Being Competitive in Playoffs ?

[Paladin]

Lets be honest here -- in non-league, if you schedule people you beat year in, year out, how does that make you better. Its called -- NO COMPETITION. There are many in SEO that practice that. They not only don't get better, they hold down the league as well. Non- league has to be used to UPGRADE, either in division or in competition. I could name alot of names in SEO. The region is sick in its poor scheduling habits. That holds back the team, the league, the area.

I picked Orrville to win their region, the one that Genoa is in. Genoa is a fraud team and got beat by Orrville, a team that schedules better and plays tougher teams. Genoa built a record on lots of smaller ,weaker teams. The uneducated thought them to be tough. The fraud was exposed early.

Most of SEO is out of the playoffs. The rest will be ,shortly as well. Another year. Instead of talkiing about how good you'll be, talk about who you can add to the schedule that you may not beat. Add 3 or 4 of those and you start upping your competitve level. If all do that, the region turns around.

[j-dizzle71]

This is one of the reasons why i like what nelsonville does. They put Ironton on their schedule, which gives their players a little bit of that playoff calibur team experience before actually going to the playoffs. I wish more teams in the tvc would do that.

[85inside]

In Ironton, people expect to win. That has come from almost 4 decades of winning 80+ percent of the games played. The kids start playing football in grade school and for the most part the attitude in the grade school program at Ironton has been about teaching kids to play the sport. ironton's grade school program has always divided into 2 programs, so all the kids would get a chance to learn and participate. Some schools have but one team with 40-50 players on the team. Most kids dont get to play much. The more the kids learn early and nthe more the kids get a passion for the game, the better the high school program will be.
Secondly, Ironton has a "uniform" program. Coach Lutz' program starts in the 7th grade. Ironton doesnt have renegade coaches in the jr high, running plays and schemes different than the high school program. The feeder program at Ironton are about teaching kids to play the game and if you win, that is a bonus.
Thirdly, Ironton has always been about competition. Partly out of necessity (most Lawrence county teams dont play ironton past the ninth grade and there are no lawrence county teams on the varsity schedule)Ironton has always went out of area to play schools. It makes your program tougher, but it also attracts kids to your program. Any kid that loves the sport prefers to play on the biggest stage possible. In Lawrence county, it is Ironton.

It is great to win a conference and go undefeated in the regular season. However, if you ask kids if they would trade in their conference trophy for a shot at winning a regional title and maybe advancing to a state title shot, I think the great majority would trade in.

Ironton may not be flashy. Maybe they would be a bit better offensively if they opened the offense up a bit more. However, the way they have built the program is the right way to do it. You have to win the line of scrimmage or you wont succeed. In 2009, I think that has been the biggest improvement for Ironton. They tackle and block very well. That, coupled with running the program in the right way, is why Ironton will be playing for another regional title.

[kantuckyII]

Bellaire Loses Nate Davis To Graduation....
Bellaire 2007 - 0 - 10
Bellaire 2008 - 4 - 6
Bellaire 2009 - 1 - 9

[4 HORSEMEN]

I agree with Paladin and 85inside!

We have to stop being content with the "same-old, same-old".

Start scheduling the VERY BEST in your area. Once you conquer your area, don't be content!!!! Schedule the best out of area teams you can find.

Exposing your kids to GOOD out of area teams is the way to grow your program and take that next step to playoff/regional/State success.

[sider]

Here it is week 13 and the only team left in the area is the Tigers I agree with all the things above...there are numerous leagues in Ohio, and yeah a trophy looks great, but does team from all over the state fear you because you won your league?...No, they fear you because you have had success in the playoffs, and have beaten good teams...Good example was Burg this year, yeah they lost their league title, but they inches away from being in a regional championship, whereas Minford (who won the league) was sent out first round...Honestly, I think Minford kinda got satisfied with winning the league, but Burg on the other hand, had no nothing to show for their year therefore they weren't satisfied. Not knocking Minford they had a great year, its just easy to get satisfied at the end of the year, espically if you're not used to success like that

[TIGERS90]

Best Programs in Southeastern Ohio:

1. Ironton






















2. Wheelersburg




















3. Nelsonville/Portsmouth?

[mikepike]

Great topic. Here's my 2 cents on the subject:

-The entire program (varsity on down to Pee Wee) has to have a single goal in mind...winning a state championship. No celebrating Pee Wee Super Bowls (nonsense) or Jr High championships. Make the kids want to earn the recognition. Work hard in the off-season. Coaches need to visit more successful programs and learn from their coaches. Sorry, but 8-2 in SE Ohio is alot different from 8-2 in the rest of the state.

-The parents have to be vested in the program, not only in their kid. Would you rather your kid be the star of an 0-10 team, or 'just' a member of a 10-0 team? Parents can do alot to set the tone for the season by how they prepare their kid. if you convince the kid he's getting shafted before the very first practice, he'll go to that first practice already thinking he's getting screwed. The coach- not Mommy and Daddy- is the coach. Listen to him.

-Don't go looking for greener pastures. I hate to see a kid moved because the program isn't as good as he thinks he is. Stick it out and help the program to grow. Maybe you won't win as many games, but down the road, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you helped to build the program from the ground up.

-Don't schedule for easy W's. Can't do much about the league games, but schedule the non-league games to challenge and toughen the team. That's where alot of the secondary computer points come from.

