By now, those who follow this blog – both of you – know I don’t usually have a hard time coming up with an opinion when an opinion is warranted. Something comes up that I believe some may find of interest that should require opinionated thought, I usually can come up with how I feel pretty quickly.

 

Then, along comes the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission. You know them as the WVSSAC and they are the governing body of athletics in West Virginia and, often unfairly, are seen as the group wearing the black hat.

 

Earlier this past week I was forwarded a link from a friend of mine who coaches at another school in Harrison County with a story on the WVSSAC voting to extend the summer practice session it now allows for prep sports programs.

 

Currently, the WVSSAC allows three weeks of summertime instruction. This past week they made the decision to allow for the summertime instruction between coaches and players to last all summer long with the exception of a week-long dead period around the July 4 holiday. That, basically, would stretch the program from three weeks to eight weeks.

 

My initial thought was that this stinks. Honestly, how much time is too much time to be competing? Should it be three weeks in the summer, eight weeks in the summer or even all year long? I’m no psychiatrist, but I have long been a believer that today’s generation of kids don’t get the time to just play in the dirt, hang out with their friends and play a little pickup ball from the time the sun comes up until it goes down along some roadway or in someone’s back yard. Competing feverishly with no time for fun all summer long, in my mind, can’t be a 100 percent good thing.

 

I say that keenly aware that my generation’s standards aren’t – and shouldn’t necessarily be – the standard to which the current generation is held.

 

Yet, there was something that made me hesitate to completely dismiss this as a horrid idea after my initial thought. Because of that, I did what any good person who wants feedback does – I turned to Facebook. I posted the story that was linked on Connect-Bridgeport and asked my friends to give me their feedback. And I got feedback; nearly 70 comments worth from parents, coaches, spectators, fans and perhaps a straggler or two who inadvertently befriended me and wanted to get in on the fun.

 

What I found that was particularly surprising – outside a few arguments – was that the comments were all over the place from a pros and cons standpoint to simply ups and downs of the proposal that I never even thought should be considered.

 

Of course, it should be noted before going further that while all sports are able to participate in the summer three-week program and could participate in the extended summer program – it still has to be approved by the West Virginia Board of Education – this is driven by prep football. Trying to convince yourself otherwise is a waste of time; and that’s not a slap at other sports but a reality as to why the three-week process started in the first place. The coaches I talked to off the record or posted on my Facebook link were fairly split. Coaches in other sports were as well.

 

And for the record, not only did BHS Principal Mark DeFazio vote against the proposal – the WVSSAC’s membership consists of school principals – but BHS football Coach Josh Nicewarner also is against it.

 

The reason? Several, including the one I initially pointed out above.

 

“I couldn't agree more that kids need to be kids. Unfortunately as a coach it puts me in a position to decide whether or not to hold ‘practices’ because there are coaches who will be practicing all summer and it will put our kids at a disadvantage,” said Nicewarner, who had a lengthy post on my Facebook page on the issue that anyone can read by going there. “ … Where the biggest problem arises for me personally is whether or not I take the chance and potentially allow my players to fall behind because our opponents are getting more time in.”

 

Here’s one thing about Nicewarner’s argument that is going to be a problem for every coach in the state – and in every sport beyond football as well. If a coach only takes part for three weeks as opposed to eight, watch everyone blame the coach for whatever goes wrong. Have eight weeks of practice and watch everyone say the coach is too harsh and the immediate assumption will be made that those participating all eight weeks will be favored over those that do not participate the full amount of time.

 

Here’s the thing. I don’t think for a moment that Josh Nicewarner would simply allow a kid a better opportunity if they showed up for all eight weeks if he opted to have eight weeks of practice as this moves forward. In fact, I don’t know any coaches right now personally that would do that.

 

Here’s what I do know: There are coaches that WILL do that. Kids will be penalized.

 

And don’t let that be construed by those reading that last line that I want the whole thing scrapped because a few kids might be hurt. I’m not part of the group that believes everyone should get a trophy and we probably shouldn’t print honor rolls because those not on the list might have their self-esteem hurt. I am, however, one that watches some coaches in this state find ways around rules ( you know the ones; where people suddenly move into an area and get jobs to help teams in certain sports win state titles and then move away amongst other well-known indiscretions) that are often by the book and I know full well that they’re salivating like Pavlov’s dog at this proposal. It will be abused if it comes into play and despite assurances by WVSSAC head Gary Ray that there will be checks and balances, there is no way to know that. In its present form, there are already flaws among schools that Ray or no one else can do anything about. The entire prep sports following section of the state – and probably the folks at the WVSSAC – know it too.

 

While I read on, I saw comments from many coaches – including one from my old junior high days, Larry “Rabbit” Snyder – who was for it. There was my friend and former Robert C. Byrd Coach Bryan Fisher who was for it. There was my junior varsity coach from high school in Dennis Hutson who was against it. All of them made points that, even if you disagreed, had merit and should have at least made folks think. To be honest, it made me think plenty – including those who wonder why there’s not nearly as much talk or action involving academics.

 

I heard from a former BHS athlete – Jon Cullen – who coaches in Virginia and the student-athletes can be coached year round. He insists that the situation isn’t abused as much as some may think and since I think the world of my friend, I know he’s not throwing me a load of bull.

 

To be honest, the points – even the ones contrary to my initial thought – were mostly thought provoking.

 

To top it off, how many kids right now spend every free moment in the summer on a traveling baseball team going several states away? How many kids play in every AAU basketball tournament possible? How many … well you get the point.

 

Should the extension be granted so the option of playing locally – or more local – be available throughout the summer allowing for hands-on participating with your own coach and teammates? Would having the control over summer training being local be better than having a parent or some other volunteer involved?

 

Honestly, I don’t have the answer. I do believe this: additional practice may help West Virginia compete at a higher level with surrounding states, but I just don’t see a jump in kids from small college to Division I athletes. Many believe that’s going to happen. I don’t, and I don’t because after two decades of writing the number of legitimate Division I athletes I’ve seen that went on to actually compete at a high level only requires my fingers and a toes to count – and that’s every sports, not just football and basketball – despite assurances from a few hundred parents that their children was the next Pete Maravich or Carl Lewis.

 

In the end, with everything in front of me, I can tell you that if I had a vote I would vote against it. And at the same time there’s nothing that would cause me outrage if the proposal passes or angst toward those that would vote for it.

 

The first question out the box should be does the benefit or hurt the student-athlete? I can tell you I’m flummoxed as to fathoming a guess at the answer coming out of the box because I don’t know.

 

What I do know is that the WVSSAC’s proposal has opened up Pandora’s Box. There will be consequences if this action comes to pass. Whether they’re good or bad is anyone’s guess.

 

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Top photos are of BHS football practices, while BHS Principal Mark DeFazio is pictured third. Bottom photo is of WVSSAC head Gary Ray. Bottom three photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.