The WIAA is excited to extend the invitation to all member schools to attend the sixth biennial Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Sportsmanship Summit. The WIAA, in cooperation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, will conduct its the Summit Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Stevens Point, Wis. 

Registration is open to all member schools. Each registered school will consist of six members that can include students, coaches, administrators, booster clubs or members of the community. It’s your choice. The deadline to register a team for the Summit is Monday, Nov. 26.

The Summit is scheduled to begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. with the first session starting at 9 a.m. The cost of the event is $125 per team, which includes Summit materials. a commemorative t-shirt and lunch.    

The purpose of the Summit is to assist membership schools in addressing citizenship and sportsmanship issues with students, student-athletes, adult fans, advisors, parents and booster clubs; developing plans to improve or maintain good sportsmanship; defining appropriate behavior; and setting sportsmanship expectations as a means to educate.     

The Summit will feature two keynote addresses and three time slots for five different break-out sessions, which focus on the ideals of sportsmanship/citizenship. The morning keynote address will be presented by Craig Hillier, author of Playing Beyond the Scoreboard. The afternoon keynote address will be presented by Jay Wilson, long-time sports announcer of WIAA State basketball broadcasts and sports director at WISC-TV in Madison.    

Participants will also attend three morning break-out sessions. The subjects for the five break-out presentations available during the three time slots are:

“The Coach & Participant Roles in Sportsmanship” by Bill Collar

“Sportsmanship--The Officials Prospective” by former WIAA official Dave Kelliher

“Hazing/Initiation Prevention” by Oregon Middle School principal Jim Pliner

“Sportsmanship Discussion Roundtable” moderated by Greg Lampe and Tara Weisbrod of the WIAA Sportsmanship Committee

“Sportsmanship Expectations:  Embracing the Ideals” by the Shane Been of the WIAA Sportsmanship Committee.