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After returning from Arizona yesterday, I sat on the phone with a number of coaches and asked a basic question: "Does today's high school player really appreciate All-State, All-Area or All-America honors the way high school athletes used to?"
I think you can make a case based on each player. Over the past 10 years, I have worked with some great parents and players. But in the era we live in, I think it's safe to say overall high school players don't appreciate the awards.
Why?
Years ago and even decades ago for some, it used to be an honor for a player to make the varsity team. Now, most parents and players believe it's their right, because they go to the school and pay tax dollars. I've heard that before, and I always shake my head. Folks, that's why park districts were created.
I'm all about providing students with opportunities, but I don't see schools placing a student in an advanced math or science class because they want to be in there.
And let's be realistic about this era: Instead of the coach being right, it's the coach's fault; If you don't like the coach, you start your own team; If you don't like how the award is handed out, you create your own award.
So with that in mind, do you think most high school players appreciate today's honors?
-Joe Trost
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I think athletes still appreciate it. I am a high school student and whenever someone from my school gets recognized, even for All-Conference, it is a big deal. That may be because those honors don't come very often.
The only thing I do see, with so much hype given to great players like Derek Rose and Eric Gordon, others get thrown in the shadows. There might be five All-Americans but when you only see one on TV all the time, you think less of the other four.
Joe,
I don't think most parents and players feel it's "their right" to make varsity teams as juniors and seniors. I think the real reason behind the animosity that comes with kids getting cut is that the opportunity to play isn't available to them at such a young age. I know from first hand experience in coaching, that our budget's do not allow us to carry more than a certain number of players.
IF I cut a kid because he wasn't good enough to compete at any level team in the program, thats one thing. However, the problem comes when kids are cut because the school's budget won't allow them to have the chance to play. I wouldn't want to pay taxes to support a school where my kids got told, "We'd love to have you on the team, but we only have enough money to take 17 payers this year."
Lots of high schools used to have no-cut policies for freshman sports. Not many do anymore as a result of this. There's also an increasing amount of mid-level athletes migrating to private schools simply because it affords them the opportunity to play a few sports that they want to play.
And with the awards... every trophy, medal, certificate, or anything else I have from my athletic history are on the top right shelf in my closet, and they're not going in the garbage. Just because a kid isn't the best player on his team, doesn't mean he doesn't want to be recognized for being the best defensive player on his team, or for that matter being a part of the team. From going to the IHSSCA sectional meeting, I think the players most excited to be there are the honorable mention sectional selections. The all-state kids know they're great, and they're going to use those awards to propel them to college programs. But the biggest smiles I ever saw in 7 years of high school coaching were when my 3rd best player found out she made the sectional honorable mention team. It's nice to be noticed Joe. Life isn't always about the heavy hitters.