Elevating the Experience at MYAS Grade State

MYAS SAFETY/De-escalation Initiative

Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (MYAS) is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Saint City Consulting, designed to further its commitment and goal of providing a safe, positive, and productive experience for Minnesota’s youth athletes.

Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (MYAS) is excited to announce a new partnership with Saint City Consulting to enhance safety and de-escalation support at the MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships, the premier community-based state tournament for boys and girls in grades 3–8. This collaboration builds on MYAS’s ongoing commitment to create a safe, positive, and respectful environment for all players, coaches, officials, and spectators during one of the largest youth basketball events in the nation.

Beginning with the upcoming Grade State Championships Saint City Consulting will provide targeted safety and de-escalation education tailored specifically to the high-energy setting of championship play. Saint City Consulting brings over 20 years of law enforcement experience to this partnership, with training programs aligned with international sports safety best practices and certified by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴). Training will focus on practical tools for handling intense game situations, managing conflicts on the sidelines and in the stands, and supporting officials and site staff when emotions run high.

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Key Elements of the Partnership

Key elements of this partnership at Grade State will include:

Pre-tournament training for Tournament Directors, Host Group leads, game officials, and key volunteers on recognizing and responding to escalating behavior.
Clear, proactive communication of expectations and conduct standards to coaches and spectators, reinforcing the MYAS code of conduct and commitment to sportsmanship.
Game-day support strategies designed to help MYAS staff and Host Groups de-escalate tense situations quickly and safely, so the focus remains on the athletes and the game.

With thousands of participants and spectators converging across multiple sites for Grade State each year, this partnership represents a significant investment in the safety, consistency, and overall experience of the event. MYAS and Saint City Consulting look forward to modeling what a safe, supportive youth basketball environment can look like and setting a new standard for conduct and care at major youth tournament

A Proactive Step Forward for MYAS Events

This partnership is rooted in MYAS’s belief that a well-prepared environment allows athletes and families to focus on what matters most — the joy of the game.

Through Phase I of this collaboration, focused on the 2026 Grade State Championships, MYAS and Saint City Consulting will:

Provide specialized training and education for Tournament Directors and Host Group leaders
Establish a Safety Liaison structure at each playing location to improve communication and coordination
Develop a Safety Liaison Toolkit with best practices for event preparation
Enhance participant-facing communication around sportsmanship, expectations, and event support
Offer consultation and planning support to MYAS staff leading up to, and during tournament weekends

“This is about continuing to raise the bar,” said Dawson Blanck, Executive Director of MYAS. “Families trust MYAS events because of the environment we create. Partnering with Saint City Consulting allows us to be even more intentional, organized, and proactive in delivering a great experience for every athlete, coach, official, and spectator.”

Dave McCabe of Saint City Consulting added, “This initiative is aimed at normalizing safety in youth sports. Just as important as smiling kids, engaged coaches, and attentive officials, the need for conflict resolution and calm conversations exists.”

Focused on Experience — Now and in the Future

While Phase I centers on the 36th annual MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships, this partnership represents the beginning of a broader effort to integrate safety, communication, and de-escalation education across additional MYAS programs, including youth baseball, football and officials’ training.