Home
NAYSI
Shopping Mall
Ask
Jack
FAQs
Sport
Scene
KIDbits
Fundraising
Tech
Support
On-Line
Course
Training
Media
Web
Links
Archive
Advertising
Bulletin
Board
Announcements
NAYSI
News FYI:
Thursday, March
28, 2002
Number 440 ~ © 2002 NAYSI
In This Issue . . .
-
Ask Jack: My son just . . .
-
Dodgeball: Why this Laughable debate
Open >>> NAYSI MALL <<< Open
at http://www.NAYSI.com/mall.htm
> >
> Dinn Bros. Trophies and Awards
> > > NAYSI On-Line Sporting Goods Store
> > > NAYSI Super Store with over 1 million items
> > > Colonial Structures Cedar Log Homes (and cabins)
> > > Books and Videos - all categories
> > > NAYSI Resource List - coaching and teaching material
Ask
Jack:
My son just turned 15 in December and is in 9th grade. He has been taking
pitching lessons since he was 10 years old. He tried out for the high
school JV team and the coach said he would be cut because he does not
throw a curve ball. His mechanics are excellent. The coaches comments were
why are you trying out for the high school team if you cannot throw a
curve ball. Is this coach right? Carmen on 3/7/2002
Jack sez: There are two sides to your question. First, coaches can
pretty much do as they please. When they say this or that is my standard,
that is it.
Second, perhaps it is time for your son to learn to throw a curve ball,
keeping in mind that there are several kinds of breaking balls. A slider
is part fastball and part curve ball but it is not a good pitch for
youngsters to learn from a safety point of view. It leads to early arm and
shoulder problems.
Then there are slow breaking and fast breaking curve balls. The slow
breaking curve balls are physically easier on the arm and shoulder than
hard breaking curve balls.
I would suggest that you find a pitching coach who can teach your son how
to throw a slow breaking curve ball. With this pitch, the player just
spins the ball instead of throwing it with a sharp elbow and wrist snap.
See if the coach can live with this for now. Then, as your son becomes
more mature physically as a junior or senior, he could start to mix in a
few of the hard breaking curve balls. However, he should not rely on the
curve ball.
Finally, adhere to the pitching principle taught by Ray Miller, former
major league pitching coach. Work fast, throw strikes and change speeds.
Changing speeds can be done with breaking balls or change ups. Change ups
are cool and place little stress on the arm and shoulder.
Dodgeball: Why this Laughable debate
by Jack Hutslar, Ph.D.North American Youth Sport Institute
www.NAYSI.com
March 28, 2002
Why am I being called upon to express my opinion on dodgeball when the world is coming to an end. Nope! That approach is far too serious.
Yes school fans, the dodgeball debate rolls on and it is a hoot. That is better. I was summoned by The Media for the umpteenth time to voice my opinion on dodgeball. This time is was a Denver drive time sports radio talk show, earlier in March, 2002. My task was to be a spokesperson for the pro-dodgeball crowd and to follow a con-side player in this game.
There are some professionals in the field of education who are making a mark as dodgeball antagonists. There seem to be few educators who are willing to speak out for dodgeball.
In case you do not know, there is more to this debate than just dodgeball. The bigger picture among these educationalists includes the elimination of competition from physical education classes.
Of those people with whom I have spoken about this, there has been absolutely no support for eliminating dodgeball. Zip. Nil. Nada. In reading their pulse, the masses have noted that our world is full of, if not based on, competition. Thus, to remove dodgeball and other forms of competition from the schools would be like striking hamburgers, oranges and apple pie from our daily lives.
My primary position on dodgeball right from the start has been . . . why are we having this laughable debate. There are so many educational problems that are screaming for solutions. But, when it comes to issues, we seem able to focus only on one or two at any given time. This dodgeball thing is probably smothering other more important debates.
In an article on this topic (published in the May 2001 Sport Scene. See the Archive at www.NAYSI.com) I wrote about serious school issues that impact performance such as:
". . . inattentiveness, sleeping in class, physical and verbal intimidation, fights, extortion, drug dealing, alcoholism, hangovers, and assaults on teachers and administrators. In addition to finger guns, butter knives, first grader kissing assaults, we can add sexual encounters among students during school hours to the list. With parents standing up for their kids against the schools, is it any wonder that student performance is called into question. Where is the media barrage."
You may not know that I have received numerous calls about dodgeball. My question about this silly debate is . . . where is the professional and mass media attack on the vital school performance issues just noted. Why can the media not use their energy on these student/parents issues that they so willingly give to dodgeball. If they were to do this, it would be a force for positive change.
Back to my question and the basis for this article. Why is this debate occurring. I have touched on it briefly in several other articles but allow me to throw a few more big red playground balls at it.
A. My first response to this silly debate was that it is just an extension of the PC, politically correct, movement. Dodgeball is an activity that gets all huggie with the non-aggression or non-violence agenda. This cause may also pick up supporters from among those who would like to stifle the more active nature of boys, compared to girls.
B. Mix the PC agenda with the spirit of non-competition found in the 1970¹s and we have a front row cause with a ready supply of foot soldiers (i.e., unfulfilled dreamers?) ready to throw their weight around. Whether or not their argument holds water is immaterial.
The next phase of this two pronged attack could find us defending the existence of other forms of competition in the schools. This could include sports like football, soccer and water polo. Should this attack, a competitive venture, be successful, it could eventually bring an end to spelling bees; honor clubs based on competitive zero sum grade scale games; and seating musicians in band, choir and orchestra chairs based on performance.
