Time for a few notes from the Sports Desk.
It has been exhilarating and reassuring to cover Alba-Golden and Mineola sports over the past few years -- exhilarating due to the incredible athletic performances courtesy of our high school student-athletes and reassuring due to the manner in which these young people represented themselves, their teams, the schools and the community.
On a number of occasions, it has been shared that if someone had concerns about the caliber of the young generation, all they had to do was go up to a local high school and observe. What one sees will undoubtably restore one’s faith in the future.
In this set of notes from the sports desk, here are a few thoughts about high school sports.
Football. Although the changes to the sport over time have only been incremental, it is safe to say that the sport of football is waning. This may not be as noticeable in Texas as in other parts of the country, but the sport appears to be under attack.
From rule changes which mitigate the violence in the game to the emergence of flag football, the physical game is being slowly dismantled. It is sad to watch.
There is a solution to retaining the violence but yet decreasing the number of and severity of injuries – remove the pads.
Yes, it sounds crazy. However, one only needs to look at the sport of rugby to see that physically impactful games can be safely played.
Yes, it would take a lot of forethought, as well as trial and error, to safely transition out of helmet and pads; but it might just save the sport.
Volleyball. This sport is pretty finely-tuned at the moment. Only one recommendation is offered: award two points for a service ace. Such a change would improve both serving and back-row digging skills.
Cross country. In addition to the individual commitment that cross country demands, there is another notable characteristic. Supporters of the sport belong to ‘the runners world.’
The runners world is that group of people who share the love of running. Attend any cross country meet and one will find folks supporting all runners, from the first to the last. It is inspiring.
Basketball. Previous columns have marched through a long list of possible improvements to the game. They are all summarized here under the broad banner of regulating basketball as a high school sport -- in short, cease trying to make it the NBA.
Baseball and softball. Baseball, and its younger sibling softball, are at a critical juncture.
The decision at hand is: do we embrace all aspects of the game which teach youngsters how to win, or do we continue to remove decision-making from the field to the coaching staffs in the dug-out?
More specifically, the recommendation is to outlaw all pitch-calling mechanisms from the dug-outs. Remove the wireless communications, remove the wristbands, remove all signaling of pitches from the dug-out. Allow the pitcher and catcher to call all pitches. No exceptions.
For the team batting, allow only one method to signal batters and fielders – visual signs. No wristbands, no three-digit verbal calls, just hand signals from the third base coach.
The rationale behind these recommendations is simple: teach the players on the field how to win (how to assess a situation, decide on a course of action, and execute it).
Give the players the benefit of making the decisions on the field and take 100% ownership of them.
If we continue down the road of greater and greater coaching influence in the actual pitch-by-pitch conduct of the game, it will degrade the greatest gift of baseball – allowing young ballplayers to figure out how to win. How to win an at-bat. How to win an inning. How to win a game. How to win in life.
Ooops, just checked, and it looks like the holster is empty. No more saved rounds.
To all the athletes and coaching staffs and supporters who have contributed to eight years of sporting memories in Wood County – thank you.