Called Shot

[Vet509Watcher]

As I wrote sometime ago, the WIAA Rep Assembly appears to be ready to vote on blowing up the state basketball tournaments. The Seattle Times prep blog has an item; I'm too busy to chase it down and attach it.
The new format would create a single elimination first round (played at regional sites) and then the eight winners would advance -- 4A and 3A to Tacoma, 2A and 1A to Yakima and 1B and 2B to Spokane.
The real joke is the transparent attempt to do this and claim "we didn't change the qualifications" when in fact the regional site games will mean nothing.
Once again, the money issue with the big schools drives everything despite an assurance from Cindy Adsit to a member of the Girls Coaches Association that while it was being discussed, the change wouldn't happen "for the forseeable future"
A Damn Shame

 

[EBfan87]

It was not the Rep. Assembly that did this. The Executive board pulled this stunt behind closed doors.

They claim they are being proactive but in reality they are being short sighted. Rather than solve the 3/4 A problem they cut everyone. Cindy Adsit and Mike Colbrese told people what they wanted to hear and then set a bout doing what they wanted to do. Then they tried to rationalize it.

The WIAA has pushed their own financial failures onto the schools by this move. Schools will now have to travel to Regionals.

This will cut the level of competition because schools will not be allowed to travel to a True Regional because of travel expense and weather in the winter. A true regional would allow multiple districts to send teams to various regional sites with an opportunity to EARN your way to state. 4 - 8 team regionals - loser out would at least give players a chance to earn their trip in this new system.

They are also telling districts that a regional will be set up where the 2 #1 Teams from each district will play for an automatic berth to state and the 2 #2's will play with the winner then playing the loser of the 1's for the berth into the final 8. So you could lose in the first round of "state (regionals) and then go on to win the state tournament.

They have cut the opportunity for a state tournament experience to students.
Here is one example of the impact the change to the tournament may make.

16 teams (8 boys/ 8 girls) x 6 classifications = 96 schools will be cut from the State Tournament experience. (No, going to a regional is not the same, regardless of what the WIAA wants to sell us.)

12 players per team = 1152
6 Cheerleaders (a low estimate) x 96 schools = 576 students
24 Band members x 96 schools = 2304
3 per / team Managers and Stat kids x 96 schools 288 students
Dance and Drill teams are not even counted in this example.
Sub Total 4320 students could be impacted each year.

WIAA Mission Statement:

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association exists to assist member schools in operating student programs that foster achievement, respect, equity, enthusiasm and excellence in a safe and organized environment.

The indicators to determine satisfactory progress toward achieving the mission shall be:

At least 80 percent of all students within a member school will be active participants in at least one (1) activity annually.
Public understanding and support of the value of interscholastic activities and athletics in education will be increased.
All member schools will implement a written plan to address citizenship.
All member schools will employ competent, caring and knowledgeable coaches.
Achievement and excellence will be recognized.

IT IS TIME THE WIAA WALK THE WALK and give the 4320 students back the opportunity to participate at state!

A damn shame indeed.

 

[richardlb]

ok to began this was not driven by the wiaa but by the superintends to cut back loss of class time and cost to schools. the wiaa did not loose money on any of the basketball tournament this year. they just did not make as much as they budgeted.the wiaa uses the money they make on football, basketball and wrestling to pay for all the other money loosing event they run.

 

[Picolo Porco]

Richardlb I have no idea what you are trying to say...please translate.

 

[richardlb]

what i am saying is that changing the state basketball tournaments was not just the wiaa's idea. for at least the last four years superintends and schoolboards have asked that something be done for three reason. time lost from classes, cost and the fact that some kids had to miss the start of spring sports.

 

[bavardage]

Interesting observation. I am not sure how this change will fix those 3 factors. You will cut one day off the state tournament, but since the regional configurations havent been explained, there is no guarantee that students wont miss just as much time from classes. I would also think that the cost savings is pretty speculative. If lets say WV Spokane has to travel to the west side of the state for regionals, their costs likely will increase. As far as some kids missing the start of spring sports, isnt that true for any teams that qualify for state play? If a team is involved in the state football playoffs, or the volleyball tournamen in the fall, those athletes get a late start for winter sports dont they?