Competitive 7-12 Athletic Teams

In our weekly Inky paper there was an article about ways to increase the competitve level of the district's student athletes. Since they are combining the junior high athletic programs from Anthony and Harper (because lack of student population from the junior high ranks, or so they say that's the reason why they are combining teams...ha!) they want grades 7--12 to communicate the "importance of using the off season to develop athletic skills.

"It is the goal of the district to set performance expectations and educate its student atheltes and their parents on what it will be required for the district to become more competitive. Student athletes can expect coaches to insist that they attend summer camps and spend time on their own developing skills and keeping in good physical condition."

The problem with this is the costs involved with doing such a program. What are towns are lacking is good athletic camps which are close by. I think that a YMCA type of facility is needed for our area. There would be opportunities for basketball camps, football camps, maybe a swimming facility should be considered as well.

As it is now, the school district is in charge of setting up summer camps. I haven't heard anything about a basketball camp for kids entering the 6th grade at CHS or HES. There are students who go to Wichita for that type of camp. But the ones who go to that have dads who are athletic coaches they are aware that they can send their kids to those camps. But what about families like mine? I am not aware of any camps this year. Granted, I am aware of the Bill Self Camp in Lawrence and the costs. I also know of a camp in Hutch at the junior college.

Another problem with combining teams is the competition of making it and starting on the team. When Biddy Basketball was in session we fielded a team of 8--9 players. That was adequate and everyone got to play a quarter or two. Of course, we had the ball hogs who would put up any kind of shot and not pass it off to their teammates. Now with the combining of teams there will be probably at least 16 kids going out for basketball. Will the coaches thin out the numbers only choosing their 10 best players and will there be more kids sitting on the bench? When it was individual schools competing then everyone got to play!! It was a fair situation. At one point in time if that grade did not have enough kids to play they would bring up more from the other grades. I think that would be a good solution to this problem.

Will it come down to who is more athletic, have better skills (because they did off season conditioning and camps), and who can afford the camps (be aware of them) who will start on the teams and not be cut?

Athletic camps should be available to ALL kids. All kids who want to learn to become a better player. Not to just a select few.

I am definitely not for combining the junior high athletic teams (with the exception of football). Not everyone who likes to play will get to play. It will only involve a select few kids. It's all small town politics.