Any thoughts on the split season?

[mike37]

What will most schools do? I think schools with soccer will stay in the fall, but all other schools will go to spring.

 

[3Rfan]

Some of the small schools in our area are going to spring only because of volleyball. Why are they making those who play in the fall play in that playoff and not in the spring? Why can't they play both and choose which one they want to play in the playoffs as long as they do so before school starts? It will really screw up some schedules around here when teams go to spring only. There will have to be some reclassifying take place because of the number of teams in one playoff or the other.

 

[mike37]

I agree. I think they should chose one or the other and not have the split season. Colleges play spring why not the State of Missouri?

 

[oldbird86]

Why schools play fall instead of spring? Ask about half of the baseball coaches, who have played about half of there schedule because of weather. Also if you have V/Jv baseball games requiring two umpires and then V/jv softball requiring two umpires on the same night, where are you going to find that many officials?

 

[Mega Fan]

As a coach for the past 12 seasons during the fall I can honestly say we have never had the cancellations in the fall that accompany spring baseball and softball. We just completed out first JH softball season and finished 5-8, that being said our baseball team had only played 10 games when completed 13. Weather is the dominant issue with spring softball.

"Currently we have 75 schools playing softball
that do not play in the fall
season. 74 of the 75 have
volleyball. 58 of the 75 are Class 1
Schools, 14 were Class 2 and 3 were
Class 3." This info is from the Softball Advisory board.

I believe the "spirit" behind the addition of a spring season is to allow those schools who currently do not have this opportunity an opportunity, NOT for schools competing in the fall to switch to the spring in an attempt to WIN.

I am not anti-volleyball but I am completely pro-softball and am a little miffed that schools, parents and administrators feel they should switch there seasons to accommodate volleyball players, let's be honest most volleyball kids are buried in off-season during the spring anyway.

My belief is kids will play what they truly enjoy as a first choice.

I do come from a school that has always had a strong volleyball presence, final fours, 7-8 district championships, but in recent years we've experienced softball quarterfinal appearance, district championships and conference titles as well. All of this with an enrollment of 600.

The ability to compete comes from a dedicated coaching staff and dedicated student/athletes not necessarily with relocating when a championship series occurs.

Just my thoughts. Let the bashing begin.

 

[nfrillman]

I know that it said there are certain restrictions on the spring series, so my hope is that it is class based. I think it will be a disaster if everybody gets to decide, because then you will have a bunch of schools trying to dodge other schools looking for the easiest path. If that happens, how long do teams have to stay in fall/spring series? Could they change the next year or every two years? Can teams play in both seasons? What happens if a bunch of small schools switch, but then say Rock Bridge does too? Does Rock Bridge just get to beat the crap out of everyone? Most of those questions go away if it's only for class 1 and 2 schools. The only issues left then is what happens to conferences that are made up of bigger classes and little classes.

 

[mike37]

I agree I think it will be a disaster. I also agree that the weather is much better in the fall then in the spring. I think that it should either be by classes or everybody plays one or the other. You are right there will be a big school that jumps just so they can win or a school that finishes 2nd in there district all the time change so they don't have to face that school. I think it will be a mess.

 

[3Rfan]

I don't care if they play both seasons, the small schools around here have done it forever but in the spring they finish with a conference tournament and that's it. Why make anybody that still wants to play in the fall HAVE to play in the fall playoffs? If they have to do that then a lot of small schools will play spring only and that is causing real problems with scheduling for the coaches that are staying in the fall.

 

[GooseHOF]

My thoughts are that fall baseball schools should get the same consideration as spring softball schools.

 

[Mega Fan]

Is there a baseball team in the state that only plays fall baseball?
Currently baseball has a non-series fall season and a championship spring season. Those fall seasons are for schools who do not have football or soccer.
The reasoning behind two series is softball is for small schools to be able to field both volleyball in the fall and softball in the spring.

An enormous can of worms has been opened with this situation that is now causing schools to decide which season would benefit them best.

Hope it gets sorted out soon because there are some issues that must be addresses. I'll start one now....someone please chime in.

Here goes, all schools pay into MSHSAA for a number of reasons, one being liability insurance. Hypothetically, let's say Sally plays spring softball and the temperature at game time is 50 degrees and the warrantee on her $300 composite bat says not to use below 60 degrees and she does use it . The bat breaks, voiding the warrantee and the broken piece strikes another player causing serious injury.
#1 Who's liable
#2 Do umpires limit bat usage once it gets below 60
#3 God forbid, does admin determine when the bat can be used

This IS/WILL become an issue.

And yes, that bat could also be broken during fall games as well.

 

[3Rfan]

College plays spring softball starting in February and I've never heard of that being an issue. Arkansas high school ball is in the spring and they play on some pretty cold days too.

