Lax Addict: Budget Whoa’s
Perusing the CollegeLAX Message boards, I ran across some issues dealing with the MCLA budget. Some interesting stuff, pros and cons of total disclosure, and a call to dismantle the tournament…Screeching halt. WTF?
*DISCLAIMER*
This isn’t the first such “plan” presented on the boards, but it caught my eye. From time to time, various opinions have surfaced touting a need for the MCLA to change or relax various standards to ease the burden of less-developed organizations. This is not directed at one individual, but at the voices that seem to clamor for change to allow for total inclusion as an MCLA priority.
I’m not “The Decider” on this one, but I’ll take a shot.
No.
You want programs that have fought administrations, gotten sponsors, built alumni support and done everything possible to grow their organization to cease and desist to let other teams catch up. All efforts to showcase the MCLA “product” and build our brand have culminated in the success that was last years National Championship event in Denver. We grew too fast? Not all the teams could keep up? Good. It’s not easy being organized. It’s not easy living up to a high standard all the time. There is a place for teams that can’t get it together or keep it together…it’s called the NCLL. You want to go to Nationals? Then put a plan into action to get there. Are you saying that any team in the country doesn’t have the ability to get better? BS. Alabama is moving up to D1 this season. Are they going to Nationals in 2010? I doubt it. But they can set organizational, budgetary and developmental goals designed to produce that result. I will go out on a limb and say that there are as many experienced players at Bama as there are at Auburn. Once these shmoes see the way the organization level and goals of the team are moving in the right direction, more will come out. Your team is in the Shadow of UMD? Do something about it. Practice 5 days a week instead of 3 or 4. Personally challenge everyone on the team to hit the wall every day (because you know they don’t). Start an off-season training program. Volunteer to coach and officiate at any local events to reach out to potential recruits. Raise dues to attract a better coach. Enhance your visibility on and off campus by getting creative with fundraising activities. Make sure you send your coach to the US Lacrosse coaching clinics to enhance his effectiveness. Any one of these will improve your team’s chances. Take the initiative to do a little self-check. Honestly assess where you can improve. If your team’s priorities and goals are not consistent with competing in the MCLA, there’s no shame in going with an organization that has a framework more in line with those goals. It might work better than actually lobbying to dismantle the rewards for teams that have already overcome those hurdles. Or you could solicit the help and advice of those same programs that get to the post season every year. I have yet to see any request for advice on the boards turned away. Hey I mean we can always get a keg, throw the sticks in a pile and just toss them into a couple of stacks to pick teams…who brought the Pinnies? Can one of your scrubs ref?
Hey guys, if you want some slack, cut the rope. The only easy day was yesterday. It’s not a bad thing if the standards cause us to lose a few teams a year. Don’t start asking for things to be engineered to the lowest common denominator. The MCLA isn’t the college lacrosse version of “No child left behind.” Get over yourselves and show a little sac.
-LA
The Lax addict will rant on CollegeLAX on a regular basis this season. There will be no rhyme or reason. Ever.
October 4th, 2009 at 11:33 am WordPress 2.8.4
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