Andy's view on short season discussions

As many of you know there is going to be a vote by the quiz committee on a proposed schedule change for 2010-2011.  The proposal is for a shortened season.     If you have not let your district director know your churches thoughts on the subject please do so soon, even if they disagree with mine.  It is important that everyone interested give their input.

This is a PROPOSED schedule.  If we followed a schedule like this, quiz finals would have to be held at a church or hotel, starting Friday at 7, and ending Sunday at 5.  All-Star quizzing would probably be left out. 

Below are my personal views on the subject.

I'm not writing this as a member of the quiz committee and the question writer, I'm writing this as an individual who loved quizzing as a teen and loves watching quizzing as an adult.  There is nothing official in this opinion; it is just that, my opinion.
I'm concerned about the constant talk of shortening the season.  The current plan is another attempt to address those who think that what we now do is too much.  There has been a great deal of talk about the values of a short season and the difficulties of a long season. I understand those arguments.  I don't believe we have talked enough about the value in keeping what we have.
Briefly my position boils down to three statements.
·         A short season option already exists.
·         Many people want to keep what we have.
·         Excellence is what inspires.  Less time would lower the quality of quizzing.
 
If you think the current plan is a good idea or any other plan to shorten the season is a good idea, I ask that you first consider the following points.

A short season option already exists.
Probably half of the teams currently involved in quizzing already have a shortened season.  They choose to end in April, May or June.  I suggest a short season option already exists and is used by those who really don't want to quiz in the summer.

If a number of people only want a six month season in a different format, we need to find a way to give them that.  I don't understand why we can't do both at the same time.

One of the main arguments I hear in defense of shortening the season is that more teams would quiz.  I just don't understand this position.  If you want to stop in January (Mid-Winter Finals), April (final league quiz), May or June (District Finals), you can do that right now.  I tell churches I'm trying to get started in quizzing that they can quiz 4 months, 7 months or 10 months.  These are their options.  I've never heard anyone say "My church would quiz if everyone else stopped in May but because some teams keep going until July I don't want my church involved".

Many people want to keep what we have.
This is not just my opinion, it is a fact.  A straw poll was taken this year at Internationals.  A survey was handed out at all the invitationals a couple years ago.  You can argue all you want that not everyone voted but the facts are that every vote and every survey taken show that about half the people in quizzing want to keep a 10 month season.  Is it really fair to say to these people "I don't want to quiz in July so you can't either"?

Excellence is what inspires.  Less time would lower the quality of quizzing.
I had the privilege of listening to five teens quote the book of Luke this summer.  People who can quote all the material do not get to that point in April; they get there in June or July.

The top handful of teams at Internationals are normally good in April and outstanding in July.  I'm sure most of you can think of other examples but here are a couple that stand out in my mind.  This year Grabill's rookie team finished second at Internationals but were not in the top 4 at districts.  I think they improved dramatically in the last few weeks of the season.  For those of you who have been around awhile, how many times did Grace Mooresville look average in April and end up placing in, even winning, both divisions at Internationals?

For the past 10 years or so I've done quizzing year round.  For 500 plus weeks in a row I've spent at least a couple hours a week on quizzing stuff.  Sometimes that was 50 or 60 hours a week.  There are two main reasons I am willing to work this hard: seeing excellence and seeing individuals inspired by excellence.  A couple times as a teen I could quote the entire book.  As an adult I've been blessed to listen to quizzers quote 500 plus verses in one sitting.  I know what this did for my spiritual walk.  I see how watching one person do it makes another person think they might be able to do it themselves.  This year at Internationals the top 4 experienced teams were about as good as any I've ever seen.  I love watching good quizzing.  I love seeing people's reactions their first Internationals when watching quizzing at this level.  I think it is naive to believe shortening quizzing will not impact the quality of quizzing.  My opinion is that shortening the season would take away the best part of quizzing; and I believe that opinion is shared by a number of people who value quizzing as highly as I do. 

Having said all this please understand I am not a "because that's the way we have always done it" kind of guy.  If only 15 teams showed up for Internationals or no one jumped on 5 questions in the championship quiz, I would not be making these statements.   If things change, I would change.  I would, however, probably have to reconsider my commitment level if quizzing becomes less than it currently is. We have a great program.  Our best are as good as anyone from any other program out there.  I hope that continues and improves.