Let's see Scott definitely down, Walnut not the same team without their DA player and Seven Hills getting the respect for past performance and their nationally recognized coach. I still have them top of the region and moving into the final 8.

Im....not saying I'm disagreeing with you, but my question would be , which NKY team would you compare them to this year?

 

Of the ones I've seen:

 

Elder.....no comparisons

East central.....st Henry

7 hills......sk

Walnut hills.....st Henry.

 

Not beechwood, not villa, not HC, not Scott....no disrespect intended to those programs, just comparisons

I get it, it's tough to find even twelve quality opponent's in nky and playing Ohio teams is the way to go. Playing the nky schools that don't challenge your team does nothing for your team come october. Every top team plays some games that fall into that category and use these matches to try different players and formations. I have said all along nky was down.

Debating CCH's and St Henry's schedules only further illustrates another reason these two programs are very competitive in the 9th region year in, year out. The real debate is why more teams don't play a similarly strong schedule?

Debating CCH's and St Henry's schedules only further illustrates another reason these two programs are very competitive in the 9th region year in, year out. The real debate is why more teams don't play a similarly strong schedule?

 

1/3 to half the teams in the 9th region are never very strong so it is harder to get the traditionally better schools to schedule them with the exception of senior night so they can guarantee a win. That leaves these lower talented teams to play each other and sometimes multiple times in a season. I believe that most of them try to schedule most of the other teams in the 9th region but some of those better teams will not schedule them because it doesn't present a challenge.

Debating CCH's and St Henry's schedules only further illustrates another reason these two programs are very competitive in the 9th region year in, year out. The real debate is why more teams don't play a similarly strong schedule?

 

Ryle's KY strength (#19) of schedule is right there with CCH (#16) and St Henry (#21). And Ryle plays Moeller, Anderson and McNick from Ohio.

 

Highlands KY strength of schedule is 27 and they play Anderson, McNick and LaSalle from Ohio.

Ryle's KY strength (#19) of schedule is right there with CCH (#16) and St Henry (#21). And Ryle plays across the river twice (Moeller and Anderson).

 

And those are probably the three top teams in N. Ky.

Ryle's KY strength (#19) of schedule is right there with CCH (#16) and St Henry (#21). And Ryle plays Moeller, Anderson and McNick from Ohio.

 

Highlands KY strength of schedule is 27 and they play Anderson, McNick and LaSalle from Ohio.

 

I would agree, Ryle and Highlands put together a good competitive schedule this season. And I said,

"The real debate is why more teams don't play a similarly strong schedule?" I did not say all teams.

I would agree, Ryle and Highlands put together a good competitive schedule this season. And I said,

"The real debate is why more teams don't play a similarly strong schedule?" I did not say all teams.

 

I agree. My point was just to address the post that were questioning strength of schedule of the Ohio teams CCH were playing. It is nice to have comparison scores to compare teams to......McNick (CCH and HHS ) , Trinity (CCH and St H) for example.

Debating CCH's and St Henry's schedules only further illustrates another reason these two programs are very competitive in the 9th region year in, year out. The real debate is why more teams don't play a similarly strong schedule?

 

I think there are two pieces to this... Teams wanting to play a stronger schedule and the stronger programs willingness to schedule you.

 

I agree with your comments about CCH and St Henry, I would also throw Ryle into this group. I feel that all 3 of these programs have established a history of success and are able to field a highly competitive team on a consistant basis. When an AD/Coach gets a call from one of these schools seeking a match, their resume has to go a long way in getting on an opponents schedule.

 

On the flip side, you have programs that might be struggling to improve the quality of their schedule but they aren't able to boast the same success as other schools, I feel they will have a harder time convincing the stronger programs to schedule a match with them. Because the amount of matches being played is limited, the team with the stronger program might need to drop an existing team from their usual schedule in order to play this match, by doing so they could end up weakening their own strength of schedule. If they do agree to take on a new opponent and they do not end up fielding a team that is of comparable abilities they have effectively created a negative impact to their own program.

Agree......I think the intangibles also come into play.......travel logistics, communication, and maybe most importantly, the consistency of the program. If scheduling out 3,4,5 years, "stronger" teams want to know that the level of talent that may be up this year, will always be there. All programs have down years, but you have to show consistency.....

 

....PS.....they are looking to schedule games with soccer "programs," and not just with "teams" so you have to build one......

YC your points are very valid and I did go onto to agree Ryle and Highlands put together good, competitive schedules this season. To your point both Ryle and Highlands have established themselves to warrant good opponents to put them on their schedule. The question then is how do you establish your program to warrant the Trinitys, St Xs, Elders, Summits, etc to schedule you on a regular basis? It takes years of building your team's resume, building relationships coach to coach, AD to AD, with the good teams and possibly the first few years agreeing to play at their place every year. And then the big one, being very competitive in the games when you play the top caliber teams. The top teams have their pick, if you can't deliver on your promise (give them a good competitive game) then it will never work.

GPR, I think your comments are spot on, I will use Cooper to give some specifics.

 

There has been a big push to upgrade the schedule the past two seasons, not easy since last year was their first winning season. As OTB said, this is just a picture of last years "team" and they now must work towards establishing a program and some consistency.

 

There have been several teams added the past two years that will help get them there as long as they continue to improve and compete with these schools.

 

It was a huge step to be included in the Madison Central event this year, but once again, they now have to compete with these teams. I'm not sure what all played into being invited but I believe it was a mixture of relationships, outside help, some player knowledge and I think I even heard something about some sort of sacrafices being offered up.

 

BTW, I still can't find those goats I used on the field.

The concept of program strength over time and across all three teams (frosh, jv and Varsity) is important to getting and keeping high end teams scheduled. If the Varsity team loses or ties a perennial powerhouse, but the JV and frosh squads win or play well, the powerhouse is much more likely to renew the contract the following year.

The concept of program strength over time and across all three teams (frosh, jv and Varsity) is important to getting and keeping high end teams scheduled. If the Varsity team loses or ties a perennial powerhouse, but the JV and frosh squads win or play well, the powerhouse is much more likely to renew the contract the following year.

 

Good point Sir!. Very few programs can stay at the very top every year so a slight down year can be countered by saying look our JV and freshman teams' results. They are both strong and doing very well this season, we will be right back at the top next season(s).

Unfortunately some schools (to many) have trouble fielding good, consistent, high level freshman and JV teams due to the low number of players coming out and/or low quality numbers, dictating freshman and sophomores being put on the varsity roster.

 

Which in many cases this is a mistake,(on the boys side) these schools might be better off being patient, rebuild to some extent. Would the varsity team be better off by putting more of these freshman and sophomores on the freshman and JV team to help them develop in turn making the varsity team better in the long run? And if you begin to build an overall, top to bottom strong program, just maybe more players will come out.