Michigan Victory Games

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Michigan Victory Games

• Volunteer Orientation

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Who is the Games Director?

• Stella Husch
• Strive, Inc.
• 7183 N Main St., Suite E
• Clarkston, MI 48346
• shusch_at_striveonline.org
• (248) 922- 1236 ph/fax
• www.striveonline.org
• www.michiganvictorygames.com

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What is Strive, Inc?

• Strive, Inc. is a non- profit organization that
  provides individual and group recreational
  opportunities to individuals with disabilities.
• Strive, Inc. offers partners with various other
  organizations to increase the recreational
  programs throughout Michigan.

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How did Strive get involved?

• Although Stella Husch, Director of Strive, Inc,
  is the Games Director, the games are technically
  contracted out to Strive Inc.
• Why? That way, the MVG can reap many benefits of
  having a non- profit status when fundraising
  and developing other programs that benefit
  athletes with disabilities.

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What does the Games Director do?

• Games Director is Independently Contracted to run
  and organize the Michigan Victory Games.
• The Games Director is NOT considered a member of
  the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance Board of
  Directors.
• Games Director contract is usually valid for 1
  year and a stipend is given.

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History of the Games (contd)

• In 1985, the CP games started to include those
  with Les/ Autres which just meant those
  athletes who have another disability other than
  Cerebral Palsy.
• To incorporate more athletes into the games, the
  CP games changed its name to Michigan
  Victory Games to ensure that athletes of all
  physical impairments could be included to compete.

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Games Director tasks include

• Securing location of event.
• Update and collect all team/ athlete paperwork,
  organize necessary items to run the MVG and
  implementation of the MVG.
• Reporting monthly to MiDSA board of updates in
  preparation status.
• Recruits and identifies Games Staff to run each
  individual venue (event) for the MVG.
• At this time, Games Director also organizes
  volunteers for the MVG. The MiDSA board also
  helps to recruit volunteers for the MVG.

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What is the MiDSA?

• The Michigan Disabilities Sports Alliance (MiDSA)
  is the governing body for the Michigan Victory
  Games.
• The MiDSA actively recruit members to ensure that
  Michigan athletes with disabilities have a voice
  in regards to what the organization does.
• The MiDSA board is elected for certain terms of
  office. Each board member attends monthly
  meetings and take on tasks to secure that the
  MiDSA is following out its members wants and
  needs.
• Any current member of MiDSA can run for the Board
  of Directors.

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MiDSA Board members include

• President Mary Ann Weaver
• Vice- President Ryan Husch
• Treasurer Lori Soma
• Secretary Katie Ellis
• Athlete Rep Rafael Ortiz
• Matthew Weaver
• Adam Brewster
• Marissa Siebel
• Mary Ellen Clancy
• Amanda Leyrer
• Kyle Hosler

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Michigan Victory Games

• Michigans Premiere Sporting competition for
  athletes with Physical Disabilities.
• It is NOT the special olympics.
• Not recreational in nature.
• Athletes are serious athletes willing to work
  hard to continue to compete at other levels such
  as the World Games, National events and
  Paralympics.
• Athletes must have a primary diagnosis of a
  physical disability.

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History of the MVG

• The very first MVG was held in 1976.
• The MVG has been held in various locations
  throughout the years, including Wayne State
  University, Central Michigan University and
  Michigan State University.
• It was first previously coined the Cerebral
  Palsy Sports Games as most of our athletes had
  Cerebral Palsy in the early years of the program.

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History of MVG (contd)

• Since around 1993, the MVG has been at Michigan
  State University.
• Stella Husch has been the director since 2007.
• Most athletes and coaches have been active in the
  MVG for many MANY years.

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Games Staff

• The Games Director is in charge of securing
  staffing for each event held at the Michigan
  Victory Games.
• Often times, the staff are people (team coaches,
  board members and family) who have been more
  directly related to the games.
• Sometimes, staff are also chosen from those who
  have stated interest increasing his/her
  involvement or those who have stated an expertise
  is a certain sport area.

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How are coaches chosen?

• Each team head coach or manager is in charge of
  choosing the coaches for their team.
• Some coaches are chosen by the independent
  athletes also.
• If you are interested in becoming a coach, you
  can contact the teams individually to do so.
• Most coaches for the teams are not paid and
  usually stay for the entire weekend of the MVG.

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How do you join a team?

• Contact head coach of the team to see what your
  involvement can be.
• Start your own team if you know of athletes with
  physical disabilities and become the coach.
• Contact Stella Husch to see where you can be
  placed.

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Can I start a team myself?

• YES!!!!!! We are always interested in increasing
  the numbers of competitors.
• How can you start a team?
• Hook up with an organization (such as those
  dealing with Traumatic Brain Injuries, hospitals,
  or others) to see if there are athletes that are
  interested.
• Contact Stella Husch to get the paperwork.
• Have the athletes complete paperwork and turn in.
• Develop your team dynamics as far as coaches,
  volunteers, where to practice, etc.

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What athletes are eligible?

