Last month’s article Should Panguitch be a 2A School? left me with mixed feelings. Ultimately, I agreed with the conclusion “Your purpose in playing is to win. But your value in playing is to grow.” So why was I also upset by the article? I think I’ve finally pinpointed the problem.
I bought into the narrative that Panguitch should actually be 2A. The article debunked that narrative but didn’t offer any actionable items for me to turn to. How exactly do I help our student athletes grow—even when they’re not winning? Here are some ideas I’ve had:
#1 Talk to an athlete to point out a specific area of growth you’ve seen in their playing—or praise a specific well-executed play from the game. Cheer loudly for successes throughout the game.
#2 Support and encourage the students—by name—in the everyday, not just on the court, mat, or field. These kids need to know you’re invested in them in more than sports. Athlete is only a part of who they are.
#3 Keep showing up. Keep coming to games. Keep coaching games. Keep encouraging the coaches. Keep baking cookies. Maybe bake a few more cookies. Consider coaching or mentoring a younger team. If you’re already doing these things, you are a part of the solution already. You are already valuing growth and you’ve got some skin in the game for our kiddos! Thank you for your service. Thank you for loving and supporting our kids. This is a great place to be—surrounded by you.
To the student athletes. You work hard. You play hard. We see your commitment to yourself, your team, and your school. You are loved. Win or lose, you’ll never regret the time that you spent playing the game—giving it your all. When you hear us fans cheering, know we’re cheering for who you are, for who you are becoming, and I hope you hear that you are valued—no matter the score.
– by Naketa, Escalante