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Sports rage made the headlines again. This time a father got really
carried away. Yes, he didn’t react to the abuse his son was getting
like a ‘normal’ dad being told the whipping was just part of the
game. The coach got carried away too, didn’t he? He told the guy
to forget it, his son has to learn to be tough in order to
win. Where
does it end?
I lament the disappearance of clean fun in sports. I remember when
physical educators touted recreation and intramurals for the masses
and inter-scholastics for the exceptional. I remember when we taught
kids to play by the rules and when safety, sportsmanship and how
you played were more important than winning.
The sports culture has gotten so away from us. Even schools have
caved in, in pursuit of the golden ring. They have been trying to
provide an environment where the promise of athletic scholarships
and professional scouting is possible. Gone are the intramural and
recreation programs. They’ve been replaced with expensive inter-scholastic
programs. The lack of realism doesn’t end there. Parents won’t accept
that their children are not good enough to be on a varsity team, so
coaches are forced to keep them or risk not. Lately that can be
career and/or life threatening.
The win at all cost mentality has even reared its ugly head in gym
class. You must see it sometimes. I did. What do you do? How can
you change it? Should you try?
I think yes, we should. If we don’t take the responsibility of
bringing sanity back into sports, who will?
Isobel Kleinman
Secondary Section
Editor
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Sportsmedia.org
- - an eclectic web sight for physical educators and athletes.
For lessons that integrate rules, cooperative learning and a high
level of participation, check out Complete Physical Education Plans
for Grades 7-12, available at
Human Kinetic.
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Strategies
for Improving Sports Behaviors
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We should start with what we can affect. We can teach children
to react to events on the field properly by how we react ourselves.
If we attack vulgar language, un-sportsman like behavior and win
at all cost attitudes in an instructional way, not an angry, derisive
one, there is much to be gained and little to lose. The following
are long and short range strategies for improving the emotional
environment in sports.
- Compliment student effort even if it doesn’t secure the
ball or a score. Zero in on important things like keeping the ball
alive, slowing down opponents or making an assist. These are necessary
to a team’s success and often overlooked. You know it. Help students
know it. Share your knowledge publicly. It will cut down on student
derision and help kids feel good about themselves.
- Promote movement performances not just athletic contests.
Have a gym show, a dance performance or a social dance. Consider
using entrance fees for student scholarships to summer programs
or special sports academies and award the kids who most exemplify
what you are trying to encourage- - improvement, leadership, sensitivity,
sportsmanship, excellence in movement, trustworthiness, reliability,
good attendance, etc.
- Have an old-fashioned awards assembly. Award students who
exhibit good values.
- Create school rules and penalties aimed at eliminating
vulgar language, substitutions that prevent weaker players from
playing, hogging equipment, arguing with officials, etc.
- Remove poorly behaving players and don’t let them return
until they recognize the impact of what they are doing and promise
to make an effort to stop it.
- Share the problem with parents and ask, “please, can you
help me.” If you do, they are less likely to feel attacked and more
likely to be responsive.
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ALIVE AND KICKING : When Soccer Moms Take the Field and Change
Their Lives Forever. Harvey Araton. Illustrated. 250 pp. New York:
Simon and Schuster
99 TIPS FOR FAMILY FITNESS FUN : For bulk purchases, call 800
321-0789, stock order # 304-10256 Free to individuals, include a
self stamped envelope with your request NASPE, 1900 Association
Dr., Reston VA 20191
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PEAK PERFORMANCE, Vol5. # 3, Fall, 2001 in reporting on the perils
of lightening suggests:
- Avoid the highest point on an open field
- Do not take shelter under or near a pole or tree.
- Take a “lightening safe position” which is squatting on the ground,
on the balls of the feet, with head down and ears covered.
The NEW YORK TIMES, December 11, 2001 reports that an article in
the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported an increased potential
for injury when smaller children use full size soccer balls. One
might extrapolate that it follows that junior high school students
would be safer from injury if they were allowed to use smaller soccer
balls, light bats, smaller footballs, etc. than high school students.
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| Treatments
and Winter Training |
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Good news for people suffering from tennis or pitcher’s elbow.
TENNIS, September 2001, reports that a therapy normally used to
break up kidney stones has had a 70% success rate in treating
soft-tissue ailments. The jury is not out, but catch the article.
(“This Joint is Jumpin’”)
Athletics and coaches might rethink rhythmical workouts on bikes,
treadmills, step machine, etc. The steady performance is great
for cardiovascular fitness but according to the latest research
leads to a loss of explosive power. This can be prevented. Just
increase speed periodically.
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| If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or
questions about particular topics, please email one of the following
Adapted PE Section Editors: |
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Questions to Ask, or
Thoughts to Share?
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