Kanawha County Proposal Would Require Playing Time for All Athletes

 

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Squeaks and whistles in middle school gymnasiums means it's basketball season. However, what sometimes happens during these games has some parents calling foul.

"Children often times will game after game, sit the bench," said parent andschool board member Becky Jordan.

Jordan believes this treatment is unfair.

"This is not the age to have superstars," Jordan said.

At Monday's school board meeting, Jordan proposed creating a new rule that would mean all middle school students get some playing time.

"Middle school is an age where we need to engage our kids more," Jordan said.

She said children who feel rejected face bullying, which can cause them to drop out.

However, not all parents agree.

 

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With the crazy things that Various High School Athletic Associations are doing, is this something that is coming to sports at all levels?

 

Of course, after everyone plays, they can't shake hands and everyone gets ice cream.

Love the idea. As long as it doesn't apply to high school. The FTJFL requires all kids to play, that is why HHS has the numbers yet do. If every kid gets playing time and can stay interested, then the sport overall would become better.

In other school news 287 young women were crowned homecoming queen, and this years graduation ceremony is expected to take 3 1/2 weeks as all of the 312 members of the senior class will be making valedictorian speeches.

St. Mary in A-town has playing time rules for their basketball teams. Younger kids get equal playing time which gradually decreases the older they get. By the time they are in 8th grade, it's like half a quarter or something like that.

With the crazy things that Various High School Athletic Associations are doing, is this something that is coming to sports at all levels?

 

Of course, after everyone plays, they can't shake hands and everyone gets ice cream.

 

This is what 99% of my post are against. I can't stand this stuff! The 6 classes in football, the number of teams that make the playoffs, the "All A" tournaments in other sports are just a few examples. We are headed that way and it will make us a weak nation eventually.

 

While we're at it, lets make sure every kid makes the high school team. Lets give them all D1 scholarships too. Then lets give them all a chance to play for the national title and then give them all a career in the NFL.

 

Grade school is for the "everyone gets a fair shot" philosophy as far as school ball. Middle School is a transition age. Kids start to get cut from some sports. That's the first transition. That doesn't mean the rest that are left should be guaranteed playing time. They should earn a spot on the team and earn playing time once they are there. If you can't, then do something else that you can do. If they think kids would bully because someone isnt the best on the team or able to win playing time, what do you think would happen if it was fair playing time, they were taking time away from players that do put in the extra work and they happen to lose a big game because lil Johnny had to play in a sitution he was destined to fail in because he wasn't ready for that. How do you think the kids would feel about that? I work harder and care more than Johnny, but he plays just as much as me. And he lost the big game for us! If you don't think that kid would be bullied, you are very naive!

With the crazy things that Various High School Athletic Associations are doing, is this something that is coming to sports at all levels?

 

Of course, after everyone plays, they can't shake hands and everyone gets ice cream.

 

THAT IS FRACKING STUPID!

 

Isn't that part of the problem... Kids spending more time eating ice cream than playing sports.

What about the message that you have to earn your playing time instead of just simply waiting your turn?

Why not just have more teams? (over simplified question with no simple answer)

This is what 99% of my post are against. I can't stand this stuff! The 6 classes in football, the number of teams that make the playoffs, the "All A" tournaments in other sports are just a few examples. We are headed that way and it will make us a weak nation eventually.

 

While we're at it, lets make sure every kid makes the high school team. Lets give them all D1 scholarships too. Then lets give them all a chance to play for the national title and then give them all a career in the NFL.

 

Grade school is for the "everyone gets a fair shot" philosophy as far as school ball. Middle School is a transition age. Kids start to get cut from some sports. That's the first transition. That doesn't mean the rest that are left should be guaranteed playing time. They should earn a spot on the team and earn playing time once they are there. If you can't, then do something else that you can do. If they think kids would bully because someone isnt the best on the team or able to win playing time, what do you think would happen if it was fair playing time, they were taking time away from players that do put in the extra work and they happen to lose a big game because lil Johnny had to play in a sitution he was destined to fail in because he wasn't ready for that. How do you think the kids would feel about that? I work harder and care more than Johnny, but he plays just as much as me. And he lost the big game for us! If you don't think that kid would be bullied, you are very naive!

 

I guess I'm not totally against the "must play" rule in middle school (as long as it if just that with a small portion of the game), but I'm totally against the equal time.

I talk about this with parents of players with the county middle school here quite often. As many on here know, I run a church based basketball program, and I do get everyone in at some point most every game...sometimes even to the detriment of the team. But that's a promise I make to the parents and the kids, and though we try hard and try to set up our teams to win, in the grand scheme of things it's not the most important thing for us and our program.

 

However, at many county and city middle schools, winning is stressed and is looked at as the most important thing. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, just a fact. I go see some local middle school games when I have the chance, and I see a lot of kids that never get into the game unless it's a blowout one way or the other. Over the years I have seen many of those same kids quit the ms programs and matriculate to our program, simply because they know they will get to play.

