Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: 1L
Celina is a little unique in 2A (3A this year). We've played them in the playoffs for the last two years, and I counted something like seventy players suited up. Of course, for playoffs they also suit up the JV. They also have 12 full time coaches, double the number of most 2A schools. However, the competition level is relevent. We agree that 5A schools are going to put a better team on the field, if for no other reason than because more players are competing for positions.

The point I was making was that playing in 2A, McCoy did not face the level of competition that 5A players face. I'm not dissing small town football, I've been covering it professionally as a photographer for the last four years. I prefer going to a small town game over larger schools. However, I've also been covering college games from the sidelines (Division II). The increase in player size is astonishing. Speed is also significantly higher. I don't think we have any disagreement, but maybe I phrased my original post poorly.

BTW, one of the things that's kind of funny is that on a full week I do the 7th grade, 8th grade, and JV on Thursday, the Varsity on Friday and a college game on Saturday. At 7th grade, the field seems huge. Often the refs, coaches (and photographers, heh, heh, heh), will cheat in five or six yards from the sidelines. When a kid runs out of bounds, you put out an arm and catch him. By JV, you move to the side, cause they're too big to catch. With varsity players, you learn to duck and move, cause those guys can break bones if you're not ready. On the college teams, stay five yards off the sidelines, and they'll run over you like an eighteen wheeler hitting a Toyota.

94 posted on 07/19/2006 4:49:10 PM PDT by Richard Kimball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies ]


To: Richard Kimball

I shoot some games as well and officiate football from 7th grade up to college. Some of the best football I've worked have actually been private schools. Well coached, decent talent, and evenly balanced teams. But when working as wing officials (line judge and head linesman), we don't cheat in from the sidelines, regardless of the level we are working. And I'm certainly not going to let coaches and photogs do that. An exception might be when the ball is placed on the far hash, we are in dim light, and are expecting a sweep to the other side -- but just for me!

I don't care what level you are working or shooting, these kids are faster than you and you don't want to be backpeddling out of the way. Fortunately, I've been on a football field so much that I can almost predict pretty much what's going to happen based upon formations, previous play calls, situations, etc. That helps when I shoot, as I did numerous times in the playoffs last year. Unfortunately, the lighting in most stadiums sucks so bad, Texas Stadium is about the only venue I shoot at now. When I have time, that is.

The difference between 2A and 5A is depth. But there are also a lot of 4A and 5A teams that have decent starters and no real depth, and are killed by injuries and grades. A good 2A team would still be competitive with a decent 5A team if both teams suited out the same number of players. 5A teams lose to mediocre 4A teams in non-district ALL the time. One team I know of (5A) lost to 2 pretty bad 4A teams last year.

Who is "we?" I didn't work Celina last year, but I did work a 2A game. I do virtually all 4A and 5A though.


95 posted on 07/20/2006 2:27:17 PM PDT by 1L
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson