Friday night I saw a high school soccer head coach kicked out of a stadium(Gilbert)…more than a few police cars and officers at a high school basketball game(Basha). I heard about a high school gym in Mesa(Dobson) being cleared out because a parent came out of the stands and shoved a coach during a girls basketball game.
The key theme here is “high school”.
I’ve been pounding high school gyms and fields most of my adult life. Whether it’s to watch my own kids or their friends compete, it’s a completely different experience than the college or pros’…at least, it used to be…
The angst and anger towards coaches and referees may stem from the fact that most high school kids have been playing year-round in the club system of their given sport for several years. The expectation of the player and parent is for a club experience, which isn’t realistic. Put a club kid on the court or field against a kid who’s never played at that level and there is going to be some awkward moments. High school coaches aren’t(shouldn’t) be club coaches.
Playing for your high school should be an honor. Getting out of school early to bump around on a bus with your friends and teammates should be some of the best days of young lives. Instead, I hear from more and more parents and players that playing high school sports is a “joke” because of the level of play. I don’t like hearing that…
The day of innocence at high school games is coming to an end, if it hasn’t already. I can see the day of metal detectors, pat downs, and no backpacks being standard operating procedure as part of the process to see are sons, daughters, and grandkids play “games”.
I can also see a day where kids are playing in an empty gym or field, just like being in a classroom…
