News Release

Everett Public Schools

January 25, 2007

For more information:

Jo Levin, 425-385-4418

Robert Polk, 425-385-4260

Joseph Gudorf, 425-385-5700

Mark Myers, SCBOC 206-391-9442

Everett High School basketball coach wins sportsmanship award

Coach Aaron Nations was honored last week by the Snohomish County Basketball Officials Association (SCBOA) with a 2006 -

07 Sportsmanship Award. Nations and Coach Brett Wille of Monroe were honored simultaneously because of their ability to

look past the win vs. loss and work with the officials and players to maximize the enjoyment of the game and to understand the

importance of the game vs. the importance of the outcome, said Mark Myers of SCBOA as he explained the reason for last

week's award.

SCBOA's members understand that competition is more than winning and losing. Officials are not always the bad guys out

there, Myers reminds everyone. We officials do what we do for the kids and for the love of the game. A big part of the

enjoyment comes from working for coaches and players who also have the love for the game through sportsmanship. A player

or coach who shows exceptional sportsmanship helps the game in so many ways.

Myers and other SCBOA members are not surprised that Coach Nations would be recognized with this honor. Aaron Nations

is a fantastic addition to Everett High School. We appreciate his approach to every game for what he does for the kids and

officials. I would expect Aaron to receive another nomination at some point because of this approach to coaching and

motivating his teams, said Myers. Although Coach Nations has been in the running for SCBOA's Coach of the Year, this is the

first time he has won the award for sportsmanship at an individual game.

SCBOA sportsmanship awards come in two formats. One is game by game. Anyone connected with a boy's basketball game

in Snohomish County could be nominated by an official working that game. Officials may notice the exemplary sportsmanship

of a player or a coach of a home or away team. Even out-of-county coaches or players can be nominated, as was the case

recently of an honored Bellingham coach and player at a game in Snohomish County. The awards also go to all levels of play

— not just varsity, emphasized Myers.

At the last SCBOA meeting of the year, the officials determine their Player of the Year and Coach of the Year award. We take

the game-by-game nominations into consideration with other evaluation aspects to name the SCBOA student Player of the

Year who also receives a scholarship with this award. Ninety percent of the player award is based upon sportsmanship instead

of game statistics. The Coach of the Year Award is also based upon the same criteria during a vote at the end of the year.

Myers started the concept of recognizing coaches and players in 2002. It was something that I felt was important on a variety

of fronts. The program stalled for a time but has been re-energized. Officials take biweekly nominations at their meetings and

also via e-mail sent to Myers at mmyers@pacificlegal.com

. Once the officials make their award decision, Myers notifies the

honorees, the principals, and the athletic directors of each school.

everett

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