Perhaps this battle is actually rooted in their opposition to the notion that our society hinges on competition and capitalism. Socialism, on the other hand, is based on fair shares without regard to individual abilities, except for the decision makers.
C. There is an issue with dodgeball that is a minor element in the more stifling area of legal liability. The general statement among the dodgeball antagonists is that dodgeball is a liability case waiting to happen. The same general sentiment might also be extended to bullying and all other manner of male-type non-passive and non-compliant behavior. I am not convinced that this liability issue is that central to their argument. After all, the legal profession has its antennae up for all potential cases for new sources of revenue. In reality, given the climate today one might justifiably say that all aspects of every day life are liability cases waiting to happen. This leads into two other areas.
D. Student aggression taps the behavior of students in our schools. Students who play dodgeball without conscience may be no different than student bullies in the classroom.
It is widely known that teachers do not have the unqualified support of parents. Hence, the elimination of dodgeball may be just another avenue where educators can dumb down the curriculum. This enables both the lowest level performers and those with self-control problems to participate without teacher intervention. That is, eliminate that which cannot be easily controlled.
E. This leads us to the issue of learned and innate physical performance. Just as there are students who excel in math, language, music and the computer, there are those who excel in sports and physical activity. This does not mean that the later are Neanderthals for there are many youngsters who excel in all areas.
The argument is that those with superior skills prey on their less well skilled peers in games like dodgeball. When skillful students are coupled with non-passive activities and poor teacher control, problems may arise. The easy solution, however, seems to be to eliminate the activity rather than work on student and teacher deficiencies.
Summary
This dodgeball thing is a Laughable Issue when compared to the real problems that exist in our schools. A society that allows its weaknesses to spill over into our schools just compounds our problems.
Competition as a core concept of physical education. Yet, people who give dodgeball any significant position in their curriculum should be called Fizz Ed watchers, not teachers. Absolutely anyone can come in off the street and throw out the ball. Teaching credentials are not needed to be a Fizz Ed watcher. Simply stated, dodgeball should not be a staple in any physical education curriculum.
It is clear that this silly debate has put physical education in the spotlight thus providing it with some long overdue attention. It is easy to see why the media has latched on to it. They hit a soft spot and that sells. However, physical educators could do more to promote their cause (e.g., teach new skills, fitness, lifetime sports, et cetera) than to waste resources on this meaningless bull in the ring issue.
One last note. Competitive activities, learning new skills and then trying them out in modified games, is a justifiable approach to teaching physical education. Remember that learning how to learn, learning how to get better, and learning how to compete within the rules are all aspects of these lessons. What other subjects offer this day in and day out.
As far as I am concerned the only debate about this activity should be whether to spell the game dodgeball or dodge ball. After all, it does make a difference in the results one receives when searching the internet or my web site for articles.
Free Coaching Clinics in Triad
For youth coaches, school coaches, parents,
teachers, youth leaders, students in the 12 County Piedmont Triad of North
Carolina.
You select the topic or topics.
Sponsored in part by the Piedmont Triad Sports Club and Dudley Travel,
Inc.
Conducted by Jack Hutslar, North American Youth
Sport Institute. Contact Jack at 800 767-4916 or Jack@NAYSI.com
|
Dinn Bros. "The Trophy People" |
Trophies -
Plaques - Medals - Acrylic Awards To place an order or request a catalog,
telephone: |
Colonial
Structures Cedar Log Homes
Cabins
to Castles: Use our plans or design your own.
Homes. Cabins. Camps. Club houses.
Restaurants. Shops. Churches. Resorts
See the Mall at www.NAYSI.com
Lenny Wilkens
Legacy Basketball Clinic Series
On video or CD
See: Books, etc
at www.NAYSI.com for details
Fundrai$ing with Scratch Cards
www.SKRATCHERS.com
Maximize your profit$ - Minimize your time
$80 profit on each card
Free coupons for your donors
888-800-9506 ~ 888-284-8864
[fax] ~ info@skratchers.com
Keep it fun . . . Jack Hutslar
North American Youth Sport Institute
This email is a free informational service provided by the North American Youth Sport Institute and sponsored in part by Dinn Brothers Trophies at www.DINNtrophy.com or telephone at 800 628-9657 and www.scratchers.com, a fundraising company.
For a variety of resources for coaches, teachers, youth leaders, administrators, club staff, and youth work professionals, see the award winning www.NAYSI.com. It features Ask Jack, FAQ, Sport Scene, KIDbits, Technical Support, training services, NAYSI On-Line Course, and much more. Click on the media page for biographical information.
The NAYSI On-Line Course is free and can be accessed through www.NAYSI.com. It includes a free downloadable copy of BEYOND X's and O's by Jack Hutslar.
While looking around, be sure to check out our Books etc. Resource List.
Thanks for visiting www.NAYSI.com.
Regards,
Jack Hutslar, Ph.D. [founder and CEO]
North American Youth Sport Institute . . . est 1979
4985 Oak Garden Drive
Kernersville, North Carolina 27284, USA
336 784-4926, 336 784-5546 [fax], Jack@NAYSI.com
Unsubscribe: To be removed from this NAYSI News FYI email update, send an email to jack@NAYSI.com and place unsubscribe in the subject line.
Subscribe: To subscribe to this NAYSI News FYI email update, send an email to jack@NAYSI.com and place subscribe in the subject line.
This NAYSI News FYI: may be copied and forwarded to others but may not be reprinted for commercial use. For that, you need to Ask Jack . . . the management