I know .... I know .. BS.

The proposal submitted from Boys Soccer requested 3 years .. not using school facilities ... but that is BS.

Again ... I am listening ... please share your ideas on how things can work.

 

As far as the 7th grade/8th grade playing against high school kids in soccer and football ... that 2015-2016 rule book should be out any day now!!!

It is bs that they felt like they even had to submit a proposal that indicated they would not use school facilities. If they are an official SCHOOL sport, they should use SCHOOL facilities. There really should be no debate there. But this is about the kids. It is about offering as many opportunities to them as possible. It's not about winning championships. It's about using sports to help develop kids into respectable adults. I am far from this situation and have no idea about the inner workings, but the adults involved should set the example for the kids and come together to make it work for all parties involved.

 

As for ideas, man it is not that hard. Every school is different, but the coaches involved just need to come together and figure out how to schedule time on the field. It just takes a little compromising. Let me guess, you have one field but have football, boys soccer, and girls soccer all trying to use the field? Happens all over the state. I bet you don't even have a practice field, right? Again, that is pretty common. I am involved at a school that has girls soccer JV and varsity, football freshman, JV, and varsity, and boys soccer freshman, JV, and varsity. We have no practice field, but we make it work every single year. Compromises must be made, and yes it is frustrating to not get as much time on the field as any of us would like, but that is the world we live in and that is what is best for ALL kids involved. If that means each of us have to sacrifice a little bit, then so be it.

 

Finally, so you are saying 7th graders will not be allowed to play soccer this fall? That would be news to anyone I know. Tryouts have already taken place with 7th graders selected on teams. There's no way KHSAA would mandate that AFTER July 15th.

It is bs that they felt like they even had to submit a proposal that indicated they would not use school facilities. If they are an official SCHOOL sport, they should use SCHOOL facilities. There really should be no debate there. But this is about the kids. It is about offering as many opportunities to them as possible. It's not about winning championships. It's about using sports to help develop kids into respectable adults. I am far from this situation and have no idea about the inner workings, but the adults involved should set the example for the kids and come together to make it work for all parties involved.

 

As for ideas, man it is not that hard. Every school is different, but the coaches involved just need to come together and figure out how to schedule time on the field. It just takes a little compromising. Let me guess, you have one field but have football, boys soccer, and girls soccer all trying to use the field? Happens all over the state. I bet you don't even have a practice field, right? Again, that is pretty common. I am involved at a school that has girls soccer JV and varsity, football freshman, JV, and varsity, and boys soccer freshman, JV, and varsity. We have no practice field, but we make it work every single year. Compromises must be made, and yes it is frustrating to not get as much time on the field as any of us would like, but that is the world we live in and that is what is best for ALL kids involved. If that means each of us have to sacrifice a little bit, then so be it.

 

Finally, so you are saying 7th graders will not be allowed to play soccer this fall? That would be news to anyone I know. Tryouts have already taken place with 7th graders selected on teams. There's no way KHSAA would mandate that AFTER July 15th.

 

This just proves you have no clue what went on. I agree .. it is about the kids. The problem is--the people who pushed this thought it should be more about the 14-18 kids who want to play soccer than the 200+ who are already on being flexible ... sometimes to 11:00 pm at night!

 

But it is not about championships? Yeah ... okay. Keep in mind--the only reason why there is a turf field at Beechwood is because the football team won championships. Otherwise ... we would be fighting about a swamp that no one would care about.

 

When the proposal was submitted ... they wanted to be considered a "club" sport for the first season .. without any help from the school. And that was going to happen (with the full support of someone high up who knew better who was trying to discredit the current AD). If it wouldn't have been for some resourceful people who actually pay attention to the KHSAA guidelines/rules ... a whole lot of people would be in some hot water.

 

I personally made the statement ... that KHSAA sanctioned schools are not allowed to play against club teams ... and it took calls and documentation to ensure that things were done right. They ended up getting a ton better than what they even asked for.

