Why Have a Conference Tournament?

If their intention is to "skate" through the tournament then perhaps, but most coaches in that position want to give other players an opportunity to play--to see who may help them in the playoffs. If they are the no.1 seed, obviously, they are a very good team with talented players waiting for an opportunity to play....and a good coach looks for those games to give them that opportunity. They worked hard to put them in that position, so they may as well take advantage of it.

As far as risking injuries, most good coaches don't think about that--outside of giving a pitcher some rest or resting someone that has a slight injury, but it's amazing how that works. If you are worried about injuries, inevitably, it will happen...and in many cases outside the white lines.

I understand someone wanting to get some playing time for players that have worked hard all year and deserve it. It's a win/win for them.

 

The Incentive to Play

From what I understand, the incentive to win a conference tournemant falls to the #2 regular season seeded team and down. The #2 has to play to protect their home STATE playoff game. Using the CAP 7 as an example, everyone 3 through 7 gets a chance at redemption or possibly a better seeding in the STATE. So there is allot riding on the tournament if you do not finish as a #1 regular season Champ. Case in point is Leesville Road winning the CAP 7Tourney. They went from finishing 4th regular season and playing a STATE away at a #1, to taking a #2 seed and hosting a home STATE playoff against a #3. That killed a home STATE game for #2 Wakefield who now has lost their home STATE game and must play away at a #2.

This might sound prejudice because we won the Cap 7, but the conference tournaments add so much to the game at the end of the season, plus you get to play prior to the STATES instead of sitting. Surprised it took the CAP 7 so long to even get a tournament. AS far as #1's resting players...that's up to the coaches, but if it were me I'd want a shot at all three...Regular Season, Conference Tournament, and State.

I could not image being a Senior and having a coach telling me we were not going to give it all we had to try and win all three. I have to agree with MarlinFan, I think these #1 coaches who are resting players are dropping the ball on these conference tournaments. JMHO.

 

Let me kindly respond to three points you made.

First, as a program we decided to do what was best for us while realizing some people might get all worked up about what we did. WE are doing what's best for our girls and to your point, they didn't care about competing in this tournament. We talked about it with them and they are completely focused on our first round state playoff game.

Second, you are completely correct about the incentive to play. We are the number 1 seed and what did we have to gain? No, it's not a question of underestimating other teams as we have won a lot of games in a row in conference play. As I said, our focus is simply on the state tournament.

Third, Leesville did earn the CAP-7 tournament and there should be no asterisk.

 

WHY!?

Just ask any kid playing on any team and you'll get the answer. If you really want to know ask mine, but wait until EMS gets finished working on her.
Dad

 

seeds

there is one thing left out - split conferences. BIG SOUTH did not play a baseball tournament but did play a softball tournament. (all 4A final crest vs east gaston 1 vs 3) but even if east wins nothing changes they still only get the 2nd 4A seed.

when we go all 3A next year maybe it will go back to meaning something real.

even now - the tourny can mean something as tie breakers if the ties are amoung same size schools

 

Scrimmagimg you conference

I am not sure about other conference tournaments but the GNR tourney determines the #2 seed out of the conference. The teams that qualify for the playoffs after the regular season are not necessarily going. If the # 7 conference team wins the the tourney then the # 5 seed stays home. (did that make since or did I ramble a bit?) As for resting players, I know what team you are refering to. their #1 pitcher was resting a sore back, Their catcher i believe was held out by her parents for academic reasons and the center fielder had been sick for the last week and had not practiced. The situation 'phreak spoke of in the CAP 7 I was told was totally different. That was a case of a coach "resting is players for the play offs"

 

That only leaves two sports--right? Football and men's bb?

 

it doesn't take an accountant...

cheeeze said it very well:

"with potential budget cuts in the coming year, it will go the way of most jv teams and non-moneymaking sports. I'm serious, this is not only being discussed, it will be implemented on some scale next year. sports that do not pay for themselves will probably disappear as a school funded item and possible club play/pay as you play will come into effect. so with this in mind, i know our conference tournament is gone."

 

Sad State of Affairs

You know that it will eventually trickle down to the STATES as well. Eventually I could see State Championships being decided by an NC Coaches Poll. No more Non-Conference games either. It was fun while it lasted.