So how do we fix the problems within the state?

Is PIAA the answer?

Is the current set up okay?

How can we promote the sport more in the area?

I think the PIAA question was beat to death in another topic on the forum. I believe the consensus is PIAA is not the answer, at least not at this point in time.

With all of the competition for high school age players, (Juniors, midget club etc). High School hockey has a long way to go.

Split season would help get more players onto High School teams (won't happen with Junior teams).

Recognition (if not sanctioning) by school districts to help promote the sport as a high school sport. This has been happening slowly, but also for as many teams that have gotten recognition, many teams have also dropped off in recent years because of the difficulty to sell the sport without the support of the school.

Cooperation between the local leagues for the good of the sport as a whole, not just for the individual leagues.

I'm sure Carl can expound on this immensely, much has been said already on this board.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ralphy,

quote:

Originally posted by ralphy:
I think the PIAA question was beat to death in another topic on the forum. I believe the consensus is PIAA is not the answer, at least not at this point in time.

With all of the competition for high school age players, (Juniors, midget club etc). High School hockey has a long way to go.

Split season would help get more players onto High School teams (won't happen with Junior teams).

Recognition (if not sanctioning) by school districts to help promote the sport as a high school sport. This has been happening slowly, but also for as many teams that have gotten recognition, many teams have also dropped off in recent years because of the difficulty to sell the sport without the support of the school.

Cooperation between the local leagues for the good of the sport as a whole, not just for the individual leagues.

I'm sure Carl can expound on this immensely, much has been said already on this board.

ralphy and HockeyBill ---
This might be a good place to summarize what was said on the other topic line on this subject so that the discussion can move on. As ralphy said, there seems to be a consensus that the PIAA brings little to the table. There are issues that many feel need to be addressed on which there is yet to develop a consensus. They include occasional conflicts between the schedules of the various high school leagues and AAA and Junior teams which, in my view, "reasonable men" (and women) should be able to resolve, without going to a "split season". A split season would essentially prevent our high school players from playing Junior, and there is certainly no consensus in favor of that.
The issue of the continued eligibility of billeted players is an issue to some. While all seem to agree that currently they are eligible to to play for their local high school, there are those who feel that that should be dis-allowed in the future (irrespective of any PIAA position on the subject or any interpretation the their transfer rules).
Recognition as a varsity sport is a concern for many, though it appears that there is far more recognition than had been previously known. A more thorough survey will probably show that some recognition is nearly universal, in one form or another. Financial support, regulation, and other school-related support and restrictions are not.