With all of the above in mind, I think we also need to remember that athletics aren't the primary focus of a school.
In the same way that I'm worried the VHSL is putting too much emphasis on the state playoffs in determining a realignment plan that affects the 90% of schools that aren't in the running for state titles, I think that public planning and school design plans based around spreading athletic talent out or keeping enrollment low for the sake of every kid having a chance to play would be a huge mistake. I agree that a kid going to a school with 1,200 enrollment vs. 2,500 enrollment may very well have a better experience, but I also think that high school playing time shouldn't be one of the major factors that pushes us to reach that kind of conclusion about something so far-reaching in its effects and impact.
hsbasballfan
Appreciate the post. It was very well stated. I just want to make clear I am in no way saying anything but good things about each and every player over at Cosby. All fantastic kids and all very talented. Most will have the opportunity to play somewhere beyond HS and I hope each and everyone makes it as far as they possibly can. Nothing like watching these guys succeed. I have made the comment before that Cosby has enough talent to field two teams and potentially have both finish in the top three in the district. No offense to any other district teams, Cosby is just that loaded from top to bottom. To compare, the percentage of HS ball players that go on to play any level of college is somewhere around 6% as I understand so they are way out of the norm.
I don't want my post to come across as saying anyone SHOULD be playing in front of anyone else. That wasn’t the point I was trying to make and the last thing I would ever try to do. It also wasn't even about playing time per se. It goes well beyond that. I also know Midlo wasn’t being disparaging with his remark, it’s just been a frustrating year as it has unfolded. Lots of moving parts to this story that most aren’t aware of so I will take the wonderful advice I heard at the class of 2012 Baccalaureate Service yesterday and “turn the page”.
Appreciate the post. It was very well stated. I just want to make clear I am in no way saying anything but good things about each and every player over at Cosby. All fantastic kids and all very talented. Most will have the opportunity to play somewhere beyond HS and I hope each and everyone makes it as far as they possibly can. Nothing like watching these guys succeed. I have made the comment before that Cosby has enough talent to field two teams and potentially have both finish in the top three in the district. No offense to any other district teams, Cosby is just that loaded from top to bottom. To compare, the percentage of HS ball players that go on to play any level of college is somewhere around 6% as I understand so they are way out of the norm.
I don't want my post to come across as saying anyone SHOULD be playing in front of anyone else. That wasn’t the point I was trying to make and the last thing I would ever try to do. It also wasn't even about playing time per se. It goes well beyond that. I also know Midlo wasn’t being disparaging with his remark, it’s just been a frustrating year as it has unfolded. Lots of moving parts to this story that most aren’t aware of so I will take the wonderful advice I heard at the class of 2012 Baccalaureate Service yesterday and “turn the page”.
I hope no HS kid ever has to deal with what he has had to put up with this year.[/QUOTE]
No worries, he will shine next year and never look back.
I will root for him 364 days a year!!
No worries, he will shine next year and never look back.
I will root for him 364 days a year!!
quote:I think we also need to remember that athletics aren't the primary focus of a school.
Blasphemy!
They are students first then athletes!
I agree with Tom...athletic competiveness should have no role in school districting, bounderies, or other choices.
Although student activities is a big part of American education...its where alot of values are imparted concerning integrity, work ethis, and others that makes us susch a great nation.
It was once said the "best taught subject in america high schools is football" - that is so true but at least otherwise troublemakers are learning something!
When I left high school I may not have known alot of stuff BUT I did know if the sweep play was run away from me I had to trail through the backfield incase it was a reverse! OR even more valuable.....if you are a down lineman and the blocker doesnt block you look inside...you are about to be trapped by the offside guard...advice was turn inside,drop to your inside knee, and brace yourself.
All valuable information that has kept me from getting blinsided and fooled by a trick play in the "real" world many times.
I agree with Tom...athletic competiveness should have no role in school districting, bounderies, or other choices.
Although student activities is a big part of American education...its where alot of values are imparted concerning integrity, work ethis, and others that makes us susch a great nation.
It was once said the "best taught subject in america high schools is football" - that is so true but at least otherwise troublemakers are learning something!
When I left high school I may not have known alot of stuff BUT I did know if the sweep play was run away from me I had to trail through the backfield incase it was a reverse! OR even more valuable.....if you are a down lineman and the blocker doesnt block you look inside...you are about to be trapped by the offside guard...advice was turn inside,drop to your inside knee, and brace yourself.
All valuable information that has kept me from getting blinsided and fooled by a trick play in the "real" world many times.
I agree with all that's been said about Cosby. Talent pipeline wins the award for understatement of the year. They are what they are but give Lowery credit too. Can't be easy to find that fine line that separates the really good from the really really good.
It is also the case that more teams than you know have lots of talent. Not all of them win. It is easier to win with talent than without it, obviously. But sometimes coaches don't get the credit they deserve for winning even with talent. For one thing, you have to get everyone to buy into the team concept.
