Double dippin'

That story today about coaches who coach high school and club sports caught Coach Sly's eye, and raises an interesting question.

If you were a high school AD and were interviewing for an opening, would the fact that someone also coaches club be a positive, a negative, or neither?

Sly's not sure there's a clear-cut answer.

On the positive side, coaching club probably means this coach has a high level of expertise. Knowing your stuff counts for a lot.

On the other hand, Coach Sly can see how it could create a few headaches with parents. There might  be that perception out there that the coach is going to give the benefit of the doubt to his or her club players when it comes to PT. Might not always be true, but perception can make a difference. Plus, it takes a lot of energy to run a club program and a high school program, even if they're in different seasons.

Even if coaches do their best to keep seprate church and state between high school and club, Sly has no doubt parents are more likely to send their kids to certain clubs if they think it'll improve their kid's standing with the high school coach.

Let's face it, people, there's a lot of politics in high school sports. A lot of it has nothing to do with club. Coaches risk ticking people off at every turn, and as we know, you're not going to please everyone no matter how good a job you do.

This club business is definitely a big part of the politics of prep sports these days.

Hey, Sly's not against coaches making some bucks on the side. Make no mistake, club sports is huuuuuge around the burbs, and it can be a lucrative deal.

Sly isn't against coaches doing both, but those coaches need to be aware of the side issues that come along with it, and ADs need to keep a close eye on those situations to make sure all their athletes are getting a fair shake.