Just a quick response to Joe's thoughtful email as I feel some are starting to understand Dan's proposal and the good it will do MAISA as a whole.
There is no rule that says you must sail the America (or the War) with the same sailors who participated in the qualifying event. Obviously, you want to sail your best in both, but if someone cannot make an event (often the case with student athletes, especially at the Club level) there is no issue for substitutions. Dan has thought long and hard about this proposal and has run it by many of us (including some of the high end varsity coaches). I urge all to truly read Dan Winter's proposal. It will only increase the experience for small varsity and club teams and it take very little away from the high end varsity teams. (There is no reason they cannot insert a "qualified" only or "open" event that same weekend.) One major thought. This is not an attempt to divide MAISA, just a chance for those on the bubble to sail in a qualifying event where we do not have to sail around others who are already qualified, to get to those we need to best to qualify. It is a chance to say "Hey, all the teams on the water are out for the same thing. Top finishers are in.." As I am seeing events that are not filling this fall and other issues surfacing (like high gas prices limiting travel for small teams with tight budgets), I think we all need to look forward. Just as Ann Campbell recently wrote, there is a need for more women only teams to ensure slots for nationals. Where will those new women only teams come from? The varsity teams already have them. I urge you all once again to really think about the need to support the small varsity and club teams with small but important changes like the ones Dan has proposed. I also urge you the let everyone hear how you feel, especially your MAISA representatives. My voice is getting "scratchy" from writing too much!!! John (Doc) Griffin Coach, William and Mary Sailing Director, Program in Neuroscience Associate Professor of Biology College of William and Mary Williamsburg, VA 23187 757-221-2257 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 8:36 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [MAISA] RE: Joe Sunfish's Comments Looking at the fall and spring seasons as one long season may make sense...ditto, fall fleet racing and spring team racing, which I've heard other people mention as well. Without putting a lot of thought into it, however, I can think of one issue that would have to be addressed, i.e., suppose a team qualifies for the America Trophy from the WAR but some or all of the key players are not available to participate in the spring, e.g., due to the January graduation of a senior or "Study abroad" for a couple of juniors. In such a case, the spring team would not be the same team that qualified in the fall, and in fact the spring personnel might not have qualified in the fall. All issues can be addressed. This is just one of them. Joe Sullivan Coach Fordham University Sailing Team ************** Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) _________________________________________________ maisa mailing list [email protected] http://www.collegesailing.org/mailman/?listname=maisa _________________________________________________ maisa mailing list [email protected] http://www.collegesailing.org/mailman/?listname=maisa
