5 replies to this topic

[Common Sense]

Maybe lost in the shuffle of the weekend was a game Saturday between Fostoria St. Wendelin and Horizon Science where FSW ripped Horizon 81-0. Due to Horizon only having 11 healthy bodies, the game was played 8 on 8. Needless to say this may be the wave of the future as these small football programs continue to shrink in numbers. This was also a non-sanctioned OHSAA game as Horizon isn't not a member of the OHSAA.

Isn't it time to fold up if you have 11 kids?? Also of note is the two teams played a few weeks ago, 11 on 11 and FSW won 66-2.

[von]

Common Sense, on 26 September 2016 - 11:04 AM, said:

Maybe lost in the shuffle of the weekend was a game Saturday between Fostoria St. Wendelin and Horizon Science where FSW ripped Horizon 81-0. Due to Horizon only having 11 healthy bodies, the game was played 8 on 8. Needless to say this may be the wave of the future as these small football programs continue to shrink in numbers. This was also a non-sanctioned OHSAA game as Horizon isn't not a member of the OHSAA.

Isn't it time to fold up if you have 11 kids?? Also of note is the two teams played a few weeks ago, 11 on 11 and FSW won 66-2.

The OHSAA needs to consider having 8 man teams for very small schools. We have over 100 plus 8-man team schools out here in CA. They have 2 divisions. Most are very small Christian Schools or public schools with under 100 students. It actually is very exciting, and most games have very high scoring scores. Some schools in Putnam County(OV, FJ, Con., MC, K) could have 8-man teams, you only need 12-15 players, many players go both ways. It is a thought. Plus they play on an 80 yard field, play on the soccer fields. Have a great week.

[jeffcat-bucki]

If the numbers are that low, going from 11 to 8 won't accomplish much. Horizon has no business having a football team. Their school in columbus looks like it's in a retrofitted TJ Maxx on Morse Rd.

[Hagen]

von, on 26 September 2016 - 11:27 AM, said:

The OHSAA needs to consider having 8 man teams for very small schools. We have over 100 plus 8-man team schools out here in CA. They have 2 divisions. Most are very small Christian Schools or public schools with under 100 students. It actually is very exciting, and most games have very high scoring scores. Some schools in Putnam County(OV, FJ, Con., MC, K) could have 8-man teams, you only need 12-15 players, many players go both ways. It is a thought. Plus they play on an 80 yard field, play on the soccer fields. Have a great week.

Why not play 5-person volleyball and 7-person baseball? I get the want to continue football for schools, but at some point, maybe those schools should consolidate so they can field full teams where seasons aren't in question if 3 players get hurt.
Also, soccer fields are generally 100-120 yards long & slightly wider than a football field, so that's a moot point.

[Mr Bearcat]

Hagen, on 27 September 2016 - 09:43 AM, said:

Why not play 5-person volleyball and 7-person baseball? I get the want to continue football for schools, but at some point, maybe those schools should consolidate so they can field full teams where seasons aren't in question if 3 players get hurt.
Also, soccer fields are generally 100-120 yards long & slightly wider than a football field, so that's a moot point.

I agree 100%!

[Common Sense]

von, on 26 September 2016 - 11:27 AM, said:

The OHSAA needs to consider having 8 man teams for very small schools. We have over 100 plus 8-man team schools out here in CA. They have 2 divisions. Most are very small Christian Schools or public schools with under 100 students. It actually is very exciting, and most games have very high scoring scores. Some schools in Putnam County(OV, FJ, Con., MC, K) could have 8-man teams, you only need 12-15 players, many players go both ways. It is a thought. Plus they play on an 80 yard field, play on the soccer fields. Have a great week.

Von, I guess there is two ways to look at this. From a strictly participation standpoint, it's good because these kids probably get to experience something they wouldn't normally get to do. But from a financial and logistics standpoint, does it really make sense? One of the reasons football works is that you generally need to have some sort of way to fund the sport. Football is obviously very expensive with the equipment costs. Having a 10-15 player team (and the very few fans that would support that team) would make it very cost in-effective. No one wants to talk about finances, but it has to be a player in making decisions about these things.
I'd like to see the OHSAA come up with a minimum number for participation in football. You don't have 20 players on the team, no football, period. These small schools affect everyone on their schedule because they literally go week to week. If team A has to cancel in week 5, the team they play has no way of scheduling another opponent in a week. So it leaves everyone on their schedule in limbo every week.