Here & There Column 8-23-11

Pressure On High School Athletes

One would never think that high school coaches would ever think about putting pressure on students to play for their team.
The interest in sports and the skills it takes to participate in the sport has always been a high level priority for this writer, but, what we have seen and heard recently from a number of parents in different Sullivan County school districts is the peer pressure put on athletes from coaches who push the issue a little too far to get this or that boy-girl athlete to participate in a sport.
Take the many weight-training programs for all sports that continue to grow more and more popular because every athlete faces pressure to keep up with his or her counterparts.
There use to be in days past some quite time after one sport wrapped up and the next sport started but today, as every overextended parent knows, there is no lull time in sports.
Summer months use to be reserved for baseball but we witnessed this past summer that AAU basketball practice and sometimes twice a week games can keep active baseball and basketball players going full speed in July and August.
It's easy to understand from where these participating basketball coaches are coming from but the problem for the players, and therefore for parents, is the conflicting pressures imposed by coaches.
Most high school coaches officially support well-rounded players and sincerely encourage cross-training by playing another sport.
The pressure to compete year-round has grown as coaches insist that players continue playing club or recreational league sports during the off-season.
It's a demand on families' time and money that is widening the gap between those who can participate and those who can't or choose not to.
The truth is that players do need more than high school competition to be a good high school athlete.
We have seen it right here in Sullivan County that teams are built with players who are more than just athletes....they bring established skills to their teams and it simply comes down to the fact that families with greater resources and time can improve their children's chances.
We don't like to hear about coaches attempting to put pressure on players who don't want to play and that it's OK to catch a breath and rest or put in some training for a sport they like more.....in the end that's part of the pleasure of sports as well.