St. James Winter League 23-24

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, my HS daughter will not play with her club, only with her high school.

And her HS team can’t be coached by the main coach bc of rules about when the season can start, so these are essentially captains’ practices.

My daughter will use the winter to focus on skills where she needs the most help (one game last year the captain only wanted her to take low shots) and also where she will likely be needed on her HS team (which is slightly different than where she plays for her club).

All of this is to say, don’t read too much into scores, which this board loves to do.

Apparently HS coaches can coach. Good Counsel’s HC did it last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, my HS daughter will not play with her club, only with her high school.

And her HS team can’t be coached by the main coach bc of rules about when the season can start, so these are essentially captains’ practices.

My daughter will use the winter to focus on skills where she needs the most help (one game last year the captain only wanted her to take low shots) and also where she will likely be needed on her HS team (which is slightly different than where she plays for her club).

All of this is to say, don’t read too much into scores, which this board loves to do.

Apparently HS coaches can coach. Good Counsel’s HC did it last year.

My kid’s school is different conference so maybe rules are different for whatever conference Good Counsel is in.

[Anonymous]

In Va I believe Prince William can coach not so for Fairfax or Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

Can’t comment on private or louden county schools but I can tell you with 100% certainty that Fairfax county public school coaches can coach in the st james league. It’s an unwritten rule that most coaches follow that they don’t coach out of season leagues. However if you disagree, please provide the link to any VHSL rule stating this in writing or some sort of Conference or County rule stating this in writing. Bet you won’t find it, because it doesn’t exist.
Just my 2 cents but please by all means, prove me wrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t comment on private or louden county schools but I can tell you with 100% certainty that Fairfax county public school coaches can coach in the st james league. It’s an unwritten rule that most coaches follow that they don’t coach out of season leagues. However if you disagree, please provide the link to any VHSL rule stating this in writing or some sort of Conference or County rule stating this in writing. Bet you won’t find it, because it doesn’t exist.
Just my 2 cents but please by all means, prove me wrong

NP here… I am confused by animosity of post but perhaps I am misreading tone. I didn’t read the previous posts to say there was some official rule on the books barring HCs from coaching - it could be an accepted practice as you say but wouldn’t the outcome be the same (being that some coaches don’t coach).

I think previous posters were highlighting that teams all have different approaches to this winter league and are looking to get different objectives out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, my HS daughter will not play with her club, only with her high school.

And her HS team can’t be coached by the main coach bc of rules about when the season can start, so these are essentially captains’ practices.

My daughter will use the winter to focus on skills where she needs the most help (one game last year the captain only wanted her to take low shots) and also where she will likely be needed on her HS team (which is slightly different than where she plays for her club).

All of this is to say, don’t read too much into scores, which this board loves to do.

Apparently HS coaches can coach. Good Counsel’s HC did it last year.

My kid’s school is different conference so maybe rules are different for whatever conference Good Counsel is in.

WCAC allows coaches to coach 10 hours a week in offseason and that includes league games. Public does not allow coaches to coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, my HS daughter will not play with her club, only with her high school.

And her HS team can’t be coached by the main coach bc of rules about when the season can start, so these are essentially captains’ practices.

My daughter will use the winter to focus on skills where she needs the most help (one game last year the captain only wanted her to take low shots) and also where she will likely be needed on her HS team (which is slightly different than where she plays for her club).

All of this is to say, don’t read too much into scores, which this board loves to do.

Apparently HS coaches can coach. Good Counsel’s HC did it last year.

My kid’s school is different conference so maybe rules are different for whatever conference Good Counsel is in.

WCAC allows coaches to coach 10 hours a week in offseason and that includes league games. Public does not allow coaches to coach.

Except there is no WCAC rule accountability. No one is watching, no one is reporting the hours, and no one is enforcing the policy. It has no teeth. STJ should make a policy that head coaches cannot be on the sidelines for the winter indoor league. That would create a fair and level playing field for all.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see an issue with HC coaching during the winter. Public schools are allowed certain days to actually practice, so it’s not like the coaches are not coaching, why not just continue the coaching for events like the st james.

Back to reality now. Does anyone know what varsity teams are playing in the st james this winter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see an issue with HC coaching during the winter. Public schools are allowed certain days to actually practice, so it’s not like the coaches are not coaching, why not just continue the coaching for events like the st james.

Back to reality now. Does anyone know what varsity teams are playing in the st james this winter

Thanks, coach. Not every HS program can have their coaches on the sidelines due to other commitments. The ones that do always have the advantage over parent volunteers trying to lend a hand and keep it fun for the kids. Different leagues have different (unenforceable) rules, which some abide by and some likely do not. There was an unwritten understanding for years that coaches weren’t allowed on the sidelines at the STJ indoor season, which is fading. STJ should make it official. It could be the last place around where kids can actually be kids again and just have fun playing the sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, my HS daughter will not play with her club, only with her high school.

