After answering a few questions, and feeling there are more out there, I hope to explain the post season honors process. Selecting players to post season honors teams is an in exact process. I choose to vote primarily for players who I would like to have on my team, offensively, defensively, etc.
All Conference
The coaches of the 6 conference teams meet and select the teams. The COC small division receives 21 spots for recognizing players. There are no "rules" for selection other than there will be 10 players selected as 1st team, 10 selected to 2nd team, and 1 selected as Honorable Mention. Individual statistics are reviewed for the entire season, and strength of schedule are also considered.
Coaches typically select the top 2 or 3 players from their team they feel are worthy of selection to the 1st team. I personally choose to nominate all of my players at once in no particular order, and allow the other coaches to choose from the entire list, of whom they feel worthy. This method has caused some players to "steal" votes from others during voting. I coach from a "team" perspective and find it difficult to say that one player is more valuable or important to our team. Throughout a season, many if not ALL players have failed at times, AND had outstanding performances that have helped us win. This is the main reason I choose not to recognize an MVP or a similar award.
Coaches select 10 players on their ballot from those listed on "the board" and are not allowed to vote on their own players. Ballots are collected and tally marks are made by the names. Players with 5 marks are deemed "Unanimous" as the remaining 5 coaches voted for them. The Unanimous selections are counted, recorded, and removed. Remaining names and votes are tallied with the purpose to put the highest vote totals on the 1st team. In the even of a tie for the last spot, a re-vote is initiated without the "competing" coaches voting. Once the 1st team is determined, coaches can submit their 2nd team nominees or defer to the names they have on the board. The same process is followed for 2nd team as for the 1st team, and then the Honorable Mention position is decided.
All Conference voting is the highest level of award related to the COC and is completely independent of any other awards.
All District
All District, All Region, and All State are related to each other and a player must attain 1st Team All District to be automatically nominated for All Region. Players must attain 1st Team All Region to be automatically nominated for All State.
Nomination forms are universal across the state, and coaches must be a member of the Missouri High School Coaches Association to have players on their team receive recognition. There is a pre-determined system for selection the All District teams and selections are position specifics:
5 team districts: 5 INF, 3 OF, 3 P, 2 C, 1 Utility (14 players total)
6 team districts: 6 INF, 3 OF, 3 P, 2 C, 1 Utility (15 players total)
7 or 8 team districts: 6 INF, 4 OF, 4 P, 2 C, 1 Utility (17 players total)
We participated in a 6 team district in 2014. Nominations are submitted and coaches typically select Pitchers first and rank them 1, 2, 3. Catchers ranked 1, 2, outfielders ranked 1, 2, 3, infielders ranked 1 - 6, and utility (1) players are selected. The process is repeated for 2nd team. Players receiving votes, but not enough for 2nd team can receive Honorable Mention. Players are selected from the participating teams in the district and the evaluation by coaches for statistics are based on the entire season.
1st team selections to All District are then automatically eligible for All Region honors. The same ranking, selecting process is used for all region honors. Usually, the further a team advances into the playoffs, the better opportunity for individuals to receive an All Region honor. Players are selected from 4 districts that comprise your Region. For Bolivar this year, we competed against Districts 9, 11, and 12.
After All Region selections are made, 1st team honorees are taken to the All State selection meeting, where the process plays itself out for the third and final time. There are 4 Regions that provide us with the Final 4. The further your team advances in the State tournament, theoretically, the better opportunity your players have at this final honor.
ACADEMIC AWARDS
We stress academics for the players on our team. We feel the Academic Awards are the most important awards, because the players who take care of things in the classroom, receive the award. There is no decision by others. They either meet the criteria, or they do not.
Academic All State
Criteria: Cumulative UNWEIGHTED GPA since the fall of their Freshman year 3.50 or higher (4.0 scale). Start 70% of games. Be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior. Class rank in the top 25% OR ACT of 24 and higher. All letter winners contribute to the Team GPA.
All America Scholar Athlete
Criteria: School year GPA 3.50, unweighted on a 4.0 scale. Be a member of the team.
