WCAC Moves to Reduce League Schedules in Tennis, Soccer

Commissioner Jim Leary announced Wednesday the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) approved changes in the conference schedules during the semiannual meeting of the Schools’ presidents and principals. Beginning in the spring of 2011, boys tennis teams will play each member school once a season. Previously, the schools had played a home-and-home schedule for both boys and girls. The shorter spring season especially cramped the schedule when weather plays a critical part of the outdoor sport. While the girls season has more time, the overwhelming consensus of the coaches was that twice a year followed by a tournament was simply too much; hard logistically, too much time out of class, and court time hard to come by.

A more contentious issue for coaches was the decision to reduce the WCAC schedule in soccer, beginning in the 2011 season. While coaches were split over the benefits of the reduction, the athletic directors and School heads were convinced that the impact of widespread club soccer during the season put too much physical strain on the players themselves. The issue simmered for two years as the WCAC discussed and debated the merits of the reduction. In the end, the wellbeing of the student athlete was the deciding factor. “It came down to many of our teams simply resting players on Mondays as a result of Club soccer all weekend. Tuesdays and Fridays are game days in the WCAC, so there is very little time to practice and teach.” said the conference’s soccer chairman, Bill Simmons of Bishop Ireton. “Because we have such competitive teams in the league top to bottom, those Tuesday, Friday games are often hard fought contests. This move will give the athlete more recovery time, coaches more teaching time, we felt as administrators was best for the kids in the long run.” Coaches opposed to the move cited the difficulty in finding non conference opponents and competitive opportunities outside the WCAC.

The reduction in soccer will drop the boys from an 18-game conference season, 16 for girls (Archbishop Carroll does not play varsity soccer), and a 25-game overall limit, back down to a nine-game (8 for the girls) conference regular season and a 20-game overall limit. The conference championship tournament will remain a single elimination tournament as before.