for that instead of a archaic system.

Michigan is a state so silly that it has 2 state meets. The "state" meet and the "Upper Peninsula state meet".

I'd write Michigan's high school athletic association, but the officials are too busy practicing for their other jobs alongside Barnum and Bailey to ever even think about this issue.

Erin Finn, a runner at University of Michigan, said it perfectly in an Open letter to MHSAA. I wouldn't know how to say it any better. This is crazy.

https://twitter.com/erinefinn/status/667189597374427136

GO TO NXN!! Enjoy!

Trust me - even if (small chance) there is some sort of sanction, you all will be so super that you went rather than sit at home. Also, now, because of this publicity, Nike will probably treat you all extra special and give your cause even more publicity. Teach your children that truly dumb rules need to be challenged.

Coach Soles wrote:

This team has earned their spot and should be on the line! Great Oak is hoping to see you ladies there!

Let's run community needs to let the association know that you support them going:

https://www.mhsaa.com/contact-us

Doug

Took about 90 seconds to email them on their contact form. Hopefully others will do the same.

Remember, it's not the Northville HS team that is competing, it is a club formed by girls who go to Northville HS.

Brojo's can we get a poll and article on the front page? The more attention we get the more likely they'll be able to go to the meet.

They should lawyer up and go to the meet. Part of being an American is the freedom to travel and standing up to entities that no longer support their constituents.