Seriously?

To provide high school students with the opportunity to play football.

To provide high school students with the opportunity to play football.

 

Teams like that don't need playoffs. Just a regular season and maybe a bowl game like college football.

Teams like that don't need playoffs. Just a regular season and maybe a bowl game like college football.

 

I'm firmly in the camp that we have too many teams in the playoffs. That we can agree on.

 

That being said, every team can't have the goal of winning a championship. It simply isn't feasible and unrealistic expectations do nothing to help a program.

If a team's goal is to win a championship, good for them, but for most teams that is simply unrealistic. At some point I was taught that goals need to be attainable. For a lot of schools a football state championship simply isn't possible, unless the stars were to completely line up in their favor.

 

There are a variety of reasons for athletes to play a sport other than to win a championship. Sure all athletes would like to be champions but there are quite a few other benefits that come from playing a sport.

 

Consider college basketball. Currently there are 351 teams competing in D1. Over the last 30 years only 16 schools have won a title. Extend it a bit further and only 20 teams in the last 50 years. It would be silly for 90% of the schools participating to seriously have a goal of winning a championship.

I'm firmly in the camp that we have too many teams in the playoffs. That we can agree on.

 

That being said, every team can't have the goal of winning a championship. It simply isn't feasible and unrealistic expectations do nothing to help a program.

 

Yes we definitely agree too many teams get into the playoffs. I think we also agree there are too many classes. But when you add those two up it tells me the goal is a championship or to at least get as close to a championship as possible.

First and foremost high school sports are about teaching life lessons. Winning a state title is seconday for a very few schools.

Yes we definitely agree too many teams get into the playoffs. I think we also agree there are too many classes. But when you add those two up it tells me the goal is a championship or to at least get as close to a championship as possible.

 

The cliché goal is to win a title. How many teams play football? How many legitimately have a shot?

Seriously?

 

I'm firmly in the camp that we have too many teams in the playoffs. That we can agree on.

 

That being said, every team can't have the goal of winning a championship. It simply isn't feasible and unrealistic expectations do nothing to help a program.

 

Yes we definitely agree too many teams get into the playoffs. I think we also agree there are too many classes. But when you add those two up it tells me the goal is a championship or to at least get as close to a championship as possible.

 

IMO the ultimate goal for every team should be a Championship. That is what every program should be trying to build to. Hence the key word program, not just team. A team is a one year thing, a program is an over time thing. Is it realistic for a new coach taking over a 1 and 9 team to win a state title in its first season? Not at all. However that should be the ultimate goal when taking over the program, and what the program should be striving to get to as a program.

 

I know many people may not be familiar with IEP's. However imo its like that. You have an ultimate goal you want to get to. Yet you have clear benchmarks your aiming for first to get to that eventual goal. Now as for a coach that ultimate goal of a state title may be a 3 year or even 5 year plan to get there rather than a one year thing like an IEP. However you have certain things benchmarks you want to get accomplished to help build to that. However when it comes to work ethic and all that. That's the end goal you should always have in mind IMO, and always working to get there.

First and foremost high school sports are about teaching life lessons. Winning a state title is seconday for a very few schools.

 

Those life lessons come hand in hand with preparing and competiting to win games and get to that ultimate goal of a state championship. That's where most of those life lessons come from. The work ethic required to try to be at your best. The way you handle failing and or not reaching that goal. The way you handle success.

 

All those life lessons come naturally with sports, especially in football IMO. So the goal for a program should be state titles. In a program striving for that, those life lessons also end up going with that.

The cliché goal is to win a title. How many teams play football? How many legitimately have a shot?

 

The goal is to win a championship and you know it.

The goal is to win a championship and you know it.

 

Why else would you play? I can't explain another reason for playing other than wanting to win/be the best. It is natural to want to be the best at what you do.

The goal is to win a championship and you know it.

 

For the vast majority of teams, no it's not.

Why else would you play? I can't explain another reason for playing other than wanting to win/be the best. It is natural to want to be the best at what you do.

 

You are preaching to the converted!

If a team's goal is to win a championship, good for them, but for most teams that is simply unrealistic. At some point I was taught that goals need to be attainable. For a lot of schools a football state championship simply isn't possible, unless the stars were to completely line up in their favor.

 

There are a variety of reasons for athletes to play a sport other than to win a championship. Sure all athletes would like to be champions but there are quite a few other benefits that come from playing a sport.

 

Consider college basketball. Currently there are 351 teams competing in D1. Over the last 30 years only 16 schools have won a title. Extend it a bit further and only 20 teams in the last 50 years. It would be silly for 90% of the schools participating to seriously have a goal of winning a championship.

 

When I look at things from your perspective again I am left with saying any of the teams that don't fall into your "good for them" category don't need playoffs. All they need is the regular season and a bowl game because after all the goal isn't winning in these cases.