Coach_K

This isn’t new that Jasper and Lincoln are talking with the SIAC. (See attachments) And regardless of what happens each school must make the decision which is best for them.

Being a stubborn German from Jasper myself, I do not disagree with this statement, but is there some evidence that it is Jasper holding this up? Just curious.

Are you required to play JV games on Thursdays? Some schools in here play JV Saturday and some on Monday so I'm just curious.

The IHSAA does have a say in this. That is why the ADs and principals have the meetings, to vote on different items. However to your larger point, you are correct I do not think the IHSAA will go back on this. For reference, the IHSAA does not have a say on the concussion knowledge class as that is an Indiana state law. However because the pitch count item is a guideline from the National Federation of High Schools, the IHSAA gets an opportunity to discuss with its members and determine if it wants to adopt the policy and put it in the bylaws.

http://www.ihsaa.org/Portals/0/ihsaa/documents/news media/2018-19/042919.BoardMeeting.pdf "In its monthly gathering following the annual Board of Directors meeting this morning in Indianapolis, the IHSAA Executive Committee unanimously approved a new football mercy rule. The rule, which goes into effect this fall, was a joint effort with the Indiana Football Coaches Association to expedite the conclusion of football contests when a certain point differential is reached. With Monday’s vote, when the point differential reaches 35 points in the second half, the game clock will convert to a running clock with the exception of timeouts, scores, and/or injuries. Once implemented, the clock may not revert back to standard timing regardless of the score and coaches will not have the ability to override the implementation of the mercy rule. The 40 second play clock will remain in effect throughout the contest."

I believe the referees can still take control of the game and "influence" the clock. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that happened a few times for teams I was coaching.

Never forget these are teenagers and teenagers do dumb things from time to time! haha

Fair point. I guess I just think about the blowouts I have been a part of, in which the losing team did not stand a chance (and in some cases the head coach refused to have a running clock). However, your point is valid. What incentive is there? It is hard to get moody teenagers to play a clean game if they are getting their butts kicked.

I do not disagree with you, but here are a couple of things to think about: 1. This is just a starting point. Every idea will have some tweeks along the way. 2. 35 point comebacks are rare. So IMO a running clock depends on the situation. Playoffs v. Regular Season 3. Baseball, Softball and Soccer all have mercy rules, so this is a logical progression for a team sport.

A few years ago (2016-2017?), I was asked to be on a sectional realignment committee. (I declined.) Even then the IHSAA said we want you guys/girls to set these up however you deem fair. At an Principal/AD Area Meeting, Bobby Cox asked us what was more important travel distance or travel time. In my area the answer was time. But then what they wanted to do was put me (from southwestern Indiana) on a committee to realign a Northern Sectional. The logic was ADs in the south know very little about traditional rivalries and historical sectional opponents. Therefore, we were going to shake things up. Obviously, that did not happen a few years ago but the idea was planted. You can see a lot of changes in a variety of different sports and very little consistency. My old school is in a different sectional for boys basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer (boys and girls soccer are not in the same sectionals either), and volleyball. I don't understand the purpose of completely changing every sport.

The pitch count rule does not make sense. It adversely affect small schools, whose student enrollment is much smaller and probably doesn't have as much depth at the pitching position. The IHSAA has acknowledged that it cannot control travel baseball or Legion Ball, so instead it is tightening it's grip on it's member schools. This is not how the game should be played. Furthermore, the playoff system is a bit of a joke. First, you have sectionals fall over a holiday weekend. This takes family time away and many schools graduate at that time so you might not be able to go to your friend or family member's graduation or graduation party. Second regionals should not be a double header. Play Friday and Saturday, forcing coaches to be more strategic with their coaching decisions (or Wednesday/Thursday and Saturday). If you want to see the best pitchers and best players, you need to adjust your playoff system as you change your rules. Just one man's opinion.

Bedford is filled. Good Luck Coach Hein. https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/04/25/vincennes-lincoln-ad-jeff-hein-named-boys-basketball-coach-bedford/3538961002/

While AD at a school, my basketball teams would leave school early during the IHSAA tournament due to travel or "practice." This was always a huge headache because the teachers hated that the students would leave early. The coaches would take advantage of the situation i.e. the basketball teams would leave a day early for regional, semi-state and state. The same teachers want their students to partake in other extracurricular activities. There is an immense double standard.

Word on the street is BNL is filled, pending board approval. No word on who it is and I wouldn't speculate for privacy for both the coach and the school.

