? For the "elders" or high school coaches.....

I have a simple question for the people who TRULY know the answer(Thad,Monte, ED,Braves,BMAC,etc)there are more names but you get the idea. No sour grapes or bashers please. My question is, How do most conferences pick for all-conference? Is it by position? Batting? Fielding? I know winning teams usually have the most, but how are the numbers distributed? Also, if a player has to change positions during the season FOR THE TEAM, how does that weigh in? This position may not be their strongest one, yet some teams may see them there. Is there a set process or is it just a vote of coaches? Just asking....thanks!

 

Excellent Question Craze

I have been wondering that myself as I have not been able to make rhyme or reason out of our all conference selections for the last couple of years.

 

Most will select the same way, in the NW 4A you are "slotted" the number of players you can put up for All-Conference voting by where you finish in the standings. I think this is the right number, not 100% sure

1st-7
2nd-6
3rd-5
4th-4
5th-3
6th-2
7th-1 or 2

Coaches then decide who to "put up", submit stats, have some floor time to talk about each player and then the coaches vote on that position.

4- Pitchers
2- Catchers
8- Infilelders
6- Outfielders
2- Utility Players

I would say if a kid moves positions during the conference year, you could be considered for a utlity player os whatever you are best at the coach could put you up for that spot.

Voting is tough, our conference is great, no hidden agendas..

 

thanks

I was concerned a little with stats simply because we have a student taking stats(not bashing, just read further). I have been in the dugout some(trying not to, but they won't hire an assistant and I am the only dad other than the coach's dad to help) and have noticed that our team is not taking "true" stats. The coach told the young lady to just put if the batter(ours only) gets on base and color in if she scores. As far as I know, we are not taking game stats for our opponent. This may come back to haunt some players. One player for example gets walked twice, and has a fielders choice on the third at bat. It looks like she got three hits in the book. Player 2 gets walked once and hits two singles. Both players look the same on our book. These are only our stats, but if it comes down to turning that over it could be misleading....and what about school records? I'm pretty sure we would have some, but nobody has kept "true" stats.?

 

I was afraid of that

We only have one senior now, the rest have quit. We are very young, but I know my DD has huge goals for conference and further. I don't know if she's good enough for all conference, but do not want her to get cheated also(by us). I know the other coaches see her play, but how much weight would it carry is the key. She made varsity as 1st base/ back-up catcher in tryouts, then she wanted to challenge for 3rd and beat out a senior who later quit. She has also been a back-up catcher to a senior. Last week the senior messed up a little and was pulled by the head coach. After putting my DD in, the coach and starting pitcher(TB girl) liked her more and left her there. Now after this week, the senior catcher quits and my DD has to catch full time(no other catchers). She loves 3rd, but now can't play there after earning the spot. Cheese has seen her catch, but only because we were short handed....even borrowed some of his LOL. We are competing better than years past, but will still be near the bottom of our conference. I guess she just needs to keep hitting hard and good things will happen.

 

Does grade level every come into this process? My daughter's HS team only has one senoir and two juniors. The rest are sophmore's and freshman, several of them very good (maybe even worthy of all conference honors).

 

In years past, I know in our conference some votes have taken place without all the coaches present. To me this isn't right as that coaches players certainly do not have a voice.

Something else I really don't agree with is when coaches nominate players just because they have a certain number of nominations based on their finish in the conference. For example, in our conference there have been several instances of players making all conference with batting averages just over or below .200 and with very bad fielding percentages. These players get all conference because their team did well and the coach could nominate a lot of players. These marginal players would get all conference while very good players on other teams (higher BA and fielding % and team leaders) were not nominated because their coach could nominate but 2-3 players.

I know coaches like to have a lot their players make all conference, but I really wish some common sense would be used. Just because you can nominate 5-6 based on your finish in the conference, doesn't mean you have that many who should make all conference. What would be wrong with giving one or two of your nominations to a coach that didn't finish well, but maybe had a kid that really deserved it?

I know and agree that all conference should not only be about stats (leadership, getting big hits and great plays, injuries and other things that don't have stats should be considered), but I would think there should be some minimal standards.

For example, I know of a conference that was voting on player of the year. The vote was tied between 2 very successful and deserving players. So this left one coach (who came to the meeting very late) having the deciding vote. So when he made his decision, he made the decision he made it on his memory that one of these players "really didn't hurt him" when they played that year. So the other player got his vote.

After the meeting and when this coach looked at his scorebook and the stats of the games the player that didn't get his vote, It was discovered he intentionally walked that player 4 times and she got 2 hits and on base by 2 errors. The player he voted for went 1-6 with a walk. Hmmmmm.

But I will say the player who did win player of the year was very much deserving.

My point is that coaches should be prepared for the all conference meetings (most are). And I would hope they would consider not nominating someone if they really aren't deserving, just because you have a certain number of nominations. What would be wrong with giving a nomination or two to another coach who really has a deserving player.

Just my thoughts................................