In addition to Lowery, think of Schumacher at JR. Until he took over, JR struggled to climb up from mediocrity. Are we to assume the gene pool suddenly got better in 2007?
In addition to Lowery, think of Schumacher at JR. Until he took over, JR struggled to climb up from mediocrity. Are we to assume the gene pool suddenly got better in 2007?
Well, looks like Chesterfield wants to go to a smaller school model for the future:
Chesterfield schools plan
It's too bad that the one mommy they found to interview said that she's happy about the new plan because it might "promote less bullying." Ay, ay, ay...
Chesterfield schools plan
It's too bad that the one mommy they found to interview said that she's happy about the new plan because it might "promote less bullying." Ay, ay, ay...
Midlo... no doubt the coaches deserve credit.
One thing that has happened is kids are playing alot more baseball. 10 years ago I started what we then called an "AAU Team" in Richmond. In that age group there was a team in Hanover, a couple of teams in Chesapeake, and us.
Over the next few years the number of kids playing more than a 20 game rec season exploded.
About the same time a professional baseball academy opened at chesterfield industrial park that started with a handful of customers...there are now all kimds of options for instruction...the one in Chesterfield has 10 week programs with as many as 300 kids involved.
8 th grade kids show up to play ball at their school with personal hitting, pitching, running, and strength training coaches...they play in the Fall, Summer,Spring, and lift weights/take baseball lessons in the Winter.
It is also no coincidence that the baseball powerhouse schools...Deep Run, JR, Cosby, Godwin, and otjers are in areas where families have enough income to invest in their childrens activities.
Thats what I think has contributed to how baseball is today in our area. Mayne the gene pool has changed some too!
One thing that has happened is kids are playing alot more baseball. 10 years ago I started what we then called an "AAU Team" in Richmond. In that age group there was a team in Hanover, a couple of teams in Chesapeake, and us.
Over the next few years the number of kids playing more than a 20 game rec season exploded.
About the same time a professional baseball academy opened at chesterfield industrial park that started with a handful of customers...there are now all kimds of options for instruction...the one in Chesterfield has 10 week programs with as many as 300 kids involved.
8 th grade kids show up to play ball at their school with personal hitting, pitching, running, and strength training coaches...they play in the Fall, Summer,Spring, and lift weights/take baseball lessons in the Winter.
It is also no coincidence that the baseball powerhouse schools...Deep Run, JR, Cosby, Godwin, and otjers are in areas where families have enough income to invest in their childrens activities.
Thats what I think has contributed to how baseball is today in our area. Mayne the gene pool has changed some too!
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the specialty centers, and how this has affected certain high schools.
I have a friend who said that there was talk last year of investigating the approval process for certain specialty centers. Seems there was a large amount of kids transferring into these centers from other sports, that just happened to be very good athletes. Imagine that.
I’ve PERSONALLY seen parents rent another house, use another family member’s address, and before the real estate market slowed so much – actually sell their house and move just to get their kid into another school district because of sports.
Talent is talent. That can happen pretty much anywhere. If I’ve learned anything about continually successful high school programs, I’ve learned that the Coach has to be driven.
Driven to practice and make his kids better. Driven to keep an eye on kids coming up in the system that are heading his way.
But the big factor is SUPPORT. If the coach doesn’t have the FULL support of the AD, the local community, active booster clubs – it’s an uphill battle.
I’ve seen schools with plenty of talent and solid coaching – not do much at all. Seems many times they were fighting an uphill battle against their own Athletic Departments.
Just my 2 cents.
I have a friend who said that there was talk last year of investigating the approval process for certain specialty centers. Seems there was a large amount of kids transferring into these centers from other sports, that just happened to be very good athletes. Imagine that.
I’ve PERSONALLY seen parents rent another house, use another family member’s address, and before the real estate market slowed so much – actually sell their house and move just to get their kid into another school district because of sports.
Talent is talent. That can happen pretty much anywhere. If I’ve learned anything about continually successful high school programs, I’ve learned that the Coach has to be driven.
Driven to practice and make his kids better. Driven to keep an eye on kids coming up in the system that are heading his way.
But the big factor is SUPPORT. If the coach doesn’t have the FULL support of the AD, the local community, active booster clubs – it’s an uphill battle.
I’ve seen schools with plenty of talent and solid coaching – not do much at all. Seems many times they were fighting an uphill battle against their own Athletic Departments.
Just my 2 cents.
ctandc, I actually wrote a post on the specialty center issue and then deleted it. I know that between specialty centers and special waivers, Monacan, Clover Hill, Midlothian, and Freeman would have some additional excellent players. I am sure there are others schools effected.
Add in some players that are at private schools - - and schools that were not the top two in the district may have been. (Yes, some parents send their players to private schools to assure their child a spot on a team, or multiple teams, among other reasons).
I wonder how the teams would fair out if everyone went to their home school? Interesting....
Add in some players that are at private schools - - and schools that were not the top two in the district may have been. (Yes, some parents send their players to private schools to assure their child a spot on a team, or multiple teams, among other reasons).
