by ND Sports Fan » Thu Aug 22, 2019 2:30 pm
Several thoughts on everything in this thread:
1.) The NDHSAA football restructuring model is at the core of the Stanley issue. It is the only sport in the state that has 5 levels (AAA, AA, A, 9-man, 6-man). How is it that all other sports have Class A & B, yet football needs 5 levels. I understand Football is a numbers game, however, 5 levels? There has to be a better model. To the best of my knowledge, no other HS sport has a committee comprised of coaches/athletic directors/administrators to determine which teams should play where.
2.) Would Stanley have forfeited the season if they were still in A? I hear "competitive balance", but isn't this really about program culture and development? Are you telling me they will see a bunch of kids suddenly come out since they are going to only play against JV competition with a chance to win? They broke a co-op to avoid AA football previously. What is the message in that to your kids, coaches, school, and community? We want to build a strong program, but only if we can compete at the level of our choosing. (see #1 above)
3.) I believe the concussion argument to be overblown. Is it a collision sport? Yes. Is it a dangerous sport? No (IMO). Danger implies that doing it contains a certain amount of recklessness. I do not believe that to be the case. Injuries happen in every sport. Some more severe than others. I believe blaming concussions is a fear tactic by some to push football down as a sport. Are parents talking to their kids about the risk of injury in other sports: Pitchers getting hit by a batted ball in baseball; Injuries caused by Skate/Stick in Hockey; concussions from headers in Soccer; Knee or Ankle injuries in Basketball. I've been around football for 45 years, and I can tell you, concussions may be the least number of injuries I've seen in the sport. I think people either are or are not "football supporters", and concussion risk is the easy way out if you are not.
4.) Who is making the decision to play or not play football? Is it the kids, or the parents? I see more and more parents talking their kids out of football by using various tactics. Do we know in many cases if the kids want to play, but mom and dad make it "fun", "easy", "enticing" not to play.
5.) The video game craze, I can't even get into. I'd be typing all day.