I've sat in the stands at a number of high school football halftime band shows over the past few years (one kid on percussion and another on trumpet). They play this game called football before and after the show. I watch the game, since I'm waiting for the band anyway. I'm not heavily invested in it, but I've noticed it seems to make a lot of parents crazy. (Maybe you are one?) I've witnessed a number of parents yelling, screaming, ridiculing and cursing at the game, the refs, the coaches, the opponent, the home team... and their own kid. It's pretty ridiculous, really.
I've also sat in the stands this past winter at a number of 4th grade girls basketball games. I was more invested in these, because my daughter was on the court. With only one set of stands, parents from both teams sat together, and I witnessed a lot of drama on the court (exaggerated fouls, etc.) and in the stands (poor parental sportsmanship).
Both experiences reinforced why I've often said that I'm not a fan of team sports. I really think that Americans take sports WAY too seriously... at all levels, from professional down to the youngest of teams. And, it's probably the most ridiculous the younger they are.
I mean, really... refs and coaches need to break up a "mom brawl" in the stands at a 4th grade basketball game? (Yes, I witnessed it!) And, you're going to sit in the stands and verbally insult 4th grade girls playing basketball... not knowing if you're sitting behind the parents of the girl you're insulting? Or, you're going to publicly yell at your own or someone else's kid because he dropped a football (while you get so distracted you "fumble" your nachos)?
Really?
Don't get me wrong... athletics is serious. It takes great discipline to be an athlete. No matter the sport, an athlete should give their reasonable best to it (reasonable varying and being dependent on the age and level at which they are playing). But, it's the sport and the game itself (mostly on the spectator side) that is often taken too seriously, especially by parents who think their 5 year old T-Ball player is destined for the Major Leagues, their 4th grade daughter is sure to play in the WMBA and their high school football player is a shoe-in for an NFL draft.
It's a game, folks.
Encourage your kids to do their best... and have fun... and leave it at that, huh?
That said, there is a sport that I am growing to love. I love it because it is, for the most part, very different than the antics described above.
Track and Field.
I considered running track when I was in school, but never pursued it. Now, seeing my boys on the track makes me wish I would have. Yes, I know I could become a runner now, but a 40+ year old body is a much different thing than a teenage body, and I love hiking too much to pound my knees to death in a pair of running shoes.
A freshman, Dylan is in his third year of track. He loves relays and his favorite distances are currently the 400m and 800m. (That's one lap and two laps, respectively, around the track).
A seventh grader, Zachary is in his first year of track and has been trying out a few different sprints... 100m, 200m and 400m, (quarter lap, half lap and single lap) but seems to favor slightly shorter sprints than his brother. We weren't sure how his asthma would treat him, but so far, so good. He has good form on the track and is athletically pushing himself pretty hard. I'm very proud of his first season efforts.
Relay handoff... Dylan (L) in his favorite tan hat
Carrying the baton
Pistol fires for the open 800m (Dylan outside lane)
Beating his personal record (PR) by 5 seconds, this finish earned him 10th place in his high school record book for the 800m... as a freshman! Way to go, Dylan!
Zachary (black and orange, yellow shoes) 400m
Zachary, pushing hard (entering left) 100m
While there is a lot of yelling (and I do my share), there is a profound absence of NEGATIVE yelling at the track officials... at the coaches... at the opponents... at the athletes... at the results. Actually, there is very little negativity, period.
Yeah, there's actually sportsmanship at track meets! There's sportsmanship among athletes, parents, coaches and officials.
I see runners lining up side by side with one another, and, although everyone on the track is an opponent (even teammates), they often shake hands with one another and wish each other a good race. Afterwords, I have seen them breathlessly congratulate a victor, or encourage the runner who struggled to cross the line last or the one who pulled a muscle and finished last in severe pain. All of this individually and voluntarily... not the forced team pleasantries before or after other types of sporting events. I know there are exceptions, but there is a general sense of camaraderie among runners at these events that connects runners from all schools in a bond that I'm not sure other sports have.
Both boys have commented on this. They say it is a sport where you are competing against others, but also competing against yourself. They may not always finish in the top, but get a sense of victory by beating their PR.
And, my perception of the sport is that it is very hard core athletic. Both boys push themselves pretty hard and often voluntarily go to bed early during track season, as a result. The slogan on the back of Dylan's high school track t-shirt sums it up...
And, as to the parents, I have not really witnessed any poor sportsmanship there, either. Track meets, especially Saturday ones, last for HOURS and parents from all schools share the stands amicably, for the most part, often making small talk in the down time between their kid's events. I have not detected any strong rivalries at track meets. Yet, when it is time for their kid to compete, parents take it very seriously... not in a way that says, "your kid's going down!", but in a way that says, "I wanna see my kid do their personal best, and I'd love it if he/she could place."
I see coaches that push their kids to excel, but do it in a way that does not berate and belittle them. (I once witnessed a pre-game "pep talk" by our football coach... I was appalled... cursing at the boys for their losing season and telling them to get out there and get their act together.)
And back to the yelling... it's mostly positive! Shouting encouragement to your kid as they are pushing their body to their limit to shave a second off their time... shouting encouragement to one of your kid's buddies as they do the same... or, often giving an attaboy/attagirl cheer for a stranger's kid as they push themselves just to finish last, because there is something to be said for finishing.
I can't get to all of their meets because they happen before I get home from work, or we have to divide and conquer with other kids, but when I am able to be there, I YELL! I want my kids to know I am there! I want them to hear their name at the top of my lungs when they are pushing themselves around that track! I want them to know that first or last, I'm proud of them!
So, while I'd cheer for my kids in any team sport they were participating in because I'm a fan of them, I remain not a fan of [most] team sports themselves... but track is... different!
To me, it's more of what athletics should be!
And, my perception of the sport is that it is very hard core athletic. Both boys push themselves pretty hard and often voluntarily go to bed early during track season, as a result. The slogan on the back of Dylan's high school track t-shirt sums it up...
"I will do what you won't today, so I can do what you can't tomorrow!"That mentality gives each athlete an appreciation for each other and a sense of fraternity that allows them to, in many cases, compete with each other with a very strong sportsmanship ethic. The boys have both said it is one of the things they really like about track meets.
And, as to the parents, I have not really witnessed any poor sportsmanship there, either. Track meets, especially Saturday ones, last for HOURS and parents from all schools share the stands amicably, for the most part, often making small talk in the down time between their kid's events. I have not detected any strong rivalries at track meets. Yet, when it is time for their kid to compete, parents take it very seriously... not in a way that says, "your kid's going down!", but in a way that says, "I wanna see my kid do their personal best, and I'd love it if he/she could place."
I see coaches that push their kids to excel, but do it in a way that does not berate and belittle them. (I once witnessed a pre-game "pep talk" by our football coach... I was appalled... cursing at the boys for their losing season and telling them to get out there and get their act together.)
And back to the yelling... it's mostly positive! Shouting encouragement to your kid as they are pushing their body to their limit to shave a second off their time... shouting encouragement to one of your kid's buddies as they do the same... or, often giving an attaboy/attagirl cheer for a stranger's kid as they push themselves just to finish last, because there is something to be said for finishing.
I can't get to all of their meets because they happen before I get home from work, or we have to divide and conquer with other kids, but when I am able to be there, I YELL! I want my kids to know I am there! I want them to hear their name at the top of my lungs when they are pushing themselves around that track! I want them to know that first or last, I'm proud of them!
So, while I'd cheer for my kids in any team sport they were participating in because I'm a fan of them, I remain not a fan of [most] team sports themselves... but track is... different!
To me, it's more of what athletics should be!
