By Staff
EAST LANSING - The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has denied a motion of the Michigan High School Athletic Association to have the full panel of the Sixth Circuit review a decision of a three-judge panel which, on July 27, affirmed the U.S. District Court in Kalamazoo which had found that the sports seasons established by Michigan schools violated state and federal law and the U.S. Constitution.
It was previously determined by the MHSAA Representative Council that the MHSAA would petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law of the case if the Sixth Circuit did not reverse the lower court.
The MHSAA has disseminated a proposed contingency plan for its postseason tournaments if appellate review fails. The plan is scheduled for the Representative Council's vote on Dec. 3.
MHSAA staff will then attempt to prepare duplicate schedules for coaches' and officials' rules meetings and tournament venues for as early as the 2005-06 school year, unless the Supreme Court will at least delay implementation to allow for more orderly change affecting many thousands of people.
Most leagues and many schools have been at work for some time on the even more difficult task of crafting regular season schedules for practices and contests in different seasons statewide in girls basketball and volleyball, and in Lower Peninsula golf and tennis and Upper Peninsula soccer.
In addition to the student-athletes involved, these decisions will affect thousands of officials and coaches, and they may require changes in use of facilities by junior high/middle schools and community programs.