Middle School Sports - Club or OHSAA?

[default]

I agree with you ohioquakerman, I don`t care for the sanctioned teams for middle school, ( I`ve been in that boat with having girls tied up ), and they do seem to take a little longer with thier version of play-offs, ect. But I do like the club teams, ( there are a lot of girls who enjoy playing for thier school, even if its not sanctioned), it helps promote and gain more interest in softball, and they are a lot easier to work with and you can still get some work in with those girls without causing any issues with OSHAA, unfortunately, that just means high school is just around the corner, and then we don`t have a choice.

 

[default]

And that is what I am afraid of Troya, what you said about high school and having no choice.

The number #1 point is... It isn't going to matter at all if a middle school team is "school sanctioned" or a "club" team... if OHSAA gets to the point of regulating the STUDENT ATHLETES... that will include ALL student-athletes. Being on a school sponsored team or club team won't matter anymore.

And then you get to watch the travel ball coaches getting in a Memorial Day event for 2011 or whatever...in October prior the tournament and having full plans on playing in it in October when they got in.. now having to worry and secretly hoping that the middle school team his Number #1 pitcher is on gets beat early !!!!

My point is.. if people don't take the time and write and try to stop this madness of OHSAA through the Governor's Office and every politician in their district here in Ohio.. it won't matter... as OHSAA will be regulating the STUDENT ATHLETE.. and not limiting itself to school sponsored teams.

They want to do that according to the Columbus Dispatch and some people within OHSAA and their comments.

And that STUDENT ATHLETE "will" now include the 5th and 6th graders.. as surely they will set something up for them when it comes to league and playoffs as OHSAA sees dollars signs like these $$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[default]

article in todays paper about getting regulations for all sports outside of schools. talk stage at this point, something to keep an eye out for?

 

[default]

Regulations outside of school.. when school is out.. cannot be regulated by OHSAA as of right now.

It would take an act of Congress to provide OHSAA with that opportunity.

But, regulating the school-aged athletes DURING the period of school being in session.. takes only a vote by the Board governing OHSAA.. to now cover ALL student athletes.. and takes someone in their legal department making up the guidelines to be followed. High School is all they regulate right now... they see $$$$.. and it will be all student athletes.. no matter the age.

 

[default]

Do you think they could sanction "club ball", being that it`s not sanctioned? It would seem to me that if they hit that point, they would be at the point of regulating travel ball also. I`m with you, I don`t EVER want to see this kind of **** happen and I would be happy to do my part writing a congressman or whatever to stop it.

 

[default]

OHSAA has been regulating middle school BB, VB, Track and other sports for years so why all the fuss about MS softball?? There is far more upside to sanctioned middle school teams then not, including paid coaches, busing, liability insurance, accountability, scheduling, etc. I coach both....and there is room for both, and the last thing we need are people stirring up **** discouraging either!!!

 

[default]

I agree with lady Knights. Middle School sports here in central Ohio have been sanctioned under OHSAA for a while now. Do not see the problem and why is this an issue now?

 

[default]

OHSAA is only in it for the money $$$$$$$$$$ school sports is big money.They could give a rats but about who is coaching or umping there venues.Its only about the bottom line for them.$$
Its about time ohio gets with the program like other states and make ohio more competitive sports wise.Down south school teams can stay together and compete with the same coach year round.Doubt me go play in a world series in Fla. or Texas.
Still have your doubts and dont want to travel that far to see what I am talking about go to a AAU or GBA basketball event.Alot of the teams that are Ohio girls are playing against at the national level are school teams from out of state.Where they CAN play together year round

not jmho but fact

 

[default]

I like sanctioned middle school softball. I started a "club" team in our district 4 years ago. I pushed for sanctioning and we now have 2 sanctioned middle school teams. In our district we only have a few girls who play travel ball(my daughter does). Sanctioned middle school ball has let more of our girls afford to play(no uniform,transportation,insurance or other fees for them). It was a way that I saw to strengthen our H.S program.

 

[default]

Good point Miller. I will say though, that we had it worked out where it only cost our girls $40 for our season with our club team which I think is pretty reasonable. That covered our insurance and a tee-shirt and umpire fees, ( for home games ), and we played a tight schedule with 23 games. I think that is pretty good, especially since a lot of schools are going to the "pay as you play" programs, even sanctioned teams can`t do it cheaper than that, only real benefit to sanctioned teams is transportation, but most parents don`t have an issue with that, ( especially since most games are close ). It all depends how you look at it, I`m sure there may be more benefits of sanctioning that I am not looking at though.

 

[default]

I agree with lady Knights. Middle School sports here in central Ohio have been sanctioned under OHSAA for a while now. Do not see the problem and why is this an issue now?

The issue is the Columbus Dispatch stirring the pot and OHSAA saying they would possible like to be the one to control it.