 

Seriously ... they got more than what they asked for. Why is it everyone elses fault that they GOT WHAT THEY ASKED FOR (and MORE)??

 

Any time you want to sit down with me ... in person and look at all the paperwork ... I will be more than happy to do it. Not to cause trouble ... but to get some of this stuff out in the open to see that people were not so much against soccer ... as they were about protecting their programs, kids, etc and to speak out about the lack of facilities--which is an issue that already causes serious issues on a daily basis . even before track/cross country were added.

 

As far as rules go ... I said RULEBOOK ... I didn't say anything about changes after the 15th. Pretty sure the rulebook will have the most recent rules/updates/changes that were already set earlier this year.

Edited July 30, 201511 yr by quickslick

I really don't care about the paperwork or how it all went down. I am sure there were mistakes made on both sides. But at this point none of that matters now. It just sounds like a bunch of adults squabbling and never considering the kids. What's done is done, so figure out a way to make it work with the best interests in mind of all the kids involved.

 

Well there were no changes made earlier this year in regards to 7th and 8th graders participating in soccer and football. They can still play on a non-varsity team.

I really don't care about the paperwork or how it all went down. I am sure there were mistakes made on both sides. But at this point none of that matters now. It just sounds like a bunch of adults squabbling and never considering the kids. What's done is done, so figure out a way to make it work with the best interests in mind of all the kids involved.

 

Well there were no changes made earlier this year in regards to 7th and 8th graders participating in soccer and football. They can still play on a non-varsity team.

 

Exactly ... who cares about the truth! As long as boys soccer gets their way .. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS INCLUDING THE 200+ OTHER STUDENT ATHLETES!!!!

If you want to see how a land-locked school gets the most out of their limited facilities, while still offering top-notch athletic opportunities to their students, go to Lexington Catholic. Baseball, soccer, football, softball, lacrosse and who knows what else all on the same complex. Working together to provide opportunities for the students without whining about fake signatures or black helicopters. That's how every school should do it.

 

Directions to LCHS - Lexington Catholic, Lexington Kentucky

If you want to see how a land-locked school gets the most out of their limited facilities, while still offering top-notch athletic opportunities to their students, go to Lexington Catholic. Baseball, soccer, football, softball, lacrosse and who knows what else all on the same complex. Working together to provide opportunities for the students without whining about fake signatures or black helicopters. That's how every school should do it.

 

Directions to LCHS - Lexington Catholic, Lexington Kentucky

 

 

Ha, ha ... more general comments ... still no plans.

 

Lex Cath has 2.8 times more land at their disposal than Beechwood.

 

Nice try though.

I really don't care about the paperwork or how it all went down. I am sure there were mistakes made on both sides. But at this point none of that matters now. It just sounds like a bunch of adults squabbling and never considering the kids. What's done is done, so figure out a way to make it work with the best interests in mind of all the kids involved.

 

Well there were no changes made earlier this year in regards to 7th and 8th graders participating in soccer and football. They can still play on a non-varsity team.

 

7th and 8th graders cannot compete on the same field as Juniors in high school. So if a JV team has Juniors then the middle school kids cannot play, but some schools choose to punish the Juniors and force them to sit and watch.

7th and 8th graders cannot compete on the same field as Juniors in high school. So if a JV team has Juniors then the middle school kids cannot play, but some schools choose to punish the Juniors and force them to sit and watch.

 

That is not a new rule. Has been this way for years and years. They are just trying to put more of an emphasis on it because not everyone follows it.

Exactly ... who cares about the truth! As long as boys soccer gets their way .. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS INCLUDING THE 200+ OTHER STUDENT ATHLETES!!!!

 

Missing the point. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with someone like you at the school I work with.

Missing the point. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with someone like you at the school I work with.

 

The feeling is mutual ... ... ... ... ... ... the thought of being at a school where Boys Soccer is the only sport that matters certainly would not sit well with me ... or basically everyone else I have ever worked with.

Either way ... I am interested in, at the very least, trying to find a way here.

