National Collegiate Athletic Association |
CommentMarch 2, 1998
Guest editorial -- Coaches need to join battle against violence
BY ELMER KOSUB In a few weeks, the baseball fields across the country will be flooded with young people from the Little Leagues to college. They are eager to begin another season of the great game of baseball.
There is another challenge facing coaches. This challenge may be greater than available talent, uniforms or fields. It is the challenge of nationwide violence that is plaguing our young of all ages. Every day, we read or hear about kids committing acts of violence against each other or anyone around them. Teachers are now receiving courses in recognizing and dealing with violent behavior. Many parents are aware of the problems facing them as they try to raise children in an out-of-control society. Yet, there are other parents, many single, who feel they cannot cope with the negative influences being thrust against their children. Of course, the reality is that there are too many dysfunctional families, which contributes to the problem ... or challenge. What does the problem of violent behavior have to do with coaches as they prepare for the coming season? Many people believe that the playing fields are the greatest classrooms, laboratories, confessionals and deterrents against bad behavior in the world. Most coaches possess the ability to impart knowledge and discipline to players. Sometimes, they are better at that than a lot of parents. Perhaps now is the time to offer coaches a great opportunity to realize they can become a big factor in contributing to the eradication of a threat that is prevalent in our country. The threat of violent behavior is real and must be dealt with. Some suggestions for handling problems associated with violence:
Teach respect and demand it from players, umpires, parents and fans. Elmer Kosub is retired baseball coach at St. Mary's University (Texas). This commentary first appeared in Collegiate Baseball. Letter to the Editor -- Solve wrestling problem through educationAs an educator, coach, official and administrator, I have had many opportunities to observe and listen to a wide variety of people involved with wrestling in the United States and overseas. The wrestling community lost, due to an extreme level of dehydration and fatigue, three great wrestlers in six weeks. These three deaths tell us that something is wrong with us as coaches, that something is wrong with medical control, that something is wrong with our entire wrestling environment and that maybe something is wrong with the NCAA, which allowed wrestlers to cut weight for 75 years. Cutting weight is a long-term problem in wrestling. It did not start yesterday or a year ago. It has existed for decades, and not just in the U.S., but worldwide. So, what can be done? I believe in only one solution: education. We are responsible for educating our wrestlers, parents and maybe our athletics directors or other administrators about this very important issue. We have to establish specific rules that will be applicable to any sport, including wrestling. Planning is very important. Each wrestler deserves our attention and time. As coaches, let's give them back what they give to us. Let's have total responsibility for our wrestlers and other athletes not only from coaches but from colleges, the state and the whole country.
L. Polyakov Opinions -- Best Olympic story was about effort, not about winning
Donald Kaul "I'm not one of those bleeding-heart sports fans who falls for every sob story that comes down the chute at the Winter Olympics. I don't even like the Winter Olympics; I only watch them when I pass the TV on the way to the garbage can. However.... "I happened to see this couple, I think they were Canadian, in the pairs figure skating competition. Of all the things I don't watch in the Olympics, I don't watch pairs figure skating most. But I happened to catch this one performance while carrying out the garbage. "This was not one of your kid couples, they were pushing 30, and it was probably going to be their last chance at a medal, a task made more difficult, the announcers informed us, by the fact that the woman had been ill recently and was not up to strength. "That last fact was obvious from the beginning; their performance seemed lacking in energy. They fell simultaneously early in their routine. But they got up and went on until he tried to lift her above his head and failed, largely because she was not strong enough to help. "She was obviously exhausted, and she all but collapsed in his arms, and they abandoned their program. "They're giving up," the announcer said. Then, exchanging a look, the couple took up its routine again and doggedly finished it. "That to me was more thrilling and inspiring, and braver, than any record-breaking gold medal performance. That, by God, is what athletic competition is all about, or should be. It's what life is all about, or should be. "Some would have you believe that anything is possible, that if you work hard and follow the rules and keep your eye on your goals, you'll achieve them, in sports and in life. Sorry, it's not like that. "Life is working hard and playing by the rules and keeping your eye on goals and getting knocked on your fanny. Then it involves getting up and trying again and becoming exhausted and wanting to quit but sucking it up and pressing on, not because your goals are still attainable but because that's what you do and who you are. That's life."
