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Hosted by Regis Tremblay and Ted Talbot
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For several years now, people throughout the country involved in youth sports have been attempting to reform the system because of widespread abuse, a dramatic increase in violence, and a lack of sportsmanship at all levels. We have examined many of the causes of this unfortunate evolution of youth sports organized by adults, but it is probably safe to conclude that an emphasis on winning and selecting the best athletes are among the major causes. At every level of "amateur" sports in America, the professional model has been superimposed and embraced. The bottom line, even in T-ball, is winning. In order to win it is necessary to be very well organized and funded. It is also necessary to select the best players, find the best coaches, and provide the best training....year 'round. It is also necessary to have expensive professional team replica uniforms, the latest technology, and the best playgrounds money can buy. And, it is necessary to measure how good our kids are by traveling all over the country and hosting state, and national championships in every sport. Not many attempts at reform have taken place at the high school and youth levels, partly because they are all subject to local control, i.e. state high school associations, and volunteer parent organizations, and because most of the people involved in running those organizations have been responsible for the evolution of those sports into something very different than what they were first intended. Many believe just as athletics have corrupted the whole notion of student athlete at the college level, the very same thing has happened at the high school level in every nook and cranny in this country. There's overwhelming evidence to support that belief. On Saturday's show, we'll hear from the Athletic Directors at two local high schools who are attempting to change the culture of athletics in their communities. My guests will be Paul Amnott, an Assistant Principal at Lewiston High; Jason Fuller, AD at Lewiston High; and Rich Drummond, AD at Portland High. Luke Potter and Chantell McLellan students from Lewiston, and John O'Brian a senior at Portland High will also take part in the discussion. We'll discuss their attempts to adopt and implement the Sports Done Right Initiative at their schools. Sports Done Right is an initiative designed to restore interscholastic athletics in Maine to their proper role in public education. We fully embrace the philosophy of SDR, and are eager to share this important initiative with our audience. We'll want to learn why these schools have opted to become pilot sites for the SDR Initiative. Has the SDR philosophy been embraced by everyone? If there has been resistance, we'll want to know why and from where.
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Purchase Reclaiming The Timeless Value of Sport and Play A new book by Regis Tremblay |
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© Copyright 2004 Kids First In Sports, Health, and Education |