• Those with
• Cerebral Palsy
• Traumatic Brain Injury or Closed Head Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Stroke
• And other documented issues

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How are athletes chosen to fairly compete against
each other?

• Each athlete is classified into a proper
  athletic ability group. This ensures that there
  is fair competition between like- abilitied
  athletes in each event.
• Classifications are divided into 2 groups
• The CP class
• The LA class (anyone who doesnt have CP is
  categorized here)
• Both CP and LA groups are then further divided
  into classification numbers of 1 through 8
  depending on ability.

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The MVG numbers..

• We have about 75 athletes that compete in our
  MVG.
• Another 30- 40 or so coaches are involved with
  those athletes.
• About 30 games staff.
• About 75 or so volunteers.
• Athletes and their coaches pay around 300 per
  person to participate.
• All athletes and coaches are also required to pay
  their MiDSA annual membership.

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Events offered at the MVG

• Swimming
• Slalom
• Individual, Team and Pairs Bocci
• Cross Country
• Bowling
• Power lifting
• Table Tennis
• Track
• Field
• Cycling and Handcycling

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Volunteer tasks are..

• Equipment
• Record Keeping
• Measuring
• Timing
• Marshalling
• Referees
• Runners
• Assist with Meals
• Opening/ Closing Ceremonies
• MiDSA Store
• Command Center
• Observers
• Drivers
• Aides to Athletes

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Equipment tasks

• Set up/ take down equipment
• Organize/ inventory equipment
• Shop for needed items
• Hang Banners
• Put up signage throughout venues

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Record Keeping

• Write down measurements and times for the
  athletes
• Input scores into main Command Center computer

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Measuring

• With direction from the Games Staff person for
  the event, you will be asked to measure the
  distance of implements that were thrown by the
  athletes.
• Sometimes, asked to mark the exact location
  that the implement landed.
• HOW TO MEASURE..

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Timing

• With direction of the Games Staff person of the
  event, you will be asked to use stopwatches to
  time the athletes speed.
• Timers usually keep scores/ times and have to
  bring them to the record keeper to write down.
• Events that use timers include slalom, track,
  bocci, swimming, cycling, some class 1 events,
  hand cycling, and cross country.
• How to time.

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Marshalling

• Gathering the athletes signed up for whichever
  event in a certain location/ area.
• Announcing the event next on deck to be run.
• Getting those proper athletes to correct
  locations at the appropriate time.

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Referees

• Understanding rules of event.
• Qualifying/ Disqualifying athletes according to
  those rules.
• Manage appropriate event markers and in bounds
  lines to compete in.

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Runners

• Assist in hands- on needs that may include
  communicating the needs of the event back to the
  command center
• Running various tasks to places of interested as
  deemed by event coordinator
• Running information to places of interest.

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Assist with meal times

• Assist athlete in need with meals.
• Tasks may include
• Helping carry or obtain their food/ drinks from
  the meal line.
• Assist in cutting food to ensure safe
  consumption.
• Possibly feeding an athlete if needed.
• Assist in clean up and help put trays back into
  proper location.
• Assist in taking meal tickets on- site of those
  who purchase meals independently.
• Assist in sales of meal tickets to family/
  friends who are hungry. ?

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Opening/ Closing Ceremonies

• Assist in planning of event as needed
• Assist in set up for event
• Assist in clean up
• Be banner holder for event
• Develop/ create items as needed for event
• Helping get athletes into ceremonies and seated/
  organized into the room

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Command Center

• Assist Games Director on tasks to be completed at
  Command Center
• Assist with registration
• Labeling placement ribbons/ medals
• Distributing materials to athletes/ coaches
• Inputting scores/ times into computer
• Posting results
• Distributing with parking passes/ meal tickets
• Various communication needs
• Shopping
• Organization

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Observers

• Viewing during each event to make sure safety is
  always present
• Stop traffic for road courses as needed
• Welcoming
• Assist in loading/ unloading of athlete or
  organization equipment

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Drivers

• Assist in transporting other volunteers/ coaches/
  athletes/ games staff as need to various
  locations.

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Hands- on aide

• Assist in running or cycling with athletes during
  the event to keep safety precautions during
  event.
• Assist in making sure athlete knows of proper
  direction of event course.

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Ways to support MiDSA/ MVG

• Family and friends support letter
• Hungry Howies pizza fundraiser
• Donations
• Market and spread the word about the games
• Start a new team
• Get more volunteers to assist. Lansing area
  volunteers are DESPERATELY needed.
• Get your friends and family members who are
  business members to purchase an advertisement in
  the program booklet or become a event sponsor.

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What MVG costs the MiDSA

• Total the games cost about 48,000.00
• Broken down to
• MiDSA pays approximately 5000.00 in just
  facility fees to host each athletic event.
• MiDSA pays approximately 60.00 per night for
  each room used. (double occup.)
• MiDSA pays another 25 per day for each person to
  eat during the MVG.
• Any donations help to offset these costs.

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MVG forms

• In case you want to know, we will review the
  forms that need to be completed by each athlete/
  team in order to register for the MVG.
• See me after

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Questions?

• Got any?????????????????