To the Editor:
The first cut is the deepest, but hopefully eye awakening! This is in reply to a letter written by a mother about her son being cut from the Carrollton Junior High basketball team.
I have numerous indifferences about your unwarranted complaints and accusations on Coach Jason Keane and Carrollton discriminating against your son, but the two most important points in helping your son and understanding the bigger picture are simple: Lack of discipline and respect!
Reality: the sole definition of a coach is one who instructs and trains. Personally, I have witnessed him not only being a good coach to our young athletes but also by being a mentor and expressing daily the importance of hard work, ethics, respect, loyalty and perseverance. All of these things should be taught in addition by us as parents to better prepare a child for life. I have noticed that clubs, schools, organizations, teams, etc. have been more of a crisis center for our children today! How can one person coach a team and be a full time babysitter and warden of just one child? Unfortunately, basketball is one of those sports that cuts must be made. We are not saying he is any less talented than the rest who made the team. However, the issue here is of character, being coachable and by being a good representative of his school, community and team. Any young individual at this age should start showing some form of the discipline, work ethic and respect for themselves as well as others in their life. A child also needs to be mature enough to accept responsibility for their decisions and actions. Too often we see talented individuals throw away their God given gifts because of their poor choices in life. This is the time he needs to be positive and learn to be respectful. When a child is always causing trouble, lashing out, disruptive and disrespectful, they are crying out for help.
It sometimes takes “not making the cut” to better realize change is needed in one’s life to become a better individual and meet their goals. Sports are not only about talent, but in addition, about character, hard work and discipline. Jason Keane has coached my son for the past two years in football. I know he is tough at times, but he teaches you to respect your team, the sport, your parents, coaches and teachers as well as yourself. These are the essential building blocks of becoming a good sportsman.
Now let’s reflect on the fact you feel your son is an outsider. Yes, I agree you have to find your way to the top in Carrollton and build your own name as well as in any town and in life. However, if you expect to get respect from coaches, teachers and your town, you must give and show respect and accept responsibility for what you say and do in life. Apparently, he has not shown these key essentials to be able to play as a team nor to be coached. We’re not perfect parents, and will be the first to admit this, nor have we met the perfect coach. However, know that being a coach and having to cut any child is one of the hardest decisions that have to be made. It is not done out of hatred, not is it chosen by who you are.
Simply put, we as parents need to help our children to learn the basic building blocks of being a mature young adult, so when our children are ready for fine detailing in life and to be coached by others, they are ready and able to achieve their goals. When our children were young, they dreamed of being President of the United States, firemen, a doctor, etc. However, not everyone is qualified or disciplined for that kind of job and not everyone can be President. Many people have not made the cut for their dreams but this does not mean they can point the finger at others. These people have worked hard and are well disciplined to be who they are today. You will have disappointments in life and your success is measured on how well you learn from your mistakes. Again, this is about respect, discipline and character one needs to be a good athlete or a resume you make to prepare you as an individual in life. I only hope this letter can help you reflect on what has really taken place, to know the potential your child truly has and to realize what needs to happen for the goals you set forth for your son and help him meet his own. I can only hope this does not affect the attitude of the Junior High basketball program but let it be a lesson that being a strong athlete is not only judged by talent but by character as well should all things in life.
Russell Jason H. Bentley
Augusta, OH
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