Every region is different. Let’s just get that out of the way. I moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in December of 2009. The 28 years before that were spent in South Texas. Earlier years in my life were spent in South Dakota and Hawaii. My memories of those last two aren’t as vivid, so this article will only contrast North Carolina and Texas.
After watching a handful of athletic contests at the high school level and lower, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Chapel Hill area and Texas have very different philosophies about competition. That there is a difference isn’t surprising, it’s the vast chasm between the two that is eye-popping.
Exhibit A - San Antonio – My nephew’s 4-year-old soccer league game where the other team has a player named Michelle. We all know her name was Michelle because she had a soccer bag with her name monogrammed onto the side AND every time she had the ball, someone kept yelling “Michelle, Michelle, MICHELLE MICHEELLLEEE!!” Michelle’s team wins 14-2 and their parents continue to coach up the kids after the game is over.
Exhibit B - Holly Springs, NC – A 10 to 11-year-old softball league game has one parent bringing her daughter a fruit salad in a bowl with a fork DURING the game. Each kid gets a snack bar and juice box as they leave and none of the girls have really mastered throwing, yet.
Exhibit C – McAllen, TX – At a freshman football game that is getting very physical, Luis breaks both bones in his left forearm. Luis tries to hide the arm from me (his coach at the time) so that he can keep playing. When his arm is discovered, Luis pleads with his coaches and team trainer to let him play, anyway. His salemanship fails. Luis defies his coaches and hits the weight room every day, only being able to use his right arm.
Exhibit D – Pittsboro, NC – A “big rivalry” varsity football game is preceded by players doing some dancing and towel waving. The game starts with suspect ball handling and not a single collision that can be heard from the stands.
Exhibit E – Austin, TX – At the state track and field meet, Robert vomits from exhaustion and nerves after finishing 2nd in the 400-meter dash. His 47.9 second run was just short of being fast enough to be state champion. After making sure that he is properly hydrated in the 97 degree heat, he gets ready to run the 200m, where he breaks his personal best time of 21.6.
Exhibit F - Chapel Hill – A junior high soccer tournament is filled with coaching pointers such as “play as a team” and “do your best” and other feel good quips. Judging from the skill set of the players, that is probably about the extent of coaching that goes on at the practices. The kids have on some fancy equipment. None of their uniforms show any evidence of grass stains or dirt...or sweat, even though there is some complaining about the 75 degree “heat”.
This isn’t to say that either is right, nor is either necessarily wrong. They are just very different attitudes. There is plenty in both that can be picked out as “right on” and even more than can be isolated as “needs some changin’”.
Perhaps I’ll keep moving so that I can take notes about how such things are handled in other places.
There is certainly something good in competition, athletic or otherwise, when it is properly balanced with a healthy perspective on life. The line becomes blurred when competition ceases to become a pursuit of humble excellence and morphs into an obsession with superiority and fame.
ReplyDeleteCoach Jim Streety is a friend, neighbor, and a wonderful head coach of a perennially competitive 5A football team. He has been coaching for a awfully long time, but has never won a state championship. However, he has produced countless champions through his program...which is well-grounded in humility and respect for the sport, the ideals of education, and the participants on both sides of the field.
Several years ago David, a star athlete on coach Streety's team, was paralyzed in a freak on-field collision. Coach Streety and his team rallied behind the paralyzed athlete, helping him to recover enough to graduate high school. Unfortunately, David soon after lost his battle for survival, succumbing to secondary complications of the injury.
The players and coaching staff dedicated their season to David that year. The team "only" made it to the state quarterfinals, but in my book they will always be champions. Their trophy won't be the kind that gathers dust in a glass case; it will be the kind that shines brightest for others whose lives they touch in times of turmoil and darkness.
Fascinating read. I hadn't put all that together before. I'm in CA and it annoys me that the youngest teams won't keep score. I find competition healthy and enables kids to achieve more than they think they can. There is some credible research (which I am unable to cite at the moment) saying the effort to make kids feel good about themselves hasn't helped their success.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.
Coach Streety is and always has been a class act. He taught "be excellent". Literally. That was painted on the weight room wall when he was at New Braunfels. He meant be excellent in all things you do and sports were his vehicle for teaching it (and not just saying it.)
ReplyDeleteI think that the parents at my nephew's soccer game were over the top. Incidentally, there is no "Michelle" out of San Antonio that has become the next Mia Hamm. And I knew Mia Hamm, she went to Randolph Elementary...in Texas...but I digress.
Coach Streety and the Madison High School Football team is a great example of what sports SHOULD be for young people. They prepare for and play the game as is it the single most important thing in the world. After the game is over, they shake hands with the other guys and the next game becomes the single most important thng in the world. Its not just football, its the learning to prepare and work and execute like a mature person. Its learning how to handle success and failure, as there are plenty of opportunities for both. Its about learning to set and live up to expectation that are sometimes too high and doing so like a professional. Its learning that you don't have to hate your opposition to compete ravenously. And most importantly, its about honestly learning your strengths and how to improve on your weaknesses.
I just don't think that you can get there with "play as a team. Everyone is a winner!"