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JOIN NOWI am researching a new blog...
I am researching a new blog entitled "Aspiring to Mediocrity" that looks at the current trend that teaches children that it is OK to just compete and that winning is not important.
Without adding any of my own views quite yet, I'd be interested to know what you all, as coaches and people involved in the game, think of this concept.
Rugby CoachCoach
ANSWERS
Ian MarshCoach, England
My Primary school tried to eliminate all elements of competition from sports so that "there were no winners or losers". As a result our school rarely did well at inter-schools sports days or in ball sports such as rounders and football against other local teams.
However, later at secondary school when given the chance to compete a small handful of players (about 6 from a class of 30) did go on to do well and represent the school in a number of different disciplines. As a proportion our small school did produce a large number of the larger secondary school's best players (in football, athletics, swimming and rugby).
So I don't think it's always quite as simple as looking at schools - a number of children at my school were either naturally competitive or played in out of school teams, which didn't wrap the players in cotton wool. This subsequently taught them that losing was a natural part of competition, just as winning can sometimes be as well.
Rugby CoachCoach
Hi Alex, Thanks for your response - definitely food for thought. I deal with kids exclusively at a Club level - and am finding it hard to always reconcile the kids natural ability/desire to compete with this "no winners no lsers" mentality. I find kids WANT to compete. They WANT to win - and for the most part handle losing quite well. Thos on the sidelines tend to be a little less magnanimous....
