LHSAA's "Head In Sand" Approach to Soccer

[Wofford Dad f/k/a SJA Dad]

The thread about the upcoming LHSAA meeting to limit club coaches from soliciting players while they serve as high school coaches got me wondering about the growth of the sport in our state, the obstacles we face, and what solutions might work. Admin -- please consider stickying this thread.

First, we know that, as a general rule, soccer is off the LHSAA's radar. A playoff bracket is posted in July of each year. No attempt is made to seed teams in any divisions to create any kind of playoff scenario that makes any sense. The LHSAA will say it's because there's no way to convene an objective panel that can observe teams on a consistent basis to seed teams. But we know that's a cop-out, and complete hogwash. If the LHSAA ever were to green-light a seeding committee for our sport, numerous qualified individuals would step forward to volunteer. We have such an informal panel created within this forum, which would serve as an excellent starting point.

Which brings me to my 2nd point -- I don't follow volleyball that closely [this of course might be sacrilege, considering that v'ball is almost a religion at St. Joseph's], and so correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that sport seed teams for its playoffs? If the LHSAA can sanction a seeding committee for v'ball, why can't it do so for soccer? Do they suggest that v'ball is that much more popular? Is there appreciably more media coverage from local newspapers for v'ball than soccer? I know that when SJA recently won state in v'ball, the BR Advocate covered its q'final, semi-final, and final matches with in-depth coverage. Kaitlin Hatcher, who plays on SJA's soccer team, was the MVP of the D-1 state v'ball tournament. If SJA, BR High, or other local BR teams made a similar run through the soccer playoffs, would the Advocate afford similar coverage? I don't know.

Those of you in New Orleans -- how does the TP's coverage of soccer compare with v'ball? Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alec, and north Louisiana -- how do you assess media coverage of the two sports?

Assuming, therefore, that local media plays a significant role in how our sport is viewed by the LHSAA, perhaps we need to be banging on doors of local newspapers demanding more access and more coverage. The Advocate has soccer guys like Matt Randolph and Matt Samuels in its sports department. I know those guys try their best, but they're medium-sized fish in a pretty big pond.

Perhaps the Louisiana Soccer Association and the local assocations need to be more pro-active in developing media relations. Gary Buete of BRSA does a terrific job promoting soccer in our area, but he bangs his head on concrete walls more often than he would care to admit.

We at BRSA have had a shotgun marriage with BREC for a number of years. There was a time when we considered pulling the plug. But Bill Palmer's leadership has led to a far more comfortable realtionship, and BRSA is funding some $750,000 into construction of ten new fields at the Burbank facility. And so, with BREC's cooperation, we're getting some pr. But it could be a better.

Soccer growth has exploded in Baton Rouge and the surrounding communities. Our membership in BRSA has grown something like 400% over the last 10 years -- and that's even with Gonzales, Livingston, Zachary, and Pointe Coupee developing their own programs.

The LHSAA needs to understand that. Why can't the LSA work with the LHSAA to promote the sport? Somehow or some way, the high school programs need to participate in promoting the sport on a macro[/u] level, as opposed to just their own programs. This is the world's most popular sport. The folks in Bunkie need to know that.

Now, will high school athletic directors be interested? Do they care right now? I suspect the AD's at the NO schools do. How do AD's in the state's other areas feel about whether our sport truly is appreciated or supported by your athletic directors?

And thus, while we're banging on newspapers' doors, perhaps we should also be gently knocking[/i] on our AD's doors, and respectfully requesting[/i] that he or she take a more pro-active role in a.) promoting the sport, and b.) petitioning the LHSAA to adopt a seeding process for playoffs.

What ultimately will happen to the relationship between LHSAA and the club programs? Who knows. I don't think it takes a nuclear physicist to conclude that the reason the LHSAA won't allow club players to continue their assocations with their club teams during high school play is because of a perception that it will dilute the quality of play at the high school level. But it's being done in other states. And if it leads to club players refusing to play for their high school teams, then what has the LHSAA accomplished, other than to run off quality players.

