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Show The Last Word Judy Jensen, Editor Clverie Iluber, Attetnat Editor Linda Mitchell, Creative Design Roger Tuttle lliotogrBpher By GARY R. ELODCETT wts Editor - ' I've seen both sides of the question: "Are high school sports good for or detrimental to athletes?" As a prep sports wroter for several years with the De-seret De-seret News and now sports editor of the Clipper and Reflex-Journal, I've witnessed situations on the athletic field that I did not like and I've heard numerous complaints from parents expressing how their son (or daughter) has been treated. High school coaching is an emotional job. Their team is expected to win; parents expect to see their child play; and coaches are expected to "keep their cool" under all circumstances. cir-cumstances. For various reasons, this does not always happen. High school athletes are still "kids" and they do make mistakes on the playing field. As a sports writer, I have a self-made code to never put the blame on a high school athlete. Can high school coaches make the same claim? Or do too many of these coaches not only "chew out" the kid for his mistake, but they also reach out and slap his helmet or "shake him up" a bit. Is this necessary? Will it change matters? The young athlete already feels bad enough that a mistake mis-take was made. He doesn't need to be lambasted by the coaching staff. Some youngsters both boys and girls are also disappointed and deeply hurt that they get "cut from the team," or they don't get enough playing time. This is one area the coach gets undue pressure from the fans, the parents and even the school administration. All this doesn't mean that I oppose high school sports. I favor sports and I believe that a good sports program, not necessarily state championship teams, enriches the overall high school environment. Athletes are very often the "cream of the crop" among ; the studentbody. It's because they are dedicated, disciplined disci-plined and willing to put out their best effort all the time. ' And when a mistake is made on the playing field, a coach should explain what could have been done differently. different-ly. An athlete respects constructive criticism and with it he'll try even harder to do what is right. Have you ever wondered why, even on nationally televised tele-vised college games, an official will not "point the finger" at a player who has caused a penalty but that same official would designate exactly who the player is in an NFL game? i Having been a sports writer for more than 30 years, I have talked to many players and coaches about this prob- : lem. My conclusion is that most of the players are more disciplined than the coaches. - But when players and coaches do their part, there is no ' more love and respect than what is generated between them. If a high school student is asked who his favorite teacher is, most of the time his answer will be: "My coach." c |