And her HS team can’t be coached by the main coach bc of rules about when the season can start, so these are essentially captains’ practices.

My daughter will use the winter to focus on skills where she needs the most help (one game last year the captain only wanted her to take low shots) and also where she will likely be needed on her HS team (which is slightly different than where she plays for her club).

All of this is to say, don’t read too much into scores, which this board loves to do.

Apparently HS coaches can coach. Good Counsel’s HC did it last year.

My kid’s school is different conference so maybe rules are different for whatever conference Good Counsel is in.

WCAC allows coaches to coach 10 hours a week in offseason and that includes league games. Public does not allow coaches to coach.

Except there is no WCAC rule accountability. No one is watching, no one is reporting the hours, and no one is enforcing the policy. It has no teeth. STJ should make a policy that head coaches cannot be on the sidelines for the winter indoor league. That would create a fair and level playing field for all.

Go complain to the WCAC and the GC AD then. Other WCAC coaches can coach in the league but choose not to. Many head coaches attend winter league games anyway and sit in the stands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, my HS daughter will not play with her club, only with her high school.

And her HS team can’t be coached by the main coach bc of rules about when the season can start, so these are essentially captains’ practices.

My daughter will use the winter to focus on skills where she needs the most help (one game last year the captain only wanted her to take low shots) and also where she will likely be needed on her HS team (which is slightly different than where she plays for her club).

All of this is to say, don’t read too much into scores, which this board loves to do.

Apparently HS coaches can coach. Good Counsel’s HC did it last year.

My kid’s school is different conference so maybe rules are different for whatever conference Good Counsel is in.

WCAC allows coaches to coach 10 hours a week in offseason and that includes league games. Public does not allow coaches to coach.

Except there is no WCAC rule accountability. No one is watching, no one is reporting the hours, and no one is enforcing the policy. It has no teeth. STJ should make a policy that head coaches cannot be on the sidelines for the winter indoor league. That would create a fair and level playing field for all.

Go complain to the WCAC and the GC AD then. Other WCAC coaches can coach in the league but choose not to. Many head coaches attend winter league games anyway and sit in the stands.

Correct — most are in the stands. Sitting with the parents. And not coaching.

[Anonymous]

Let every program handle it the way it wants. I just wanted to point out that each HS/club/program treats this league differently, so don't assume others are playing the same way/that you can extrapolate a lot from the results (or pass judgements on whose approach is better).

Box is a great way to have some winter games and keep a stick in everyone's hand. end of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let every program handle it the way it wants. I just wanted to point out that each HS/club/program treats this league differently, so don't assume others are playing the same way/that you can extrapolate a lot from the results (or pass judgements on whose approach is better).

Box is a great way to have some winter games and keep a stick in everyone's hand. end of story.

That sounds reasonable and nice but when you have volunteer moms and dads trying to keep the experience light and fun for their players go up against screaming HCs who think they’re competing in the Final Four, the two approaches clash. STJ: set a policy everyone can adopt where the rules are clearly defined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let every program handle it the way it wants. I just wanted to point out that each HS/club/program treats this league differently, so don't assume others are playing the same way/that you can extrapolate a lot from the results (or pass judgements on whose approach is better).

Box is a great way to have some winter games and keep a stick in everyone's hand. end of story.

That sounds reasonable and nice but when you have volunteer moms and dads trying to keep the experience light and fun for their players go up against screaming HCs who think they’re competing in the Final Four, the two approaches clash. STJ: set a policy everyone can adopt where the rules are clearly defined.

Again, go make the complaint to the STJ officially then. Otherwise you just come here and complain every year. Don't like it? Go try to do something about it other than complaining on an anonymous message board as if it's going to change anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let every program handle it the way it wants. I just wanted to point out that each HS/club/program treats this league differently, so don't assume others are playing the same way/that you can extrapolate a lot from the results (or pass judgements on whose approach is better).

Box is a great way to have some winter games and keep a stick in everyone's hand. end of story.

That sounds reasonable and nice but when you have volunteer moms and dads trying to keep the experience light and fun for their players go up against screaming HCs who think they’re competing in the Final Four, the two approaches clash. STJ: set a policy everyone can adopt where the rules are clearly defined.

Again, go make the complaint to the STJ officially then. Otherwise you just come here and complain every year. Don't like it? Go try to do something about it other than complaining on an anonymous message board as if it's going to change anything.

STJ reads this forum, as do many parent volunteers and parents who feel the same way. Thanks for the suggestion but I’ll keep posting here, coach. Sunlight is the greatest disinfectant, the wonderful saying goes ….