I went to high school and currently live in a community that is rich in tradition. For many years our high school had generation after generation of "Alices" (That's our mascot!) Families would talk about the high school memories just like they would family ones.
In the past three years our boys basketball teams have won less than ten games combined. That is not what our community is used to. That record is unacceptable to many. And this is where our problem lies.
It is difficult for the "old guard" to accept losing when we have a tradition of winning. It is difficult for some parents, who want to live vicariously through their own kids, to accept loss after loss after loss. It is compounded by social media where our community lashes out at coaches and players because they say the current teams don't understand "the tradition."
Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that these high school players are kids. Kids who make mistakes. Kids who are still learning. Kids who aren't their moms and dads.
Playing sports is so much more than winning and losing. It's about learning the game; it's about being part of team and something bigger than themselves. It's about life.
Tonight, I am listening to our boys' first round of post-season tournament play. We are the underdog. We aren't expected to win. Every player on this team is a former student of mine, and I am so proud of them. They have worked so hard against so much adversity. Sadly, most of that adversity is from our own community. They have never given up when they could have so easily folded.
The game just ended as I am finishing this post, and I am holding back the tears.
Traditions connect us.
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Beautiful post. Yay for the boys who don't give up. Yay for the teacher who cheers them on!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! The lessons are much bigger than the wins and losses. . Keep cheering them on and being their encourager. Maybe it will rub off on the parents and old guard.
ReplyDeleteTraditions do connect us. Thank you for this post today.
ReplyDelete"Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that these high school players are kids. Kids who make mistakes. Kids who are still learning. Kids who aren't their moms and dads." - this doesn't seem to change, there are always parents who forget that it's not their competition and sport matters more than winning.
ReplyDeleteThis is such sage advice: "Playing sports is so much more than winning and losing. It's about learning the game; it's about being part of team and something bigger than themselves. It's about life." I wish more people had this belief!
ReplyDeleteYes, so often people forget that student athletes are still kids. They are learning. They are growing. I have seen and heard some parents at different games, and I can honestly say that I am embarrassed for their children. Talk about setting a bad example.
ReplyDeleteReading this makes me sad. We've gone through this in our town too. They even gotten rid of good people coaching because parents didn't think they were good enough. The thing is, all those people who complain. Where are they? Certainly not working with kids. I wish they could remember what it feels like to be a kid.
ReplyDeleteWe see some of this in chat groups in our community. So sad that we lose that sense of friendly competition-- the cutthroat stuff, that culture or tradition of "winning" does real harm to kids. Glad you are writing it out! And go Alices!!
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