Kyle,
I said I wasn't going to comment on this in this thread, but folks keep plugging away at it nonetheless...so here goes.
I know you missed most of the comments earlier, and most of them have been wisely deleted. The fact is, although your personal comments may not be directed at any specific person or people, the fireworks started when two of us were called out by name and implied to be slackers by someone who has no idea what our personal responsibilities may be or how far we may be already stretched to meet them. These comments were not a universal appeal for assistance, but rather a pointed effort to make specific people look bad, for whatever personal reason. I am disappointed in any individual who would use a widespread lack of volunteerism as an excuse to resort to personal attacks, and I would also be be disappointed in any school or organization that supports and justifies such tactics. There are certain practices that are unacceptable in civil, sportsmanlike interaction, no matter how great certain needs may be.
Your point about needing more support is well taken, though; I know what it's like to try to run something for the benefit of others with few if any hands pitching in to help. If I could make a suggestion for next year, though, I think this forum could be put to good use in helping people to know exactly what the needs are and how many people are needed to meet them.
A thread-based "sign-up sheet" could be posted listing the jobs that need to be done and slots for the number of people you think would be optimal to do them. Coaches who have the time and who can travel to the location could sign up for these job slots. That way everyone could see how many unfilled slots are still available BEFORE the games begin instead of only finding out about the shortage AFTER the game when the lamenting and finger-pointing begins...in other words, when people still have time to recognize the problem and do something about it. You might be surprised at how many people would be willing to take time and travel if they know that there really is a job waiting to be done and nobody else signed up to do it. It would be fairly simple to put together, and I think it would be more effective than an after-the-fact "If your coach didn't drive 100+ miles on the uncertain possibility that there might be something left that needed to be done and nobody to do it, then please ask him to justify why not." If the "something" that needs to be done takes a solid, visible form before the fact, I think it's more likely that the "someone" who needs to do it will do the same.
Respectfully,
Chass
