Comments on: Back at work … with a fresh controversy

By: Braittath

Braittath — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:59:33 +0000

Hi people
I’m new here
Thanx

By: EP Girl

EP Girl — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:09:11 +0000

I think that although there are some benefits to moving sports away from the HS’s, it still would have more negative impact. Club sports are way more expensive than school sports and would greatly limit participation of those who don’t have as much money. Competing for the HS gets community support and creates school spirit. Maybe if there were not HS teams then club sports would get more attention, but currently few people come watch club sports besides family/friends of the players. If you think recruiting and politics in HS sports is bad now, I’m sure it will get worse if school teams go away and everything is club.

By: Gopher Runner

Gopher Runner — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:03:14 +0000

While the idea of moving certain sports out of their traditional seasons to better fit MN weather and HS schedules isn’t all that bad of an idea, it could have a negative impact on potential college recruits. In a sports management class I took at the U, we read a case study on a similar scenario in another state where some sports were moved out of their traditional seasons. A girl’s family sued the HS league for that state and won b/c having the season outside the traditional season limited her ability to be recruited by college coaches. The signing dates for college athletic scholarships are set-up around the traditional seasons so in the case of soccer, for example, I believe the signing date is some time after the fall season. If you played in the spring, then the senior season for those athletes wouldn’t really count for those athletes b/c they would have to sign before the senior season. This is no different then it is for the current spring sports, but the difference is that all traditional spring sports have to deal w/ this, while traditional fall sports do not. Moving a fall sport to the spring would put our athletes at a disadvantage compared to the majority of the country. Just some thing to think about.

By: Northdude

Northdude — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:35:30 +0000

I have a feeling that what to “do” about school-based sports is a discussion that is just beginning. It is traditional for schools to sponsor athletics, but does that practice “fit” anymore. I guess we need to stay tuned!

By: Wayzata Dave

Wayzata Dave — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:49:18 +0000

I lived in Iowa for several years before moving back to MN. And Tonkaboy is correct - Iowa’s HS baseball season is May, June and July. Apparently done for 2 reasons - 1. Eliminate the conflict with Track 2. Eliminate the spring weather issues.

I can honestly say that Legion BB isn’t that strong in Iowa (certainly not to the degree it is here) and that town / club ball doesn’t really start until after the kids there leave HS.

As to whether or not to “eliminate” spring sports (none of which are considered “Revenue” sports) - at least one arguement for keeping them is Title 9 which requires equal opportunity for female and male atheletes. Not sure what eliminating Baseball, Track and Softball would do…but my guess is that it would not be good. Maybe they’d cancel each other out…

Another reason to keep in the schools is the ability for schools to provide a chance for all to participate. For many of the rural areas of the state - there’s the school teams or no teams. Club teams / town teams aren’t as accessable to the person that lives 30 or 40 miles from the town.

By: Vince Muehe

Vince Muehe — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:19:45 +0000

In response to Bill Brasky’s comment that all extra-curricular activities should be removed:

I see a lot more educational merit in debate, speech, theater and even choir, than I do in sports. Not that sports don’t have an educational component, I believe they do, just not to the same level.

I’d be open to looking at the elimination of spring sports (baseball, softball and track).

The weather in Minnesota doesn’t cooperate. And as “tonkaboy” points out, Legion and Club baseball rank #1 and #2 in development over high school. The same can be said for softball in many cases (at least in the metro area).

It would give the “summer” baseball and softball programs an extra month to prepare for their seasons — where there are no travel rules, no number of contest restrictions, etc.

By: Chas

Chas — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:21:58 +0000

Coaches… I’d say be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. No way that school districts will pull an activity away from the MSHSL, so that means creating non-school teams. If you think you’ve got problems with parents now, just wait until the parents have to fork over two to three times the amount of money they do now for their kid to be in a sport. They expect playing time and they expect wins. You guys have enough pressure on you just trying to coach and not have parents run you out of town. Don’t try to reinvent the system.

By: Spicebear

Spicebear — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:22:41 +0000

Bill Brasky… I’ll go for that. Maybe what we’re talking about is re-aligning competitive athletics, rec athletics & Arts into a more “community” oriented thing and focussing schools on academics.

By: Bill Brasky

Bill Brasky — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:59:36 +0000

If you think sports should be removed then all extra-curricular activities should be removed as well - like choir, theater, debate. etc.

By: SMBowner

SMBowner — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:37:27 +0000

Sports should be removed from education and should be handled with private funds instead. Schools need to focus on education, not on building stadiums.