[RunItUpTheGut]

I can't speak for other areas..but in terms of EKY the tackling and general fundamentals of some teams are at a startling low level.

Two factors I think are a large part of the equation statewide that have some overlap:

1. Numbers are down. I simply think in this culture kids are choosing to forgo sports in real life for sports on a video game system. In addition to this, soccer is drawing more and more kids. I don't think a soccer program is ever going to be make or break, but if it takes away three kids per year that is 12 players off a HS roster. For your standard AA or AAA school with a 45-50 man roster you are now talking about a 35 man roster +- a couple kids. Now imagine each year you are losing two kids who simply choose to stay at home, that 35 man roster is now in the High 20's or very low 30's.

These are the teams who are creating the problem. Whereas in year's pas you had a clearly defined "Middle of the Pack"..now those teams are suddenly the bad teams and the former bad teams are simply awful.

2. Coaching Turnover. In the age of the internet, message boards, social media, and a "NOW" society it seems Coaching Turnover happens quicker than ever. Guys either get the axe only a couple seasons in, or the young up and coming coaches move to a "better" job. As a result you have Feeder Systems that basically are doing nothing more than sticking pads on kids. Offensive and Defensive systems are not being taught, continuity is not there, and kids bounce from position to position. As a result the quality of product moving up is watered down..which in turns leads to a weaker HS product, which in turn leads to even more Coaching Turnover. A vicious cycle.

Meanwhile, your upper crust programs and the programs "doing it right" distance themselves. They win.. and winning keeps numbers up and coaches employed. The Feeder System has time to generate crops of players as it is intended, the talent pool and depth of that pool remains constant. That is why you see the same teams every year it seems and why those are the teams blowing out teams they used to have competitive games against.

Once again EKU, you nailed it.
Very well said.