April 27th, 2008
The 2008 Convention will be held at Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia, MO on Monday, October 8. The cost will be $50.
Breakout sessions will provide information about various academic competitions (tournaments, leagues, conferences) as well as how to improve your team preparation for such contests.
August 29th, 2007
The 2007 convention will be held on Monday October 1, at the Oasis Inn and Convention Center located at 2550 North Glenstone in Springfield, Missouri. The convention will begin at 8:00 with registration and time to visit the vendors booths. Break-out sessions are being finalized at this time.
A block of rooms has been reserved for this event, to guarantee rates and availability. The rooms are $54.99 (standard) and $64.99 (poolside). Call toll-free: 1-888-532-4338 or Local: 417-866-5253 to reserve a room.
The registration fee will include a buffet lunch.
MACA members receive a discount on convention fees. Visit the MACA page for membership/convention registration.
Workshop presenters will have their convention registration fees waived. If you are interested in presenting, please contact Troy Kinast.
October 19, 2006
Rules Meetings
The required rules meetings for coaches will take place over the next few weeks. A schedule of times, locations, and rules interpreters is listed below.
Monday, October 23 - Kickapoo HS, Springfield (Southwest) - Troy Kinast
Tuesday, October 24 - Smith-Cotton HS, Sedalia (Central) - Troy Kinast
Tuesday, October 24 - Rolla HS, Rolla (South Central) - Roger Stephens
Tuesday, October 24 - Liberty HS, Liberty (Kansas City) - Bill Luce
Thursday, October 26 - Cameron HS, Cameron (Northwest) - Bill Luce
Monday, October 30 - Central HS, Cape Gir. (Southeast) - James Hampton
Monday, October 30 - Macon HS, Northeast (Northeast) - Don Arni
Wednesday, November 1 - Fort Zumwalt West HS, O'Fallon (St. Louis) - Don Arni
September 28, 2006
Zeecraft Donates Quizbowl Equipment to The Missouri State High School Activities Association, Inc.
New Milford, PA—September 25, 2006-- Zeecraft Tech today announced that it will donate Quizbowl equipment including the Challenger II eight-player system with Showtime handgrip buzzers, a built-in timer, and a carrying case to The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSA).
Zeecraft will donate the equipment on October 2 at the Missouri Academic Coaches Association (MOACA) conference in Springfield, Missouri. Zeecraft will also donate coupons to conference attendees for a free carrying case which can be used with a purchase of any Quizbowl system.
Quizbowl is very popular throughout the state, and more than 200 junior high schools and 425 senior high schools participate at the district level every year. With 575 senior high schools in the state, this is a 73 percent participation rate. Schools compete at the district level, with winners competing at a state championship every year.
“Participation in interscholastic activities such as Quizbowl academic competition gives students a great opportunity to achieve recognition for themselves, their school, and their community. We are proud to support that,” said Pete Hausser, CEO of Zeecraft.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association, (MSHSAA), governs activities statewide including athletics and Quizbowl academic competition for grades 7 th to 12th. Its mission is to promote the value of participation, sportsmanship, team play and personal excellence and develop students to make positive contributions to their communities.
The primary goal of MOACA is to encourage and further academic competition in the state of Missouri , and the organization provides leadership and support to the academic coaches of the state through a state convention, workshops, and information services.
Zeecraft Tech has been a leading manufacturer of quality Quizbowl equipment and accessories since 1975. Zeecraft products are ideal for learning and performance improvement at all levels, inside and outside the classroom. Zeecraft products are used in a variety of activities including corporate events, parties, in the classroom, in extracurricular activities, and in formal academic competition throughout the country. Zeecraft systems are affordable, durable, and portable. Zeecraft products enable players to learn in a non stressful way. Zeecraft’s Quizbowl equipment includes buzzers, scoreboards, timers, electronic message boards, and lockout systems. For more information on Zeecraft visit www.zeecraft.com.
Contact Information:
Pete Hausser
800-662-7475
www.zeecraft.com
September 11, 2006
Sessions are nearly all finalized for the MACA convention to be held on October 2, 2006. Stacy Schroeder, MSHSAA academic competition liaison, will start the meeting with a recap of the 2006 advisory meeting.
Sessions will include, "Productive Practice" by Shawn Logan of Smithville, "Panasonic Academic Challenge" by Larry Allen of North Kansas City, "See the Game" will feature a simulated game with various coaches moderated by Troy Kinast of Thomas Jefferson, "Hosting a Tournament" by Larry Dixon of Lockwood, "Subject Specific" will include sessions on social studies by Bill Luce of Savannah and math by Troy Kinast of Thomas Jefferson. A third subject in either science or literature is being planned.
A new addition for the convention this year is a keynote speaker. Final preparations are being made. The emphasis will be on growing an academic program from the younger grades up based on an athletic model. More details will be made available as soon as possible.
September 10, 2006
The dates for the mandatory academic coaches meeting will be during the weeks of October 23 and October 30. MSHSAA will employ four rules interpreters and each will be responsible for two of the eight regions of the state. Specific dates will be finalized soon. They will be posted here when they become available.
September 1st, 2006
The date for the mandatory MSHSAA rules meeting for academic coaches will be published in the 2006 rules booklet that will be mailed on October, 4th. The date will be posted here as soon as it is available. The tentative time frame is at the end of October or the beginning of November.
June 18th, 2006
The 2006 convention will be held on Monday October 2, at the Oasis Inn and Convention Center located at 2550 North Glenstone in Springfield, Missouri. The convention will begin at 8:00 with registration and time to visit the vendors booths. Break-out sessions will include, "See the Game"- a demonstration of an actual Missouri format game (including samples of possible changes), "Panasonic update"- information about the Panasonic national tournament and the Missouri team's recent performance, "Every player must know"- 3 seperate sessions of must know material including math, literature, and social studies, "Hosting a Successful Tournament", "Purposeful Practice" and more.
