VHSL "Jubilee" One Week Later -- Problems

Springer,

From my post on 2/26:

To the extent the kid with talent is the star player on his team and he is playing with friends he grew up with there is value in that experience and only they can determine what that is.  Most will probably place a good deal of significance on it. 

I suspect our points of view are closer than you might think.  I see baseball like anything else involving individual skill, intelligence or talent as something unique to the person that is how they can and should differentiate themselves from the masses.  Failure to recognize you have those gifts and to actively pursue them to the full extent possible would be foolish.

Where I think I differ from a number of posters here is that I do not place any material value on actually winning any game at the HS level.  I am skeptical that a single opportunity for a player is derived from winning any game.  I do not see winning and losing as a metaphor for life.  Read John Wooden and his teachings if you really want insight to winning and losing from the GOAT.   I have taken the liberty of adding one of my favorite quotes:

And Finally Coach John Wooden says ” Don’t whine. Don’t complain. Don’t make excuses. Just get out there, and whatever you’re doing, do it to the best of your ability. And no one can do more than that. I tried to get across, too, that — my opponents don’t tell you — you never heard me mention winning. Never mention winning. My idea is that you can lose when you outscore somebody in a game. And you can win when you’re outscored. I’ve felt that way on certain occasions, at various times. And I just wanted them to be able to hold their head up after a game. I used to say that when a game is over, and you see somebody that didn’t know the outcome, I hope they couldn’t tell by your actions whether you outscored an opponent or the opponent outscored you. That’s what really matters: if you make effort to do the best you can regularly, the results will be about what they should be. Not necessary to what you would want them to be, but they will be about what they should, and only you will know whether you can do that.”

With due respect, and I do respect your posts...

I personally, find it hard to understand one comment, that is quite implicit in its selfishness, and then another whereas you chose to post a John Wooden quote.

Being somewhat familiar with him, and his value system, I am certain that he would not approve of his any of his players skipping out on the Final Four (state tournament), to participate in one of many NBA pre-draft workouts (PG event).  Not only would John Wooden not approve, it is unlikely that they would remain on the team.

More importantly, his players never would have considered it.  

These are the values that he reflected; the men who played for him loved him, because they shared his values.  These things are reflected in one's commitment, and the passion with which they play.

When I think of a college coach looking to recruit a young man; I think of a coach who is looking for talent, but there's plenty of that.  The deciding factor is whether or not the young man is a good fit for his program.  That's where his character will come into play.  Work ethic, dedication, is he a good teammate, etc.

Bottom line, there are a very few select young men who will miss out on those events.  In the big picture, many of them are probably committed anyway. If not, and they are invited to such events...their recruitment is closer to being over, than beginning.  Which is to say, everyone already knows who they are.  If I were a college coach, I would much rather hear that this player I was hoping to see, was helping his team compete for a state championship, than competing in a showcase in front of me and other scouts.  I can only say that my view of the player would be forever changed if the young man stood in front of me running the 60, while his teammates back home played without him.

Go Heels - I have never said that any player should or would walk out on the games with the HS team. 

This whole thing has been twisted around because I introduced the notion of winning or losing the State Championship (or any HS game) compared to creating a long term personal opportunity was the more important priority.  I now wish I hadn't because it is a red herring to the point.

So here it is:

I am of the belief that all HS students regardless of the activities they are engaged in should have as the primary goal preparation for life at the next level.  For most that means getting into the right college, perhaps creating financial relief via athletic or academic scholarship...or both.  It is their future and they owe it to themselves to work hard at it and create every opportunity possible.

All else is secondary or contrary to this purpose.  This is where I was trying to say that winning or losing any game does not impact the outcome of the students future, it is a secondary and irrelevant detail.

So, if that makes them selfish I can live with that assessment but I'd say they are focused and dedicated young men or women with bright futures. 

Let the games begin.

Put in this light, I understand.  Fair enough!

In other news...I too am completely over the weather.  However, I am hopeful that a silver lining exists.  Normally when the winter is this bad, the spring and summer are fantastic!

Here's hoping...

I saw this on the VHSL site today:

"The VHSL Calendar is based on the NFHS Standard Weeks Calendar, where Week 1 is the first full week in July each year (Sunday to Saturday)."

....which explains the reason for the calendar change this year, I guess.

this may or may not ever be read but I have to say suck it up.  Where exactly is the VHSL supposed to put title games in the spring.  The last weekend in May, The 1st two weekends in June are always going to be graduation weekends.  Yes my school graduated the last Saturday of May, and a couple of years ago we lost in the 1st round of states, if we would have won, we would have been playing the 1st Friday night in june in the semis.

It'd suit me if they would put them right where they put them for years prior to 2014 -- exactly one week earlier.

I for one wouldn't have had it any other way last year!! My son got his diploma handed to him while standing on home plate and 3 hours later got presented his state championship medal standing in the same spot..... He told his assistant principal early in the fall to start packing for a little ceremony in June... What a thrill for those graduates!!! They wouldn't have traded the field for a stage for ANYTHING!!!

Interesting thread - or should I say it's interesting to read the different point of views from people of differing backgrounds.

Travel baseball and HS baseball (at least in my area) is like comparing apples and oranges.

Can a player get seen at a high school game by a college coach / recruiter?  Sure.  In fact around here it happens a good bit - but in pretty much every case (that I've witnessed at least) the player the coach came to see was already on his radar from travel ball or other exposure.  Now I have seen other players get noticed when these college coaches do show up.

Kids play high school baseball to compete and play with their friends and for their school.  More for their friends in my opinion.  Of course all this depends on the type of program at that particular high school.  

I was never going to play D1 college football - doesn't mean that the two state championships (high school) that I played in (and won) weren't meaningful.

I think a lot of posters here assume that most kids go on to play baseball in college.  That's simply not the case - and it's not always because the kid isn't good enough.

Injuries, Education choices, - any number of factors come into play.

Honestly, while some HS coaches might not want to admit it (note I said some) I think travel baseball has helped HS baseball - at least in my area - I don't live anywhere else.  Kids are getting more and better training and coaches are getting much better players from the get go when they start filling rosters.

As for Legion - I guess it depends on what part of the country your in.  Most kids I know, and have coached, they looked at Legion as another chance to play with their friends - even those from other high schools.