The death of the SW4A Conference

Look what happens to schools who realign through zoning changes, i.e., the kids move to a different school, but the teachers / principals stay the same. Does the school remain exceptional? No! Why don't you see a quality coach move to one of these schools? Talent drives success. Without good coaching and talent you won't see exceptional programs, but coaching without talent and the programs remain at the bottom. To fix this problem, you would have to have ownership over the entire process. From little league / middle school /club and HS. If you had a program aligned under one leader driving towards a conmmon goal of success, you might be able to turn around some of these schools.

 

The first year I coached, I was a soph in college and had the JV baseball team. We went 18-3 or 19-2 - I literally forget which.
I knew I was ready. I knew I was the new gift to the profession. I had this coaching stuff down pat.

What I now know is that I was coaching a group of (I think 14 total) sophs and freshmen, of whom I believe 8 would go on to play collegiately in 2-3 years.

Look, I think I/we do a good job of coaching at our school. I think we are knowledgable and teach the game. I have been blessed to be a part of 18 conference titles (outright or shared) in the last 21 years, some of which can be attributed to the coaching staff. That said, the lesson I later learned from that 1991 JV team, and many others since is:
It ain't so much about the Xs and Os as it is about the Jimmys and Joes...
OR
No horses, no run...

I would agree that coaching makes a huge difference - hopefully in more than just the baseball side of things. However, what we start with is the greatest influencer in the W-L columns. I hope I and my staff are good for 3-4 wins a year in tough, competetive games through a 23+ game season. I know the players are good for 5X that - assuming we win 15+.

Finally, one of the oldest cliches:
Players win games. Coaches lose them. (See x and o comment above...)

 

Thread topic

Thread topic was "the death of the SW4A conference" -

In that regard, it was a successful realignment.

It was, is and always will be - S T U P I D

and, Post15, that ain't got nuthin to do with valet parking.

I can assure you there are more ya'lls than yoose guys. However, I'm certain that there aren't as many as you have in the legion tribe. You win that hands down.

You may be on to something with the super-preppy conference. Problem is that MP would loose the money and luster of the longest running prep tournament in NC - the Jack Sink! The mom's put on quite a show there for sure.

 

Bingo....that's where the commitment must start. There is one gentleman that is striving to do just that. I will "spotlight" him later. He deserves it!!!!

 

Historically, the SW4A has been one of the top leagues in the state. Without question, if it comes to be, the loss of Butler, Independence, Myers Park, and East Meck to be replaced by Berry, Charlotte Catholic, Harding, Olympic and West Meck would greatly reduce the level of play within the league as it is currently constructed.

Let’s look at facts: the five teams that are to be added to the SW4A in the proposed CMS realignment offering to the state were 10-50 against current SW4A members over the last five seasons, being outscored 518-164. Meanwhile, Butler, East Meck, Independence, and Myers Park were a combined 117-58 in non-league regular season games. In those same five seasons, SW4A teams have won 42, 4A playoff games including five district titles; three sectional titles; two regional series; and a state championship. The proposed schools from outside the SW4A do not have even a single 4A post season victory. Yes, Catholic is 4-5 in 3A but it is speculative at best to project them as a playoff team if they had been playing in the SW4A during those five seasons.

But beyond the wins and losses there is so much more. The SW4A has had weak teams in the past. Even in its current configuration, there are cycles where teams raise and fall within the standings, which is natural in high school athletics if all things were equal. The problem with the proposed alignment is it creates a much larger disparity of inequity within the league to the point where the second division teams rarely, if ever, will rise up and challenge the top teams. For a league to be good there needs to be some sort of competitive balance. The SW4A has been fortunate to have more than their fair share of top players but what made the league good and fun is the balance. Here is an example of when every night any team can win www.thisboardrocks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170835 .

But more important than having top talent or good competitive balance is to have a league that is full of good programs. That does not mean every program wins every year, but it does mean that the kids in that program recognize that they are part of something special and are willing to make sacrifices for it and then return to support it. The SW4A teams, parents, and patrons have supported their programs to a tune of over $1,000,000 to upgrade and care for their facilities over the last decade. New playing surfaces, lights, club houses, fencing, batting cages, plate halos, wall back stops, sprinkler systems, over seeding, and field maintenance equipment have all been added to the league’s parks making them some of the most desirable places to play in the city and across the state. This had nothing to do with wins and losses but was done as part of the pride in their programs they have. This could be true at every school within the city but the reality is not. You mock them with your “valet” comment, yet fail to give those teams and coaches credit for all the endless hours of work it takes to make those things happen and fields to be maintained as a source of pride in their programs. We have seen in the league what happens to facilities and programs when coaches that are less committed take the reins and we are extremely proud of what we do have. For more TBR discussion on top programs: www.thisboardrocks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115953

While I think death is a little strong, it is understandably sad to those that have followed the league to see it significantly diminish if the proposed realignment becomes reality. In covering the league for this my 10th season, I was able to promote it as “one of the best leagues” in the state, and this year is no different. I have consciously never have said that they are the best because there are so many talented players, good teams, and excellent programs across the state and I never want to take anything away from them. Hopefully, I will be able to make that claim one of the best again in the future.

On the other hand, if you think you have to go to Union county to see good baseball day in and day out this season, enjoy your commute, I am sure you will find it. For while the Union County teams play excellent baseball, SW4A fans will be enjoying their usual ho-hum. Oh, by the way, the SW4A was 24-15 versus those strong teams the last five seasons.

 

Clarity

While it is my tendency to try and "Baffle with BS" I can always count on Mincmi to "Fascinate with Facts." As usual, very well done.

Through the eyes of any baseball junkie, this is a horrible direction to take.

What I don't understand is the rationale for the decision. Can anyone defend, logically and practically, any valid reason supporting this lunacy?

 

BD, anytime you have a headsratcher pertaining to the NCH$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$......AA is usally comes down to two things..money or making sure that the conferences in the west are stacked up for cannibalization so the weak teams in the east have a chance to win ships. One or the other...no other reasoning is possible.

 

dont blame the NCHSAA, these conferences were the brainchild of the CMS Athletic Department

They certainly arent geographic based as schools that are twice as far away are now in and schools half the distance are moved away. Instead of a bus going 10.7 miles for a game, it will now go 22 miles for a conference game, that means later times getting home and more money spent on gas...
#wisdomofcms

The NCHSAA original conferences were superb for the SW4A, it was CMS that demanded change.....

 

Its social engineering, just like when they implemented busing.

 

No Child Left Behind

They won't do it but ”they” should go ahead and beat these teams by 30 or 40 runs.

They won't because they're concerned what CMMess might do. So they'll beat up on them by 10 or 15 runs using subs and everyone will be happy.