Sorry for the long rambling post. Many questions are posed here. Perhaps I am too naive to think that solutions can be implemented that will enhance the sport's growth and will foster a more meaningful relationship with the powers that be that govern high school soccer.

[Steven Gerrard]

Excellent post.

On the occasions that I travel from Liverpool and visit north Louisiana, the coverage is fairly weak. I am not sure if they have a reporter assigned to cover the HS soccer games. But, I am sure that the local paper is starving for articles. In the past, I have submitted information about my club team and have always had it published. I know of one local HS coach who submits information about his team, and it is always published. I am sure that if the other coaches (or a designated parent) would submit articles, they would be published. Same with any photos.

Same for the clubs. I think that each club should have a PR person. As should each HS soccer team. Someone who is in charge of getting them some press. A few weeks back I was in Shreveport and saw some of the Magnet v. Capt. Shreve boys game. A great crowd of a few hundred people. They were all enjoying an exciting game. But, how come those crowds do not show up to good games in northeast Louisiana? Probably because people do not know about them. Again, a PR person for each team would go a long way to helping promote the sport.

As for the LHSAA, I am not sure why they do what they do. Why not let kids play in club tournmants during the HS soccer season? Are they afraid of injuries? Are they afraid of players missing games? Do they just want to flex their HS muscle to prove that they are more important? Why can't they work together and allow players to attend some of these select showcase tournaments?

[Tigertail]

zidanezshrink said:

...A playoff bracket is posted in July of each year. No attempt is made to seed teams in any divisions to create any kind of playoff scenario that makes any sense. The LHSAA will say it's because there's no way to convene an objective panel that can observe teams on a consistent basis to seed teams. But we know that's a cop-out, and complete hogwash. If the LHSAA ever were to green-light a seeding committee for our sport, numerous qualified individuals would step forward to volunteer. We have such an informal panel created within this forum, which would serve as an excellent starting point...

I am focusing on this part of your post, because it's the one I feel the most strongly about.

Within the last 12 months, the LHSSCA has gotten recognition within the hierarchy of the LHSAA. Concerns such as seeding, playoff setup, etc. can now be voiced in a direct fashion within the LHSAA.

The MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CHANGE is that a school's HEAD COACH must become actively involved in the LHSSCA to bring these concerns from their settings to LHSAA.

Seeding in volleyball is done using a software program that computes some kind of "power ratings" system to seed the teams when playoff pairings are made after the season. I'm sure this program would be adaptable to the soccer season (or I'd be willing to bet there is a soccer-specific software out there) to seed the playoff pairings.

I do think this step is viable, however, COACHES must get INVOLVED through the LHSSCA in order for concerns to go through the appropriate channels. With the leadership change LHSAA recently went through, the soccer coaches' association is hoping for more concerned attention from the state level.

Regarding PR from local papers, news, etc.--until the perception of the sport changes statewide, I think it's about all you can expect unless reps from the school petition the media for coverage. Look at national sports coverage, soccer probably gets 2-5% (tops) of the coverage during national sports news shows, I think a trickle-down effect is in play that influences state and local media as well.

Best of luck in your crusade, my advice, talk up the soccer coaches' association to coaches you know, get them to join and ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE, and hopefully change will be imminent.

[mbssoccer]

To get coaches involved in the LHSSCA, they need to know about it.

Not much information is out there regarding this or how to get registered. Please post links or additional information about the Assocation so that more coaches can get involved.

[coachray40]

Tigertail is exactly correct. Due to Doug Hamiltons relentless efforts to bring the LHSSCA out of a period of disorganization, the organiztion now has an operating set of bylaws, and formal acceptance and recognition by the LHSAA, which took place this past summer. Despite this recognition it was too late for a change in the playoff structure. That is on the horizon, and I beleive will be THE TOPIC of this springs annual general meeting of the LHSSCA. Unfortunately membership and PARTICIPATION in the LHSSCA remains low. There must be more of a commitment of the coaches to get involved.

