"A lot of coaches aren't fair, but I am." Do you ever have cognitive dissonance about fairness? Fairness is in the eye of the beholder.
Alexander Wolff asked, "Why does women's basketball have so many coaching abuse problems?" He explained, a "survey of almost 20,000 college athletes reported that only 39% of women’s basketball players “strongly agreed” that “my head coach can be trusted..." and players felt like “crabs in a bucket, a metaphor for pulling down others who are trying to hoist themselves up."
It appears "there's a there there."
John Rawls wrote Theory of Justice incorporating ideas from many schools of thought. Important concepts included:
- Everyone is an individual and, as such, there is no individual who more or less valuable than another.
- Discrimination is unethical.
- We must all have the same rights.
- ...partners are located behind a veil of ignorance so that they know nothing of what will be their place in society
- “each person must have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberty for all, consistent with a single system for all.”
- the inequalities (economic and social) are justified only if: attached to positions, jobs available to all under conditions of equal opportunity
- "A just society is not egalitarian but it is an equitable society where the position giving the greatest benefits are available to all"
- "The Rawlsian ideal is a democratic ideal."
A reasonable question is what "blind justice" concepts could belong in team sports? Where would they apply?
Tryouts and team selection. When we throw players into Anson Dorrance's competitive cauldron, some will rise and others ground down. We choose the 'eye test' (I know it when I see it), analytics, or a combination. Yet, we know that "bonus babies" and "scholarship players" will get more and better opportunities to succeed. And there's nepotism that allows sons and daughters of the renowned to get favored treatment. On the other hand, there's Parcellian reality, "Coaches are the most selfish people I know. They put players on the field who make them look good."
Practice. Do some players get lost in the numbers game with few reps, little individual attention or coaching, and constantly play with less skilled players? It's hard to stand out when you're always playing with lesser lights. Have you seen players buried or ever been personally buried? Let players know what they can work on and how they can contribute to the team.
Roles. Kevin Eastman has said that you won't find any "jerks" in the 9-12 NBA roster spots. It's easier to shed the "high maintenance" problem children. And you can't have a 'critical mass' (two) of jerks who conspire to bring the team down. We have a responsibility to define roles and put players in a position to succeed. Bobby Knight famously said, "just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot."
Playing time. Playing time is the "mother's milk" of basketball. Starve the player of playing time and the results are almost inevitable.
One love feeds the fire
One heart burns desire
I wonder, who's cryin' now
Two hearts born to run
Who'll be the lonely one
I wonder, who's cryin' now
Recognition. Players with big minutes and big roles will get theirs. Exceptional coaches like Dean Smith remembered to water the flowers, deflecting praise to role players who fostered team success. Everyone needs to feel valued. And teach players in the limelight to share the spotlight with teammates. Praise reflected upon teammates shines even brighter on the source.
In addition to adding value, we have a responsibility to make players feel valued. Everyone deserves communication, respect, and recognition, even if they can't all get the minutes, roles, and recognition they crave.
Lagniappe: Three-on-three flow with John Leonzo