What's it like coaching a losing team / program?

Bus riders

The whole who gets in and doesn't is crazy. I don't even know what the criteria is anymore. Used to be it was pretty simple. The best play the best. Best defined by win loss column.

Johnny/Joany: "You mean Im not the best? You always told me Im the best!"

Mommy/Daddy: "Well maybe not this year but wait till next year. Some of us parents are going to change how we determine who gets to go to the state tournament. To many good teams that are left out that should be in there. We'll put a stop to this unfairness! You just go get with the spirit crew and get the bus decked out for the drive to next years state tournament!"

Johnny/Joany: "You mean Im not going to be left out/left behind next year? You mean the only thing I need to worry about is the window paint and the paper streamers on the Activity bus?"

Mommy/Daddy: "No hun. You won't be left out/left behind next year. I don't want my little angel to suffer from competitive induced anxiety."

Johnny/Joany: "What about after I graduate? Will I get left out/left behind?"

If this offends anyone I appologize. It may not make any sense.

 

I personally believe the "watering down" (expansion) of the playoffs by the NCHSAA has devalued the significance of making the playoffs. It all started out as a ploy to increase revenue for the NCHSAA. Let's face it, when a #1 seed with a 11-0 record plays a 1-9 #16 seed (it actually happened the first year in the 1A classification), what's the meaning, except for the NCHSAA to get money for its endowment fund. Basically what happened next was the other coaches' organizations in the state wanted the same equity for other sports. Let's face it, if football was so important that its playoffs needed to be expanded, then other sports such as baseball needed expansion too, because we only had 1/2 teh opportunity as football and basketball at that time had 48 berths per classification compared to 32 in baseball/softball.

The NCHSAA gets a % of playoff money from gate receipts in the playoffs, after expenses are taken out (officials, security, visiting team travel, etc...). This money goes to the endowment fund. They were hesitant to expand non revenue sports because the playoffs rarely, if ever make enough money for the NCHSAA.

While football makes good money (remember it has always been the sport that funds most other nonrevenue sports in any high school), is money worth the true meaning of earning a playoff spot in any sport? Basically the playoff system in NC has reached the "rec ball" mentality that exists in athletics everywhere. "Let's let everybody in the playoffs!!" I say that is a bunch of horsecrap! Teams that make the playoffs should deserve to be there based on merit, not numbers.

I will say this though, there's not a high school coach in the state that will give back a playoff spot (including me) if awarded, why would you do that to your players.

 

i agree we have watered it down too much. but if it was just the conference champions a lot of good teams would be left out. look at north davidson last year (final four). (maybe would of made it as conference tournament champions) but finished out of the top in regular season. the year northwest guilford won the state championship they where like 3rd in their conference, had to win the tournament just to get in. so maybe we should go back to the way it was a couple of years ago... top 2 teams get in from each conference.

 

i agree that if you go back to the old way then good teams get left home. yes that sucks. but you know what? if you have a playoff system where good teams are getting left home, then for the most part good or even better teams are in. and in 10 years i may completely have changed my mind on the subject. i'm sure that when the ncaa tourney was expanded to 64 and then 65 teams that there were plenty who cried foul. but now it causes so much excitement, especially with each years cinderella story. so i'm not closed off to the new system, and like was said earlier i certainly didn't say last year, no thanks to our seed in the playoffs.

 

Seeeeeeeeeeeee...

post in character thread! Two seasons: one HS year we were 8-15 for me as coach, the other an AAU team we were like 8-27 I believe...loved it EVERY minute other than the losin tho...yet we all practiced played hard and went out and gave all day in and day out. Winnin is easy losin is where all in life is learned!!!!!! Nuff said.