High School Politics- The Growing Epidemic

[Mr. Soft Balls]

Politics in high school sports, it is an epidemic. It's a blatant occurrence at some schools, and hardly noticeable at others but still exists to some extent. As I see, there are two types of politics involved which changes how teams and players are affected. #1- The Politics of rules. Schools who either seek rule changes through OHSSA or alter their enrollment numbers to drop or move up in divisions to gain advantages. I have even seen teams avoiding make up games which have been postponed to a void losses to keep their winning records intact. #2- The biggest and most widespread issue which Irks me the most is, "Who gets to play?" Easy question right? (Example- Softball) You take your best 14 players and they make up your Varsity squad. Easy Peazy! Not so fast, not in the world of political influence. D1 and D2 is worse than D3 and D4 due to the larger number of girls trying out. Coaches may have to choose between up to 50 or more girls that will make up Varsity, 1 or 2 JV teams, and maybe a freshman team? This is where the politics come into play. Gone are the days where a coach puts together his A Team to achieve State glory. Today's game is more about pleasing parents and administrators. It seems always be the same culprits. Wealthy donors, board members, coaches, athletic boosters, and administrators in the school's Kids always seem to come out on top. These influential people have the most Athletic kids in the school? I attend tons of games every year and am always surprised at how some of these teams are, It is easy to see that some of these girls are not playing at the correct level. I have seen JV teams who could beat their Varsity counterparts. I feel it is absurd for a girl to be downgraded in competition due to a lack of a "Name." I have witnessed, multiple times, outstanding players who end up quitting due to the drama and this unfair practice. I could name 100 different scenarios but I think everyone gets my point. We lose too many good players and it makes the games less competitive. While I am sure there are schools and coaches out there who strive to put the best product on the field, to think that some sort of back deals doesn't happen would be foolish. Is there a way to fix this epidemic? I highly doubt it, as it has been happening for years. EVERY KID DESERVES A CHANCE, QUIT PLAYING POLITICAL BALL!

 

[coachjwb]

Is there politics in some high school sports? Yes, there's some "politics" in almost everything in life and high school sports is no exception.

Is the amount of politics growing? I guess it could be, but I'd have to hear more reasons why someone thinks that's the case.

Are any of the issues that are attributed to politics not really politics at all? Absolutely, positively yes ... in fact, my premise would be that the majority of it is. I have heard so many times over the years that little Johnnie or Katie isn't playing school sports because of politics, or isn't on varsity because of politics, or isn't starting because of politics, when politics has nothing to do with it. A lot of times it's because little Johnnie or Katie aren't good enough (or at least judged to be good enough by the coach), and politics is used as an excuse by their parents because they are either living in a dream world or they'd rather use that excuse with their friends and family than the truth.

Most school coaches want to win games and I believe that most school coaches will select and play those players who they think will help them win either in the current year or in the future if it's a building year. Now, are some of those coaches not the best judges of talent or are they sometimes biased because they know or like the player or their family ... definitely ... but don't mistake natural bias vs. politics.

Just my humble opinion ...

 

[Stupid Jim]

My daughters high school team got the 11th seed for the playoffs, even though her team BEAT the 6,7,8,9 & 10 seeds, The seeding process is all politics and nonsense

 

[Converse Kid]

Want to witness politics at its best? Wait until the conference and all state individual teams are announced. What a joke!

 

[HITTER23]

Hang them !!!!

 

[manitoudan]

Some , not all , some stink up the whole pot . They know who they are . We know who they are .

 

[okiedad1961]

Maybe the reason most college coach's don't really care about H.S. ball the politics ,the parents,the playing time,the padding of stats,the awards, the drama, What a waste imop

 

[coachjwb]

I am confused ... I thought the original post was about coaches/schools playing politics on kids, not the politics in state polls and all-star teams ...

 

[Run26]

Maybe the reason most college coach's don't really care about H.S. ball the politics ,the parents,the playing time,the padding of stats,the awards, the drama, What a waste imop

I have 1 playing and 1 graduated from college ball and there's politics there too. TONS of it if you have coaching turnover.

 

[Bink44]

Thats why I do not watch CNBC or Fox News...I do not like politics at all...earn it Baby just earn it!!

