Just a Word of Caution...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

MS games = youth games.

In fact, in Oregon, I don't think there are any MS that sponsor teams at all. The MS's got out of that business a LONG time ago. There are often independent operations that conduct business in connection with a school but the connection is very loose.

Well in Illinois we have two state sanctioned bodies depending on where you are located in the state one is the IESA and in the southern part they have one that also runs a state tournament in multiple sports and crowns champions in both 7th and 8th grades. The Illinois Elementary School Association covers most of the state and a representative attends the official's conference that is held every year by the IHSA to inform officials of the differences for their sports to what is offered at the IHSA level. I do not consider that "youth" as it is more organized and you cannot work IESA games without being an IHSA licensed official. It is semantics, but these games are not like AAU or some local league where many people show up with multiple teams. IESA games in my experience are at local schools and run the same way as any HS or college game. You show up to the school, you get a locker room and you have security or someone takes you back to your locker room at halftime and after the game. And in many cases you have a shower if you choose to use one. Now in the current area I live it is a little different as there are many more MS games but not all under the same jurisdiction.

Peace