 

Would it turn anyone off ... to try to field turf the current upper field--which would include the baseball diamond and girls soccer field.

 

Even with the construction ... if the field was turf--the layout of the soccer field could be moved further away from the school .. and could fit well. There should be plenty of room for practice and the schedule could certainly accommodate homes games for the girls/boys teams .. lights shouldn't be a problem up there ... and I am sure they would come in handy during baseball season as well. Not to mention--it gives the 70 plus baseball kids and softball team a place to practice when conditions are wet (as opposed to the track kids having to dodge grenades for 2 hours daily).

 

As a show of good faith that I am willing to make this work ... I am willing to donate $5000.00 towards the project. I have no clue what it will cost overall... it will be expensive ... but I will certainly throw my hat in the ring to help.

 

Thoughts/suggestions/ideas?

I really don't see where you keep getting this attitude that boys soccer wants more than any other sport.

 

Everything I have read and I believe suggested so far seems to indicate they should be treated equally. That is to say, be given field time, or well a field when the turf is redone.

 

Not sure how that is a screw you message to the other students. Seems more like to me that you are saying because you already have "200+" students you shouldn't have to attempt to make room for any others.

 

The fact that there are people not even associated with Beechwood currently that know there has been shady dealings with regard to the formation of a soccer in the past ought to tell you something.

 

Something was rotten on the state of Denmark.

I really don't see where you keep getting this attitude that boys soccer wants more than any other sport.

 

Everything I have read and I believe suggested so far seems to indicate they should be treated equally. That is to say, be given field time, or well a field when the turf is redone.

 

Not sure how that is a screw you message to the other students. Seems more like to me that you are saying because you already have "200+" students you shouldn't have to attempt to make room for any others.

 

The fact that there are people not even associated with Beechwood currently that know there has been shady dealings with regard to the formation of a soccer in the past ought to tell you something.

 

Something was rotten on the state of Denmark.

 

Not at all ... I just think that they need to prove their point by following the plan they submitted. And they certainly did have some advantage that the four other new sports did not get.

 

I am all for fair treatment. But it is nearly impossible to find time for all fall sports to be on the field without being there until 3:00 am.

 

There is a soccer field that the girls use. Is that not good enough? If it is good enough for the girls ... it should certainly be good enough for the boys.

 

What about some type of agreement with Fort Mitchell parks? The boys practice and play there now ... how about the school board gets together with the parks department and they find a way to make that home .. like I said above .. I am willing to donate money for a good facility that benefits the kids/programs. Heck .. some of the old Turf may be able to be reused if the proper funds can not be obtained. So ... I am definitely willing to agree that things can work.

 

If Highlands can make Tower Park into the facility that it is ... why can't it be done in Fort Mitchell?

 

Or ... are the "other" people right ... is this a power play to try to hurt the football program?

 

As far as people who are not associated with Beechwood having a clue about what actually goes on there ... yeah well ... that and a quarter won't even make a phone call anymore. If you are not in that place everyday ... and I literally mean .. .everyday .. you can't speak intelligently about it and how things operate. It is 95% GREAT and 5% BAD ... but it is certainly significantly different than any other school anywhere. I would be willing to bet that I am the only person who has publicly commented on the situation outside of the soccer supporters.

 

I am 100% ready to get away from this part of the conversation .... if we can move it towards finding a way to truly look at all options to make things work.

I will even go further ... if we can find a place that can fit a 6 or 8 lane track around the outside of the turf soccer field ... I will guarantee a 6 figure contribution.

What?! There is even a separate field for girls soccer?! Sheesh. You have more than most then! I really don't understand how difficult it is then to coordinate field time. How much time on the field is football claiming to need?! Like I said I deal at a school where 8 teams need the field during the fall and we make it work. And that's even with football doing 2-a-days during preseason. Each day girls soccer gets it for 2 hours, football for 4-5 hours, and boys soccer for 2.5-4 hours. Start at 6 or 7 in the morning and ration out time until 9:30 at night.