This is pretty interesting. I am interested in see what the finished product will actually look like. It is nice to see that boosters/sponsors are helping keep the facilities looking nice. With school budget cuts and the state having an "accounting error" in which they were $100 million dollars short, the only way to maintain and improve facilities is through this type of fundraising. https://www.nuvo.net/news/lawmakers-face-m-shortfall-in-two-year-budget/article_af40fea0-61dd-11e9-8f79-634d08e50a44.html

"For charter schools, territory is the state of Indiana." I find the statement about charter schools interesting. Why would a private school allow the charter schools to be able to use the entire state? I don't think this will help private or non-charter public schools.

Also, some changes are voted on by ADs and Principals in their Area Meetings. Commissioner Cox runs through them and takes votes. He will put his own spin on items and even if it is approved through the coaches association, conferences or particular area of a state does not mean everyone will agree with it. I have seen the Northern and Southern parts of the state approve a proposal while the middle part of the state voted against it, and was not approved. I’m not saying the middle part of the state has more power, but simply 2/3 does not always rule, especially if the commissioner doesn’t agree.

I am just curious if this is the route schools are going. There might be a variety of reasons for it including teacher salary being so low, retired teachers who still want to coach, etc. I know some coaches put in 15 years of teaching and coaching then resign from coaching but keep teaching thus having less teacher vacancies in traditional teaching areas, PE and Social Studies. There are also coaches who were coaching 2 and 3 sports now coaching 1. I am one of those guys. I put in 7 years as a varsity track coach, 5 years as a middle school basketball coach, and am in my 10th season as a football coach. In the schools I have been in lay coaches are an integral part of the entire athletic dept.'s coaching staff. Some schools simply place an importance on academics only over the guy/girl who can teach and coach. Some schools are too small to field their entire coaching staff through teachers, while others can. This has just been something I have been curious about for about 5 years and finally decided to ask. Feel free to share more insights.

Regardless of what happened or how this all went down. Good luck Coach and good luck Evansville Central in finding a new coach. Looks like a highly desirable location, but it comes with expectations!

There are a lot of open assistants jobs out there, so I was wondering... Are more schools moving towards lay coaches as assistants? (Especially with the the current state of teacher funding in this state. See the link below.) I know schools are moving this way in other sports, but I find it difficult to comprehend. I was an AD with all lay coaches and it was almost impossible to keep the coaches informed on different matters and the students grades/behaviors. Curious about input https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2019/04/02/the-evolution-of-u-s-teacher-salaries-in-the-21st-century-infographic/#3687036977f0

This is one of the most difficult situations I have seen. Firings and resignations of multiple administrators obviously is extremely difficult for the students and teachers in that school corporation. I do not envy the people who take those positions and work with those individuals on the school board. I will note there was a sharp drop in graduation rate from 2016-2017 (94.4%) to 2017-2018 (80.6%) per the IDOE Compass. I fully admit I do not know the day to day happenings of the Eastern Greene Schools, but I have to wonder IF academics plays a role in any of this. I doubt it, but I think it should be at least brought up

You could be right. I could be right. Or there could be another answer. Like I stated above, southwestern Indiana is interested in the decision.

I’m also confused on what Jasper gains from joining the PAC. Even with big and small divisions, Jasper and Booneville would be the only 4A schools. So they would be in the same situation by not playing bigger schools. Unfortunately, you only get 9 games a year in football so relationships are important. Whatever Jasper and the rest of the Big 8 decides to do will have consequences to their schedules and relationships with schools.

I have heard something similar from a person with ties to one of the schools in question and connections with the SIAC. My understanding from this individual is that Jasper joining the SIAC (they’re preferred destination) hinges completely on Vincennes Lincoln joining with them. It is my understanding that this will be for all sports. I don’t know either school’s athletic prowess outside of football but I agree that this probably doesn’t make a lot of sense for VL. Jasper, Castle, Reitz, Central, North and Harrison are all 4A in other sports, so 6 of their 9 opponents will be much larger than they are. Could be good for Coach Salters and the football team to play stiffer competition than a weakened Big 8 schedule. Regardless, I don’t see Jasper joining the PAC even if there is the large and small divisions. I know they will lose a lot of money from not playing Southridge and Heritage Hills, but I guess that is a decision they are ok with. (Personally, I want to see Jasper and Castle play.) VL would lose their game with North Knox (if they still play), forcing them to lose a big county rival and check. The PAC makes more sense for VL due to size alone. I think no matter what happens the southwestern part of Indiana is very interested.

When I was a coach in the Big 8 one of my biggest issues was the strength of schedule due to the teams in the conference. I am not sure what decision will be made but the bottom line is you have to take the other sports in for consideration. I know we focus on football but what about wrestling, basketball, baseball, track, volleyball etc. I think the ADs will have a lot to think about, more than just football.