[quote=outtamojo][quote=SD Realtor]Allan the participation trophy is the downfall of society… though it is a perfect description of what is desired by many these days.[/quote]
While the participation trophy is relatively new, I don’t know that it any worse than what goes on with kids who are somehow connected to the coaching staff or well connected socially to the organization sponsoring the team. Anyone else see
kids who somehow made the team or got some kind of award they didn’t seem to deserve? I ask cause my 12 year old son was part of a summer basketball program and the assistant coach’s son was named MVP. The whole team of 12 year olds began muttering “but he didn’t do ANYTHING” when it was announced. I gave my son a hard look and the keep quiet sign and later said to him “welcome to the world of grown ups”.[/quote]
Some leagues/clubs do a better job of managing this than others, and some make no attempt at covering for such blatant behavior. In Pop Warner, I’ve seen kids who have no business even playing football wind up as the QB because dad’s the head coach.
I had a parent come after me following a game last season, after my defense shut his kid, the team’s stud RB, down in the second half. I stood him down, but this happened right in front of the team’s coaching staff. They relied so heavily on this kid that they were unwilling to stand up to the dad.
The good news is that high school is the great equalizer and coaches at that level won’t put up with coddled, untalented assholes like this. The bad news is that coaches at that level (and beyond) will put up with all manner of bullshit if the kid does have talent.
