Local issues get
perspectiveThe NFSHSA executive director
addresses liability in surfing and
a shot clock in basketball
A prominent national figure offered some opinions on two hot topics in the world of Hawaii high school sports last week.
During the Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association conference on the Big Island, Bob Kanaby talked about liability issues in surfing and a shot clock in basketball.
Kanaby is the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
He doesn't think it's a good idea for Hawaii to adopt surfing as a full-fledged interscholastic sport.
"The critical issue is how much you can control the risks, and I don't think you can control it very much in surfing," Kanaby said. "Even if you could control the big, blue ocean, can you see what's going on underneath it?"
Hawaii's Board of Education approved surfing as a scholastic sport last month. It's up to the individual schools and Hawaii's five leagues to decide whether surfing will become a club sport or a competitive varsity offering.
"It's not like a basketball court, where you know the boundaries and know what to expect to be inside the boundaries," Kanaby said. "With sharks and other dangers out there, I don't think it will be very easy to find a company that would want to offer a liability insurance policy."
On the subject of basketball shot clocks, Kanaby said the national federation hasn't adopted them mainly because of the excessive cost.
"But some states, such as New York and Washington, have a shot clock because they can afford it," Kanaby added. "In most places, it's far too expensive.
"Our basketball rules committee has changed its position slightly. This year, it got shot down, but they also agreed to go ahead and gather information on it for the first time. We'll see where that leads."
Kanaby believes a big question needs to be answered before a shot clock is adopted.
"If my team is athletic enough and capable of holding on to the ball and keeping it out of the hands of other teams, is that part of the game or isn't it?"
Many coaches and administrators in Hawaii support the addition of a shot clock to eliminate what they consider "stall" tactics at the end of close games.
We are the world: The Mililani girls soccer team collected 145 used soccer balls and had them shipped to needy children in Afghanistan.
"We had the players sign their names on the balls and send along pictures of themselves as well," coach Ray Akiona said. "It was a gesture of goodwill. We sent used balls instead of new balls because we heard they play mainly on dirt and rocky ground."
The Trojans want to conduct two more drives to collect soccer balls and send them elsewhere in the world.
"But we're looking for assistance in making the delivery," Akiona said.
To inquire about helping out in that area, e-mail Akiona at akionar003@hawaii.rr.com.
More interleague matchups: Three more football games pitting teams from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu against teams from the Oahu Interscholastic Association are on tap this fall.
Saint Louis visits Nanakuli on Aug. 20.
In addition, Farrington meets Iolani, while McKinley tangles with Pac-Five in an Aloha Stadium doubleheader Aug. 21.
The 17 interleague games (14 matchups were announced earlier, including state runner-up Saint Louis vs. state champion Kahuku on Aug. 28 at Aloha Stadium) don't count toward the OIA or ILH standings.
Tokumi signs: Mililani athlete Andrew Tokumi is headed to Missouri Valley College to play football.
The 6-foot, 175-pound wide receiver also played for the Trojans basketball team.
In addition to playing football for the Vikings, he will join Army ROTC at Missouri Valley, which is a four-year NAIA school.
Tokumi turned down a four-year Army ROTC scholarship at the University of Hawaii, according to his father, Carl Tokumi.
Old school: Iolani athletic director Carl Schroers made an underhanded 3-pointer during a pickup game during some free time at last week's HIADA conference.
Kaahumanu Hou AD Curtis Jackson began to shout "What are you doing?" but quickly changed his tune and yelled, "Nice shot!"
Vacancies at Iolani, Mid-Pac, Aiea: Iolani School is accepting applications for head boys soccer coach to replace Ric Miller, who recently resigned.
For information, contact Schroers at 943-2208.
Mid-Pacific is seeking a cheerleading coach. Applicants can fax the resume to Bill Villa at 973-5086 or e-mail him at bvilla@midpac.edu.
Aiea is seeking coaches for its boys and girls bowling and soft tennis teams.
Send resumes to the Aiea athletic department at 98-1276 Ulune St., Aiea, HI 96701. The deadline is June 25.
Hawaii School Web Sites