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Middle Level/Junior High

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Middle Level/Junior High School Advisory Council

The Middle Level/Junior High Advisory Council includes a representative from each Board of Control Districts, an ethnic at-large, gender at-large, and a non-public school at-large representative along with liaison representation made available to the Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Association of Middle Level Educators, Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association and the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers Association.

For the Ethnic At-Large position the candidate would have to have origins in black racial groups of Africa; Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race; Asian; Pacific Islander: American Indian; or Alaskan Native.

Membership on the Council is open to administrators, or building administrators and/or athletic directors of WIAA member middle level schools containing Grades 6-8 students (or any combination thereof).

Openings on the WIAA Middle Level Advisory Council exist in the following positions for the 2019-20 school year:  District 7 representative, Gender-At Large representative, Non-Public School At-Large representative and Ethnic At-Large representative.

If a vacant position cannot be filled by a district representative the position will become available to any qualified individual from a member middle school.

An election does not take place for Middle Level Council representatives.  A listing of interested candidates is provided to the Board of Control who then appoints an individual to fill the position.  The position is for a three-year term.

This Council meets once a year in January.  For more information on this Council or if you are interested in filling one of these vacant positions, please contact LeVar Ridgeway at lridgeway@wiaawi.org or 715-344-8580.

Middle Level/Junior High Athletics Program Philosophy

Program philosophy should be supported by all those involved with the program.

The mission of middle level/junior high athletics is to provide an enjoyable educational experience for young adolescents based on their developmental characteristics and needs. The development of the young adolescent's self-esteem, citizenship, responsibility and skills in cooperative and leadership behaviors are positive outcomes of appropriate middle level/junior athletic programs. These programs should be enjoyable, vigorous and safe and should occur in a positive climate with appropriate adult leadership and support.  Effective middle level/junior high athletic programs are coordinated with other school and community activities to offer additional opportunities for young adolescents to explore varied interests.  Middle level/junior high athletics are an essential part of the total educational process and an excellent opportunity for the home, school and community to work together.

Coaches Education

Coaches that are not licensed to teach are required to take a coaching fundamentals course as well as a sports first aid course before they may coach their second year at a WIAA member senior high school.

These two courses can be taken either through the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) www.nfhslearn.com or the American Sports Education Program (ASEP) www.asep.com. Note: The coaching course through ASEP is called Coaching Techniques.

Cost for courses through NFHS:
$35 for Fundamentals of Coaching
$35 for First Aid, Health and Safety for Coaches
NFHS Complete Course Listing

Contact ASEP at asep.com for current pricing of their courses.

The following individuals do not have to take an approved course:

  • A student teacher while student teaching.
  • An individual with an administrator or counselor license.
  • Guest lecturers (one time appearance).

The following individuals must take an approved course before they can coach a second year:

  • Anyone that does not fit one of the above listed categories.
  • Anyone that does not have a current license to teach in Wisconsin's public schools.

The following conditions do not exempt a person from the requirement:

  • Holding a license to teach that has expired.
  • Being a volunteer.
  • Being unpaid.
  • Being an occasional, but regularly scheduled lecturer or demonstrator.
  • Having been a student teacher, but is no longer officially in that capacity.
  • Being a nonvarsity coach.
  • Being an assistant coach.

Course requirements may be waived if individual shows documentation of study in Sports Psychology, Injury Prevention and Treatment (Sports Medicine), Teaching Techniques (Pedagogy) and Litigation/Liability (Risk Management).

Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, all paid coaches shall be certified and will maintain certification in First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification and AED operation.  Beginning with the 2016-17 school year, this requirement must be met before coaches start their second year of coaching.  For a listing of certification resources click here.