Two events have occurred within the last two weeks that have provided a whole refrigerator full of food for consumption by any youth sports fan, player, coach, or administrator. There is so much to consider I am actually going to write this blog in three parts.
Of course, the two events I’m talking about are the blowout girl’s basketball game in Texas, and the high school football coach being charged with negligent homicide in Kentucky. The first event has created media frenzy with more storm than Hurricane Katrina. The second event is a tragedy but is also an event that could lead to huge changes in youth sports policies. It has also amplified our need as a society to blame someone whenever someone is hurt or killed, or even when we don’t get what we want. There are many parts of each side of each story that have merit and seemingly an equal number of issues on each side that do not have merit.
In case you somehow have missed either one of these stories, here are a couple of links to each one just to fill you in on the basics of each story.
Kentucky Coach Pleads Not Guilty in Player's Heat Death
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,483027,00.html
School Seeks to Forfeit 100-0 Win
http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=903780
In one story, a high school football coach has been charged with negligent homicide (some consider this to mean “murder,”) in the death of one of his players from apparent heat related issues. In the 47 years from 1960 to 2007 there have been 114 reported heat stroke deaths according to the Fox News articles. And while there were many lawsuits, never, I said NEVER, has a coach been charged with a crime from his or her actions. And in this case, there are a number of reasons to question why this coach has been charged with a crime.
In the other story it is basically one really good team beat a less talented team….really bad. Like, 100-0. The team that lost is from a school that works with children who have various issues such as learning disabilities, ADHD, and other special needs kids. Both schools are Christian schools, which of course, brings out all those who don’t believe in God who love to post wisecracks knocking those who do. The coach of the winning school has been fired for refusing to apologize. And the losing team has now canceled the rest of their league games.
So to finish today’s blog, I will basically list the stories and the questions I have surrounding the events listed. Then in my next two blogs, I will address those questions. In the meantime you can think about the questions I pose as well and see if we come up with the same answers. Dr. Gerald Coy will be my guest on Monday’s show of Kidz n Sports airing at 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM California time on the internet at www.AdrenalineRadio.com. We are in the process of producing a collaboration of articles into a book “Healthy Kidz n Sports.” These two events have many lessons both mental and physical that we can learn from.
First, in the tragic case of 15 year old Max Gilpin’s death during football practice in Kentucky:
1. Why was there not an autopsy performed? This young man took nutritional supplements and some medications. How do we know that this did not play a major part in his death? I used to run Cross Country in Arizona in 100 degree heat. 12 sets of wind sprints in 94 degree heat index isn’t something I’d worry too much as far as being that dangerous for a healthy 15 year old.
2. Why was the head coach charged with a crime and not the assistant coaches?
3. The father of the boy was present when his son collapsed. Why would there be no responsibility on his part for the boy’s welfare? And did he change his story?
4. Did the coach or coaches refuse to allow the players to have water? One report says “yes” another says “no.”
5. Where do we draw a line between what is a “tragedy” and what is a “crime?”
Second, in the case of the basketball blowout:
1. Why did the Covenant Coach not freely substitute his players when the score was so lopsided?
2. If the Covenant Coach was “running up” the score, why did his team only score 12 points in the 4th quarter?
3. Are learning disabilities only found in girls? The Dallas Academy boy’s basketball team beat Covenant Christian School. While I try to be somewhat sensitive about somebody’s handicaps, I also don’t like to see a disability used as an excuse when no excuse is needed.
4. What is the appropriate way to coach or play when such an obvious mismatch exists? Is it more embarrassing to a player to lose 100-0 or to lose 40-10 and know that the other team played “on their knees?”
5. After the Dallas Academy officials stated how proud they were of their girls and how they didn’t give up, they canceled the rest of their league games. Why?
6. Should the Covenant Coach have been fired?
7. Do we place too much importance in the score of a game and not enough on how it is played?
Feel free to post your comments below. I will publish the second part of this blog on Monday, February 2nd, discussing the Kentucky event and the third part of this blog on Wednesday, February 4th discussing the Texas basketball game.
Why nothing on Tuesday? It’s my 19th Wedding Anniversary. I must take my wife out for a nice dinner.
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