Proposal No. 62
Jeff Horton, head football coach "I think it's the worst thing we could ever do. I think it's a terrible rule. I think all the things we've done in the past to eliminate boosters from being involved, this takes that away.... "Out on the road recruiting, (Proposal No. 62) is going to come into play: 'Well, if you come to our school, we can get you that money in two weeks time, where over there at UNLV it's going to take you four months.' I think it's just going to be a terrible ordeal. Who's going to monitor all that? We don't have time to go out and check on 85 jobs. I think it's just going to be the biggest pain in the rear end.... "(Also) the time constraints on kids for going to class, going to (lift) weights, going to practice, study hall ... now it's 9 o'clock at night. Now what are they going do, work from 10 at night until 2 in the morning? Some area is going to suffer, and it will probably be the academic side. It's going to be like the old days of some (student-athlete) being paid to make sure the sprinklers come on even though they're on a timer."
Carol C. Harter, president "I'm for it, but I'm for it within carefully monitored constraints. What I think we're trying to do is say we believe in the principle. We believe students should have the right to earn what they need to go to school, but that we want to be sure there are guidelines in place that describe what the tolerance level is for certain kinds of work, for certain kinds of pay. So I'm in favor of it within limits and with very clear guidelines to help us implement it very well." Responding to the negative reaction of the UNLV football coach toward the legislation: "I think he has the right to that opinion, and I don't even disagree with it. In fact, if I were a coach, I would probably encourage students who could avoid working to do that, because I really do believe that a full academic program and a full athletic program is more than most people can (handle). But on the other hand, if a student is really without the resources to pay their normal expenses and so forth and a full scholarship doesn't cover all expenses for a student then I don't think we should have rules that absolutely prohibit that.... "If a coach really doesn't want his or her players to participate in this, they should have the right to counsel those students that way."
Joseph N. Crowley, president "While this will mean some additional administrative work for athletics departments around the country, I think the gain is worth the effort. And I don't have any doubt that some people will find a way to beat it, but that's not a reason not to do it."
Initial eligibility
Robert F. Kanaby, executive director Discussing recent changes in the process for certifying core courses needed to establish initial eligibility at Divisions I and II institutions: "Obviously, we are very pleased with this action and are very appreciative that the NCAA has listened to the high-school community and chosen to return this process to high-school principals and counselors. Since the (NCAA Initial-Eligibility) Clearinghouse was started in 1993, high schools across the country have experienced many frustrations with the process. This action by the NCAA is an indication that they have listened to the high schools and are willing to change in the best interest of high-school student-athletes."
College basketball
George Raveling, former chair "When I was chair of the NCAA rules committee, I made it a point that I did not want to see change just for the sake of change. I always wanted to preside over a meeting where we just said that everything was great!.... "I am against one set of rules for basketball. To make one set of rules for high-school, college, women, international and professional basketball would hurt the college game. We need to protect the uniqueness and integrity of college basketball.... "One of the worst things that ever happened in college basketball was the introduction of the term 'level playing field.' As a kid, we had to bring the weak to the level of the strong and that made you better. Now we bring the strong down to the level of the weak and create mediocrity." On what he misses about college coaching: "I miss the day-to-day activities with the players and students and the opportunity to teach. When I say that, I see teaching in a broad perspective, just related to basketball. I always took coaching and teaching as a responsibility to prepare students for life and I took it very seriously."
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The coach will be checking out the available talent, uniforms, supplies and fields. Each coach will be excited about the prospects of the coming season. Many of the coaches will have attended baseball clinics, listened to lectures, and watched film and tapes to sharpen up for the challenge of being a coach.