Completely inappropriate

[ace636]

rainout of D2 regional semi-final at Mason High School tonight. I try not to let the weather bother me too much because there is nothing you can do about it and we all have to deal with it. What really pisses meoff though is when you have the tools at your fingertips to easily prevent a cancellation due to weather and either due to stupidity, laziness, or selfishness, you do nothing about it.

Watching a narrow, fast moving thunderstorm heading towards Cincinnati all day. Both teams, parents,fans, etc. know it is going to hit hard at 4:00 before a 5:00 game.We all have radar on our phones.The Mason staff has the field pristine and ready by 2:45. When they are asked about tarping they say "this field can take a ton of water" and "we actually watered it for 45 minutes to knock the dust down for you". They were repeatedly questioned about if it was smart not to tarp. Of course storm hits hard and it pours from 4:00 to 4:20 while the tarp is laying against the fence.It cools off, the sun comes out and it is a gorgeous evening and then around 6:00 after an hour delay they decided that the field was lost for the night. After the fact, I heard a couple of great excuses "we didn't have themanpower to tarp" and my favorite "we don't tarp this field because it is synthetic dirt".

Isn't it your job to have the appropriate manpower? Where was everyone? Off scouting the Lakota game?
These games are important to the players, coaches, and fans. You had 30-40 girls traveling 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours by bus to be there. Now you have one team that is going to be asked to win tomorrow night, then turnaround and play the regional finals on about 10 hours rest. Is that really fair to them?
Mason definitely has the "Taj Mahal" of Ohio high school facilities. If you are honored with theprivilege of hosting regionals take a little pride in your work. Be considerate of the schools and fans that are coming into your house and use a little common sense. With two working parents I estimate that your inability/unwillingness/lack of foresight to tarp the field for 20 minutes cost my family $500. Multiply that out by 35 players, parents, grandparents, fans, and add in the cost to the participating schools and you probably cost us a combined $15,000 - $20,000 tonight. I am sure you don?' give a crap, but it is something to think about.

If you are more concerned with focusing on what your team is doing and needs to do for the playoffs, I understand. Just consider the impact you have on others and have the class and decency to politely decline hosting if that is the case.

 

[daboss]

I don't know of any high school, or school district, keeping a grounds crew handy for any reason let alone tarping a field for any level of game. The Reds have that------not the OHSAA. Most of the time it is volunteers that grab an end of aq tarp and follow directions to cover a field. You seem to do well with running numbers to tell a story that hurt your chances to see a game. Run the same numbers to see what the OHSAA would need to spend to insure a grounds crew around to get the tarp taken care of. Should they have made excuses? NO!!! Why did they do that? To avoid confrontation from parents and family that think everyone else's time and money grows on trees.

You got rained out. Get over it. In the future ask if you can help pull your small corner of the tarp to avoid such a problem and accept the answer from staff whatever it may be. FYI, keep a pair of gloves and maybe some boots handy in case they call you on your offer and actually want your help.

 

[ace636]

Since our high school is lucky enough to have a tarp, they utilize it every day of the season as needed. Sometimes they need help getting it on the field because the team is unavailable for whatever reason. Multiple parents, including me, grab a corner and drag it on when that happens....takes 5 minutes. There were plenty of players and volunteers available from both teams wanting to do so last night. The numbers I am curious about are what the regional host site is paid. There were a lot of people complaining about that and wondering why they didn't at least have a skeleton crew available given the obvious situation. Actually got kind of ugly and a little uncomfortable when the no refund policy was enforced (I think that is OHSAA). So ugly that they started relenting and giving money back to those who screamed the loudest.

I am definitely over it. Kids are tired though. Hopefully sleeping in this am will have them ready for the 5 hour round trip and game this evening.

 

[SOFTBALLS14]

Mind you I to do NOT like the things OHSSA by any means!!
But, Enjoy the ride as some teams are out of it! ... Weather can't be controlled and if you or your DD or someone with no experience helped pull the trap on and got injured they would be looking to sue. THIS IS NOT COLLEGE BALL.
It's H.S. ....So enjoy the beautiful weekend of tourney ball!! As it goes quick & only comes by when you are lucky enough to be able to put together a team that can go far. Sometimes it takes a decade to do again!! So RELAX and enjoy the chance of a lifetime! JMO

 

[CoachB25]

Yes, it is their responsibility to have the ability to tarp if they have one. However, there are other factors as well. We have a tarp. When I was the HC of our softball program, we used it anytime the forecast was for rain. One day I get a call into my AD's office. The maintenance crew filed a grievance and so, they would no longer touch our tarp. If it was on, the would not even move the edges to line the diamond and batter's box. For the rest of that year, I did the tarp by myself. Yes, one person doing a tarp during my prep period. You can't imagine how hard that is. In the end, I gave up and we didn't tarp. I was the last person to put that tarp up and it has not been unrolled since. I'm betting the field mice have had a great time creating a huge community in that tarp.

