What is on the wish list of high school baseball and softball coaches in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties?
We granted area coaches anonymity, allowing them to offer their perspective on a bevy of topics affecting high school athletics as part of a series called “Coaches Confidential.” Today’s question: What changes would you like to see enacted for high school baseball and/or softball?
Coaches throughout Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties were emailed and asked to submit their answers. Here are their responses.
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Current sports schedule does no favors
“Shorter season or more effective scheduling with winter sports.”
“Schedule should be moved back so it doesn’t exclude basketball players from a true preseason.”
“More practice before first game.”
“Basketball season needs to start sooner and end sooner so that it does not overlap so much with softball. Every year, it makes it impossible to get a fully-rostered team until after games have already started.”
“End basketball playoffs in time for softball season to begin. This year, the overlap of basketball season into the softball season has caused problems with scheduling and playing games.”
‘I have a few suggestions’
“More preparation time with the entire team. (Make it) mandatory stats are put in by the home team, so that states are somewhat comparable. Allow tournaments on the weekend the same way wrestling does. This would allow for larger rosters and eliminate the need for (junior varsity) teams, which nobody seems to be able to field anymore.”
“To be able to wear the bands on our belts; by far the stupidest rule the NFHS and NCHSAA have or go to a full team communication system. See no point in what they just added with coach to catcher (communication); big expense and will not speed the game up."
“Pitch restrictions for softball at an early age to help build more pitchers. Stop worrying about rules that have no outcome on the game and worry about enforcing/knowing the rules that do play in the outcome. For example: eye black does not give either team an advantage, but leaving the base early does. I see more umpires correct or call out eye black than runners leaving early.”
Playoffs … playoffs?
“I think the playoff format needs to change. Lose and go home playoff games put too much emphasis on one arm versus the collective team.”
“Allow a double-elimination playoff system.”
Transfer dilemma
“Have kids sit out a year if they choose to transfer. Transfers are rarely for academics.”
Other noteworthy responses
“Coach to player communication devices. Right now, (it’s) just coach to catcher; it speeds up the game.”
“(Changes to) baseball pitch count.”
“Investment in infrastructure. The people with money win in this sport. They attract the best coaches and players, and even get assigned the best umpires.”
“Do away with the safety coaches' helmets.”
“I would like to see Gaston County Schools return to the Big South 2A/3A Conference.”
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