Now, obviously, right now the total issue of what they was presenting in the Paper is out of reach for OHSAA to control 365/24/7.. but it is NOT out of reach to regulate STUDENT-ATHLETES as a whole. Whether it is middle school, 5th and 6th grade.. whatever sport it may be.

Of course, they have been sanction BB, Track, etc... and more or less the schools left softball and baseball to their own.. because of the community rec leagues available in the Spring for both girls and boys.

But, my concern is not that they play middle school ball. Good for them. That's great.

My concern is that middle school ball has grown in the past two years by leaps and bounds. Does not OHSAA see this? Of course they do.

Is their thought not already on the thought of wanting to regulate all sports in and out of school? Sure, they said so.

When the time comes and it will... and they start regulating the student athletes that they CAN control.. all across the board and age groups... then what does this do to travel ball besides making it a second week of June through August 1st availability because of regulations?

They regulated HS girls, didn't they? And does anyone think they are not going to do the same for Middle School some day if they see $$$$$$

Do they have boys baseball ( school sanctioned ) in Middle School? I've never heard of it.. but if OHSAA thinks $$$$$ is there.. are they next?

You have to ask yourself why there isn't middle school baseball Could it be THEY don't want to be regulated because of their travel teams being effected ?

This is why I say... people should look at the whole picture of playing school sanctioned Middle School. There's nothing wrong with it at all in my opinion playing middle school ball.. but is it worth regulations by OHSAA.. especially if a) it effects travel ball and b) OHSAA sees the popularity rise and see $$$$$ and then starts to treat it the same as HS ball, with season ending tournaments.. which will really affect travel ball.

That's all I am saying .

Obviously, OHSAA and ASA being hooked at the hips... ASA is just salivating over the matter $$$$$$$$ :lmao:

 

[default]

Quakerman

We have sanctioned baseball middle school teams in Franklin also. I do agree I think OHSAA chases the dollar. I do think that sanctioned teams can be a benefit to some and I repeat some districts. I think it would depend on the amount of travel kids,quality of coaching,financial status of the community and parental involvement with the kids among other things. We have many kids who never have a mom or dad ever throw a ball with them and may be going down some bad paths in life. The middle school programs may be a way to keep them involved in something before things go bad.

 

[default]

Miller, I agree wholeheartedly about the kids. I try my best for them.. either as a TD, or now a state director or just using Goshen Park..where they keep the concessions, I pay for the fields and I know the money is used to help kids play sports and keep their costs down so they can. I have never known Goshen Jr Sports to ever turn down a kid based on fees.

I am sure it keeps many a child out of trouble and bad elements.

I can remember as a kid in the 60's, my Dad finding a left hander a glove because his single mother could not afford one. He got it from my uncle..so I know how hard it can be and what joy it can bring to a kids eyes to be able to play and have fun.

 

[default]

I'm ignorant...how does OHSAA chase $$$.

As a travel coach... and another Static coach coaches our MS program, I'm in a bit of different location on the rules part. Club team means all is ok. Coaching wise we are in great shape. From a money standpoint the MS team is as strapped as a summer team, so no differerence IMO.

We had many that were able to play both summer and school ball so those girls got a pretty good work out.

Didn't like the level of pitching but in the end the KIDS wanted to play with their buddies and that served it's point. If we want to play for out kids... why don't we go tryout for the pro teams and put that erge to bed. A lot of this is just that IMO.

OK, back to my point, educate me on the OHSAA on the money grab I'm hearing. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the masses that the OHSAA is a dinosaur and behind times but I've yet to spend a dime towards the state deal. Ignorance is my excuse till someone clues me in... maybe that's where all my money is going and I've been struggling to find the money pit.

 

[default]

My kids played grade/middle school sports in what's classified as "church league". It has never been, and probably never will be covered by OH$AA's "rules". It sounds like a lot of folks have had a less than desirable experience from their school sanctioned middle school ball. That was not the case with ours, therefore my opinion is probably biased somewhat - so I'm bowing out of this discussion...

 

[default]

Lester

With the certification that OHSAA requires for all coaches, even unpaid volunteers, along with background checks(which I agree with), it adds up to well over $100 per voulunteer. There are alot of volunteer coaches at the middle school level as well as high school. Our district pays nothing out of pocket for these coaches it is there responsibility. It adds up to quite a bit of money.

 

[default]

Lester

With the certification that OHSAA requires for all coaches, even unpaid volunteers, along with background checks(which I agree with), it adds up to well over $100 per voulunteer. There are alot of volunteer coaches at the middle school level as well as high school. Our district pays nothing out of pocket for these coaches it is there responsibility. It adds up to quite a bit of money.

thanks Miller.

I coached school basketball and it costed me $45. Point understood.

 

[default]

Let alone the "new" fees for umpires to be a "part" of middle school ball. They can't find good knowledgable umpires for the HS level it seems.. let alone for middle school ball.

 

[default]

ump fees, ref fees ,cost to get certified,background checks(which is a good thing)fees to get to help not even going into the money state tourn.s make were talking tens of thousands of dollars