In the Elliott Co. schedule thread, the commitment toward "conference games" was mentioned as a hindrance to EC playing a better schedule.

 

What are the benefits of being in a conference? It seems it's mostly small schools in these?

I know for our small school, it means more recognition for our kids. There is usually a conference championship, a coach of the year and the all conference team. Our conference, the NCKC, also has a player of the week.

Conferences like the EKC recognize top perfomers with 1st and 2nd team selections, have post season banquets, and provides some awards, they administer all sports as well, such as volleyball, tennis, and golf to name a few. There has been some debate to the benefits, but it's really set up to benefit the kids with recognition and teams that achieve successful seasons by winning the reguar season title, etc. All H.S. conferences have their + and - and I am fairly neutral. For our conference the EKC is more tradition than anything with loyalty, but of course the debate about locking up schedules is a valid point as well.

What is the basis/criteria for inclusion/exclusion?

Boy's and Girl's programs must commit, you can't have one program in (Boy's) and then the girl's out...or at least that was an issue a handful of years ago. Teams have opted out. (Fairview) I believe is not in EKC but was at one point.

Most of the conferences have been around for decades and there's a lot of tradition there. I am only real familiar with the NCKC, and it has a lot of positives going for it - but if I'm the AD or coach, I'm not real fond of them because they practically dictate the schedule.

 

The conference becomes a world unto itself, and the teams don't have much opportunity to play teams from different parts of the state, with different styles and talents...

Oops! My post shows twice...deleted.

Most of the conferences have been around for decades and there's a lot of tradition there. I am only real familiar with the NCKC, and it has a lot of positives going for it - but if I'm the AD or coach, I'm not real fond of them because they practically dictate the schedule.

 

The conference becomes a world unto itself, and the teams don't have much opportunity to play teams from different parts of the state, with different styles and talents...

 

In other words, it's great if mediocrity is what you strive for. If you have higher expectations than just making the region, it seems conferences are a hindrance.

Boy's and Girl's programs must commit, you can't have one program in (Boy's) and then the girl's out...or at least that was an issue a handful of years ago. Teams have opted out. (Fairview) I believe is not in EKC but was at one point.

 

Why did Fairview opt out?

 

And do the members of conferences decide who they'll let in and who they'll exclude? Or is it up to individual schools? Or does it depend on whether you've been winning too much, which is why (I'm willing to bet) Scott County is not in the NCKC, despite its decidedly north-central Kentucky location?

Normally it helps with scheduling, not hurts, for the smaller schools, and the tournaments are money makers. It provides exposure through all-tournament, player of the year, etc. This is not striving for mediocrity. It is a fact that of life that only a handful of teams have the talent base to be a statewide contender year after year. Elliott County is on a ride that probably will not occur again in a long while.