In another thread someone said the games our high school kids play are not done for the entertainment of the fans. I don't totally disagree with that statement but wonder what everyone else thinks is the reason school athletics exist. Anyone care to share their some thoughts?

Food for thought. The why's and why nots.

 

http://www.middleschooldebate.com/documents/Schoolsports.pdf

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/09/when-did-competitive-sports-take-over-american-childhood/279868/

Actually I said the following:

 

And BTW, I wasn't aware they began playing athletics in school systems to entertain whatever fans might be watching them. I was under the impression that it was to foster good sportsmanship and provide a type of physical exercise (go back & look it up). I think the NCAA & NBA started the idea that is necessary that we "entertain the fans" (or TV Viewers) all due to $$$. I could give a flying hoot about whether the NCAA, the NBA or ever any state high school athletic association implemented a shot clock to help them make money.

 

And what I was attempting to get across (apparently in an inadequate fashion) is that I hope we haven't reached the point that we allow our high school athletic associations begin making rules based on what is most attractive to the "fans" (re: draws more fans and thus bring more money into the athletic fund).

 

The result of allowing such outside pressures to dictate how we regulate our game are all negative. Think of where we're at now with "TV or media timeouts". I have no doubt that media timeouts during televised games have increased the popularity and demand for DVRs. I know I would go insane (no remarks from the peanut gallery, please) if I had to listen to everything that all of the TV announcers said during the game breaks. Most are no different from the talking heads we see every Sunday morning that yak about politics, but I digress.

 

I personally much prefer a fast-paced game and I'm sure the vast majority of fans do, but what style of play each team/coach can or will play is dictated by the resources available (players & their level of skill). So to go to a shot clock removes one of the tools that the less advantaged schools can use to attempt to compete. Just my opinion.

High school sports exist for two reasons I believe: 1) a well-rounded education involves not just the mind, but the body and spirit as well. In addition to the obvious physical benefits, I do think sports offers other lessons to kids as well. Second, they're a great way to unite the school community behind a visible representation of that community. That's a good thing.

Reading the article above is interesting, class separation. Affluent families put their kids into theatre, music and dance and the poorer families went the sports rout. Glad that line got blurred.

 

According to the article the main reason for the creation of school sports was to get the kids off the street and into a supervised environment. We have come a long way.

The athletic association has long overreached it's scope in my opinion. Again, I think we are headed to club basketball/sports and conventional HS sports will be passe'. While I agree totally with getslow's assertion, I think all of those things can still take place and the most elite athletes play in a club sport environment instead. I'm not promoting it, only suggesting that I think it's on the horizon.

 

It's issues like the latest Cordia deal that will seem to change the landscape.