Since the topic came back up...I've been mulling this over in the back of my mind for a day or so...way back in the very back where it doesn't take up much space or cause me to lose sleep, but the fermentation process takes place nonetheless...and I think I've come up with a fair solution for 1A/2A public schools to level the playing field in the strictly geographical/available players sense. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Get all of the schools in your county to consolidate into one county-wide school district. If this is already the case, skip to step 2.
2. Get all the schools in your district EXCEPT ONE to cancel their soccer programs. If a school does not offer a sport, that leaves an exception for its athletes to participate at another district school that does offer the program. The school that gets to offer the sport can be decided by general vote, or rotated on a year-to-year basis.
3. Take all of the best public school soccer athletes available from each school in your entire county and put them on that one team, under a previously established coach and program.
4. Play CC or BE and see if this makes a difference.
5. Should you happen to win, check to see if the private school players, coaches, and supporters:
a. cite your increased attendance zone and availability of athletes as the cause, or
b. assume inferior coaching ability and techniques on their own part and ask for help and advice from more knowledgeable people who are willing to give it.
I think it would make for a grand experiment...what do you think?
