But that doesnt make it "ok" right?
I get the "crazy parents" argument. but you're not solving the issue, just delaying it.
As far as sportsmanship goes, one of the most relevant things to learn regarding sportsmanship is how to win and lose properly.
Did I miss it, or did someone say what the cutoff age was for keeping score? If it's 4-6, I think there's still plenty to learn outside of winning and losing properly, and that goes for any sport.
I understand we don't want to pressure certain kids and that some might not take it well. I get it. But what are we REALLY teaching them. Shouldnt they start knowing at an early age that you get what you work for, there are no free rides. If everybody gets a trophy, then why should I dedicate my time an effort to be better than you?
How about just the simple basics? I understand your view, but as you're a golfer, I think you would also understand that losing/winning is much more clearly defined in an individual sport. The other big one being tennis. At least in golf, you might have a caddie that you can consort with. But, let's take other sports that represent much more participation by kids. Baseball's individual performances are the most statistically analyzed, perhaps, out of any sport ever. Yet, you can be an amazing performer on a mediocre team (and make big bucks, be inducted into the hall of fame, all star game, golden glove, silver slugger, blah blah). The player might not be happy about a losing record, but at that point any anger/disappointment is probably best taken out on management, and not the players.
I am NOT a proponent of coddling, and sometimes can exhibit strong competitiveness (at least I did earlier in life), or be quite demanding to those around me, but I don't know, it seems there are still so much athletic abilities to learn as it is. Turning a double play with proper footwork and positioning must take a while, I imagine. Or hitting a nice slice, or fade, let alone hitting the ball straight. Devoloping a nice kick serve for a second serve. Or learning proper spacing, timing, and cutting in a basketball set play. IOW, plenty to learn without worrying about other kids (and parents) getting all over you for a botched play. Some will be disappointed enough without the score to begin with.
So, I say it should be an option. Parents/kids who want to participate where score is being kept can choose to do so, and others can opt for the other.
Certainly not my intention at all, but it does have some serious political undertones.
I think its crap. Let little Johnny get beat once or twice and then let him decide if he's gonna work harder to better himself, establish himself as a leader or venture down a different path.
On the other hand, at least their exercising.
Yeah, mebbe. I think teaching them how to have fun is probably the most important thing. The percentage/proportion of these kids that will earn a college scholarship, let alone being a true professional, in any sport is slim at best. I am not saying that having fun is mutually exclusive to competition. But a lot of people have a hard time in combining those things, and if parents already have major issues with that, what's the kid going to think?
(Isn't it true that there is a strong dearth of referees and umpires in sports for kids these days? The pay being so poor, with inconsistent work, combined with insane parents...)
My HS basketball coaches were pretty tough, I think. Freshman year, we would jump at a basketball on the ground against one another. Plenty of blood as 14 y.o.'s. Losers have to run a distance, I forget how many laps. Sophmore coach was a drunk, and launched insane verbal epithets at the 15 y.o.'s. Junior year coach was the one cool coach. He was the only black coach I had, and he was studying criminal law at the time. Varsity coach could be a real d!ck, at least to the starters, and it's no wonder that over these four years some of our best talent quit (and did extremely well in other sports, including two kids who got scholarships at Stanford).
So, competition and toughness are good things, but it's hard to define how much of it is acceptable (depending when you lived, and where, as well), and how important fun/enjoyment should play a role in these things.
Of course, as brought up, the cultural viewpoint plays a huge role. You hear of kids getting beaten/abused in other countries, at least in older days. While true in sports, it happens in other arenas as well, such as with music, even in the US.
If you grew up in Japan, and a kid bullied the heck out of you, the teacher would probably just let him keep bullying you. Not nearly as accepted in the US, for example. Also, at least historically, the handicapped are not nearly as accepted in certain Asian countries. It's just another marked social/cultural difference. Do you say that they should coddle the handicapped more like we do, or that we should be less sensitive to those who are less able either physically or mentally? (no need to answer; I would foresee a circular argument, and FWIW I am close friends with both a former pro baseball player, and several handicapped people).
just thinking out loud.
