The Ripple Effect

Recently the Board of Education adopted a goal simply stating, "Focus on sportsmanship at sporting events." While it will be difficult to measure our success, the beauty of this goal is that it places a high value on good sportsmanship. It makes one think about our current student athletes and how our actions as adults go a long way toward shaping the attitudes of this very capable generation of young people.

For 10 years or so, I have wanted to tell this story, and it is inspired by the subject of "sportsmanship." I offer it in hopes that it will encourage others to tell their stories so that chapter by chapter we can weave together an attitude in our community that promotes good sportsmanship. This is a father son story that has its origin in Little League baseball. As a 10-12-year-old my son played in a league that organized, as little leagues do, an all star team at years end.

Tradition had it that the coaches would recommend several players from their team to participate in the tryouts for the league all-star team. Approximately 25-30 players would be recommended for the tryout, from which a team of 12-14 would be selected. The selected team would practice together for a week or two and then would begin play in the national Little League tournament. At the end of the practice period a starting lineup would be announced and play would begin. Was there excitement in the air? One would think so, but I remember more angst than excitement.

Picture tossing a pebble into a quiet pond of water; you probably envision ripples appearing and the formation of concentric circles around the pebble's splash. The dads of the little leaguers (yes, I was very much one of them) began to show their disappointment as soon as the first decision was made to recommend players for the tryout. Why wasn't my son sent to the tryout (splash)? Then, why didn't my son make the team (ripple)? Next, why didn't my son make the starting lineup (ripple)? Why didn't my son bat in the top of the batting order (ripple)? And, finally, why didn't my son pitch or play shortstop (ripple)? When the regular season started there were many happy, satisfied dads but by the time the first pitch was thrown in the all-star tournament the number had dwindled to a select few. The "ripples" got to all of the others, including me. It's too bad, because this experience was ripe with opportunities for rich father-son conversations. We missed opportunities to promote team play, to discuss the difficulties that leaders face, to emphasize the importance of role players, to keep one's eye on his goals, to name just a few.

So now my son is a 22-year-old college senior ready to embark on a life of his own. I muse as I reflect on those Little League days and the dads that I shared those moments with. If the sons didn't want to compete, didn't want to excel at a high level, then the lessons could not be taught. However, it is apparent that the lessons regarding team play, leadership, role playing and goal setting will serve my son far better in the future than his ability to hit a baseball or field a ground ball. It is much easier to see the pebble and the ripples now, but it wasn't so easy 10 years ago.

I simply encourage all who are working with young people in athletic endeavors – varsity level coaches, youth league coaches, and parents alike – to find a moment or two in the near future to share with your team or your son or daughter a personal anecdote supporting good sportsmanship. Let it be an anecdote that by its very existence underscores the value that we place on good sportsmanship in our community. It's when the "veterans" take time to pass on their personal experiences to the "rookies" that teams succeed. Let that successful team be our community.

— David Chapin, Superintendent
Bullock Creek School District