Prep Sports writer Allen Vaughan at the News-Leader has now written twice about the possibility of the Conferences merging, with the most significant model adding six teams and creating two eight team divisions.
Of all the scenarios that have been discussed, the one that has stuck to the wall the most is one that would have six COC schools join the OC in 2008-09. Those would be Branson, Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Rogersville and Willard, possibly to make a 16-team, 2-division superleague.
I have a couple of problems with the model. One is that it excludes the Central Bulldogs. If Springfield Public Schools is considering a merger, why would they continue to exclude one of their own? The other reason, and the one most salient to this website, is the reality of the schools listed including Soccer as part of their Conference commitment.
What value is there in considering a change if there is no commitment to field teams in the major sports? We know soccer is a major sport. In conversations with the Athletic Director at Logan-Rogersville, I have been told that soccer will be added once the attendance figures hit a predefined target. That likely means Fall 2008. However, the feedback I’ve gotten from members of the community in Branson are that soccer will never be added, out of concern for it’s impact on the football team. That fear alone is a significant measure of how important soccer is.
What do you think? Will the merger happen? And if so, will there be a commitment to soccer on the part of the administration?
10 Comments
Ole,
It seems that the schools mentioned are all class 4 or class 5 in the “old line” sports. I believe Central is now class 3. The thought process from Branson is typical pointy ball thought. However, some of the area’s traditional football powers have included soccer to their students options without problems(Camdenton, Webb City, Ozark, Nixa, Aurora, Etc)So it is a lame excuse to deny these kids an opprotunity. I hope Republic and Rogersville join Willard, Nixa and Ozark to add another sport to expand their existing rivalries.I think they all would be a great addition to the Ozarks Conference.
Central’s enrollment has risen a lot in recent years. They are now Class 5 in football, Class 5 in basketball, Class 3 in soccer, etc.
From an economic perspective, it would make more sense to me for the Springfield schools to form a conference with Ozark, Nixa, and maybe a few others.
The existing conference covers a large geographic area from Joplin in the west to West Plains in the east to Rolla in the north.
And Camdenton in the North!
Every school claims they want to do what is best for the kids, yet most of these schools resist adding soccer progams. Bolivar has an enrollment of 770 which ranks 7th out of 10 in the COC. Both our football and soccer programs continue to have success year after year. Our conference soccer schools (Bolivar, Ozark, Nixa, Willard, Marshfield) have have asked to be an official sport several times over the years, but with no luck. The by-laws say we must have seven of 10. It is so frustrating to see schools the size of Branson and Republic not join us on the soccer pitch. If the conferences change as predicted, Bolivar and Marshfield may never get to play for a conference championship in soccer.
Creating a conference with 16 teams is a bad idea. A 16 team conference would lock the schedule for each individual school. It is vital for soccer to grow in this area that schools are given the ability to play schools from other parts of the state. Additionally, it wouldn’t benefit the entire conference to have soccer teams that are at two completely opposite ends of the spectrum as far as talent and resources are concerned. I think conferences should remain small (7-10 schools) to provide schools with the ability to create diversity in their schedules.
The notion that football and soccer cannot coexist is pure nonsense from the minds of ignorant football people. Here at Cassville the two sports get along great and our soccer kids are their kickers and they are respected. Poor admin. decisions are behind soccer not being in those schools. At Cassville for the past 4 years their A.D. has been coaching soccer!
In response to Mr. Clifton’s view regarding playing teams lacking the talent that he feels some teams have, to get better you sometimes have to play better teams and lose. If your team is talented enough, they will play tougher competition as they advance through the playoff process.
With the economic feasibility of all sports in question, it would certainly make sense to make two 8 team conferences based on geographical areas and the cost impact to travel and compete.
In a sport where we need everyone supporting each other, it is never a good situation to leave teams out when there is no need to. Why not support everyone with the creation of 2 new realighned conferences?
I think Andrew and Renee’ are actually on the same page. First, keep it small (8 -10 maximum) and geographically as small as possible to reduce costs and enhance rivalries. And to Andrew’s point, I’ve heard from many coaches about the need to have the flexibility in the schedule to reach out for games that meet the competive level of your team.
Too many conference games and Kickapoo loses their ability to go to STL and challenge themselves. The next question becomes whether you keep Glendale and Kickapoo in the same Conference or split them up like Districts?
PS - You tell ‘em Coach/AD Jamison!
As far as scheduling with 16 Teams, it wouldn’t limit teams ability to play non-conference games. It would most likely be a situation where you would play the other 7 teams in your divisions and possibly x number of games against teams in the other division. Those teams could rotate every 2 years or you could just play the teams in your division.
If you look at other large conferences, such as the GAC (Gateway Athletic Conference) in the St. Louis area, (Howell, Howell North, Duchesne, Zumwalt North, Zumwalt South, Zumwalt West, Holt, Timberland, Warrenton, St. Charles, and St. Charles West, Washington, Howell Central, Troy). 14 Schools with two 7 team divisions.
It could be divide up geographically or it could be done like KC area conferences which are based on enrollment numbers and put the biggest schools in one division and the smaller ones in another. Every two years you look at the numbers and make the needed changes.
I don’t know what the administrators thoughts are, but those are ways that other conferences do things.
Regardless of conference affiliation, it would be nice to see some other area schools add soccer. Branson, Republic, Rogersville, Catholic on the boys side.
We have been trying to get Catholic High School to start Boy’s soccer since 2002. We are trying again at the School Board meeting on 2/8/07. We have the same problem cracking the football-centric mind set. I have cited Cassville and Aurora, among others, as examples of how it will work. What I hear back is “Greenwood”, where soccer killed football.
Good luck to Branson and Republic. It is about enriching the High School experience for the kids. Not about the parents whose kids have moved on bragging on Monday morning about the Friday night game.
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