NCLL teams joining MCLA?

[Campbell]

A workshop is a great idea. The problem is, the programs that need it most wouldn't show up. The ones that have coaches that care about making a long term commitment to make the team better on and off the field could learn a lot from the coaches who've been at this awhile (just as we learn a lot from others). The ones without those coaches haven't made the first, necessary step yet anyway.

Perhaps the format of a workshop could be online with a Q&A session. Not necessarily live, but maybe the MCLA Board could ask certain coaches to contribute to some sort of broader outline. Q&A could follow over a couple of months, maybe all of this in the summer. This sort of format would not require travel for anyone, and persist on the internet as long as it was hosted.

Another benefit of this is just letting teams see what is possible and maybe realize that a one or two year turnover on club leadership isn't going to get the program to that level.

[Beta]

The problem is, the programs that need it most wouldn't show up. The ones that have coaches that care about making a long term commitment to make the team better on and off the field could learn a lot from the coaches who've been at this awhile (just as we learn a lot from others). The ones without those coaches haven't made the first, necessary step yet anyway.

Excellent point. It's sad to say but with the evolutionary process of anything, some things are lost. Sometimes players, coaches, or even teams. Id hate to think of it as a "weeding out" process but it's almost true. I see nothing wrong with a "sink or swim" mentality for a team in this league. If you want to compete in an established league, you gotta bring your A-game.

[wheelz33]

As for the level playing field, Id have to agree with JP. I cant imagine what else to MCLA could do to even things out. Plus, show me one sports league or association where the playing field is "level." Certainly not the pro-leagues (think Knicks, Redskins, Yankees compared to Bobcats, Cardinals, any other baseball team). Even in the NCAA, I just read this about NCAA basketball on si.com involving JP's own Wolverines:

"Don't be so certain that the resources at Michigan are that great, however. The vibe I get is Amaker doesn't get as much support in that regard as many of the schools he's competing against."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/12/13/mailbag.souffle/2.html

Plus, having extra resources doesnt equate to better results. Look at Thomas and the Knicks. It all comes down to leadership. Plus, where the playing field is supposedly level, like in the NFL, the leadership is what makes the difference. Just compare the records of the Pats and the Lions over the last 5 years.

As other people have stated so far, you can make your own resources if youre willing to put in the work to get there.

[TheNino57]

I only know that if you want your team to become what the top programs are, you have to find a coach who can do it and wants to do it and give him the power to get it done.

As for a level playing field - that's what our eligibility rules are for. The playing field is as level as it can be. What do we do to level it more? Take away school support from teams that have it? Make admissions tougher at schools where it's easy to get in? Disallow sponsorships? Put a cap on budgets? Disallow full time coaches? Does any of that serve the game or the kids who are playing it? Alex is right - you want to play in the MCLA and compete at the highest levels, make it happen.

There isn't parity in the MCLA, plain and simple- but that doesn't mean that there can't be. Central Washington has been a club for five years (this being the fifth). JP just said that he has been coaching at UM for twice that amount of time, and God knows how long there has been a club team at Michigan before he showed up. There is no way that CWU could roll into Ann Arbor and give Michigan a game- but in five more years, who knows? All teams can do more to achieve success. Save for some (since there are always exceptions to everything), every club in the MCLA could do more to recruit and attract new, fresh, talent. Every club could do more fundraising, more promoting, more EVERYTHING! It comes from desire and dedication. Things currently aren't equal. It's just that the Haves have raised the money, contacted donors, sweated the practice hours and done the things necessary to be competitive amongst the nations upper echelon. The Have Nots aren't there yet. In time, they might.

To UNM and any other first-year program, having a coach is the first major step toward success. Keeping that coach is the second. At CWU, we have been through four coaches in as many years. When we lost a coach, all the work that was put into the club went with him. All of the recruits he was bringing in went with him. If you have a coach, hang on to him. Give him the authority to make your program viable. In time, your team's hard work and perseverance will pay off.

[Beta]

The more power the coach has IMHO the more of a "team" it is and less like the definition of a student organization or c-l-u-b. Ive never played for any team that was run by the players, and looking back...it would have been godawful if any of them had been. Having a coach in charge, combined with college players that are humble enough to accept that they have to listen to someone usually makes for good things.

[scooter]

How about when your coach isnt a good one, but a phenomenal administrator. My little brother's team is coached by a complete moron. I swear he had never seen a game before he started coaching. But he does great things off the field. He schedules games no one ever thought they could get, he found them serious amounts of money the school said didn't exist, and was a good figure head to look up to off the field.

