Ethical Issues Impacting High School Sports Today

Robert ZayasNYSPHSAA Executive Director

Ethical Issues ImpactingHigh School Sports

Today

BACKGROUND

• Executive Director- NY

• 2 Years

• Associate Director- NM

• 10 Years

• High School/ Middle School Teacher/ Coach- TX

• 3 Years

AREAS OF INTEREST

• Future of high school sports

• Where will we be in 20 years?

• Impact of high school sport participation on GPA, School Attendance and Discipline

• Promoting the value and benefits of education based athletics

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

• Everything right about education today is found in high school athletics:

• Community Support

• Teamwork

• Coaches recruiting kids for their “team”

• Practice after school day

• Goal setting

• Leadership development

• Competition (victory/ defeat)

THE ROLE OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

• Extension of the classroom

• Character building

• Life long lessons

• Leadership laboratory

THE ROLE OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

• Next level of competition

• “My son is going to play Division I”• Professional Sports

• Self Promotion

• Role models?

ARE WE ON THE DEFENSIVE?

• “Saving our programs”

• “Building support”• “Ensuring value”

• “Promoting programs”

• NYSPHSAA does not seek to prepare students for the next level of competition, but the next level of life

CONSTANT CHALLENGE

• 3 P’s

• 1) Protect

• 2) Preserve

• 3) Promote

RIVALRIES • Healthy rivalries

• Fierce competition

• Respect

• Passion

• Crackdown model

• Enforce traditional codes of conduct

• Ownership model

• Empower students and parents

• Structured events to bring communities together

RIVALRY TO BE PROUD OF……

• Joint effort

• T-shirts/ buttons with both school logos

• Welcome opposing team as guests rather than “visitors”

COACHING ETHICS

• Lack respect

• Lack integrity

• Lack understanding

COACHING ETHICS

HOW DO WE ENSURE STUDENT SAFETY?

• Athletic trainers & shrinking budgets

• Pressure on coaches & students to succeed

• Community, parents, media, etc.

• Concussions

• Specialization

SI.COM NOV. 2012

HONESTY IS THE KEY

• Dr. Gregory Stewart

• Tulane University

SPECIALIZATION

• Three sport athletes are nearly extinct

• Entertainment options today

• 44.5 hours per week in front of a screen

• AAU/ Club Sports

• Quest for College Scholarships

CONSEQUENCES OF SPECIALIZATION

• Over use injuries

• Becomes a job

• Lack of ability to adapt to diverse situations

• Reduced participation numbers

• Greater focus on “me” instead of “team”

PROMOTING SPORTSMANSHIP

• Innovative & Creative

• Messaging in new ways

• Social Media

• New programs

NAIA FIVE STAR LEADERSHIP

STAY IN THE GAME

• Recognize those schools who have no disqualifications at any level for the entire school year.

BATTLE OF THE FANS

• Program to recognize positive sportsmanship.

• Schools submit videos online via YouTube.

DEALING WITH PARENTS

• More active today

• Behavior towards coaches, officials

• Social media

• More investment

• Time, Money, Travel and Training

• More information

• Internet makes everyone an expert!

PARENTS 10 COMMANDMENTS

• 1) Always encourage your child.

• 2) Do not criticize your child.

• 3) Do not criticize other children.

• 4) Do not yell at officials.

• 5) Do not allow your child to quit a team.

• 6) Do not ask a coach about playing time.

• 7) Do not miss your child’s game if possible.

• 8) Do not force your child to play.

• 9) Do not speak poorly about a coach.

• 10) Allow your child to have fun.

ROLE OF THE MEDIA

• Accommodate without catering

• Pressure to get the story

• The media has a job just like you

• Be prepared

• Speed is much more important than deliberation

THE MEDIA

• Media reports on planes that crash, not those that land.

EVERYONE IS A WINNER MENTALITY

• Winning at all cost

• “Whatever it takes”

• Devalue winning

• Revised focus on winning

EVERYONE GETS A TROPHY

• Sports “should” teach life lessons.

• Everyone doesn’t always win in life.

• In Life, the most effort doesn’t equal winning

• Creates entitlement attitudes

• Need a balance that is age appropriate

• Give kids a goal (most improved, best team player, hardest worker, MVP, etc.)

THANK YOU• Robert Zayas• [email protected]

• 518-925-6631 (cell)

• 518-690-0771 (work)

• @RobertZayasNY