OPINION|
As athletes and coaches prepare for the upcoming school year, I hear more and more about rivalries.
I think back to when I was in school, when students, including the athletes, would have pep rallies and talk trash about the opposing school, yet we were all still friends and socialized outside of sports events. Things seem to be a little different today when it comes to rivalries. It makes me ask the question how far a coach will go, or an athlete’s parents will go, to win.
I’ve been attending my grandson’s basketball and football games for a few years now. I have seen situations where a parent will have their student-child stay back a year so their student-child-athlete can develop better stats by playing longer with certain private leagues. I also have seen youth who are exceptionally athletic play against students one or two grades higher to have fierce competition.
Last month, I read a newspaper article that includes the following subtitle: “QB Kylan Mabins’ move from Kickapoo to Glendale turned some heads.” The article suggested this transition “…will surely add to the latest chapter of the Kickapoo and Glendale rivalry…”
The article indicated Mabins is considered the best quarterback within the city limits. The reporter also implied there may be more going on behind the scenes. He wrote, “…these matters seem to get sorted out with the athlete being allowed to play…” Why would an athlete not be allowed to play? I understand not having a good GPA or disciplinary issues, what other reasons could impact a star athlete’s ability to play his senior year in high school? I read in the Prep RedZone Report, Mabins is listed as one of the top quarterbacks in the state of Missouri. I also saw on Facebook that he was invited to and attended football camps at Pitt State, Mizzou, Yale, Brown and Harvard universities!
There could be many reasons why parents make private and personal decisions about a change of schools for their children and the need to do what is best for their family. I sure hope coaches are not making decisions based on rivalries.
Kids suffer from the ugly side of rivalries
This situation hit me personally because I have grandsons who play basketball and football. I attended their games this summer and saw the ugly side of rivalries where other athletes, parents and even some coaches said terrible things about athletes to try and throw them off their game.
I witnessed the emotional impact on my grandson who is in the third grade trying to make a free-throw basket (he made the basket) while an adult yelled across the court, “I hope you miss the basket.”
This same adult talked mess to my grandson the whole time he played. My grandson plays at the fifth-grade level, but he is shorter than just about everyone on both teams. However, he is a great athlete who almost came to tears after they won the game because of things this adult yelled throughout the game.
My son's advice: let them play
I asked my son about the extremes of rivalries. My son coaches youth basketball and football and has coached for over 20 years (he now coaches in high school). He stated rivalries can be good because coaches want the best teams and the best players. He said rivalries also amp up the game, especially with great fan attendance and participation. He indicated players want to beat the best player on another team and coaches want to beat the best teams. However, he believes when the athlete cannot hang out or socialize with his peers from rival schools, he questions what is being taught to the athletes that they will carry into adulthood.
My last question to my son was advice to a parent when their child may be caught in what appears to be a rivalry situation between schools or coaches. He said any parent should do what is best for their child’s mental, physical and emotional wellbeing — and coaches need to just let the game be the game!
