What Division III sport should we add a board for next?

[HeadingForHome]

Why dont we just add boards for all the sports?

How hard could it possibly be and it would make everyone happy.

[feces monkey]

Couple of thoughts here:

Radiomike is correct in that Laxpower.com does a decent job providing access for DIII posters, but the forums are painfully unorganized with double-posts, game stories, and press releases mixed among some coherent debate. Also, many of the "secondary" conferences get lost in the shuffle with the "heavyweights," such as the CAC, Centennial, ODAC and NESCAC, drawing much of the extended discussion. I think there are plenty of supporters for the NCAC, PAC, Pilgrim, etc. out there, but can't find a voice on Laxpower. Plus, in Laxpower's all-for-one format, many of the logical debates quickly deteriorate into a North-South urinating match because of the way the NCAA brackets are set up.

If a lacrosse forum was devised in the same way as d3sports.com (the best format I've run into), with distinct boards for the regions and conferences, I think it would flourish.

The rub is what some of the others posted about: there is a massive club presence in the sport ranging from traditional DI to DIII schools. This would complicate a forum from an organizational standpoint. If the club teams were left out, they wouldn't be without a voice as they still have USLIA.com, which has an active forum.

I think track/cc would have a dedicated following, as well, but the problem I could foresee is in the nature of track. With so many disciplines within a single sport (shot, disc, jav, sprints, distance, etc.), I would think it would necessitate multiple boards within a single conference alone. Also, unlike other team sports, there isn't a whole lot of subjectivity to track in which to debate. It's all times/distances and there is already a clearinghouse for these types of stats at raceberryjam. Same idea with swimming and cross country. Again, I don't doubt the overwhelming patronage d3sports.com would receive from the fans of any of the above mentioned sports, it just seems like they may not be the best starting points if d3sports.com was toying with the idea of expanding its forums.

If lacrosse was out of the mix, I think soccer a logical addition.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Why can't they just add boards by region and then club teams can have their own say?

[mybleedinghands]

I just dont get what the point of a track forum would be. What is there to debate about track? The only strategy involved in it is win. Its not like you have to prepare for your opponents because you certainly would change anything you do because your opponent isnt faster, unless there are some technique changes you can make to make yourself better. Everything is time/distance based, so any debate over who is better can be solved relatively easily. Theres no refs blwoing calls to complain about. But then I guess you could complain about how the refs or whatever they are called in track dont know how to use a stopwatch or a ruler correctly or something. Maybe i'm making track sound too simplified, but I just don't see where debate can come from, other than debating conference POYs and FOYs and COYs.

basically with track is your time is slower you are slower and therfore not as good as the person with the best time. if your distance/height is shorter then you are not as good as someone else. its not like with basketball or nearly any other sport where you can actually debate rather team A is better than team B.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

There's quite a bit of strategy in distance running (who's the frontrunner, who likes to come from behind, who is willing to spike a teammate for a chance to run at nationals, etc).

It would also be an easier way for information to pass around (Johnny All-America from California has been injured all year, but he'll be back for the conference meet and nationals, so look out).


It might be valuable, although I'd pick soccer and volleyball over it.

[gobash83]

I think soccer would be the best add on at this time, with LAX waiting in the wings once there is a little more growth of D# varsity level lacrosse in the midwest, south and west.

[Flea]

A XC and T&F board would discuss equipment, facilities, competition conditions, injuries and upcoming events.  It would also include predictions and match-ups.  Like many D3 sports, there is no good source to find recruiting/transfers information.

[feces monkey]

Why can't they just add boards by region and then club teams can have their own say?

You have to understand the breadth of club (Intercollegiate Associates, as they call themselves) teams involved and the potential issues it raises. Here's one example: the University of Maryland has a DI varsity women's lacrosse program, but they also have a women's club/IA program. The situation is the same at many ACC and larger DI institutions. Where would they fit into the context of a "DIII" forum?

The strength of d3sports.com, from my perspective, is its organization. I think the lines are too blurry in club/IA lacrosse for a potential forum to be maintained as effectively as the current two are.

who likes to come from behind, who is willing to spike a teammate for a chance to run at nationals, etc).

I'd push for a track board just to know the answer to latter question...

[Pat Coleman]

A lacrosse board has been added and opened. Bridgewaterfootball.com's Matt Barnhart (eh ... just call me kid) will be moderating this board.

This does not mean that we will not still add other sports. We'll decide on sports as their seasons approach.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Boooo D1 sucks, but I love the screen name.  Anything with monkeys and poop is ok by me.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Radiomike is correct in that Laxpower.com does a decent job providing access for DIII posters, but the forums are painfully unorganized with double-posts, game stories, and press releases mixed among some coherent debate. Also, many of the "secondary" conferences get lost in the shuffle with the "heavyweights," such as the CAC, Centennial, ODAC and NESCAC, drawing much of the extended discussion. I think there are plenty of supporters for the NCAC, PAC, Pilgrim, etc. out there, but can't find a voice on Laxpower. Plus, in Laxpower's all-for-one format, many of the logical debates quickly deteriorate into a North-South urinating match because of the way the NCAA brackets are set up.

Amen.

The lacrosse boards are now live and ready for posting.  Send any comments/questions/concerns my way seeing that Pat has delegated the moderation to me.

Enjoy!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So does that mean this board is coming down?  You might leave it up to create some small forum to discuss other d3 sports.  Kind of a hodge-podge, if you will.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

So does that mean this board is coming down?  You might leave it up to create some small forum to discuss other d3 sports.  Kind of a hodge-podge, if you will.

Obviously Pat's call.  If he's done thinking about considering another sport for now, he probably won't leave this up.  If he wants to entertain what "the next sport" should be, he probably will.

IMO, with the spring almost underway, I don't think he'll want to start up a soccer or track (the next two most popular, poll-wise) board this year.

[Pat Coleman]

I think this board will stay up, yes.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Cool.