Really, how difficult is to make up a lacrosse schedule? A coach shows up to his sectional meeting, hammers out dates for his mandatory league games, and then picks-up a couple non-leaguers from a few of his coaching buddies. Write all the dates down, then simply play the games.
Not so fast! Scheduling in today's high school game requires a coach to do a bit of homework. Do you have a game plan? Is your team young, and would benefit from a couple confidence-builders early on? Conversely, is your team loaded with talent and looks to make a run at the sectional title? Wouldn't it be beneficial to schedule the toughest non-leaguers possible to get them ready for the difficult challenges down the road?
A quick glance at the 2008 Section 6 master schedule reveals a growing trend in lacrosse termed as "power scheduling." Many of the elite lacrosse programs in WNY are picking-up difficult non league opponents, often competing with teams from outside our section. Sometimes against some of the best programs in the nation! This season, section 6 will take on teams from Pennsylvannia, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC and even Texas. In a race to provide the best possible competition for their players, coaches are actively seeking-out opportunities against several well-known lacrosse powers across New York. This year, eleven different Section 5 teams will play 20 regular season games against Section 6.
I asked a couple coaches from top programs for their view on this topic. Amherst coach Stefan Henn is notorious for scheduling difficult non-leaguers early in the season, "...they (early non leaguers) never hurt you, they are a great measuring stick and help to get rid of the 'fear factor' of playing quality opponents." Henn and his Tigers have proven year in and year out that they refuse to back down to any opponent. Stefan continues, "...anyone can be a bully in their own neighborhood, go a couple towns over, and you ain't so tough anymore." Henn feels that traveling can be a good experience for his team as well, "...get used to road trips...for the state finals you take a bus, so start takin' one now." The Tigers will put that philosophy to the test as they visit perennial NYS power Penn Yan on March 28th.
Orchard Park will make their yearly pilgrimmage down to Maryland during spring break, as they take on Archbishop Curley and national power Georgetown Prep out of DC's Interstate Athletic Conference, arguably the most competitive high school lacrosse league in the country. Perhaps the most challenging schedule of any Section 6 team is that of the Hamburg Bulldogs. Head coach Jerry Severino has scoured the four corners of the earth (...well, not really that far) to find the teams that will give the Bulldogs the best chance to repeat as Class B champions and make a deep run into the state tournament. Severino has the same thought process as Henn when it comes to scheduling, "I went after some of the best state competition when building my non Class B games. For years, we all know that preparing for the playoffs begins in early March and dodging opponents does little to prepare you." Hamburg's schedule is downright scary! Beyond picking up local class A teams like; Williamsville North, Frontier and Niagara Wheatfield, the Bulldogs secured four games against section 5 teams (Penn Yan, HF-L, Webster-Schroeder and Canandaigua). While other section 6 players disappear on vacation to Florida and Mexico during spring break, the Bulldogs will be taking a business trip to play two teams down in Virginia. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, they still must take on both Amherst and West Seneca East who have the firepower to knockoff the reigning class B champs.
Not everybody takes on these challenges. Scouring the rest of the schedules reflects that only 11 of the 32 local teams (33%) will be competing out of section. However, many teams do travel over to Rochester in late March to pick up a scrimmage or two. The difficulty comes about for all the "have-not programs." These are the section 6 teams that are not afforded the best in non league competition. How do they get better if they are passed over for out of town teams? They have little to bring to the table both locally and elsewhere. Do we really believe that these teams could pick up the phone and schedule a game against Corning East, Penn Yan, West Genesee or Irondequoit? The conversation wouldn't last long. If you're not in demand, you simply don't have the leverage to create a power schedule. So the rich get richer. Does that help make section 6 lacrosse better in the long run? To tell you the truth, I don't have an answer.
Personally, I like the ability to power schedule. If lacrosse programs in this area want to get better and seriously hope to elevate section 6 lacrosse, then they have work to do. It is the responsiblity of the coaches to provide the best opportunities for their players. On a more individual basis, it is the duty of the coach to expose his players to the best competition, and in turn provide them the possibility to play at the next level. Obviously, being in a highly competitive high school program will help open some of those doors. We need to play the best if we someday hope to have a section 6 team lay claim to a NYS title. Accordingly Henn admits, "Wins don't count...only wins in June count and playing the best sets you up for that." The theory being, put your players in difficult situations, win or lose they will learn from it and it will pay dividends when it really counts. Severino and his Bulldogs are on a mission to prove a point this coming season. He adds, "...experiencing challenges will provide the boys with knowledge that may prove critical at the end." The groundwork for creating a champion is built in the offseason. Planning the path and schedule for success is just as important as playing the games.
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10 comments:
good thread! a lot of good thoughts in here.
one thing i'd like to see that would be good for the sport is some 'lacrosse days' early in the season at schools with turf fields. it would be great for the schools with these fields to schedule 4-5 games on their fields for a day, let all the teams get in some quality early season work. it would promote the sport, the home teams boosters could raise some money and allow everyone to get outdoors on a field. how long do you think before most of our schools will be outside this year??
Does anyone know if teams have a certain number of games that a team must schedule in its own section? I understand every team must play the league games. After that can't a team just play anyone they want to from anywhere?
laxdad411
In response to the previous post, the section 6 handbook requires every team to play a minimum of 13 games against section 6 opponents. For example, Hamburg has only 13 section 6 games out of a maximum 18regular season games each team is allowed to play.
I find it a shame that a school like West Seneca East is going after easy wins withplaying Nichols,Gowanda and St. Joes. For a team who thinks they are the 2nd best B school in the area, that is joke. Plus trying to pad your players stats by playing weaker teams is wrong.
If you are as good as you say you are then play all A schools, in reality Nichols and Joes are C school.
Well hope OP shoots lights out against you.
To the previous post that is the stratgy used by WSE. Play weak competition, put up gaudy numbers, let local broadcast and internet blogs talk about how great you are and wait for college recruiters to notice. There program is over hyped to the max. OP in particular schedules extremly difficult non section games to prepare for bigger things at playoff time. The major problem in sect 6 is the lack of top notch competition to make the section stronger. In sect 3 each game those teams play prepares them for the playoffs. Although lax is relatively new programs need to schedule the toughest opp. to better prepare their players for the future
WSE does their players no favors by weak scheduling
People, people settle down. WSE plays some weak teams i agree however its not like there playing horrible teams. and since when do the players get to make the schedule. If anything you should feel bad for the players at WSE for there coach not making a strong enough schedule for the players to prepare for playoff time. however they are starting to get better at game schedule they did put penfield on the schedule and scrimaged NW. so cut them some credit to.
settle down?,No one is feeling sorry here for the players, we know the coaches make up the schedule. But what irratates alot of WNY lax fans is the self promotion many players are doing on numerous BLOGS. Stating how this kid is a AA, or ALL WNY even though they play a weaker schedule. As a all star you better play well against a weak opponent, and you better play great against a strong opp. Something I have yet to see in a certain class B power
The game of the season may be on May 9th as Canandaigua visits OP. It may be a prelude to the Class A western regional game. However, the way they're playing right now, Hamburg against Canandaigua on May 17th could be the bigger one. Since OP and Hamburg avoid each other during scheduling, this may be the closest way to determine who is better as they play a common strong opponent.
as to the last post OP and Hamburg not playing well I will not touch that. But you can not judge op and Hamburg vs Canandaigua. Hamburg and Op are different teams, and coaches philoshpy are different. Plus everytime has their great days when all just clicks and those dreaded bad days when even a simple ground ball become a huge task. Like any pro athlete will tell you any team can beat any team on a given day.
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