Awards Explained
The news service publications hosting high school award
selections, like those from the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald, Palm Beach
Post, etc... are determined differently depending on the sport.
These awards are not necessarily intended to identify the top sport specific
players but rather something more in line with All-Star balloting. The head high school coaches
use this award to
recognize and reward certain players as they see fit; and of course the newspapers use it to
sell papers and ultimately advertising.
None of these organizations openly disclose to the general public the purpose or
mission of the award nor do they disclose the criteria required
for selections. Lack of transparency often results in omissions of the most talented players.
Miami Herald "All-County" Awards
selections
are determined differently depending on the sport.
The Miami Herald All-Broward Soccer Team is
produced by Miami Herald sportswriter Bob Emanuel Jr. in 2010 from
selections made by the head coaches. There is no disclosure by
the Miami Herald as to what the award is or is not. It
is up to the reader to make that assessment. What is
know is that the head coaches submit their favorite players by
position to the Miami Herald and they begin a dialogue with the
coaches until a selection is made.
The Miami Herald All-Broward Wrestling Team is also produced
by Miami Herald sportswriter Bob Emanuel Jr. with input from local
coaches. Match results are the most important component in
selections since this is an individual sport. Honorable
Mention selections includes all athletes who qualified for the FHSAA
Wrestling Finals.
The All-Broward Cheerleading Team is produced by Miami
Herald Sportswriter Patrick Dorsey with favorite selections coming
from local coaches.
Sometimes the Miami Herald will use a similar
award from the sport specific organization and rebrand under the
Miami Herald name. This happens in lacrosse where they follow the
selections of the local chapter of the US Lacrosse Association.
The US Lacrosse "All-District" Awards are made by the head coaches of US Lacrosse
member schools. The mission of
these coaches, which is not disclosed to the public, is to select,
by position, the best players in the County (FHSAA District).
This is can be hard to do objectively since coaches have a natural tendency to
favor players they know over those they have had little experience
watching; however, US Lacrosse member head coaches take their voting
seriously as all are well regarded lacrosse professionals.
Coaches are required to submit their selections ranked by position
to all voting coaches and follow up with a in person voting meeting.
Sun-Sentinel All-County Award selections are
based upon the high school coaches submitting their favorite players by
position including reasons supporting their position. There is no transparency.
In the case of the Sun-Sentinel All-County Soccer
Award the Sun-Sentinel has several staff writers who are also
travel club coaches and they use their knowledge, influence and position
to drive these selections. As with other papers, the news service
makes the final decision on everything because it is their award.
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