 

[wow]

Agree with many of the posts above. This is exactly why HS ball is what it is. Take it for what it is. Politics they are everywhere. 2 choices. Either play within the realm of them or don't. That's life. Not saying its right, not justifying it. Travel ball season is very close.....

 

[Ratchet]

Agree with many of the posts above. This is exactly why HS ball is what it is. Take it for what it is. Politics they are everywhere. 2 choices. Either play within the realm of them or don't. That's life. Not saying its right, not justifying it. Travel ball season is very close.....

As you said politics are everywhere including travel ball...

 

[Dougk30]

Here is a different way to look at it. Maybe it is another good learning process for the kids. My job has politics the rips all common sense right off the table, and it frustrates the hell out of me. I never did play any high school sports, maybe if I would have I could deal with it better?

 

[okiedad1961]

Here is a different way to look at it. Maybe it is another good learning process for the kids. My job has politics the rips all common sense right off the table, and it frustrates the hell out of me. I never did play any high school sports, maybe if I would have I could deal with it better?

I can see some parallels to that but how depressing.The parents and players "the voters"complaining about how it's unfair because of this or that or the coach dosnt know what he's doing,problem is you can't vote them out of office and the admin"Congress" is backing him even though there supposed to represent the voters.lol also some coach's probably have the O complex All ways take credit when things go right,and it's someone else's fault when the team fails

 

[CoachB25]

I've been a head coach in 4 sports and have coached HS for 30 years. Not one time has politics entered the picture. I've cut my Principal's son and the son of the President of the School Board. I went to one of my close friends and told him that when his sons entered HS, he and I would no longer play on the same softball team and would no longer hand out together. I knew his sons would start varsity as freshmen and I couldn't have people saying it was because we were friends. Both had tremendous careers, played in college and played professionally. My wife and I stopped running with a lot of our friends when their children made it to HS since I did coach so many sports. Despite all of this, people would, at times, say I played politics including my dd. My dd pitched 3 no hitters, a perfect game and was undefeated in the circle as a freshman. She lost 1 game in the circle in her HS career. She broke 8 or 9 school records. She was All Area first team every year of her HS career. Politics?

Sure some coaches have to give in to it and I'm not blind to it. However, I would say that it isn't as prevalent as most think. I don't know about the areas you all live in. In my area, coaches get fired if they don't produce on the field.

 

[GreenDog]

I've been a head coach in 4 sports and have coached HS for 30 years. Not one time has politics entered the picture. I've cut my Principal's son and the son of the President of the School Board. I went to one of my close friends and told him that when his sons entered HS, he and I would no longer play on the same softball team and would no longer hand out together. I knew his sons would start varsity as freshmen and I couldn't have people saying it was because we were friends. Both had tremendous careers, played in college and played professionally. My wife and I stopped running with a lot of our friends when their children made it to HS since I did coach so many sports. Despite all of this, people would, at times, say I played politics including my dd. My dd pitched 3 no hitters, a perfect game and was undefeated in the circle as a freshman. She lost 1 game in the circle in her HS career. She broke 8 or 9 school records. She was All Area first team every year of her HS career. Politics?

Sure some coaches have to give in to it and I'm not blind to it. However, I would say that it isn't as prevalent as most think. I don't know about the areas you all live in. In my area, coaches get fired if they don't produce on the field.

CoachB25 I couldn't say it better myself. I have been a HS baseball coach for 25 years. I have never had a single conversation in a coaches office concerning the line-up about anything other than who was best for the team to win that day, who needed work, who needed a day off, etc. The things that people think enter the equation are in many cases just silly. We have two feeder programs in our community and we have people who actually think we favor players from one over the other. News flash - I don't put any weight on what a kid did when he was 11 and who he did it for. I don't care who your daddy is.

 

[Hilliarddad3]

CoachB25 I couldn't say it better myself. I have been a HS baseball coach for 25 years. I have never had a single conversation in a coaches office concerning the line-up about anything other than who was best for the team to win that day, who needed work, who needed a day off, etc. The things that people think enter the equation are in many cases just silly. We have two feeder programs in our community and we have people who actually think we favor players from one over the other. News flash - I don't put any weight on what a kid did when he was 11 and who he did it for. I don't care who your daddy is.

Who your Daddy is? Or Who your Daddy thinks he is.....