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Post by interneuron on Dec 13, 2014 15:59:10 GMT -6
What resources or cultural shifts need to be made to raise the status of soccer in schools in Louisiana? What would be a reasonable benchmark to compare soccer's popularity to other sports? Is soccer's current status "good enough?"
I'm not a parent, or a coach, but tapping into youth soccer programs and fostering exceptional talent seems to be an effective approach for students who are already interested in soccer. Also, actual instruction during K-12 PE classes should actually include learning about specific rules for sports, not just shoehorning that material in for a poorly constructed exam. Educating people about the game is fairly important, so they can actually understand and talk about the game.
Would "incentivizing" attendance necessarily be a good thing? The target demographics would seem to be students, parents, and teachers.
As a teacher, I see that student athletes (in specific sports...) perform above average, and I recognize that participation in athletic programs is almost always looked upon favorably for college admission. Therefore, I see strengthening athletic programs as a high priority for strengthening school climate and increasing educational opportunities for students.
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Post by laffysoccermom on Dec 13, 2014 16:19:28 GMT -6
I think incenting attendance is great.
One thing I have noticed is the rescheduling and canceling of games. My daughter has had 2 JV games canceled already by other schools. Neither were weather issues. I see posts on this board about last minute cancelations. You don't hear about other sports constantly rescheduling or cancelling games.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2015 13:07:37 GMT -6
The key factors impacting high school soccer attendance in my view are:
1. Weather. High school soccer being played in the winter. basketball games take place in warm, cozy gyms.
2. Lack of the presence of mens collegiate programs in La. Admittedly, this doesn't impact the girls side.
Aside from a couple of areas, there's not much of a soccer culture (in general) in La. Not compared to other parts of the country.
Aside from throwball (which is really more of a social event) I don't see or hear of large crowds at baseball games or other sporting events either. Unless it is a huge rivalry/playoff game.
It's a big problem at Captain Shreve. Boys soccer is arguably the most successful athletic program at the school. And yet there's little to no support from the school. Very discouraging.
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Post by interneuron on Jan 16, 2015 22:51:33 GMT -6
hall97, you make many excellent points.
There was a much bigger crowd at the NHS v. SPS game tonight, and while there was plenty of excitement, I feel that many, many students had no clue what was going on (such as the belief that not scoring means "nothing is really happening" or why offsides was just called). While spectating can slowly build awareness of what's happening, students would have to stay attentive. Would having commentators help?
The weather tonight was also tolerable, thankfully. That's not always the case.
I would imagine soccer's popularity with youth cycles with the World Cup, but it's sustained by having older players teach younger players; paying it forward, essentially. Soccer is certainly growing. On the collegiate level, students are more mobile and will leave Louisiana a lot of the time, but for the adult recreational level and then youth leagues, family density would be a major factor in sustaining those programs.
Arguably, the ability to play soccer might be at a higher skill cap than other sports, which might lower participation or push potential players into other activities. While playing a variety of sports isn't mutually exclusive, there are plenty of time trade offs.
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Post by Steven Gerrard on Jan 17, 2015 20:10:27 GMT -6
You want bigger crowds and more press coverage? Move high school soccer to the spring.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 13:25:06 GMT -6
You want bigger crowds and more press coverage? Move high school soccer to the spring. Exactly!
Only the most diehard are going to brave the cold winds and rain associated with high school soccer.
The detractors always cite that moving to a spring season will cost athletes to other sports...
Like, what...baseball? SMH. Track? Maybe a few. But I could argue an athlete could handle soccer and track. Although the coaches wouldn't like it.
The other excuse is that it interferes with spring club ball...
Once again, that's an easy fix. Many states that play high school in spring have moved their state cups to late fall.
It doesn't so much shorten the spring club season as much as it extends the fall club season.
Finally it would eliminate conflicts with winter college showcase events.
No brainer.
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Post by time2retire on Jan 19, 2015 15:11:57 GMT -6
If you think you had referee shortage issues now, spring season would be impossible.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 15:31:03 GMT -6
If you think you had referee shortage issues now, spring season would be impossible. How so? because of spring club?
I'm not buying it. Because if high school was played in the spring, there'd be very few club games going on.
Well, maybe U14 and below.
if other states can and have made the adjustment, why can't La?
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Post by Steven Gerrard on Jan 19, 2015 15:33:17 GMT -6
High school pays more than club. And, as Hall pointed out, you would have fewer (if any) club games going on because the vast majority of those kids would be playing high school soccer. You would not have a shortage of refs.
