The Way I See It

The way I see it, sports and one’s involvement in sports should be a ‘fun thing’ and people ought not to be pressured unnecessarily into meeting certain high standards.
It’s the sports term and being a Sports Journalist, gives me the front row privilege of seeing the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY.
I have observed that too many parents pressure their children into running certain races. I have seen some children forcibly dragged to the starting line (in the case of preschoolers mostly) and it is only after the child continues to bawl down the place and the parent starts to feel a little embarrassed, that the child is left alone.
Then there are some parents who nurture ‘a win at all cost’ attitude into the little children.
Now tell me: Where in the world does a little preschooler understand that once you are beaten in a race, it is something bad, so you must start to cry.
Well I newa!
It must be something that was said directly or insinuated by the parent/s, as in a promise for some treat or other if they win, or maybe even punitive measures, if they lose……
Now, only my older readers will remember this. I was the ONLY videographer present in the early years of the grand Interprimary event. I remember in those early years, recording on a VHS cassette (which seem to have become obsolete) and within days of the event, handing over a copy to Mr. Evelyn, the local representative for Gulf Insurance.
Those days, spectators were not fenced out from the athletes as is the case now and I vividly remember, recording the much hyped up 100 meters one year when there was much talk and chatter about which athlete representing which school, would take top honours in a particular 100m meters race.
It was an exciting and close race and in those days, they did not have the established photo finish equipment and so, many times I was called upon to replay a particular race. When the race was completed, it was obvious that a particular athlete had lost the race. The mother was waiting for him at the finish line and she literally hauled him by the back of his neck, screaming: “You ley dat……………….boy dey beat you?”
In terms of the good, you remember a couple of years ago, a female athlete from the St. James’ Primary school, retuned to help up her fallen team mate in a long distance race? She received an award from the Minister of Social Development, Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams for her selflessness.
Only this year, in another long distance race at the St. Thomas’ Primary school, I saw all of the girls in a particular race, turn to assist one of their companions, who fell shortly after the starter’s gun went off.
That was truly impressive.
Some parents become overly aggressive in arguing whether or not their child came first or second, as the case may be——even to the point of asking for replays for preschoolers and Kindergarteners.
Well I newa!
I believe that the children should just be allowed to have FUN and enjoy themselves. They are of that age that unless they are coached, sometimes they don’t even know whether they came first or last and they could not care less.
I saw a race once when the little boy came in so far behind the others that he told his mommy that he had come first, all because he did not see anyone in front of him!
So leave the children alone to enjoy their young lives and don’t give yourselves any unnecessary stress, parents.
That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?