Editorial: Second-guessing of coaches in Hastings needs to stop

As members of the Hastings boys basketball team lined up to shake hands with the players from Owatonna late Wednesday night, we couldn’t believe what was overheard.

A Hastings parent walked past the bench, looked at coach Chad Feikema and said, “You blew it.”

What in the world is going on these days? Have we lost all perspective?

The event clearly illustrated to us part of larger problems plaguing youth athletics these days. Far too many parents have lost sight of the bigger picture. Wins have become far too important. Playing time has become far too important. These games have become far too important. And coaches have become far too often blamed.

The truth is that the Hastings boys basketball team was not going to win a state title this year. There was no chance of it happening. So, what then can come out of the season? Why do we have sports? What good do they serve?

Here’s the answer: By participating in sports, high school students can learn a lot about life.

But using this case as an example, what are we teaching them? Students are learning to blame others for their failures. The only lifelong lessons that children can learn by participating in sports are being cancelled out by parents.

It doesn’t have to be like this. We could instead be teaching our children the value of respecting their coach. These students will go on to successful careers, and all of them will have a boss. Are we really preparing them for the future if we stand on the sidelines and complain about their boss? Don’t most parents see the correlation?

These coaches make very little extra money coaching our students every year. For most, it is simply a labor of love — a way to stay involved in a sport they love, and a way to teach the game to young men and women.They make far too little to spend their time negotiating a parental minefield.

So, the next time your son comes home from a game and is concerned about his playing time, or about the offense his team is running, tell him to believe in his coach. To practice harder. To roll up his sleeves and work harder. If you do anything but that, the best part of being on a team will be lost.

Tags: opinion, hastings, minnesota, spiral, local, editorials