As far as a seeding system, we must remember that LHSAA is sports organization first and deals with soccer as part of that. Lets also remember that everything in LA HS sports follows football. Dont bang you monkey that you want something different in that regard--it isnt going to happen now or ever. Accept the fact that soccer has to find its niche in the LHSAA hierarchy and maintain its niche well. Power rankings were heavily debated in football for many year and have only been in use for about 6-7 years I beleive. It took a while to develop and pass a plan that all of the member schools in LHSAA could accept. The same will need to take place in soccer. Developing a comprehensive power rating system requires that all teams be judged on an identical constant. In football, almost all teams play 10 games, making it easy to establish a standard for rating the teams mathmatically. There is no standard yet in soccer, as different schools invest their resources differently in their respective programs. Geography plays abig part in scheduling in LA, and that affects the creation of a standard in LA. There will never be a seeding process that will be accepted by LHSAA based on objective opinion--its not feasible, doesnt work and is too controversial. If you dont believe me then go to the boys side of LAPrep and join the debate over who is #1 in Division I--Jesuit or St Thomas More. Eventually the coaches will come up with a system (there are some ideas that are already out there), and I would hazard a guess it will be put in place in the first year of the next redistrict cycle (09-10).

As far as allowing for club as well as HS play, I am not in favor of that approach. I would be more in favor of shortening the HS season, allowing players to play with their club teams up until the first game of the players respective HS season, and reducing the # of tournaments a school can play in to 2, or move the season to the fall like 32 other states (yeah right) or the spring and do away with club ball during that time. LHSAA is right in their approach of limiting players involvement. Most LS HS programs already have these kids playing 25-30 games and training every day, so why do we want to pile more on them--especially when every high level coach in america agrees that reducing the number of games players participate in is better for their development? I'm not much on divided loyalties either--play one or the other. If club play is so important than play club and dont play HS. We want to have our cake and eat it too.

[Wofford Dad f/k/a SJA Dad]

fwiw -- the BR Advocate had a very nice and detailed article on last night's St. Michael-Tara game. Hopefully, the Advocate sports editors are beginning to understand the sport's popularity. I would hope they would provide such thorough coverage each week for a "game of the week."

[Wofford Dad f/k/a SJA Dad]

SJA held a a father-daughter breakfast this past Saturday, and Coach Winchell invited a Louisiana collegiate soccer coach to speak. He shall remain anonymous, because it is unfair to him that his remarks might make their way onto this forum without his permission.

However, when prompted [partially by me], he had some very interesting things to say about the LHSAA. The main thrust of his comments was that the LHSAA has to align its interests with the Louisiana Soccer Association in both promotion of the sport at the high school level, and in development of coaches. He was adamant that a lack of consistent coaching at the high school level drags down the state of Louisiana in comparison with its neighboring states.

[happyjack]

As long as LHSAA is headed by former football/baseball coaches and/or administrators at schools where football ruled, you will not see a change. Soccer continues to be seen as a minor sport in their eyes, and the assistant director in charge of soccer (B.J. Guzzardo) chooses to attend the state wrestling championship that weekend rather than go to the soccer championships. Additionally, schools need to do a better job in hiring faculty coaches knowledgeable of the game, rather than bringing in outside coaches from clubs, and even volunteer parents.

Remember, LHSAA is a private organization that receives revenue from the schools who participate, and also receives revenue from every single playoff match in every sport it sanctions (last time i heard, it was 10% of gross gate, but it may be up to 15%). When you have 30,000 attending the football finals, and 1,000 attending soccer, who do you think will get more notice?

I asked a local radio sportscaster (WWL in NO) why no soccer coverage in daily reports, at least during WC qualifying and UEFA matches...his reply was that station management said sports will be covered in this order - Saints, Saints, Saints, LSU, Hornets, and if time left over, more Saints. Newspaper coverage is the same, there was 8 pages in the TP today on football coverage rehashing everything in yestedays games, and a very small article on the local soccer tournament that took place over the past 3 days.