[Trimble Juvenile]

Great topic. Here's my 2 cents on the subject:

-The entire program (varsity on down to Pee Wee) has to have a single goal in mind...winning a state championship..

i really hate to admit it but this is what trimble is lacking. back when my dad and uncle's played 6-4 was a bad year. their coach then talked about getting to the playoffs, cause that is something they had never done before. they also talked about winning the tvc, cause trimble was the smallest school in it and they knew winning it was a great accomplishment. but now trimble has won the tvc a lot of times (albeit the small division) and been to the playoffs several times. but only two 1st round wins in the playoffs. we need to step up and start talking about state championships. or at least getting to play for one. nothing against this years team, but 6-4 isn't that great IMO. one non league win and it was against an 0-10 team. really just the fact that you can go 6-4, or realistically evn 5-5, and win your league is kind of dissapointing in itself. stop shooting for hocking division championships and just getting into the playoffs. start aiming higher, and doing what it takes to get there. also stop blaming everything else for not winning in the playoffs. i couldn't believe people were saying last year, "we have a chance now that we are not playing a catholic school." that attitude has to change. if not we will never do any better.

[TIGERS90]

As kids...we all looked forward to winning a state championship at Ironton...We knew we had it in us...and the further we went the better we did...and yes...our senior year...we won a state championship...it's about attitude...coaching...preparation...and desire...you need them all...and smarts...

[91blue14]

ironton does play for state titles cant argue that point.

[pappy1]

I can understand how a team getting to the playoffs for the first time can get blown out. If they don't play teams of the caliber they will see in the playoffs, they don't know the level they need to be at to compete at that level. After they see, they should take the steps needed to compete at a higher level. They still may go to the playoffs and struggle to compete with the athleticism of some opponents, but should not get blown out every year.

[I smell bad]

Great topic. Here's my 2 cents on the subject:

-The entire program (varsity on down to Pee Wee) has to have a single goal in mind...winning a state championship..

stop shooting for hocking division championships and just getting into the playoffs. start aiming higher, and doing what it takes to get there.

That is the most important thing you posted. Do the things it takes. And that is not just the players either. It has to start at the top, and go down through the whole program. If you want to achieve something you never have, you have to be willing to put forth effort you never have. Start doing things better, and your results will eventually be better. Keep doing things the same, and the results will usually remain the same. All those things are easy to say. The problem is some people see no need to change themselves. They think what they are achieving is the best they can do, and if anyone needs to change it certainly is not them.

[TIGERS90]

Great topic. Here's my 2 cents on the subject:

-The entire program (varsity on down to Pee Wee) has to have a single goal in mind...winning a state championship..

stop shooting for hocking division championships and just getting into the playoffs. start aiming higher, and doing what it takes to get there.

That is the most important thing you posted. Do the things it takes. And that is not just the players either. It has to start at the top, and go down through the whole program. If you want to achieve something you never have, you have to be willing to put forth effort you never have. Start doing things better, and your results will eventually be better. Keep doing things the same, and the results will usually remain the same. All those things are easy to say. The problem is some people see no need to change themselves. They think what they are achieving is the best they can do, and if anyone needs to change it certainly is not them.

These kids have to start from the beginning too...The coaches have to teach kids what they should be doing...and they need to keep learning as the years pass more and more and making themselves better players year after year...but if they have the desire and they have been shown how to play their positions...by the time they get to high school..if they have the want to do it..they will do well...don't know about a state championship...because that requires some luck...unless you are really head and toes about everyone else...however...they will do well...and probably better than a league title..

[pappy1]

I agree the number one goal a team should set is to win the state championship.
It should also be a goal to win your league, implying it isn't important is phony.

[4 HORSEMEN]

I agree the number one goal a team should set is to win the state championship.
It should also be a goal to win your league, implying it isn't important is phony.

I here you, but I think the point that most are making is that too many of us are JUST happy to win the league (no matter what that league may be).

We need to aim higher and take our programs to a higher level. But obviously, if I win the STATE championship then I BETTER win my league. But I would gladly accept a a league runner-up if a STATE TITLE came with it..... LOL

[pappy1]

I hear you 4 HORSEMEN........I also would rather be league runner up and win the state. I just think winning your league should be a high priority.

[mikepike]

Look at the Midwest Athletic Conference. 5 teams- Delphos St. John's (10-0), Coldwater (9-1), Anna (8-2), St. Henry (7-3), and Marion Local (5-5) all got in the playoffs, and only Anna has lost so far...to Coldwater in the Regional semis. These teams schedule higher in their non-league games, and while winning the conference is important, they focus on and play for state championships year in and year out. It is the same in other sports- Marion won Div.4 volleyball, and Minster won girls cross country.

[M0TIVAT0R]

Look at the Midwest Athletic Conference. 5 teams- Delphos St. John's (10-0), Coldwater (9-1), Anna (8-2), St. Henry (7-3), and Marion Local (5-5) all got in the playoffs, and only Anna has lost so far...to Coldwater in the Regional semis. These teams schedule higher in their non-league games, and while winning the conference is important, they focus on and play for state championships year in and year out. It is the same in other sports- Marion won Div.4 volleyball, and Minster won girls cross country.

Yes you failed to mention that these teams obviously know they can't all win their league. But I will bet you they put a great empasis on winning it. They probably know if they do win the league chances are they will win a state championship, or at least play for one. I agree with pappy1 on this. The only people who claim the league championship is not important are the fans who teams did not win it. I have heard many coaches say, "win the league first, then advance in the playoffs."

[Maddog 20/20]

They dont worry about winning the league in Racing (oh....the have never won a title), they just want a deep playoff run (OOPS never been to the playoffs either).

BRING BACK THE SVAC!