Fairness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Sport is often a meritocracy but development differs.
What is fairness? Fairness crosses many areas. Programs vary by resources and individual opportunity. I'm not talking about varsity basketball where performance defines playing time.
- Infrastructure - practice time, equipment, facilities
- Personnel - Help/assistants
- Finances (I've always been a volunteer)
- Coaching - Who gets what?
- Roles
- Playing time (minutes)
One team has eight hours practice per week, another three. One has experienced coaching and another parental 'bailout' coaching. One team chooses a large roster (twelve or more) and another selective (eight) to minimize weakness of reserves and maximize winning.
Choose your analogy. Most of the iceberg (development) is below the surface. Where's the beef? Few families see how the sausage gets made.
Watching weekend games doesn't divulge the practice process. Fairness is not equality. I've seen parents bring spreadsheets with minutes played for each player.
Player B is a soccer first athlete who attends no offseason workouts. Player A is a basketball first athlete who attended 90 percent of offseason workouts (usually alone). Should A and B have the same role, minutes, and individual attention? I favor the player who has shown exceptional commitment every time.
Coaches have favorites. The relentless player, highly coachable, who listens and takes advantage of every opportunity...gets respect and more coaching. Unrequired work ingratiates players to coaches.
Where does the rubber meet the road?
- Advocate for your child by seeking out coaching and character.
- Prioritize programs about playing the right way, teaching teamwork and sportsmanship.
- Get under the hood and examine the process. We held open practices if parents chose to watch.
- Teach children to say "yes" to opportunity, elective workouts including school-offered strength and conditioning. (For our middle school players I offered twice weekly outdoor off-season 90 minute skill-development sessions, Memorial Day to early October.)
- Get to be 'teacher's pet' by working like a dog.
Believe in yourself... 🙏 #goals pic.twitter.com/F4Tw6mllUL
— Real Marsha Wright® (@marshawright) January 11, 2023
Lagniappe 2. Coach Baker brings energy and enthusiasm 100%.
