I coach my son's 4th grade basketball team. We have great boys on our team. They all have different levels of ability, yet they all have the same desire to improve and learn the game. I think that is the big reason I drafted them on my team. One thing I really have problems with is society teaching our children to be mediocre.
An example of that is not enforcing all the rules in a game. I really hate to hear people say "they are only 10". Well when do you expect them to learn to actually play the real game?
In 4th grade basketball in our town the coaches are on the court coaching and they officiate. I call fouls both ways. I call for traveling, ups and downs, double dribble, shooting fouls, etc. Today a coach for the opposing team actually said "Oh come on they are only 10, let them play", after I called his player for jumping up and down with the ball more than one time. "Really" I said to him. "When do you suggest we have the boys learn the rules to the game?" I got an eye roll.
Later in the game my son was defending the person throwing the ball in. He was doing just what I had taught him to do. He was jumping up and down and waving his arms to impede the view of the offensive boy throwing it in. Simple really. The other coach proceeds to tell my son he needs to step back 3 feet so his player can throw the ball in. I told him that isn't a rule.
So my team learns how to properly defend the ball and we are told because the other guy can't get it in that we need to step back. Whatever!
Oh and get this. They don't keep score. No winner or loser. What is the point. In life we need to learn how to win and how to lose. Life isn't all warm and fussy. I know everyone wants a chance, but when do we expect our children to work hard for what they want. It seems having everything "equal" and "fair" all the time breeds mediocrity.
It isn't just with city sports for our kids. It IS where it starts however. We don't let the players who actually have skills play to their potential.
One big reason I pulled my oldest daughter out of kindergarten was because she was told she couldn't read at school because the other children weren't reading yet and she needed to do what they were doing, which was learning letters. Rediculous! It's the same thing not playing by the rules in sports.
Next colleges won't be able to refuse admission because "it isn't fair that everyone can't go".
There's always at least one in every crowd or setting. You know who I'm talking about, the consistently rude person whom it seems has the manners of a bull in a china closet, the one who can't say anything tactfully or politely, the one who always has to be "first in line", you get the idea.
ReplyDeleteThe other coach seems to have had trouble losing to a Woman!
Keep coaching the correct way, teaching the boys to be a "Team", good sportsmen and to play good defense and offense.
Mom
oh, i am so with you here. i am sorry, but if everyone wins, no one wins...and if there isn't a winner then what is the POINT?????? we HAVE to learn to win and learn to lose. we HAVE to teach this to our kids! we need to play hard...play to win...and be GRACIOUS! yes?? for crying out loud...how can the kids learn to play a game without definite rules? ugh!!
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