FRANKLIN — In running an organization as vast as the MIAA, chances are hiccups will occur.
Be it complaints from school members and fans, or issues with the fiscal budget, things will crop up.
Which is why the MIAA opted to focus on one thing during its Board of Directors meeting Wednesday – getting out ahead of things before trouble strikes.
“We’re just trying to build a house of brick,” said MIAA executive director Bob Baldwin. “We’ve done it with the constitutional revision, we’ve done it with the rules and regulations. Now, we’ve got to shore up the way we do business with our sports committees and organizational committees. Giving everybody clear direction. You know very well, ‘The MIAA did this.’ Well, the MIAA is 580 members, and we’re trying to educate everyone to the best we can the processes that get us to how we do things.”
During a meeting that spanned about 105 minutes, the MIAA and its board members attempted to focus on preventative measures. How could problems be avoided as the year progresses?
With the recent legalization of sports wagering in the Commonwealth, there’s been a spike in sportsbook ads. This has created a rise in collegiate gambling, and the fear is that this could easily become an issue at the high school level.
“What can we do to educate, so that (students) aren’t out of control?” Baldwin said. “But then, the next thing you’re hearing is, wait a minute, that the NCAA has hired these people to look into this stuff, and there are some scary things going on. Why wouldn’t it creep down? So, the more we can educate awareness with things like this, (the better).”
The group assembled at 33 Forge Parkway also deliberated heavily over the MIAA’s constitution, particularly with matters of district athletic committees, and maintaining organized communication between all parties. Slight adjustments were made to the laws, some of which were installed in 2014.
The main goal? To make life a bit less confusing for all parties, and to provide a better sense of direction with future headaches.
“I think the takeaway was to just really quantify and spell out all the functionalities of the association,” said MIAA Associate Director Richard Pearson. “So I think that’s what Bob was trying to do … just to put it out there, make things clearer.”
The MIAA also chose to name its rugby team sportsmanship award in memory of former Curry College coach Bill Good, who passed away last September. A rugby lifer, Good played an instrumental role in bringing the sport to Massachusetts and its high school ranks.
The MIAA is set to reconvene April 9 next for its annual meeting.