| Winning
in Sports Shouldn't be the Important Thing |
|
To the editor:
|
| I was appalled when I read about the 11th grader who did
not make the school field hockey team after showing significant
commitment and effort. I disagree that no one cares about
the score just because it isn't football. I do think it points
out several of American society's biggest ills! |
| Number one, why do we give lip service to "It's not whether
you win or lose; it's how you play the game?" Obviously, as
with this girl's story it's only whether you win or lose and
nothing else matters. |
| Secondly, another hot topic right now is why are Americans
so obese? It's not because our jobs have us sitting in front
of computers; other countries have similar job issues, without
the obesity issue! |
| There have been sedentary jobs like bankers and clerks for
hundreds of years. Americans are sitting on their behinds
watching sports from the bench and couch, because we are taught
from an early age, that if you're not the star athlete, don't
even bother! While adults may have some pick-up games and
leagues that are dedicated to fun, children don't. |
| For me, it started with my first grade soccer team. I had
to go to a different elementary school's team because I wasn't
good enough for the person coaching my school's team. |
| I played field hockey all four years of high school, despite
the fact that I have never in my life managed to run a mile
in less than nine minutes! I played my first year of college.
|
| Sure, I sat on the bench at most games, but I was part of
the team and fully active at practice. I played field hockey
for the love of the game, not for anyone else. My husband
had similar experiences growing up in New York. He had to
switch from soccer to track, because he knew he wasn't good
enough for the varsity soccer team, and if he did somehow
"make the cut," he didn't feel he would be treated decently
by the team if he ever goofed up a play. |
| This is why Americans are obese. This is why childhood obesity
is growing. Sure, we need competitive leagues for those looking
for scholarships and professional athletic careers. But where
are the leagues for the rest of us? When will we start up
"just for fun" leagues? |
| Maybe, even leagues where no one keeps score? Where you
just come out and play for the length of a game, and at the
end, it'll be true that it's not whether you win or lose,
but did everyone have fun? |
| Lori Cassell Flanagan |
| Annandale High School, 1993 |
| Herndon |
