Competitive Balance
We've seen this before, in that coaches get grilled for running up the score or a overly competitive parent fights with someone, but this just may be too far:
Michigan district ends season for 0-4 football team
The district used the rationale of players getting hurt because they couldn't compete physically. Who can argue with this? The problem is, is this really the case. It doesn't say but injuries from previous games weren't mentioned, and the players didn't feel in danger (given, how many 16-18 year old males do). But, I do wonder about this move.
Heck, we wouldn't have movies like Hoosiers, or Remember the Titans, or the Rookie if this were the mindset in the past. Losing builds character more often than does winning, and yes it is o.k. to be uncomfortable for a time. 0-4, heck how do they know that they can't come back and be 4-4 by the end? Thus the premise of Facing the Giants .
Is this just another way we are "Helmetizing our Youth"? (for lack of a better term, see Feb. 20th, 2006 on this blog) If the injury issue is true then I commend them, but this just doesn't sit right with me. Winning isn't the only outcome of sports, particularly when you're younger than 18. It is a large part, but what about hard work, effort, team work, pride, winning and losing gracefully, etc? For those kids, they had those lessons cut short this season.
What would the sporting world look like if all 0-4 teams quit? Sounds like the rich getting richer to me...well we do live in a capitalistic society!
Michigan district ends season for 0-4 football team
The district used the rationale of players getting hurt because they couldn't compete physically. Who can argue with this? The problem is, is this really the case. It doesn't say but injuries from previous games weren't mentioned, and the players didn't feel in danger (given, how many 16-18 year old males do). But, I do wonder about this move.
Heck, we wouldn't have movies like Hoosiers, or Remember the Titans, or the Rookie if this were the mindset in the past. Losing builds character more often than does winning, and yes it is o.k. to be uncomfortable for a time. 0-4, heck how do they know that they can't come back and be 4-4 by the end? Thus the premise of Facing the Giants .
Is this just another way we are "Helmetizing our Youth"? (for lack of a better term, see Feb. 20th, 2006 on this blog) If the injury issue is true then I commend them, but this just doesn't sit right with me. Winning isn't the only outcome of sports, particularly when you're younger than 18. It is a large part, but what about hard work, effort, team work, pride, winning and losing gracefully, etc? For those kids, they had those lessons cut short this season.
What would the sporting world look like if all 0-4 teams quit? Sounds like the rich getting richer to me...well we do live in a capitalistic society!
posted by Caleb | 4:19 PM
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