Everyone’s looking for something they can be good at. And there’s nothing wrong with that. A kid who doesn’t like football shouldn’t be forced to play it. Let him go join the Esport team, or fling a disc around.
Athletic Support: ‘Pregame Music Offensive’
— Dear Athletic Support: My wife and I recently traveled to a nearby town for the boys’ conference basketball tournament. All of our children are grown but we still enjoy watching the games, especially when it comes time for the postseason. These were the first high school basketball games we’d been able to make it to…
Athletic Support: ‘Fouls in Girls Basketball’
— Dear Athletic Support: I have noticed that the amount of jump ball calls in girl’s basketball is quite a bit more than boy’s basketball. Several girls can be fighting for the ball and a foul is almost never called. Is there a reason for this? —Jump Ball Dear Jump Ball: You didn’t mention what age…
Athletic Support: ‘Redshirting’ My 9-Year-Old
— DEAR ATHLETIC SUPPORT: I have a 9-year-old who plays baseball and basketball. Two different coaches have urged me to hold him back a grade. They explained how, if I held him back now, it would be beneficial for his high school career. I think this idea is ridiculous. The emotional distress it could cause…
Athletic Support: ‘Coach Makes Politcal Post’
— Dear Athletic Support: One of my children’s junior high coaches has been making very strong political posts on his social media page. I’m trying to keep this as vague as possible to keep from getting anyone in trouble, but please, hear me out. Back when I was in school, teachers, coaches, principals, etc… all tried…
Athletic Support: ‘7th Grade Girls Basketball Woes’
Whether your daughter’s a benchwarmer or a future WNBA star, you should approach her athletic endeavors in the same way. Make sure she has fun. Make sure she learns the important life lessons. And let the rest take care of itself.
Whether your daughter’s a benchwarmer or a future WNBA star, you should approach her athletic endeavors in the same way. Make sure she has fun. Make sure she learns the important life lessons. And let the rest take care of itself.
Athletic Support: ‘Multi-Million-Dollar Buyouts Don’t Make Sense’
— Dear Athletic Support: I’m a huge college football fan. With all the COVID stuff, this was by far the weirdest season I can remember. The quiet stadiums. The coaches in masks. Canceled games. The list goes on and on. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the massive amount of money universities still pay…
Athletic Support: ‘Private Schools Have the Upper Hand’
— Dear Athletic Support: I’m so sick of seeing private schools win everything in our state. This past year, nearly half of the football champions went to private schools. Maybe that doesn’t sound like a lot to you, but there are only a handful of private schools in my state with football teams! So, yeah,…
Athletic Support: ‘Best of 2020’
— I’ve gone through and chosen a few of my favorite questions from 2020. To everyone who’s written in — thank you! Happy New Year! Best, Eli Dear Athletic Support: Every time we travel, my son gets constipated. I know this sounds silly, but since he’s currently on a travel-league baseball team, it’s actually pretty serious.…
Athletic Support: ‘Parents Who Refuse to Wear Masks to Games’
Parents who refuse to wear masks are a problem you cannot control. So, please, don’t miss out on your daughter’s senior season by focusing on them instead of what’s happening on the court.
Parents who refuse to wear masks are a problem you cannot control. So, please, don’t miss out on your daughter’s senior season by focusing on them instead of what’s happening on the court.
Athletic Support: ‘Basketball and COVID Do Not Jive’
If the school gets shut down again, it won’t just be because of basketball.
If the school gets shut down again, it won’t just be because of basketball.
Athletic Support: ‘Time to Focus on One Sport?’
I have a lot of faith in coaches. I’d be willing to bet there are not many coaches out there who will flat out tell a young athlete he cannot play multiple sports.
I have a lot of faith in coaches. I’d be willing to bet there are not many coaches out there who will flat out tell a young athlete he cannot play multiple sports.
Athletic Support: ‘Questionable Coach Promoted to Athletic Director’
The athletic director’s job is very different from that of the head coach’s. It’s an administrator’s position.
The athletic director’s job is very different from that of the head coach’s. It’s an administrator’s position.
Athletic Support: ‘The ‘Game’ is over, Let’s Shake Hands’
— Dear Athletic Support: I’m sending this question to you exactly eight days before the election. I can’t help but wonder what role sports will play during these challenging times. A part of me feels like maybe they matter now more than ever. Like we need a distraction from all the craziness, and there’s nothing purer…
Athletic Support: ‘Girls Need Fans, Too’
— Dear Athletic Support: My daughter plays volleyball at a high school in Arkansas. This school is known as a football powerhouse around the state, but this year the boys aren’t doing so great. They’ve only won half their games, while my daughter’s volleyball team is undefeated! Nobody seems to care, though. We still have less…
Athletic Support: ‘Can Grandpa Come To My Game?’
— Dear Athletic Support: My son has been begging for his “Pop” to come to one of his high school football games. Up to this point, I’ve told him that it’s out of the question. My reasoning is simple: My father is 84 years old and has all sorts of underlying health problems. The last thing…