Let Kids be Kids and Leave the Tournaments Alone

The WIAA is considering a different look to their tournaments. Doug Parcy of the Tacoma News-Tribune chimed-in with a proposal to realign the WIAA playoff system so that the various basketball tournaments can be cut to 8 teams and eliminate the consolation brackets. These changes it would save school districts money in the form of extend hotel and meal costs and allow kids to spend more time in the classroom.

Here is a link to Doug Parcy's original article in the News-Tribune

Doug also added details in the News Tribue's Prep Blog

If you ask me, a former teacher, player and coach, we are robbing kids of experience. We are taking the fun out of being a kid and an upper level basketball player in a successful program. Many of us that spend time around prep sports were solid players ourselves that got to experience the very opportunity that is being considered for elimination.

When do we hold the line and say that our kids should have the same opportunities we did.

I remember my only trip to the OSAA tournament in Portland. We played a hell of a game on Wednesday night but lost by three points to a great Hillsboro team. Under the current proposal, only eight teams would even make the state tournament after three or four regional playoffs. The net result is to eliminate one day of the tournament and allow for only the most elite programs to attend. Every year, three to five teams from outside the usual circle of basketball powers make the state tournament. The scope of the programs at the tournament would slim dramatically.

Next, the proposals suggest dropping the consolation rounds. Let’s get right down to business and send four teams home the first day. Going back to my fond memories in the early 80s, because there was a consolation round were we able to beat a very good Jefferson team, and than our chance to enact revenge on a McMinnville team that beat us the previous year in the state tournament. We eventually won the 5th place game in a trouncing of our bitter rival South Eugene.

The bottom line is this. Those four days in Portland are so clear in my memory. The time with my teammates (me a Sophomore on a Senior-laden team) was one of the greatest memories of my life. I mean, I got to stay at a "Red Lion" at the Llyod Center and played on the same floor as the Blazers. It was the only time I got to the tournament. Under the proposed rule, we would have gone home the first night and would have been fighting sleep deprivation in class the next day. Some reward for a great basketball season.

My son is now a young player in Winlock basketball program who may get to enjoy this year’s state tournament not as a basketball player, but a member of the band. I will be honest and say this may be his only chance at the State Tournament, he may be a great player but the current team in Winlock may be a once in a half-century group.

Our leaders at WIAA need to take a step back away from the business of high school basketball and think about the athletic experience. We must provide at least the same experience that was provided to us.