Dman, on 15 January 2014 - 04:42 PM, said:
You just nailed it. This is the prevailing attitude. I don't necessarily agree or like it, but I know this is true for the majority. Today it is not enough for a kid to make a team. The 8-10 guy on the bench is often disgruntled...as are his parents. These kids think that if they are not the star, then they are not important. The day of the parent saying the teacher/coach is always right is long gone. Instead the parents/kids take the 180 degree approach and BLAME the coach, belittle the program, etc for not making their "little johnny" the star he deserves to be.
High school sports, in many areas, are fueled by negative energy and tepid support. It is not just that these kids and adults don't show up and support these programs. They often actively undermine these programs. Good people/parents/coaches have been sullied by the entire process. They are often replaced with coaches/parents who do not have the kids' best interests at heart. It is a perpetual cycle of disappointment and negativity. High school sports are the Cleveland Browns.
I don't really mind that the attendance is down. I understand it. I do have a problem with the "negativity." I do have a problem when the kid who can drink a 12 pack faster than the rest is more celebrated than the kid who who runs faster on the track. I think we, in many schools/areas, have completely lost focus on what should be important. Excellence should be celebrated and admired.
Those who have been around here a while have probably read some of our threads about the "culture" of a school. The problem today is that the "culture" at the vast majority of public schools is a "loser" culture. It has not infected every kid/parent/coach, but it is certainly more prevalent than it was in the days that the stands were full. The athletes/coaches that succeed today often have to deal with a lot more "haters" than the kids/coaches used to have to endure. They certainly have to succeed with less community support. In terms of peer pressure, etc...it is often much more "cool" and accepted to QUIT the team (see Ottoville basketball when Turnwald arrived) than to work hard at one's craft.
I can't stomach this phenomenon...but I certainly see it with my own eyes...and realize that my worldview is not the majority worldview for the modern parent/player.
Empty stands are the least of the problems with high school sports. The day is coming when there won't be high school sports at all. Hopefully I'll be dead when it happens. Nothing makes me happier than watching these young athletes and the committed coaches succeed in such a negative environment. I couldn't do it. I'd go all Woody Hayes on the first parent that bitched about their kid's playing time!
This is a tremendous post on so many levels. You have a good understanding of high school athletics. Bravo.
The part that I highlighted is an issue that really bothers me. I am closely connected to my HS's girls team and I see it first hand. I think part of the problem is that this attitude is reinforced from the top down, so to speak. Instead of telling parents to "buzz off," administrators bend their ear to anyone who complains.
As far as attendance goes, I think that is largely due to the fact that there are so many other things to grab our attention. When I was in school 20 or so years ago, going to the football or basketball game was THE thing to do on Friday night - and there really wasn't much debate about it. Now kids stay at home with their video games, go to the movies, or in some cases go to a game at another school. It's sad and unfortunate.
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