I have only posted a couple of times, so it is time to contribute. Just a couple from the
local Youth team.

Welcome back Mr Moore.
you have a good start here, but they also show one of the drawbacks of the 20D for sports shooting....the dreaded shutter lag. There is only one fix, and that is to shoot before you'd normally shoot.
In reality though using the 20D is a good thing for newer sports shooters as you learn to shoot better by shooting sooner due to the shutter lag. I hate it myself, but know it made me better at anticipating things much more. I went through it with a couple cameras before getting gear with zero lag.
A couple of these could be cropped a bit to get rid of the extra spaces but otherwise Ok for the conditions.

JS

JS,

the shutter lag is most likely not the problem. it's just our human mind lag, if you will. it takes you more time to react to an event happening and press the button than it does for the mirror to flap up after the button is pressed. the shutter lag for the 20d is .076 seconds, hardly a lag at all. If you're shooting Al Servo, there should be no noticable shutter lag. If you're shooting one shot, thenyes, because the camera has to focus before it snaps off a shot. But the 1d mk IIN is .04 seconds, so it's not so much faster that any human would be able to tell the difference.

Sometimes I do find myself watching the game instead of photographing the game.

JS,

the shutter lag is most likely not the problem. it's just our human mind lag, if you will. it takes you more time to react to an event happening and press the button than it does for the mirror to flap up after the button is pressed. the shutter lag for the 20d is .076 seconds, hardly a lag at all. If you're shooting Al Servo, there should be no noticable shutter lag. If you're shooting one shot, thenyes, because the camera has to focus before it snaps off a shot. But the 1d mk IIN is .04 seconds, so it's not so much faster that any human would be able to tell the difference.

Apparently you never shot with a 20D at night, it sucks when it comes to lag, and has nothing to do with my mind. and your times do not account for night low light shooting, focus takes much longer on a 20D and has to be figured in, it is VERY noticeable.

JS

oh in that case you're talking about autofocus lag then. the time after you press the button and before the mirror flips up isnt effected by the light. the AF may be, but again, if you are shooting in Al Servo, the focus doesn't need to lock first, so it should fire right away. I'm not saying the 20d is as fast, im just saying its not shutter lag.

No, BOTH lags, when you put them together it's horrid. One alone is bad enough when shooting sports. You do not have it with the 1D series, but they are a different breed with faster AF and shutter.
Even in bright sun the lower end cameras shutter lag alone makes you shoot before you would with 1D series bodies, then you also have to deal with slower write times as well. when you have shot long enough with these cameras you notice the differences, especially after using the 1D a while, then use the 20D or even DRebel and you just want to toss them.
JS

I do notice that if I shoot when I think I should, I am late. As for better epuipment, That
would be nice but it wont happen for a while. For now Ill have to make do with what I have.
Here are some images that while quality is not perfect the timing is a little better. thanks
for the coments, thats why Im here.

I don't think Liven understands the lag issues, and it is what I noticed in these shots, where i felt you took the shot earlier than the camera fired. The shutter lag is a lot worse than what the specs show, but then the specs are from near perfect shooting conditions, not the real world. Adding to that is the differences inthe lenses being used, that also adds to lag issues.
Thie best way to make up for the lag is to know the sport and teams as well as you can. I have followed one team for 6 years and I know the play when it's called, I know what to expect and who to look for. On occasion the coach actually tells me if theres a change, or just says watch "so and so".
Even teams I don't watch a lot I know what to expect from that coach and player, which means I can plan ahead on what I am going to shoot (or not). At the same time you have to be ready for the unexpected.
As you shoot more your timing will get better, but then it's time for basketball...lol. Whats really tricky though is switching from one sport to another, some days I will shoot three or four different types of events, and the timing is different for each, that gets tricky, especially when your in a hurry and trying to get the best action available, you get one or two chances and better get it right or you won't get paid. It's amazing how much different things can be, going from a race where cars are going 220mph to baseball to track and each ahs it's own timing issues.
Practice practice practice!
JS