Jeffersonville High School is confident of hosting next year’s boys’ and girls’ soccer sectionals, despite last week’s fire which destroyed the two-storey press box.
Athletic director Tony Branch said he would expect the insurance fire compensation and the GCCS Corporation to build a new and more practical press box by the time the soccer season returns next year.
“In this case we would again request to host boys’ and girls’ soccer sectionals,” said Branch. “We have one of the best venues to host as we can supply all of the amenities, including lights for evening and night play.”
Coincidentally, the fire occurred on October 15, two days after Jeff had hosted the girls’ sectional final and the same week ‘Kick It’ had been working on a story around the issue of rotating soccer sectionals between the area’s schools.
With the Highlanders winning the boys' championship at Floyd Central, and the Red Devils coming out victorious at, well, Jeffersonville, the question as to why both these schools have hosted the tournament the past couple of years was brought up.
Before the new format came into play, Floyd Central hosted a larger sectional comprising all the teams in the area. That larger format still remains in place for the girls, a tournament Jeffersonville also hosts.
While both schools have done a fine job to date, would it be a fairer system if the likes of New Albany and Providence were to host the competition in a rotational system similar in other high school sports?
Theresia Wynns, Indiana High School Athletic Association assistant commissioner, said hosting doesn’t rotate in soccer at all sites because not all schools desire to host it. However, if schools want to meet to ask for a rotation they may do so.
"Schools that are interested in hosting sectionals simply write me a letter indicating so with information about its facilities," said Wynns. "(They) express a desire to host if they can meet the specifications needed, i.e., size of field (120 x 75 yards), bleachers, concessions, restrooms, parking, etc."
Ms Wynns added that venues rotate in other high school sports because the schools in the sectional alignment meet and make those decisions.
“The alignment for soccer is totally different from that of volleyball, basketball softball and baseball,” she said. “The sectional is the only site that rotates - regional and semi-states do not. The other sites for these sports are decided by the IHSAA and very few rotate. Soccer has fewer schools and is still one class."
The IHSAA receives the gate receipts from hosting venues after expenses and stipends are paid, said Wynns.
Okay, so now we know the score, are other schools even interested in hosting them? New Albany athletic director Donnie Unruh said it may seek to host the girls' sectionals in the future, now that its field has improved, while Providence girls’ coach Dave Smith, who believes it should be determined on a rotating basis, said the Pioneers hope to apply to host tournaments once it meets the criteria laid down by the IHSAA.
They have taken some steps already, added Smith, like introducing, floodlights, World Cup standard goals, nets and a new concession stand, while a new Bermuda grass field is also in the pipeline.
“We also have plans to upgrade the spectator area and build a new press box where we can video games,” said Smith.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sorry - no headscarves please!
There is nothing more annoying sometimes than hearing tales of “the law” being adhered to a little too rigidly without common sense. News comes the way of ‘Kick It’ this week of an incident which typifies that such twaddle is alive and well in our game.
Iman Khalil, a 15-year old Muslim girl, was forced to sit out a game in Tampa, Florida recently because the center referee said her head scarf was not part of her red-and-white soccer uniform and therefore violated game rules. Wearing headgear is generally prohibited as the head, as we know, can be used in the game.
Iman, who had never had an issue with the scarf in the two years she has played competitively, was somewhat stunned when the referee told her she couldn’t take to the field with a piece of clothing which is part of her faith.
Her Hernando Heat U16 teammates, parents, and members of the opposing Zephyrhills Bulldogs all urged the referee to let her play to no avail. Iman’s mother told the Tampa Tribune she was brought to tears, while parents called the incident a “heartbreaking” one.
The man in the middle stood by his decision even after the United Soccer Association's referee assignor checked with the league at half-time and was told Iman could play the second half.
You’ll be glad to hear that a different referee allowed her to play wearing her head scarf the following day against South Hillsborough Soccer League Celtics. In fact, league officials turned up - obviously aware of the growing media interest - with policies that showed she should have been able to play Saturday, including a 2002 memorandum that covers the topic of players "bound by religious law to wear such head coverings."
A player "must request the variance well enough ahead of game time,” the law states, but Iman and her team had not requested such a variance because the scarf had never been a problem before.
Iman Khalil, a 15-year old Muslim girl, was forced to sit out a game in Tampa, Florida recently because the center referee said her head scarf was not part of her red-and-white soccer uniform and therefore violated game rules. Wearing headgear is generally prohibited as the head, as we know, can be used in the game.
