Baseball over, now what? Football? Nope...

[nightowl]

Love that the OHSAA voted down the Spring Football proposal. Our kids are done with baseball as are a ton of other schools around the state. Sure would be nice if we could practice football for 10 hours over the next two weeks...

[ytownirish]

Sure would be nice wouldn't it...

[gamauter]

I know our basketball team is having "voluntary" workouts.

[dorciepatrick]

I wonder what percentage of high school athletes would want to go to football practice this time of year. It's evident that the adults are in favor of it, but what do the students want? After all, high school sports is supposed to be fun for them, isn't it?
Does anyone have any info on this?

[Junior]

dorcie if you have good coaches they will want it for the students benefit, no one is saying it hurts you to not play, why would you deny someone the opportunity to get better

[dorciepatrick]

You misunderstood my post. I'm not expressing an opinion. I'm asking a question. Do you have any answers to my question?

[doublerods]

Dorcie- to answer your question, who cares what the students want, It isn't the kid's choice...that's like saying our team will be better if we move jim to we, gee i hope he wants to and agrees...the kids will do what you want them to do by having clearcut definitive goals and process. I dont look at it as "practice" per say, but more of a football 101w focus on fundys and football i.q...above anything this is a great way to attack the "this generation stays inside and play video games all day" mantra....will 10 hrs make a difference. Maybe maybe not but if it does how beneficial was that time?

[doublerods]

Move jim to wr, not we

[dorciepatrick]

Dorcie- to answer your question, who cares what the students want, It isn't the kid's choice...

This has been portrayed by all the coaches as being voluntary, even though many have been skeptical of that assertion.
So -- as a coach -- you're saying that at your school it would NOT be voluntary?

[doublerods]

I would say no. You either choose to do it or dont as a program...promotes the vitality of spring ball and gives up and comers opportunity to establish themselves for the next season...the state im in u have a choice, 24 springball days or start fall camp 5 days earlier

[dorciepatrick]

Interesting point of view. I don't have a dog in this fight, just looking for some answers. Thanks for your clear answer, doublerods.

[buckeyedan]

This has been portrayed by all the coaches as being voluntary, even though many have been skeptical of that assertion.
So -- as a coach -- you're saying that at your school it would NOT be voluntary?

This and the post you responded to are one of the many reasons it won't happen...

just because some baseball teams are done (I guess we are planning on our school having a baseball team that doesn't go deep into the tourney?) many are not and many track and other sports are not either

the "who cares what the kids want" is THE attitude that will hopefully keep this from happening.

if they REALLY want to "get better" there are plenty of opportunities for camps... or just going and working out! so that's a complete red herring

[doublerods]

Your blanket comments about what kids think and endorsement of camps imo give perception that you are an advocate of aau and coaches giving up 10 xtra hrs is not feasible. Sorry just my thoughts and THOSE perceptions are what keeps ohio from having springball...being from ohio i know what it has to offer, being in a state w springball i see the benefits firsthand everyday....i hate to say it but a lot of the "excuses" given for no spring ball just make the coaches from my HOME STATE look like wimps. Jmo ...

[Junior]

i think if you make it voluntary and worth while (show benefits of getting recruiting coaches to practices, give a ton of fundy time, no need for conditioning and such), have a carrot there will be no reason to make it mandatory

[dorciepatrick]

Good point. What do you do if, say, 3 guys show up? A lot of small schools -- as well as schools whose programs are on a downward spiral -- may not have much of a turnout. Is that OK?

[Junior]

when starting it, i would love 3 guys, lots of one on one time, as soon as you get one that makes jumps in on field performance others will fall in line, of course would have different philosophy at a school that is already a power

[doublerods]

Good point on building foundation ..not coming to Spring practice isn't spoke of but has to do w program expectations...recruiting, and player improvement are huge carrots...even if your at a small school i cant see a small local college not wanting to come out and see players that d1s would pass up on...i could imagine u could build good relationships w a small college staff to where a coach may talk x and o's w h.s. staff after practice...

[K-Zone]

Good point on building foundation ..not coming to Spring practice isn't spoke of but has to do w program expectations...recruiting, and player improvement are huge carrots...even if your at a small school i cant see a small local college not wanting to come out and see players that d1s would pass up on...i could imagine u could build good relationships w a small college staff to where a coach may talk x and o's w h.s. staff after practice...

I think most kids would be intimidated by your expectations. This could cause the borderline football player to skip spring sports for spring football for fear that he would not be considered for a potential starting spot in the fall. I think many would assume they won't be competing for a spring championship and drop spring sports altogether, thus hurting spring sports.

[ksBuckeyeVP]

Here in KS the kids have 8 weeks(4 days straight per week) of summer weights(with speed and conditioning mixed in). Voluntary of course because they also have AAU basketball, A/AA/AAA/Major baseball and club soccer.

This is why KS is twenty years behind most football states in HS athletics.

[doublerods]

K- you are totally right. Honestly when i started working here i thought the same thing. But spring ball is all they know. All they're raised on...in defense of the smaller schools the lowest 3 classifications do not have spring ball. They can still do "skills" during the football period but that's it...will mediocre players not do spring sports? Of course they will bcause it just isn't a starting job IT IS FOOTBALL. Im sorry but I've never heard a hs teenager turn down putting on pads and hitting something. Will spring sports go away? For 10 hrs? Really? I think that's a little drastic. Maybe in ohio ohsaa says d 1/2 gets 10Hrs(5 days based on 2 hr practice), 6 hrs (3 days) of spring ball in full pads. D3+ gets 10 hrs of "skill" (position specific indy) , no pads helmets only, and 4 hrs. (2 days) in pads if more than a set number (30+ kids) are participating?

[doublerods]

If i were a buckeye fan I'D want spring ball. Great recruiters on staff that could see up and comers? Um, early offer/commit? They would put a noose on ohio recruiting ...

[heyblue]

The whole idea is BS. Football is a fall sport. Don't make kids make a choice when you're out of season. If the OHSAA would ever allow this to happen they would fail as an organization. And yes football is one of the sports I played and coach.

[doublerods]

But its ok for baseball players to not play football and do fall baseball? Double edged sword

[dorciepatrick]

Yes, that is OK. Why? Because WHATEVER sport or activity the student chooses is OK.

[Junior]

Yes, that is OK. Why? Because WHATEVER sport or activity the student chooses is OK.

so you are supporting spring ball?

[dorciepatrick]

I support whatever a high school student decides that he/she wants to participate in. If indeed spring football is voluntary (which in my opinion it should be), then of course I would support it.
Judging from some of the coaches' comments, however, I am concerned that a student would be penalized for not attending a "voluntary" session.

[Junior]

then you have a coaching issue, if you want voluntary and coach says must go then talk to school board, put guy on notice, tired of people blaming rules

[dorciepatrick]

I agree that it would indicate a coaching issue. If spring football is approved, the guidelines would need to be clear -- from the top on down -- to minimize any potential confusion.

[Junior]

i am sure the coach knows best since you hire him