One lesson of Penn State: it’s time to talk about sports
Here’s hoping the pathetic, tragic story of Penn State football encourages a wider
Joe Nathan.
discussion about young people and sports. Yes, that is quite a generalization, and leap
from what’s happened at one university. But I think it’s justified. And we’re about to see huge attention paid to Olympic athletes. It’s a good time to talk about this.
In just one recent day, a quick scan of sports news found
· University of Michigan suspended a running back on suspicion of drunk driving.
· An Oklahoma State player was convinced of sexual assault
· Detroit Lions cut a corner back because he had been arrested for assault, the second time he had been arrested during the off-season.
· An NFL hockey star was found guilty of careless boating.
Before continuing, it’s worth noting that over the last 50 years, I’ve seen great value in youth sports. As a participant (including varsity player at high school and college levels), parent and coach, I’ve gained and witnessed many pluses. At best, young athletes learn to work together, win gracefully, and lose without becoming defeated. They gain practice in setting, working very hard toward and sometimes accomplishing goals. These are potential and sometimes real benefits.
Having said that, there is plenty to question. For example:
Is it necessary or desirable for some youth teams to “run-up” the score, winning by 40 or 50 points in football or basketball? I’ve seen youngsters on losing teams devastated by this kind of thing.
In some youth baseball and softball leagues I’ve coached in, there’s a “10-run” rule. If a team is ahead by more than 10 runs at a certain point in the game, that’s the end. Isn’t that possible in other sports?
Part of the problem is that I think we give so much attention and adulation to sports stars.
Do we, as community members, service groups and school “boosters” give as much attention to young people who excel in some form of art or academics, as we do to the star quarterback, goalie or center? Have groups been formed to help a math team travel? How much local support is there for the band? Are local businesses advertising on community posters that have the fall academic competition schedules?
Everywhere I go in Minnesota and many other states, I see seasonal signs advertising high school team’s athletic competitions. Okay. How about equal time for academic teams?
Yes, sports can be enormously entertaining. They can bring together a community and produce great pride.
Is this a stretch from the tragedy in Penn State? No, I don’t think so. I think it’s the unfortunate conclusion of a society that puts a huge value on winning in sports. It’s not enough to criticize the coaches and administrators at Penn State.
It’s time to rethink how sports sometimes operate. It’s also time to give more attention to young people who achieve in different areas.
Joe Nathan, formerly a high school and college athletic, and coach of various basketball, baseball and softball teams, directs the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org
Great article, Joe. I could not agree more. I helped coach soccer at my kids’ high school and it was a fantastic experience for all. But it was an extra-curricular that consumed precious few school resources, and it was just one of many ways (artistic, musical, etc.) for students to show their talents and achievements. Sports have an important role within a well-rounded school program, but they shouldn’t overshadow the main purpose of getting an education, or the many other ways in which individuals can strive for excellence. Thanks for your insightful, balanced approach.
I completely agree with the premise of this piece. As a community and a culture, the attention and resources given to athletics is way out of proportion. In fact, this notion is one I’ve tried to quietly work on while a coaching baseball over the last several years.
There was the time I put together an informative, entertaining quiz for players to take as they prepared for a playoff run. Baseball is 90% mental, right? :-) Predictably, there was plenty of whining about paper and pencil encroaching into baseball dugouts during a summer month.
Another effect of the sports over school culture we live in goes like this: baseball players go to great lengths to get all the elements of their baseball uniform right, while only being able to muster a t-shirt and gym shorts to attend school these days. While we can only hold out hope that at least these athletes are particular about how they look on the field, the same ought to be true in school. But it’s not, and we’ve enabled an entire generation to send the message they are athletes who are taking a few moments out of the day to get their requisite classes in.
A third point deals with the difficulty parents in general and men in particular have discussing anything remotely related to school in a public setting, like a post-gamer at the Dairy Queen for example. Mention the detail of a play 5 games ago, and you have people’s rapt attention. But if you even dare to mention the name of the new dean who is taking over at the 6th grade level, and you will just about see people finding an excuse to leave the table. Interestingly, I have found conversation around school to be more prevalent while chatting with Indian or Chinese families, however. (Having seen the Compton documentary “Two Million Minutes”, this is not a large surprise.)
I, too, love a good game or athletic contest, but unfortunately, our cultural fabric is woven with pigskin and laces far more than it should be. Lack of an educational ethos is apparent in a million big and small ways in our country. I suppose all we can try to do is call them out for modification one at a time.