Today, we have a serious problem in all high school sports. And that growing predicament is athlete profanity.
Who is responsible for such inappropriate behavior? ThatƵs easy: every adult who is involved directly or indirectly with sports Ƶ the parents. the coaches, the officials, the event organizers and even the school administrators.
After watching people play the new Ƶblame gameƵ on various news media topics, I think I have a pretty good handle on what is a contributing factor regarding the profanity problem. Today, if something happens that doesnƵt go oneƵs way, it is somebody elseƵs fault. We have become what I have dubbed the ƵUnited States of ExcusesƵ.
To digress a bit, as an educator for four decades, retiring in 2009, I had a framed slogan hanging on the back wall of my classroom that all my former students viewed daily and is remembered by many of them until this very day:
ƵExcuses are like sewers; Every street has one; And they all stink.Ƶ
My students were taught to accept responsibility and the consequences for their actions, be it good or bad. But somehow such beliefs have unfortunately faded away since I left the field of education.
Closely associated with the contemporary excuse-making trend is the byproduct of overt adult swearing over various matters (unrelated to athletics) that turned out poorly for them. And guess who is listening and taking in all adult profane language Ƶ the kids. So, in their young minds, it must be OK. Thus, the present phenomenon of Ƶfoul monthƵ behavior in high school athletics.
Since wrestling is my area of extensive athletic experience as a competitor, coach, official, mat sport writer, promoter, and finally a state rules interpreter, let me share with you what I have witnessed recently regarding profanity in scholastic wrestling.
I have observed matches where the wrestlers blatantly swore during competition. When the official penalized them, the coaches said nothing to their wrestlers. I cringe at the thought of what my coach would have done to me.
But it even gets worse. At one wrestling tournament, a coach was actually upset with the official for penalizing his wrestler for using profane language. Can you believe it?
At another multiple dual-meet event, a wrestler was disqualified from the meet for profanity directed toward his opponent. His coach actually went to the tournament administrator and demanded that the official involved not do any of his teamƵs matches during the remainder of the competition. The experienced tournament director wisely rejected the request.
Talk about the warped priorities of this coach. I question his qualifications for developing student character and what he is doing in the field of coaching. And so should the schoolƵs administration.
The usual excuse made for athlete obscene language is ƵThey hear it at home, on TV, the internet, listening to the lyrics of music, and even from famous professional sports personalities.Ƶ Without question, I do not care where they hear it and neither should scholastic coaches in all athletics.
I have always been under the impression that part of a coachƵs role was to be a teacher responsible for building positive character traits at practice and during the rigors of competition. ThatƵs what high school sports coaches were originally expected to accomplish, as well as producing winning teams.
Sports fans should not have to be exposed to such inappropriate language during competition. If an athlete screams obscenities in anger while competing, he should immediately be ejected from the facility. And, without any hesitation, the coach should wholeheartedly agree with the ejection and harshly discipline the athlete, as well as the school administration.
I do have a recommendation for coaches dealing with this very serious contemporary problem. During my years as a high school wrestling coach, I had one very simple rule for my wrestlers to follow. I simply stated: ƵWhen we compete at dual meets and tournaments, no matter what happens during your matches, you keep your months shut or pay dearly. If there is a problem when you are competing, I will deal with it. There is only one person who will speak to the official about the situation and possibly make a scene. And that will be me. YOU will be perfect gentlemen.Ƶ
Jeff Stern, senior editor for Referee Magazine, who is also affiliated with the National Ƶsociation of Sports Officials (NASO), offered the following thoughts: ƵAthletes put officials in a tough position when they use profanity, particularly if itƵs directed at the official or their opponent. If that language goes unpenalized and chaos follows, the public will almost always accuse the officials of Ƶlosing controlƵ of the contest. If it is penalized, officials are accused of over-officiating and not paying attention to more important matters. Clearly, the most important role models in this area are the parents and coaches. Only if they teach the importance of proper conduct will this issue not be an issue.Ƶ
B. Elliot Hopkins, director of sports, sanctioning, and student services for the National Federation of High School Ƶsociations (NFHS) stated: ƵThere is never a place for profanity in education-based athletics and activities. The very nature of what we stand for is ƵeducationƵ. To allow profane language is an indication that we are not educating our young people to be more emotionally intelligent. If we are unable to send that message by our words, but more importantly by our actions, then we are failing them. We should teach character and resilience. That will carry them much further in life.Ƶ
Dan Comer, assistant executive director of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, has this advice for all scholastic coaches: ƵCoaches, ask yourself this question: ƵDo I walk the walk or simply talk the talk?Ƶ
ƵƵ leaders of young men and women, you are continuously being watched at practice, observed in competition, and imitated by your athletes. You must be positive role models now more than ever. Recent foul, obscene, and vulgar language has no place in high school sports.
ƵCoaches, you must be the standard-bearers for promoting change in such negative behavior during the rigors of scholastic competition.
ƵMake it happen!Ƶ
There must be absolutely no compromise regarding good sportsmanship. It should be a high priority of all coaches working with athletic adolescents to stress zero tolerance regarding any form of profanity. If they fail to vehemently address this very serious problem, Ƶgood sportsmanshipƵ will become just another oxymoron.
