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I think the punishment is too cruel. If a great player is on a team where the coach "fails to engage in the political process" (for whatever reason), the student-athlete should not be deprived of the opportunity to be recognized.

Take another look at the rules. Perhaps another coach from that region should be allowed to nominate a player?

So a players' off the field behavior has a bearing on whether or not he or she is All-State?

What about the player who has decent character, but just might not see "eye-to-eye" with their coach. They can get the shaft



Absolutely! Allow me to get on "my soapbox" for a moment:

The SCHSSCA has to follow rules laid out by the SCACA. It's not a hard concept to grasp. However, part of a high school coach's responsibility is to be involved with the organization that supports this type of recognition, these types of all-star events, etc. In my opinion, to be a 'professional' in any line of work, folks must align themselves with the proper credentials, certifications, etc., -- it's that easy! Otherwise, they have failed in that aspect of their 'profession'.

The impetus is on each head coach to deem their player(s) as worthy of "All-State" material. Now, then, we had many "All-Region" and "All-Area" submissions this year included with our All-State player pool, but that's another issue altogether.

To me, part of being "All-State" has as much to do with the entire high school experience as it does with that player's ability on the soccer pitch. Sure a kid might score 25 goals and collect 15 assists for the #1 ranked team -- that player has earned the right to be nominated for this type of team. However, what if that same player has been a constant academic concern, a problem in the classroom, or even had legal troubles? Does that really warrant an "All-State" status? Should we not entrust that head coach to make that decision?

I don't know how much more can be conveyed to the uninterested or uneducated prep soccer coach. This information is discussed at the SCACA Summer Clinic, the SCHSSCA Winter Clinic, on this Website and Message Board, as well as via e-mails relayed through the SCACA broadcast method and individually from SCSoccer.com.

In the past we've tried balloon launches, messages in a bottle, tin can phone lines, smoke signals, and even attempted the Paul Revere method, but the horse rentals were too costly. In short, the information has been made readily available for any willing adult that can listen or read. Nothing short of spoon-feeding an adult (which is a pet peeve of mine) has been performed.

The vehicle to nominate a coach's players has been readily available since mid-January. Is it too much for a coach to send an e-mail during the season if they have any questions? Apparently not, because my e-mail "In Box" stayed full throughout March and April.

257 student-athletes were nominated for seven All-State Teams this year -- that's an average of more than 36 per classification which sponsors a State Championship. Believe me, there is nothing "political" about whittling down a list of players. Each classification has their own approach and arrive at their All-State Teams in different matters. A uniform approach has been tried in the past and that led to more upheaval than the present method.

If a player was not nominated for All-State due to that player's respective coach not following the guidelines, then I feel pity for that player -- that's a shame! But, if a player was nominated and stricken from the list based on behavior, perceived under achievement by that particular coach, etc., then so be it. I'll rely on the integrity of that individual to make that decision.

Sorry for the rant, but this needed to be said!