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Post by laffysoccermom on Jan 19, 2015 15:56:47 GMT -6
So would club end in say March under your proposal? How would that affect teams playing in regional tournaments in the summer?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 16:50:56 GMT -6
So would club end in say March under your proposal? How would that affect teams playing in regional tournaments in the summer? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using proboards It doesn't impact regional/national tournaments at all.
Regionals are held in June. Nationals in July.
In most states that play hs in the spring, they generally start training around Feb 1. State championships are played in late April, first week of May.
Now, that does mean a little less 'prep' time for regionals. But if the state cup was moved to November, there's not a problem. Because playing state cup in may gives you the same (or less) time to prep for regionals.
Again, playing hs in the spring would eliminate most if not all of the college showcase conflicts. (As most are played during La's current winter season.)
Arkansas has always played high school soccer in the spring. (If you consider northern Arkansas in March "spring")
The complaints from the club side was having a spring state cup only gave teams a couple of weeks to prepare.
So, they changed the Arkansas state cup to November. Instead of May.
And I hate giving Arkansas credit for anything!
Last time I checked there are only 8 states that play high school soccer in the winter. On the east coast, high school is played in the fall!
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Post by loJic on Jan 19, 2015 17:08:16 GMT -6
stop with all the logic. you're showing me up
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Post by laffysoccermom on Jan 19, 2015 18:06:00 GMT -6
So when does club start in Arkansas? Is it only August- November?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 20:53:59 GMT -6
So when does club start in Arkansas? Is it only August- November? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using proboards No...thought I was more lucid.
Club pretty much runs year round everywhere.
The difference is that high school is played feb, march and april there.
Whereas here it is played nov, dec, and January.
Regionals are the same no matter where you live. (June)
As are nationals. (July)
So, moving high school to the spring doesn't impact club at all.
Here, club shuts down in mid October. As opposed to say, Dec.
In other words, you're just moving things around.
You aren't cutting one and adding to another.
State cup is no different whether it's played in Nov/Dec or in April/May.
What is different is that high school soccer wouldn't be played in the coldest months of the year.
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Post by laffysoccermom on Jan 20, 2015 13:16:10 GMT -6
Lucidity has nothing to do with me understanding. Guess there is no rule that says State Cup has to be at end of sesson.
I find how other states do things fascinating since I have only been exposed to Louisiana.
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Post by jmlrvp50 on Jan 20, 2015 15:26:07 GMT -6
so play it in the fall just like 85% of the rest of the nation play on tues thurs and sat the spring would also work as well as it would give college coaches more of an opportunity to see players
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 15:12:23 GMT -6
Lucidity has nothing to do with me understanding. Guess there is no rule that says State Cup has to be at end of sesson. I find how other states do things fascinating since I have only been exposed to Louisiana. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using proboards Sorry. Moving hs soccer to spring may make the spring club season marginally shorter. But it doesn't shorten the club 'year' any.
I think in some states though the number of high school games are more limited.
So, moving hs soccer to the spring in La would only mean a longer fall season. Plus, as I said, it eliminates the majority of college club showcases that generally are held in December and January.
Now, the younger age groups could probably keep the same soccer schedule for the year. Only problem there is that a lot of hs coaches also coach club teams in those age groups.
Moving high school to the spring doesn't negatively impact club soccer.
Looking at it another way, currently high school runs from late October thru mid February for most teams. Club teams cannot start spring practice until all their hs games are completed.
Therefore league games and state cup 'prep' lasts from early to mid March to late April. If state cup is played in the fall, it gives the state champ teams roughly the same amount of time to prepare for regionals and nationals.
Even though this only effects a couple of teams.
For other teams not going to regionals it opens up tournament opportunities for early summer.
So in my opinion there really are no negatives to moving hs soccer to the spring. Only positives.
The main one being game attendance!
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Post by laffysoccermom on Jan 21, 2015 16:22:38 GMT -6
Only negative would be hot chocolate sales in concession stand. I have done my part to make this very profitable.
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Post by loJic on Jan 22, 2015 8:50:33 GMT -6
Only negative would be hot chocolate sales in concession stand. I have done my part to make this very profitable. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using proboards In the spring you can slang Arnold palmers or lemonade
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Post by laffysoccermom on Jan 22, 2015 8:56:45 GMT -6
True... lemonade, sweet tea, or combos.... all good.
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