for the first time. Worse still, some have to rely exclusively on having a coach or sectional chairperson phone back details -- not a lot of fun for someone on the losing side of the scoreboard.
Tennis, bowling, gymnastics, volleyball, skiing and golf all come to mind as sports that don't always get the deserved attention at the end of the season because media outlets allocate their resources to events of greater interest such as football, basketball and lacrosse.
That's why something mentioned by Bill Callen, executive sports editor at The Times Union in Albany, holds promise. Callen said that some states, including Tennessee, hold centrally located jamborees at the end of the season to cluster several events in a way that is specatator- and media-friendly.
Imagine the possibilities for field hockey and girls volleyball if they were to conduct their championships in the same town as boys and girls soccer or the cross country meet. He or she might not be able to do a thorough job on each, but a reporter could cover three sports in two days. Newspaper photos and TV video would also be more realistic possibilities.
Are there drawbacks or stumbling blocks? Certainly. For one, the respective sports committees are autonomous and do their planning in different time frames. The basketball tournaments, for instance, are usually awarded to venues as two- or three-year contracts. The cross country committee already has a tentative plan for its NYSPHSAA meets through the middle of next decade.
On the other hand, there's the possibility of reducing transportation expenses and making it more convenient for parents and fans to attend multiple events in one day.
Extra points: Tottenville's football and soccer teams will hit the road for the entire season while the school's main athletic field is refurbished. A new FieldTurf surface could be in place by late October, replacing a surface that was installed in 1991. Artificial turf generally is supposed to be replaced every 10 years according to most manufacturers.