 

[GooseHOF]

Originally posted by Mega Fan:
Is there a baseball team in the state that only plays fall baseball?
Currently baseball has a non-series fall season and a championship spring season. Those fall seasons are for schools who do not have football or soccer.
The reasoning behind two series is softball is for small schools to be able to field both volleyball in the fall and softball in the spring.

An enormous can of worms has been opened with this situation that is now causing schools to decide which season would benefit them best.

Hope it gets sorted out soon because there are some issues that must be addresses. I'll start one now....someone please chime in.

Here goes, all schools pay into MSHSAA for a number of reasons, one being liability insurance. Hypothetically, let's say Sally plays spring softball and the temperature at game time is 50 degrees and the warrantee on her $300 composite bat says not to use below 60 degrees and she does use it . The bat breaks, voiding the warrantee and the broken piece strikes another player causing serious injury.
#1 Who's liable
#2 Do umpires limit bat usage once it gets below 60
#3 God forbid, does admin determine when the bat can be used

This IS/WILL become an issue.

And yes, that bat could also be broken during fall games as well.

There have been and are. When I was in high school I never had the opportunity to play in a district tournament because my school did not offer spring baseball, only fall.

Many small schools face a numbers crunch in the spring thanks to competing sports seasons. And yet, most of us small schools around here field baseball, boys track, and some even field boys golf teams in the spring. I don't see why softball/volleyball should be any different in the fall. I don't understand how fielding a volleyball team in the fall precludes a school from fielding a softball team. I understand that scheduling could be difficult, but we go through that here every spring with baseball and track.

I agree with your point about temperature and bat safety concerns. I'd bet that will eventually be an issue for some ambitious lawyer.

 

[ladyeaglefan1]

Here is a thought...........volleyball is played INDOORS, so why not move it to the spring????????

 

[Ladytigerdad09]

Good points Goose. Why should the advantage be given to volleyball. In the spring, softball would have to compete with girls track and soccer in many schools. My daughter plays softball, basketball and track. If softball were moved to spring, I don't think she would play volleyball just because there is no longer a conflict. But then she would have to choose between track and softball in the spring, and she loves them both. Plus if you have a conference with a mix of large and small schools and the small schools want to play in the spring, that will mess up the conference season in the fall for the larger schools. I just see this creating more problems than it will solve.

 

[Mega Fan]

I don't think there is a perfect setup.
Volleyball won't be moved.
Realistically, if this old coach had his druthers he'd model Missouri HS fastpitch softball after the way Oklahoma does things. Their season setup is similar to ours in the fall but more games are allowed, season starts a little sooner, which could allow kids to do both softball and volleyball. And districts and playoffs are run as double-elimination. Plus more classes gives administrators and legislators what they want, more champions!

 

[3Rfan]

If you play more games and have double elimination tournaments wouldn't that take away any advantage to starting the season earlier?

 

[Mega Fan]

I was able to pick Coach Nordyke's brain from Edmond North one time and oklahoma's districts are typically 4 team and they double eliminate teams out. It may have changed
Now Oklahoma has fewer schools than Missouri but it makes little sense how we have 6 football classes, 7 if you count 8-man (which it should be counted), 5 in basketball, baseball and now track, 4 in volleyball etc Really is not consistent
No system is perfect but at times ous makes little sense

 

[coachallen101]

I am the AD and at a small school. We simply cannot field a varsity volleyball team and a varsity softball team at the same time with out watering down both (shared practice time/games/etc.). Playing both creates an unfair burden on our students...who have to maintain grades. To say that schools will be dodging others is misleading. Many small school just can't because of numbers. That will be the primary factor when a school declares for the fall or spring; not the weather.

There are logistical problems, however. Finding umpires for both will be interesting. Initial schedules and classifications will be another. However, I think it will be worth it for the opportunities it gives our student athletes.

 

[Bogey Man]

I believe the last time it was voted on to move softball to spring, it was easily defeated. Too many track and soccer coaches oppose. I believe most of the states, if not all, surrounding MO have softball in the spring. I don't see MO ever having two different season playoffs. That being said, the level of softball would improve if softball was not competing with volleyball for athletes. Many girls would pass on track and soccer if they had the chance to play softball in the spring.

 

[3Rfan]

You will see it next May if you want too, it's a done deal at for now. Several SEMO schools will play in the spring playoffs. Some played only spring anyway but Clearwater and a few others are switching to spring.

 

[4-KU]

Any word on which schools are playing in spring series?

 

[3Rfan]

Don't know where you're from but several teams south and east of P.B. have been playing spring only and I assume will stay that way. In the OFC/Black River League I know Clearwater is switching to spring and I think Greenville is too. That really screws up scheduling for fall ball for the other teams in those conferences. I'm sure there are others in the SEMO area switching but I don't know who for sure.