A block of rooms has been reserved for this event, but reservations must be made by September 1, to guarantee rates and availability. The rooms are $54.99 (standard) and $64.99 (poolside). Call toll-free: 1-888-532-4338 or Local: 417-866-5253 to reserve a room.
The registration fee will include a BBQ buffet lunch.
MACA members receive a discount on convention fees. Visit the MACA page for membership/convention registration.
Workshop presenters will have their convention registration fees waived. If you are interested in presenting, please contact Troy Kinast.
June 5th, 2006
The Missouri Panasonic Team will be traveling to Orlando at the end of this week to compete in the National Tournament with 30 additional state teams.
Missouri will play New Mexico, New Jersey, and Washington in their first round. See the Panasonic tab on the tournaments page for more information.
Daily updates about the team will be posted for the duration of the tournament.
June 4th, 2006
The Missouri Academic Advisory Committee met in Columbia on May 31stand worked their way through an extensive agenda. Attending were Don Arni (Northeast), Rosemary Camp (Kansas City), Jeremy Gibbs (St. Louis), Melinda Dixon (Southwest), Gary Durbin (South Central), Diana White (Northwest), and Troy Kinast (EX-OFFICIO). Eric Boles (Southeast), and Audrey Connor (Central) were not in attendance.
Among the topics discussed were:
- National Tournaments and Summer Events
- Feedback from the coaches concerning District and State tournament questions.
- Competition Rules
- General game format
The committee recommended that the MACA further pursue the topic of format change by means of the newsletter and the convention. The goal will be to get a better understanding of the level of desire for change, reasons for change, and possible changes that will address any valid reasons.
April 9th, 2006
The questionnaire on proposed change to the district and state format for academic competition appears to be on its way to the next step. In response to the question, 'Would you favor the Academic Competition Advisory Committee continuing to consider the possibility of amending the format of competition for the district and state series in Academic Competition?', the votes were 179 in favor and 79 in opposition (69.4% in favor of a change in the format).
258 responses from the approximately 400 schools who "participate" in academic competition is definitely a significant response (64.5% "voter turn-out").
February 20th, 2006
All Missouri athletic directors received a questionnaire from MSHSAA that was mailed during the week of February 6. One of the items on the questionnaire was a polling question about whether or not academic coaches desire a change in the game format of district and state academic competitions. Every coach should voice their input to their athletic director in order for MSHSAA to receive an adequate portrait of our desire, or lack thereof, for changing the current system.
If the decision to change is made, then the decision will have to be made as to which type of change. We mentioned possible changes at the last MACA convention: "give-and-take", worksheet, lightning round, or double value fourth quarter. Be sure to make your voice heard by voting on this very important item!
October 3rd, 2005
The 2005 MACA convention was attended by 64 coaches and former coaches from around the state. President Shawn Logan opened the convention with a welcome statement and information about the convention.
MSHSAA representative, Stacy Schroeder, provided an update about administrative and rules changes for Missouri academic competiiton.
Session 1 included a workshop for new coaches, presented by Bill Luce of Savannah and a veteran coaches discussion, facilitated by Nancy Baker of Boonville and Melinda Dixon of Lockwood.
Session 2 provided three workshops including, "How to Write Good Quiz Bowl Questions" hosted by Larry Dixon of Lockwood, "Successful Coaching in a Small School" by retired Mound City coach, Madeleine Gillis, and a discussion of the Missouri National Panasonic Team presented by coach Larry Allen of North Kansas City.
Session 3 included information about quiz bowl resources by Jim McCrary of Lexington and "Great Ideas for Fundraising", presented by Bart and Helen Mitchell of North County.
The Business Meeting convened after lunch and concluded around 2:30. Coach of the year awards and the Carol Farmer awards were presented by president Shawn Logan.
New officers were elected for president, vice-president, and secretary to serve staggered terms set forth to provide a more seamless transition during future elections.
The convention concluded with a drawing for door prizes provided by several question and equipment providers. The MACA membership wishes to extend their gratitude to the following companies for their contributions to the annual convention: Academicbowl Online.com, ACE Camp, Avery Enterprises, NAQT, Patrick's Press, Questions Galore, Questions Unlimited, Specialty Design Corp., and The Question Bank.
October 1st, 2005
The results of the poll regarding a possible change in the MSHSAA game format were as follows:
Survey response - 13 no change, 4 change (1 lightning round, 3 worksheet)
Email response - 4 no change, 13 change (1 lightning round, 12 worksheet)
MACA will continue to monitor the opinions of its members during the season. Other options of change were discussed at the convention. Possibilities included a "give and take" as explained by Larry Allen of North Kansas City and double value fourth quarter toss-ups introduced by Jim McCrary of Lexington. Look for more information in the next MACA newsletter.
August 9th, 2005
Due to coaches' requests, MACA is considering petitioning MSHSAA to change the format of Missouri quiz bowl matches. Possible changes would include adding either a "lightning" round or a worksheet to each match in lieu of a third quarter. Below are samples are each of these formats.
[ Lightning Round ] [ Worksheet Round ]
- Are you in favor of or opposed to a format change as mentioned above?
- If in favor, would you prefer a format change to a "lightning" round or a worksheet?
Coaches, please e-mail your responses to these two questions to the webmaster, along with your name and team name. Alternatively, you may fill out and return the form included in this month's MACA newsletter. Thank you for your input.