Iman, who had never had an issue with the scarf in the two years she has played competitively, was somewhat stunned when the referee told her she couldn’t take to the field with a piece of clothing which is part of her faith.
Her Hernando Heat U16 teammates, parents, and members of the opposing Zephyrhills Bulldogs all urged the referee to let her play to no avail. Iman’s mother told the Tampa Tribune she was brought to tears, while parents called the incident a “heartbreaking” one.
The man in the middle stood by his decision even after the United Soccer Association's referee assignor checked with the league at half-time and was told Iman could play the second half.
You’ll be glad to hear that a different referee allowed her to play wearing her head scarf the following day against South Hillsborough Soccer League Celtics. In fact, league officials turned up - obviously aware of the growing media interest - with policies that showed she should have been able to play Saturday, including a 2002 memorandum that covers the topic of players "bound by religious law to wear such head coverings."
A player "must request the variance well enough ahead of game time,” the law states, but Iman and her team had not requested such a variance because the scarf had never been a problem before.
The final countdown
The boys' and girls' IHSAA Soccer State Tournament finals will be held in Indianapolis this Saturday, with just four teams remaining in both competitions.
Number one ranked Evansville Memorial (21-0-2) flies the flag for southern Indiana for the third consecutive year and will play unranked Goshen (17-2-3) at Kuntz Stadium (10 a.m.)
Memorial was eliminated in the semi finals on its previous two trips to state and, as favorites, will be hoping to go all the way this time.
It beat this area's regional winners, Columbus North 3-0 on Saturday before disposing of Bloomington North 4-1 in the semi-state final.
The second semi-final will see No. 16 Chesterton (17-4-1) against No. 7 Indianapolis North Central (17-3-3), also at 10 a.m. The final will take place at 6 p.m.
In the girls' tournament, Center Grove (20-3) beat Floyd Central's regional conquerors, Columbus North 1-0 in the semi-state final to advance to the last four.
There, the Trojans will take on Indianapolis Cathedral (14-3-4), while Penn (20-2) and FW Bishop Dwenger (18-2-2) - reigning champions for the past two years - will battle it out in the second semi-final. Both games are at 12 noon with the final at 8 p.m.
Number one ranked Evansville Memorial (21-0-2) flies the flag for southern Indiana for the third consecutive year and will play unranked Goshen (17-2-3) at Kuntz Stadium (10 a.m.)
Memorial was eliminated in the semi finals on its previous two trips to state and, as favorites, will be hoping to go all the way this time.
It beat this area's regional winners, Columbus North 3-0 on Saturday before disposing of Bloomington North 4-1 in the semi-state final.
The second semi-final will see No. 16 Chesterton (17-4-1) against No. 7 Indianapolis North Central (17-3-3), also at 10 a.m. The final will take place at 6 p.m.
In the girls' tournament, Center Grove (20-3) beat Floyd Central's regional conquerors, Columbus North 1-0 in the semi-state final to advance to the last four.
There, the Trojans will take on Indianapolis Cathedral (14-3-4), while Penn (20-2) and FW Bishop Dwenger (18-2-2) - reigning champions for the past two years - will battle it out in the second semi-final. Both games are at 12 noon with the final at 8 p.m.
Net-Surfer tryouts
Tryouts for girls' soccer club Net-Surfers will be held for U15 to U18 girls at Providence High School on Saturday October 27 and November 3 (10 a.m. to 12 noon).
Teams, which will be selected based on age and ability, will play in the Kentucky Select Soccer League (KSSL). Players can improve their play by competing weekly in practice and league games, as well as participating in two tournaments, where they have the chance to be seen and recruited by college coaches.
Anyone interested should bring a soccer ball and water bottle, wear soccer cleats, and dress to play according to the weather.
For further information, contact director of coaching Dave Smith at 812-283-6084 or 502-445-0354.
Teams, which will be selected based on age and ability, will play in the Kentucky Select Soccer League (KSSL). Players can improve their play by competing weekly in practice and league games, as well as participating in two tournaments, where they have the chance to be seen and recruited by college coaches.
Anyone interested should bring a soccer ball and water bottle, wear soccer cleats, and dress to play according to the weather.
For further information, contact director of coaching Dave Smith at 812-283-6084 or 502-445-0354.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
