It's not asking too much to practice on Saturday

Q: My daughter plays junior-varsity basketball for a Class 3A high school. Her team has mandatory Saturday practices during the season. I think basketball already is taking a lot of time, with practices and games. I don't see a need for these Saturday sessions because they cut into family time, study time and time for her to just "be a kid" with her friends. What do you think?

A: Saturday practices don't bother me. Playing a high-school sport at the 3A level isn't rec ball. It requires commitment.

Most teams play on Fridays and there is plenty to review on Saturday plus the chance to begin preparing for the next game, which is many cases is on Tuesday.

If your daughter's team were playing and practicing seven days a week instead of six, then I would share your concern. After all, everyone needs a break to stay fresh.

Another reason why Saturday practices don't bother me is that the high-school season isn't that long. It started with the first practices Nov. 17 and will be over for most teams by the end of February.

Q: Why is the "round-of-32" in high-school football playoffs called the "qualifying round" instead of the "first round?"

A: It is because state records for "state playoff appearances" are based on round-of-16 appearances. State football playoffs began in 1973 and the round-of-32 has been in effect in Western Washington for all 4A schools since 2004 and for all 3A leagues since 2006. Schools east of the Cascades began combining berths much earlier.

The concept is that leagues "pool" their playoff berths to make sure the most deserving teams advance. There are always upsets in the round-of-32, but usually league champions and runners-up defeat the teams that barely qualified from other leagues.

The first combined playoffs in Western Washington began in 2001 when the 4A South Puget Sound League and Greater St. Helens League pooled their playoff berths and played Tuesday games to decide which teams advanced.

In 2004, the dream of the "round-of-32" got a boost when the WIAA allowed practices to start three days earlier than previously so that selected teams could play in the Emerald City Classic. That move opened Week 10 for all schools, and the Western Conference became the last 4A league to jump in the pool and combine its berths with other Western Washington 4A leagues.

Because the round-of-32 involves nearly half of the state's 68 Class 3A teams and 32 of the 78 4A schools, I have no problem with round-of-16 being the "official" start of state playoffs. Some of the schools in the "qualifying round" have losing records and calling them state-tournament teams is a stretch.

Dave Lutes, the Kent School District athletic director who was instrumental in creating the round-of-32, said, "I think the Week 10 playoff system produces more interest in the league standings from start to finish. More teams feel a sense of success to have been in a playoff run."

My take: I agree.

Q: I notice that some leagues have more first-team players on their all-league teams than positions. I'm talking about things like four running backs. I think it diminishes the honor of being all-league. What do you think?

A: I'm with you. Sometimes I wonder if these no-nonsense coaches morph into hippies on selection night and just want to make everyone happy.

We bite the bullet when we pick our Star Times all-area teams and I think leagues should do the same. There already is some flexibility because you can do things such as lump offensive linemen together and pick the best five.

I understand an occasional exception when a league has two superb players at a one-of-a-kind position such as quarterback or tight end and puts them both on the first team.

Leagues that load up all-star first teams with more players than positions seem to tell themselves, "Gosh, all these kids will get to say they were all-league for the rest of their lives. That's wonderful!" The coaches also get to go home earlier because selection meetings go faster.

The bottom line, though, is that their all-star teams look as silly as high schools with 15 valedictorians.

Q: After winning the 3A football championship last year, Skyline has a chance to win the 4A this year. Has any school ever won back-to-back football titles in different classifications?

A: Skyline would be the first. The closest I can find was Sumner in the 1970s, when it won the AA (now 3A) title in 1975 and the AAA (now 4A) title in 1977.

Have a question about high-school sports? Craig Smith will find the answer every Tuesday in The Times. Ask your question in one of the following ways: Voice mail (206-464-8279), snail mail (Craig Smith, Seattle Times Sports, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111) or e-mail csmith@seattletimes.com