Winning ain't everything
I understand being the coach of any team is not easy. I understand that teaching life lessons, as a coach, is just as important as winning. With that being said, I still don't get what's going on with the El Dorado tennis program.
El Dorado has one of the state's top players in Irene Jadic. As a 16-year-old, she's ranked in the top three in the 18-and-under division in Arkansas.
Jadic travels and competes on the junior tennis circuit in the spring, summer and fall. She has her own tennis coach and her own practice regiment.
The Romanian is, clearly, the best girl player in South Arkansas. No one is even close.
However, she is not and has not suited up for the Lady Wildcats as a tennis player.
I don't understand why a coach who has a premier player at his disposal, wouldn't figure out a way to get her on the team. It's not like she doesn't want to play for the Lady Wildcats.
Jadic has said she would love to play for El Dorado. She competes for the school in track and field, winning state titles last year in the 1,600 and 3,200. She's going to compete in cross country this season, also.
But, for some reason, she can't compete in high school in her number one sport.
Jadic, you see, practices tennis in the mornings before school. She has full two-hour sessions each day. The high school team, practices in the afternoons for two hours each day.
Clearly, there's a conflict. But, tennis is an individual sport. It's not like she's sitting on the couch eating Cheetos. Jadic's practices are probably a lot more difficult than anything the Lady Wildcats are doing. And, since there isn't anyone on the team who can compete with her, as a coach, I wouldn't see the problem.
Unfortunately, this is just another shining example at El Dorado, where winning is only important in boys sports. If this was a male athlete, some allowances would be made and that player would be suiting up for the Wildcats.
Girls sports at El Dorado aren't about winning. They're about making friends, being polite and not doing anything to take attention away from the boys sports.
What else can you say about a school that has one of the state's top players, but won't let her play because it could hurt a lesser player's feelings?
El Dorado has one of the state's top players in Irene Jadic. As a 16-year-old, she's ranked in the top three in the 18-and-under division in Arkansas.
Jadic travels and competes on the junior tennis circuit in the spring, summer and fall. She has her own tennis coach and her own practice regiment.
The Romanian is, clearly, the best girl player in South Arkansas. No one is even close.
However, she is not and has not suited up for the Lady Wildcats as a tennis player.
I don't understand why a coach who has a premier player at his disposal, wouldn't figure out a way to get her on the team. It's not like she doesn't want to play for the Lady Wildcats.
Jadic has said she would love to play for El Dorado. She competes for the school in track and field, winning state titles last year in the 1,600 and 3,200. She's going to compete in cross country this season, also.
But, for some reason, she can't compete in high school in her number one sport.
Jadic, you see, practices tennis in the mornings before school. She has full two-hour sessions each day. The high school team, practices in the afternoons for two hours each day.
Clearly, there's a conflict. But, tennis is an individual sport. It's not like she's sitting on the couch eating Cheetos. Jadic's practices are probably a lot more difficult than anything the Lady Wildcats are doing. And, since there isn't anyone on the team who can compete with her, as a coach, I wouldn't see the problem.
Unfortunately, this is just another shining example at El Dorado, where winning is only important in boys sports. If this was a male athlete, some allowances would be made and that player would be suiting up for the Wildcats.
Girls sports at El Dorado aren't about winning. They're about making friends, being polite and not doing anything to take attention away from the boys sports.
What else can you say about a school that has one of the state's top players, but won't let her play because it could hurt a lesser player's feelings?
posted by Tony at
9:38 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home