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For years, I've listen to them moan and say it's unfair. And until Sunday, I agreed and went to bat for them.
But it hit me at 9:15 a.m. Sunday morning as I was doing this week's Top 10 that some schools in the Naperville Sectional of the IHSA Tournament need to stop complaining that they're stuck playing one another every year.
Have you ever looked at their regular season schedules?
They play the same teams every year. Same tournaments with the same teams from their own backyard, and basically the same nonconference teams from their area, too. Don't give me that garbage about travel and school nights. There are these things called Saturdays and different tournaments.
This isn't just a girls issue, either. In the fall, I told you the Naperville Central boys didn't go east of I-294 with its schedule. That's just one example.
Now you tell me is it just pure arrogance or lazy scheduling? I'll knock on the members-only door to see if a butler will give me some insight.
Now before you people in the West Suburbs get all worked up and spill your Starbucks, relax. This isn't a negative column, and I'm not picking on anyone. I'm asking a basic question and giving examples. Illinois is bigger than just one area. If you don't believe me, here's the map (right).
I looked at Waubonsie Valley's schedule at the start of the year, and I sat back and thought - wow. People were quick to point out that Huntley didn't have the strongest schedule when I said they were the new team to watch this year, but everyone in the country knew the Warriors were going to be the No. 1 team in the nation this spring. Where are the new teams? What about adding a team from the North Suburbs or Northwest Suburbs? Why would you want to play a team that you could see three times in one season?
Naperville Central added Young, which I thought was great for soccer overall. It brought Naperville into the city to allow players from the suburbs to see Public League facilities. It also gave the Public League a chance to see where it stands.
It doesn't have to be a huge game, just something different each year. The Naperville North boys used to host Farragut, and the Downers South girls used to host Kelly. The Hinsdale Central boys now play New Trier on a yearly basis. Look at Fremd and Barrington - they play teams from all over.
Every spring, Downers South, Neuqua Valley and Hinsdale Central play each other over a three-day period in early April on a mediocre grass field. Last year, Downers South coach Barry Jacobson was ready to kill the tournament and bring the teams into the Pepsi Showdown. Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau was for it.
Hinsdale Central coach Skip Begley said no. Begley said he liked playing three games three days in a row. I have a ton of respect for Begley, and every year I value his thoughts on players. He works with them in ODP and is fair and honest. I was, however, stunned when Begley said that. Coaches complain that teams play too many games in a short period on bad fields in the spring. But Begley wanted to keep doing this, thus playing the same teams every year. I didn't agree at all, but it's his program, his call. I respect that.
Don't you think kids would like to play different teams? Do you think half of them know Gurnee is home to Warren High School and not just Great America? What about playing Stevenson, Carmel, Glenbrook South or Lake Forest? What about Libertyville, Fenwick, Maine South, H-F or traveling to one the most diverse suburban high schools in the country - Evanston?
We talk all the time about exposing student-athletes to different walks of life, yet we have teams checking into the same country club every year, hanging out and playing with the same people. High school sports are more than just games on the field. Soccer is supposed to be one of the most diverse sports in the world. And remember, diversity isn't just about black, white or nationalities.
Diverse means varied and assorted. It's time for some of the teams in the Naperville Sectional to come out of the foxhole and play with everyone. I promise, it will be OK.
No one will bite your butler or steal your Starbucks.
- Joe Trost
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Trost--keep pounding. Great piece!
Joe,
Great article... playing a variety of teams usually prepares you for playing against a variety of styles come post-season as well. However, the big question that I hear a lot of coaches asking is the importance now of the regular season---especially non-conference games...especially when the IHSA is simply going to seed and place teams geographically... If your non-conference games are in the eyes of some coaches "meaningless" which I have a difficult time understanding...but wouldn't that mean why not go and play teams from more variety of areas???
How can we make the regular season more meaningful? What are your thoughts on conference tournaments??? Is there any league that does that at the varsity level? I know the MSL does at JV and frosh levels... might thatadd incentive (although it restricts peopl because of the 15 g, 2 tournaments IHSA rules...
Yes... the Pepsi Challenge is a great way for team from different areas and conferences to play. Although I would say that , as a player, it's probably not the most fun thing to travel an hour or more each way on the bus on a school night.
But let's also look at the "other" common tournament time which is the last weekend of this month. Where are the Naperville schools playing then? There's a few schools around that are traveling out of state and playing some big time competition. What about the Naperville area schools?
in defense of the land of soccer moms and big box stores - these schools are somewhat forced to square off early and often to please the IHSA soccer gods with their desire to ever seed teams for the state tournament earlier and earlier. It's great to play different teams but its also nice to establish bragging rights in your own backyard each year as well. And if the teams are traditionally strong soccer programs I understand an AD's desire to not mess with scheduling.
Wow! And that steaming pile of stereotypical "insight" was not intended to be negative? Fact remains that year after year the highest ranked teams in the state end up meeting each other in the same sectional. Some other sectionals were easy by comparison. For example, one of your favorite programs,LT,typically never had to play anybody tougher than OPRF to get to win their sectional. Why isn't the solution to your class warfare view of high school soccer to mix up the schools in the playoffs and let Naperville and City kids play each other then? Got to go get my Dunkin Doughnuts coffee.
Great as always - head north this weekend, Huntley is travelling to Libertyville - it should be fun
Libertyville is a team that I'm expecting good things from this season. This should be a great match, but I will be in St. Louis coverage the Soccer Showcase down there with Neuqua and Lake Zurich.
"I will be in St. Louis coverage the Soccer Showcase down there with Neuqua and Lake Zurich"...So much for the Naperville schools not traveling and playing teams outside of the area. I just hope for Nequa's sake that St. Louis has it's share of Starbucks...
Get-A-Clue Alert and Reading-Is-A-Skill Alert: It never said NAPERVILLE schools - it said NAPERVILLE SECTIONAL. It never said they don't travel out of their area, it said play different teams. Come on. READ.
Joe,
Naperville North played Glenbrook South; first game of NNHS's season. Game ended in a 0-0 tie.
Hi Joe,
Naperville North travelled to Glenbrook South (tied them) and Barrington early in the season. They also beat Hinsdale Central, so why they appear as 4-0 in you top 10 list is a mystery to me
This was a mistake, because of incorrect record. Naperville North should and is ranked.