It's Time for a Time Out in Youth Sports
May 2003
On these fields of friendly strife are
sown the seeds that on other fields and other days will bear the fruits of
victory.
— General Douglas Macarthur
I first read this inscription at Michie Stadium prior
to playing football against the United States Military Academy.
The words "friendly strife" seamed odd to me as a
university athlete. Sure, military preparation for war must be disciplined;
but FRIENDLY?
I had always been told football is controlled
violence. Where is the friendly strife? But you know, the general was onto
something. Perhaps "controlled" and "friendly" are words that describe
today's missing perspective.
The football season of 2002 saw parents fighting youth
players, NCAA
coaches fighting fans, players threatening coaches, and coaches accosting
officials.
Does the sport we love truly teach discipline,
courage, and teamwork? How do we justify these incidents where physical and
verbal violence occur?
Let's take a TIME OUT and look forward to the season
of 2003. Do the players, parents, coaches, and officials come first?
Or, are we all part of something that is bigger than
the sum of its parts? Let's look forward to 2003 knowing it is up to
everyone involved in football to accept the obligation to teach the true
value of our great sport.
The keyword is teamwork. We all owe the game of
football. From our first team meeting to our awards banquet we need to
remember that we are involved in the greatest team sport known to man.
Our obligation to the game of football is to be in
control. Football is a game of discipline, courage, and teamwork or, as the
general said, "friendly strife."
Check out these past President's Messages articles:
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