More games/longer season?

As a long time HS coach it has ALWAYS been my contention that teams here in NC ought to be playing in the neighborhood of between 30-35 games per season BEFORE playoffs! With all the off season working out AND the intense TWO WEEk pre season I want to play JUST as the kids do four games a week ought to work! I f the state of NC wants to continuwe to move forward and rank with the elite of the country in terms of HS baseball then ought we consider this? Look at the games i.e. limits in other states! Sure weather is a factor BUT alot of other things are as well! Just MHO! Thoughts?

 

I don't think it is ever likely to happen, the NCHSAA doesn't make money from baseball, therefore there is no desire for them to do anything to make it more costly for Athletic Departments either. I do not see many AD's & principals across wanting a longer baseball season because that's just more missed classes for those players and principals will not go for that. Many AD's are trying to find ways to be more frugal also.

 

The only way an increase in games may ever come, would be if our state went to counting the number of play dates as opposed to games. Some states do this, as well as counting tournaments as only one date for scheduling. As a coach, I to do not foresee any future plans to expand the current limits in NC. And while four games a week may be fun (and force people into developoing pitching as opposed to just relying on an ace), it's probably not very practical. The "student" part of student-athlete would place potential conflict on efforts aimed at academic achievement. Also, the "husband" roles that many coaches also employ may become compromised.

 

What a great answer....otherwise I would be a huge proponent of Saturday games. It would certainly boost attendance

 

I totally agree. We can play a max of 24 regular season games. Now because of that rule we only schedule 24. Then we loose games every year to bad weather. Sometimes 1 or 2 and sometimes 3 or 4. If we were allowed to play 35 regular season games we would still get in around 30 with the bad weather. As it is we schedule 24 and play around 22-20 games. Also because we play so few games we all are desperate to get games in even win the weather is bad. The programs that do not want to play more than 24 can schedule what they want. But the ones that want to should be able to do it.

 

More games...

I am also a big supporter for more games. Other states, such as Georgia play on Saturdays to get more games in and also allow for team travel. During the week it is often difficult to get to some of the venues. I would love to see double header Saturdays. Four games during the week would definitely interfere with academic performance. As much as most of us would like to see more games, I do not see this happening any time soon.

 

I'm not sure whether more games would benefit anyone. I used to want more games. You count on 24 HS games and then 28 AL games, that's 52 not counting Fall ball.


I wouldn't mind seeing the season pushed forward 'til March and play three a week. Even better let's switch seasons with football, they have the baseball weather and we have football weather as it is now.

 

I know it will never happen but think about how great it would be if we switched with football. Great weather to practice and play in 7pm games parents could make them all. When it does rain so what they dry right up. Most fields are bermuda and they are in the best playing shape during football season. No problems with Legion ball as far and HS season overlapping into it. It would eliminate the fall off season but that could be played in the summer and spring. So many benefits but I am only dreaming.

 

Not to mention it would be the perfect time for college coaches both football and baseball to see players. It's their off season. One day maybe we will do the best thing all the way around for our student athletes.

 

One problem with the conflict between scheduling more games and the loss of class time is that some schools don't have lights. This forces afternoon games and players leaving early from school. Also, more games during the week means less quality time for homework, projects, etc. Players don't want to come home after a game and do schoolwork. They're ready for bed or relaxation.

Part of this may depend on how close schools are to one another. In a large metro area, the travel is less onerous. In my part of the state, it might be more of a burden for the northeastern schools to have more games because they have to travel so much.

As far as North Carolina "keeping up" with other states, this is not MLB. It is amateur play. Players have and should have other interests. Sometimes the coaches don't keep in mind that it's not a job for the players.