 

I guess the question is...what's the role of middle school athletics? Is it simply to win? Is it to help kids develop and possibly help at the next level? Is it just to give the kids something to occupy their time after school? Is it to help positively mold minds and shape lives?

 

I'd say it's a combo of all the above. I mean, everyone wants to win. But then, how do you develop kids if some never get to play and lose interest down the road? If they leave then the coaches can't have much of an affect on them in occupying their time with constructive activities and helping shape them in a positive way. And who knows, that kid who's your 3rd point guard on the 6th grade team today might be the kid who's the best option at point guard in 3 or 4 years...but if he never gets to play at a younger age, he might not be around long enough to develop into that. But, if you put him in to play, it might mean not winning. it's a conundrum.

 

So, what's the answer? After everything I just said...heck if I know what the answer is. Anyone who has coached knows playing time can be much more than just who's the better players. If little Johnny is constantly late for practice, can't grasp the plays, doesn't work hard, maybe he's even disruptive...then should little Johnny be rewarded with playing time? That's why I have a hard time at the school team level of a blanket statement saying "everyone plays every game". But I have also seen the kid who is there at practice, sometimes before the coach even gets there...works his butt off...says yes sir no sir all day long...claps and cheers for his teammates while on the bench...but because he just isn't very talented never gets top play. Is that remotely fair?

 

Whew...all this long post and in the end I have no answer. As I said above, I don't like a blanket policy making the coach play everyone because sometimes there more to the story than others know. But I also don't like seeing kids that work hard and try never getting the chance because they are the 12th or 13th kid down the lineup. One thing is for sure...coaching is almost never easy.:confused:

 

With everything I have said above...once you get to the high school level, to me all bets are off. You play the best players who meet the requirements and follow the rules. More of the emphasis is on winning, and I understand that...not winning at all costs mind you, but the coach has to worry a lot less about hurting little Johnny's feelings than he did when in middle school.

Should middle schools have more teams?

A, B, C teams?

competitive vs developmental?

 

***assuming no funding issues or coach/staff issues...

Shut up Becky!!!

Should middle schools have more teams?

A, B, C teams?

competitive vs developmental?

 

***assuming no funding issues or coach/staff issues...

That may help, because in MANY cases coaches coach the "Starters" and either don't have interest in developing other kids or more likely don't have the time to do so.

We are loosing all competitive nature in America, how about this let's just buy us some cheap athletics from a forein country and watch them play while we eat popcorn and not offend each other. We need to get a hold on our nation while it's still ours. If parents wants what is best for their children they will teach them to work hard for what they want and nothing good comes easy.

Should middle schools have more teams?

A, B, C teams?

competitive vs developmental?

 

***assuming no funding issues or coach/staff issues...

 

I coached Little League in an affluent suburb down here, and the kids were getting ready to go into middle school. The whole purpose of the league was developing them to play a number of positions and get them ready for the next level. I really liked it at that age (10-12). Their high school programs have a lot of success and it's easy to see why with the way they do things.

 

We had no requirements to switch past the standard Little League ones, but it was always a gentlemen's agreement between the coaches to try to develop the kids instead of worrying about cutthroat winning. Games were usually scheduled as doubleheaders so at least a few different kids basically had to pitch, which also helped.

 

Another example of how it worked: when selecting the teams, the coaches divided the rosters so that each team would have at least 1 kid with their own catching gear who was interested in basically auditioning for the spot later on.

 

With that said, there were definitely some kids who played more than others and it was developmental without being "everyone plays equal time, everyone gets a trophy".

Edited December 3, 201312 yr by JokersWild24

This is what 99% of my post are against. I can't stand this stuff! The 6 classes in football, the number of teams that make the playoffs, the "All A" tournaments in other sports are just a few examples. We are headed that way and it will make us a weak nation eventually.

 

While we're at it, lets make sure every kid makes the high school team. Lets give them all D1 scholarships too. Then lets give them all a chance to play for the national title and then give them all a career in the NFL.

 

Grade school is for the "everyone gets a fair shot" philosophy as far as school ball. Middle School is a transition age. Kids start to get cut from some sports. That's the first transition. That doesn't mean the rest that are left should be guaranteed playing time. They should earn a spot on the team and earn playing time once they are there. If you can't, then do something else that you can do. If they think kids would bully because someone isnt the best on the team or able to win playing time, what do you think would happen if it was fair playing time, they were taking time away from players that do put in the extra work and they happen to lose a big game because lil Johnny had to play in a sitution he was destined to fail in because he wasn't ready for that. How do you think the kids would feel about that? I work harder and care more than Johnny, but he plays just as much as me. And he lost the big game for us! If you don't think that kid would be bullied, you are very naive!

Except for your cursory shot at the football playoffs :lol2:, I agree with this 100%