From the GAMES Desk...
pweaver@nccoach.org
Phil Weaver Executive Director, All-Star Games
There are several reminders that need to be made to football, soccer, and basketball coaches regarding all-star selections. All-star coaches, Malea Jones in our office, and I would be much happier people if you would follow these guidelines. When the nomination window opens for your sport and you think you have qualified athlete(s) to nominate you should ask the player if they would commit to playing if selected. If they say no, then you should not nominate those players. Nominating them just wastes the time of the game coaches and those in our office. It also slows the process by weeks because those who decline rarely do so quickly and once they do, the all-star coach has to start over with the alternate players. Sometimes I see a basketball coach nominate five players. If that coach has five of the regions’ top ten players, then that team should have finished as undefeated state champions. If you nominate more than one then you diminish the value of your best player’s nomination; so be careful when nominating multiple players. If an all-star coach sees five from a school then it is obvious that the coach does not evaluate talent well. Once the player selections have been made we mail the player’s invitation to the school’s head coach. Malea also contacts those coaches by email alerting them that the letters are on the way. The best all- star coaches also contact the home school coaches to alert them that the invitation has been mailed. If you get such information and do not receive the mailing within five business days you should check with your main office and your athletic director. If neither has seen the mailing, please contact this office and we will email you copies of the letters within a day.
In reading the letter, you will see that we have a deadline for a response. It is a simple online procedure which should be done with the player. When you nominated the athlete you committed to doing your part whether the player accepts or declines (which should not happen of course.) We get far too many players and/or parents who foul something up because they do not have all the information the coach has, or vice versa. After your player accepts, your duties are not over. You need to maintain contact with the selected player to make certain they are staying in playing condition and have transportation to and from Greensboro. Football coaches also need to make sure players have the proper equipment. Before your players accepted you should also have explained to them and the family what they committed to doing. You should also, asap, email us a copy of the complete physical and concussion statement. Make sure the players have requested a transcript if they have GPAs of 3.0 or better so they can be recognized as Academic All- Stars. You will be invited to the all-star banquet as a guest of the NCCA and you should respond quickly so we can make an accurate meal order. You also need to inform us of any allergies, injuries, or other helpful information about your selectees. There are states which deal directly with the student athlete being selected, but we still feel our coaches should want to be the conduit to their player(s). We know all of you and your players selected and want to do your part to make the games the best they can be. Hopefully this has helped.
See “ Notes from the Games Desk” on page 4
NC Coach • Spring 2026 • Page 3 • nccoach.org
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