I wonder how the teams would fair out if everyone went to their home school? Interesting....
I think kids transferring among the speciality schools is a very small part of the issue.
One thing that may change things is if they put the speciality centers at less desirable schools...move the Health Sciences and Leadership programs in chesterfield to Meadowbrook and see how many kids are still interested!
In Henrico they put the IB program at Henrico High School...no one's first choice BUT kids went and as a result it has helped Henrico compete at least in baseball.
Most of those programs are highly competitive to get into so I doubt just any "good athlete" can gop where he wants.
As far as people moving into their boundary of choice...thats called "school choice" which unfortunately is only available to folks with the financial where with all to do so.
I think all kids should have the same choice regardless of where they live.
It would create competition among the schools for students...not just concerning athletics but academics as well.
Nothing wrong with parents wanting what is best for their kids...in the classroom and on the field
One thing that may change things is if they put the speciality centers at less desirable schools...move the Health Sciences and Leadership programs in chesterfield to Meadowbrook and see how many kids are still interested!
In Henrico they put the IB program at Henrico High School...no one's first choice BUT kids went and as a result it has helped Henrico compete at least in baseball.
Most of those programs are highly competitive to get into so I doubt just any "good athlete" can gop where he wants.
As far as people moving into their boundary of choice...thats called "school choice" which unfortunately is only available to folks with the financial where with all to do so.
I think all kids should have the same choice regardless of where they live.
It would create competition among the schools for students...not just concerning athletics but academics as well.
Nothing wrong with parents wanting what is best for their kids...in the classroom and on the field
I agree that specialty center transfer is likely very small, since there are high qualifications to get into the programs, so it's not like just transferring to that area. However, it will be interesting to see if the new Sports Medicine center at Monacan will influence any athletes to transfer since many of these guys (and gals) think about pursuing sports rehab, conditioning, etc in college.
I’m not blaming it on the specialty centers. But I wonder how many of those transfering or applying to specialty centers – who are athletes – would do so if the receiving school did not have a strong team in their sport?
It happens more than you think. However, I firmly believe that is a personal, FAMILY choice.
The biggest issue for any sport in high school is the SUPPORT of that school’s athletic department and its administration. I know of schools that have been told they can’t have booster clubs for certain sports – yes I’m serious. I know of programs that are told they can’t hold but a certain number of fundraisers per year.
While coaching surely plays a big part, and so does talent…you also need to have an outside support system. I would bet that if you looked at the successful programs in our area, the schools that seem to produce a winning team each and every year, they have the support of school administration, parents, students and the community.
That’s the difference.
It happens more than you think. However, I firmly believe that is a personal, FAMILY choice.
The biggest issue for any sport in high school is the SUPPORT of that school’s athletic department and its administration. I know of schools that have been told they can’t have booster clubs for certain sports – yes I’m serious. I know of programs that are told they can’t hold but a certain number of fundraisers per year.
While coaching surely plays a big part, and so does talent…you also need to have an outside support system. I would bet that if you looked at the successful programs in our area, the schools that seem to produce a winning team each and every year, they have the support of school administration, parents, students and the community.
That’s the difference.
quote:I know of schools that have been told they can’t have booster clubs for certain sports – yes I’m serious. I know of programs that are told they can’t hold but a certain number of fundraisers per year.
The concern most often expressed is that one sport wrings out the donor base to the detriment of the other sports.
The flaw in that thinking is that it views donor resources as a fixed-size pie. The reality, as any professional fund raiser can tell you, is that the potential for donations is often largely untapped and if one program generates high interest, it is more likely to result in the other programs upping their games as well.
The big question is, if someone says you cannot hold fund raisers, and then you do it anyway, what happens next? If you can raise more on your own than the main boosters group would've given you anyway, then you might not like losing their support, but giving up your own efforts to keep their lesser money doesn't make sense. The only real issue is if the principal or the AD get involved, as they have the power to fire the team coach if they are willing to take it that far.
quote:ctandc said.....I’m not blaming it on the specialty centers. But I wonder how many of those transfering or applying to specialty centers – who are athletes – would do so if the receiving school did not have a strong team in their sport?
I understand what you are saying, and I think I know the answer for baseball. I look around, and I honestly think people are at my son's specialty center for the education because it is challenging.
I have an interesting story to share on this topic..... We live in Cosby district. My two oldest sons attend or attended LC Bird (engineering specialty center). A few years ago, a woman came up to me after seeing my oldest son pitch a 1-0 loss to Cosby (one-hitter) in 2009 at LCBird. She asked where we live. I told her we live in the Cosby district but son attends Bird for the engineering program. She looked at me like I had three heads. She said "you must be the only baseball parents in the County that would allow your kids to opt out of Cosby baseball". I was totally 100% stunned. I told her that we may not be the smartest parents in the County, but it was our son's choice.
So, ctandc there are a few of us out there.
Fenway...your family is a great example of folks that understood and instilled in your kids the STUDENT part of student/athlete....although in 2010 we could have had State Rings if school wasnt so darn important to you guys!