High School Ball well under way, what are your thoughts.

[bucketboy]

Woo Hoo they got the rain out they needed and a very light workout actually having fun in the gym playing dodge ball which was hopefully a good thing.

Michael I know you have been around the softball block once or twice, but didn't realize you had esp. LOL as you were dead on with every point.

We shall see how things go from here it should be interesting.

[gunshy]

Not quite sure how to read your response, Killerbee. To mention terms like commitment, dedication,sacrifice or work ethic to my DD or the DD's of Bucketboy, Looking in, etc is comical. These young ladies are the definition of these terms, having played easily 1000 games in their careers thus far and having attended more practices/lessons than can possibly be counted. This level of year-round preparation is beyond the imagination scope of the average high school player or average parent, which makes it easy for those parents to make bold statements about Prom, Spring Break, etc relative to one high school softball game. In actuality, girls will go to Prom their Junior and Senior years..........just twice in their lifetime. I guarantee that most girls, when they are 40 years old, will remember more about their Junior Prom than they will remember about one single regular season softball game (out of 100's). Don't get me wrong, I am as competitive and hard charging as they come, but by continually putting players who sacrifice so much already in positions where they must give up things like Prom and Spring Break, I believe we are asking too much. Once you have pushed too hard, it is impossible to un-push and make it right. Parents/players should spend more time bending the ears of their AD's and coaches about the ridiculous schedules they make, and don't take "no" for an answer.

[DrHeat]

Maybe we should get the attention of the Athletic Directors and Principals, and have them move Spring Break to the same week for every school in Indiana, then also move spring sports moratorium week to the same week. Prom weekends are spread out through 3-4 weeks and ADs could schedule games on weekends that their school does not have Prom.

[killerbee]

With all being said... Let's go ahead and push for starting school 2 weeks earlier so the football team won't feel slighted on their Summer break.

[looking in]

2 weeks wouldn't do it! All the fall sports start a couple weeks after the end of the school year! With "optional" workouts and such! Spring sports go on about a month after the school year for the better teams!

[killerbee]

Ok... Year round school for everyone!!!

[coolstuff]

Coolstuff, I have a very different opinion on Spring Break. I know your school schedules games and practices over Spring Break and has stiff consequences for missing either. In reality, every school is allowed a specific number of games (contests) per season, which is a not-to-exceed number. MANY teams do nothing over Spring Break and will ultimately play the EXACT same number of games as McCutcheon in a season and will probably have a few less early, crappy weather games and a few more pleasant weather games later in the season. What does McCutcheon gain by scheduling games during Spring Break? The weather is the most unpredictable and the kids would really rather be on the beach. As a parent, I would be honked beyond belief if I passed on Spring Break with my Senior daughter, only to have the mandated games snowed out and practices held indoors. The AD's need to get a grip and make Spring Break a down-week.
Coming from a small school where DD is a 3 sport athlete, Spring Break is the ONLY time that the kids have as their own. The cycle goes like this: volleyball 2 a-days start the Monday that we return from ASA Nationals. Basketball starts the Monday after the volleyball team is eliminated from the State tournament; basketball practices throughout Christmas break and usually plays in some holiday tournament. Softball conditioning began on Monday, after the basketball team was eliminated in Sectionals on Saturday night. Travel softball starts the first weekend after the HS team is eliminated and plays EVERY weekend until Nationals. Tell me again, why can't we take Spring Break off? I realize that playing 3 sports is an athlete's choice, but it is one that is made quite often at the smaller schools. MY belief that scheduling anything over Spring Break is not very smart, but to put kids in this position AND penalize them for taking a rare family vacation is an administrative failing. One might argue that it worked well for McCutcheon, as they won the state last year. Well, if my memory serves me correctly, some of the players on that team actually went to Florida for a few days AFTER spring break and missed school to do it. What message did we send there?

Those are all good points, gunshy. I have to admit I have mixed feelings over the fact that my family probably won't be going anywhere on spring break for the next few years. I understand the rules, but I sure needed a vacation this spring. Guess we'll plan a family vacation some other time of the year. McCutcheon HC certainly is very strict and we had heard that before, so it was no surprise. My question is about school functions. I think there should be some leniency in that regard.

[gunshy]

What are we going to debate and squabble about if the IHSAA suspends high school athletics due to the Swine Flu? Texas and Alabama have already shut down their high school sports.
Could travel tournaments be in jeopardy, too?

[looking in]

Travel tournaments better not be affected!! We'll never get our $$ from ASA!!!

[coolstuff]

What are we going to debate and squabble about if the IHSAA suspends high school athletics due to the Swine Flu? Texas and Alabama have already shut down their high school sports.
Could travel tournaments be in jeopardy, too?

Rain has already shut down the softball season. Haven't played a game all week. Next week's forecast: More Rain. Every Day. There's only two open dates in the schedule now, unless they start playing games on Sunday. This might get to the point that non-conference games are permanently cancelled to make room for rescheduled conference games.