 

[JoeA1010]

The part I'm most shocked at is no refunds for a game that never started? Do those people have to pay again today? If so, that is pure greed from the OHSAA if that's true. I'd go so far to say that is fraudulent, taking money for a game that was never started and making people pay a second time for the same game.

 

[ace636]

The part I'm most shocked at is no refunds for a game that never started? Do those people have to pay again today? If so, that is pure greed from the OHSAA if that's true. I'd go so far to say that is fraudulent, taking money for a game that was never started and making people pay a second time for the same game.

No they don't ever make you pay twice. Just have to bring your ticket back.

 

[Captain_Thunder]

The part I'm most shocked at is no refunds for a game that never started? Do those people have to pay again today? If so, that is pure greed from the OHSAA if that's true. I'd go so far to say that is fraudulent, taking money for a game that was never started and making people pay a second time for the same game.

I was at a game last Friday where it was raining before the game started & should have been stopped prior to the finish because the field was getting dangerous.
When I bought my ticket, I was told to hold on to it & if rained out the game would be played on Monday & I needed my half ripped ticket to get back in at No Cost........
If someone will not be able to return today - I can see them complaining - but willing to bet 98% will be there today.......

With all else going on - OHSAA def puts the Host sites in a bad situation with this policy.......

 

[lewam3]

Ace, 636...
your DD and her team are in the Regionals! Woohoo!!!! Enjoy it! Seriously, enjoy it!!!! A rainout is a rainout and you have no control over it, tarp or no tarp. There are plenty of mom and dads that would gladly trade places and drive out twice to watch their DD and DD team play in the Regionals. My DD pitched and lost last years Clyde Regional Final, and despite that huge emotional letdown, she really really wished she could be there today. So be happy that you are there, pay twice if they make you, and just enjoy the ride!!!! Good luck!

 

[Rocket8]

Lewam3 - definitely. DD is a freshman who got called up after the season. She played in the first two tournament games and has not been on the field since. She wants to be on the field but understands to wait for her turn. My point - we are paying $6, $7 for three every game, driving 30-75 minutes for games and like I told my DD - enjoy the ride, be ready if you are called upon and help the team anyway you can. Most of all I told her to enjoy the ride and she is along with her teammates. My wife and I are also loving every minute of it. You don't know if you will ever get back to this point, so enjoy it and try not to sweat the small stuff..We will be in Centerville Saturday come rain, shine, mud or any other thing mother nature can throw our way to support the team. Good luck to all of the teams still playing in the state tournament.

 

[FastBat]

Lewam3 - definitely. DD is a freshman who got called up after the season. She played in the first two tournament games and has not been on the field since. She wants to be on the field but understands to wait for her turn. My point - we are paying $6, $7 for three every game, driving 30-75 minutes for games and like I told my DD - enjoy the ride, be ready if you are called upon and help the team anyway you can. Most of all I told her to enjoy the ride and she is along with her teammates. My wife and I are also loving every minute of it. You don't know if you will ever get back to this point, so enjoy it and try not to sweat the small stuff..We will be in Centerville Saturday come rain, shine, mud or any other thing mother nature can throw our way to support the team. Good luck to all of the teams still playing in the state tournament.

All true and great advice. I will add, someday she will be that senior trying to rally her team to end her career with a win, not many seniors in their HS careers will do that. Right now it probably seems like it's been a long season, but give it all you got and then some, and I bet the girls behind her will return the favor when she's a senior. Good luck!

 

[DW@SBC]

Depends on the tarp but a normal sized softball field tarp would take 20 crew members and if you think parents are going to jump in be ready to call 911. Pushing around those tarps is not easy.

It costs $500 to take the family to a high school playoff game?

 

[ace636]

Depends on the tarp but a normal sized softball field tarp would take 20 crew members and if you think parents are going to jump in be ready to call 911. Pushing around those tarps is not easy.

It costs $500 to take the family to a high school playoff game?

I was just estimating $500 for two working parents taking a full day or 1/2 day off and driving 300 miles round trip to regionals. By the way, whatever 20 parents you are talking about that need 911 to pull a tarp should consider laying off the walking tacos and eating an apple.