My point is, for growing clubs, how do ensure the coach is the best one for the team? If a team wants to compete on a national level eventually, I'm pretty sure they need a coach who understands the game to compete. But if he does wonderful things off the field, does that warrant keeping him around?

sorry for getting off topic

[CATLAX MAN]

What I don't understand is since when does there have to be parity in the league? This isn't a PC league for 5 year olds all have to participate, everyone is a winner, and little Johnny has to bring home a trophy. Come on, get over it. There will always be the good teams and the also-rans. They are separated by structure, organization, player commitment, and quality of coaching. If you want to be one of the winners, address these issues with your team and things will fall into place.

[Matt_Gardiner]

Scooter...
If I had to choose between the great on-field coach and the great administrator. I would take the administrator. If the team can be run well logistically, the rest will take care of itself. If the team can not run well logistically, the team has NO chance of succeeding.

If he is a great administrator, he will eventually get an assitant coach that knows the game better and can instruct the players better.

[A.J. Stevens]

How about when your coach isnt a good one, but a phenomenal administrator. My little brother's team is coached by a complete moron.

The problem is who gets to declare the coach a "moron"? As soon as you open that can of worms things will go south very quickly. There are some great coaches that have won national championships without ever playing the game of lacrosse (check Erin Quinn's bio). If he is willing to put the time in then give him the respect. He will get better if he is given the chance.

[OAKS]

Perhaps tact and honesty? Tell the guy you love having him around and that he's done wonders for the team (and that you would like to keep him with the team since he's so good administratively), but that the team needs to bring in some other guys with more experience on the field to help him out. In time, hopefully he can learn the game well enough to take on more of a coaching role. I would think most people would appreciate the honesty and would work hard to learn the game to get up to speed. If he can't handle someone telling him he needs to improve in an area (while telling him he's great in other areas), maybe he's not that good for the team in the first place.

[LaxRef]

How about when your coach isnt a good one, but a phenomenal administrator. My little brother's team is coached by a complete moron.

The problem is who gets to declare the coach a "moron"?

The athletes seem comfortable enough calling the officials morons, so it's just a short step to calling the coaches morons too . . . .

[Jana]

I tried to read the whole thread, but started skimming after a while...

The training idea is a good one, something my regional league is exploring for a fall 2007 workshop. Mandate officer training on specific topics, to encourage knowledge transfer. If this could be accomplished through online power point presentations, no travel would be necessary, and put MCLA light years ahead in terms of administrative organization.

Example: Every secretary / treasurer should learn and have checklists and timelines for tasks:
-how to write an operating budget
-how to manage a balance sheet
-how to comply with state and federal record keeping laws
-how to file the 990EZ form (if you take in $25k or more in revenues in a calendar year and are keeping the money in a separate account from your university)
-how to generate quarterly & annual financial reports for team meetings
-strategies to set dues structures
-strategies to collect dues
-how set up a business bank account
-how to apply for a federal tax ID, etc.
-strategies for how much money to set aside in a reserve account
-requirements for 501c3 non profit status (how to apply, how to renew)
-open meeting laws for your state, if you are filed as a non profit, not for profit, or s-corp
-state requirements for written bylaws or articles of incorporation
-what state "backup" laws apply if your bylaws are not specific enough (Pennsylvania has unique quorum laws, as an example)

[John Westfall]

I have to agree a workshop like that would be helpful. JP, I think you would be surprised at the attendance of a workshop if it was promoted well.

[John Paul]

There are workshops all the time. The IMLCA clinic was last weekend. It was promoted very well. About 15-20 MCLA programs were represented. 400 college coaches there. What a great opportunity to learn and network. The US Lacrosse convention is in January. I bet there will be even fewer coaches there from our level. We have a coaching clinic in Ann Arbor every January involving our staff and over 20 NCAA coaches. We advertise it to high school coaches and to our conference. We get 80-100 high school coaches and rarely 1 or 2 CCLA coaches (right in their own back yard!). Out of 200 programs, I get calls from 1 or 2 MCLA coaches a year to pick my brain about what we do here.

No, I doubt very much they would come. We simply do not have many people at our level who consider themselves professional coaches.

I think an online discussion, with emails ahead of time that coaches could respond to, is a great idea. Sonny?

[Sonny]

I think an online discussion, with emails ahead of time that coaches could respond to, is a great idea. Sonny?

I'm looking into some moderated chats (like you see ESPN do on their web site). We need some better chat software. But the good stuff costs $$$.