To the Editor,
I was driving by the high school in Harmony this past Sunday and couldn’t help but notice all the cars. Volleyball! The same thing was taking place in Preston.
I just believe this is such a travesty. Kids and their parents deserve a day that is a break from the competition aspect of sports and all that entails. These events run all day. When are we expecting our kids to “recharge”?
An unfortunate aspect about this is the spoken or unspoken message that if a child does not participate in these type of activities, they can expect that they will not be perceived as a serious player on the school level. This happens in many of the different sports. What a terrible added pressure on a young athlete.
What is gained from Sunday sports? Do coaches really think the team is going to be improved that much by Sunday play? Or is this a road to burnout?
What can we do about this?
- Could school administrators and school boards make a simple policy that our schools are closed on Sundays?
- Could coaches to say no to Sunday tournaments?
- Could parents say no to organized Sunday sports? Would this be a message to your children about the value of family time?
- Could the athletes say no to Sunday sports? It would take a tremendous amount of courage!
We as communities should be raising the family unit up and supporting them in any way possible. Sundays, to me, seem like one day out of the week that should be preserved for a family to spend as they see fit. These tournaments and practices pull the family time apart and make it just another day of figuring out the schedules. We can do so much better than this.
Kerry Kingsley
Harmony, Minn.
Stephanie Derby says
The last I knew, the MSHSL, Minnesota State High School League, does not allow high school sports to happen on a Sunday.
Public school gyms can also be rented. Most of the time, non-school sponsored sports take place in the gyms on Sundays.
Just clarifying that most likely, the Sunday sports are not school sponsored. School administrators and school boards probably won’t be able to do anything.
By law, public schools can be used / rented by the public. Church groups rent rooms, sports groups rent rooms, etc …
Anonymous says
I totally agree with this article! From my understanding and hearing out and about in the community that if you don’t go out for JO volleyball, you wont be starter in the Fall. since when is JO associated with the school? the last time i checked it wasn’t . So what is the point of pushing it. Kids are just going to get burned out