Is there one for Louisville and one for the rest of the state?

Is there one for Louisville and one for the rest of the state?

 

There is one for Louisville do not know about the rest of the state!

Two overall leagues.

 

So two champions. This is the second year with two leagues.

Two overall leagues.

 

So two champions. This is the second year with two leagues.

 

You've told me before but I can't remember. What was the reason for the split a couple years ago? Would you describe the Louisville league as a higher class than the Lexington/rest of Kentucky league? Is there any chance lacrosse gets picked up by the KHSAA?

You've told me before but I can't remember. What was the reason for the split a couple years ago? Would you describe the Louisville league as a higher class than the Lexington/rest of Kentucky league? Is there any chance lacrosse gets picked up by the KHSAA?

 

Here is how I understand it. I am not directly and was not directly 'in the loop' on actual decisions at the time or now so if any of this is inaccurate maybe someone who had more direct knowledge can add or correct it.

 

But as lacrosse was growing a few years ago the discussions on how to divide into divisions under one statewide league took hold. The common ground seemed to be that divisions should be based on some sort of skill and team strength since programs, schools and programs were a varying levels and it literally takes years to build up programs since the underlying skills of lacrosse are not something that kids can pick-up in a few months. Solid, key individual lacrosse skills can take years for individuals to develop.

 

The main issue seemed to be that Louisville based power schools wanted to keep Division 1, the highest division, at 8 teams. This would provide a classic 8 team playoff bracket for post season instead of 5 or 6 as done the previous year. The logic is fine. However to do this and do it based on skill/strength of program the only tool to do this is prior to the start of a season is last years LAXPOWER rating and it would force 1 or 2 Lexington teams into Division based on last years performance.

 

When this was tried in 2012 Lexington Catholic, Dunbar and Louisville Ballard were placed in Division 1 based on 2011 team ratings. The issue of using last years ratings became clear when Lexington Catholic with 87.47 LAXPOWER rating in 2011 came back with only 2 upper classmen in 2012 and earned only 76.01 rating and 0-8 division record. Dunbar fared better but also had a about a 4 point drop in their year to year LAXPOWER ratings between 2011 and 2012. Ballard did slightly increase their rating in 2012 and finished 3rd in 2012 Division 1.

 

Going into 2013 Tates Creek would have been in a very similar situation as Lexington Catholic was in 2012. The Commodores had win the Division 2 championship and finished 2012 with a strong 92.38 Power rating. But they were very senior laden and in 2013 would not be as strong. And based on the 2012 power ratings DuPont Manual and North Oldham would have been the other schools to go to Division 1. Dunbar would have rounded out the top 8 with the lowest PR of the top 8 teams in 2012.

 

So the process of using last years PRs and having 8 teams in the top Division seems to have been the the reason for the split. It was determined a new Louisville-centric league would start and leave the KLA name with the state-wide league.

 

As to 'higher class'. The answer is a qualified yes. 7 of the top 10 teams in LAXPOWER are the KHSLL teams in both 2013 and 2014. The traditional Louisville power (X and T) are almost a class to themselves being the 1 and 2 in the ratings year in and year out.

 

KHSAA picking up lacrosse? Yes, but not now. Certainly if KHSAA can coordinate bass fishing it can do lacrosse. But lacrosse is going to go through some more growing pains and until it 'stabilizes' it seems KHSAA would be good to keep an eye on it but not jump in. That is just opinion.

 

The growing pains will not be dis-similiar to the split in 2013. It will be how do you integrate new programs with established ones and how do you deal with the fact that some teams will be very good one year and down the next. This is very true outside of Louisville with the smaller youth bases feeding the state-wide programs.

 

The new KLA has had the same 4 teams in the semis and same 2 teams in the finals in 2013 and 2014. KLA plays a monolithic tournament that really has not been good for the sport. The first two rounds were mostly blow-outs. You had a freshman heavy startup program playing a senior heavy established program in the 1 - 16 game. So does KLA need to split into divisions with separate tournaments? If so how do they do it? Its not an easy question.

 

I am not an advocate of a bunch of divisions just to give out a bunch of trophies. But you have to come up with a way to give start-up programs a post season goal and measuring stick and something build upon the following season. The is the challenge for KLA and it should the same question asked in the Louisville-based KHSLL. So I think KHSAA would be good to let this sort out before jumping it.

Thank you for the clarification/information. I enjoy watching lacrosse and would like to see it become even more popular.

Thank you for the clarification/information. I enjoy watching lacrosse and would like to see it become even more popular.

 

Sure.

 

Lacrosse is growing and some of that growth is at the expense of baseball. I spoke with a father this week who was clearly disappointed that his son had forsaken baseball for lacrosse. But lacrosse has so much more for the players in terms of participation (like on-the-fly substitution) and action that the trend will definitely continue.

 

What area of the start are you in? Is the sport available nearby?

Thanks for all of the responses.

 

Sure.

 

Lacrosse is growing and some of that growth is at the expense of baseball. I spoke with a father this week who was clearly disappointed that his son had forsaken baseball for lacrosse. But lacrosse has so much more for the players in terms of participation (like on-the-fly substitution) and action that the trend will definitely continue.

 

What area of the start are you in? Is the sport available nearby?

 

I personally know of more football players who have dropped football for lacrosse. Although, many also had played baseball for many years as well.

 

I love the sport. It's really fun to watch as a fan