Section II News & Notes 12/31/11

The Capital District Chapter of the National Football Foundation will hold its third annual Clinic of Champions for football coaches on Jan. 16 at the RPI Athletic Village.

Registration is $40 per coach or $150 per staff. Registration forms may be obtained by contacting Nick Fitzgerald at fitzgeraldn@sgfallssd.org. Forms are due by Jan. 3.

The clinic covers an array of topics on offense, defense, special teams, strength and conditioning, and program development.

The keynote speaker is Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore. Also speaking will be college coaches from RPI, Pace, WPI, University at Albany, Cortland State and Brockport State, and high school coaches from Niskayuna, Schalmont and Troy.

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The latest New York State Sportswriters Association girls basketball poll has been released. Shaker is ranked fourth in Class AA followed by Shenendehowa and Colonie fifth and 15th, respectively.

In Class A, Averill Park occupies seventh, Scotia eighth and Holy Names 19th. Watervliet is second best in Class B, Cohoes 11th and Ravena 18th.

Hoosic Valley earns the number one spot in Class C. Maple Hill is eighth, Greenwich 14th, Cambridge 16th, and Voorheesville 17th. In Class D, Argyle is second, Fort Edward 10th and Heatly 15th.

The state boys basketball rankings feature CBA of Albany eighth in Class AA. Green Tech is 16th in the Class A poll. Watervliet ranks seventh in Class B followed by Mekeel Christian 13th and Catskill 17th.

In Class C, Greenwich is 13th, Hoosick Falls 14th, Mechanicville 18th and Canajoharie 20th while Argyle and Sharon Springs hold down the eighth and 14th spots, respectively in Class D.

So, you want to be a coach in New York State?

Two courses will be offered beginning in 2012.

The state Coaching Course Part I (Philosophy, Principles and Organization of HS Athletes) is scheduled at Cairo-Durham High School on Saturday's Jan. 21, Feb. 11, March 24 and April 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a $135 fee. For information contact Tom Bried at 610-8373 or tbried@yahoo.com.

Also, Part III (Theory and Techniques of Coaching) will be held Saturday's Jan. 14 and March 3 at Ballston Spa High School from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the same fee.

Contact Bried if you need assistance.

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The Capital District Track & Field Officials organization is conducting certification clinics for new officials at Colonie High School and Fonda-Fultonville High School next week.

Anyone interested in becoming a certified track official can visit www.cdtony.com for information or call 661-5637 to register at one of the clinics.

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Junior Liz Harvey of Berne-Knox-Westerlo is approaching a milestone in her bright career. She is 24 points shy of the magical 1,000-point mark.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo will play at home Tuesday against Middleburgh.

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Just a reminder. If you have any suggestions on a local high school sports blog please contact me at mcollar7@hotmail.com and I will be happy to consider it. To everyone, Happy New Year and hopefully 2012 will be a prosperous year.

Article by Mike Collar