I bet you thought this was going to be about those final words before a coach is assessed a technical foul. Many of you have heard it before, “That’s enough coach”. Well the title was just to reel you in. This is actually about how politics can interfere with sports.
Too many times we look at sports as an arena that should not involve politics, but happens a lot. While there maybe jobs that are political in nature and they require certain successes such as principal and athletic director. They should not extend to the team and coaching staff. The problem is that politics is being interjected into high school athletics and the people in coaching positions that are sometimes being pushed around because of the political nature of the job of a principal or athletic director. As you read in the story, Coach Clements resigned and maintained who she is. The line has to be drawn somewhere. Politics has no place in high school athletics. It is supposed to be an extension of the classroom and not political ideology.
In Maryland, the MPSSAA has the following announcement before an athletic contest: “As all athletes represent their respective schools we remind you that honoring the values of sportsmanship is the essence of every athletic contest. We ask you to please show Respect for athletes (pause), Respect for coaches (pause), Respect for officials (pause) and Respect for those around you. Athletes, Coaches and Fans; Let’s all remember to “RESPECT THE GAME”. ” This needs to be remembered as politics creeps into athletics.
In the end, the kids suffer and this is where the focus is supposed to be.
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