Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Baketball or Education

I know that colleges spend a heck of a lot more time recruiting basketball players than recruiting kids who are just students.  But I was shocked to learn that, at least in the Washington, D.C. area, this mania shows up in high schools as well.  In DC, high school coaches start recruiting when a kid is in the fifth grade, that's right Grade 5.

Most of these recruiters coach private school teams.  How did it happen that this became standard practice?  Do the schools give bonuses for winning?  Are the coaches prepping to become college coaches?  It is not an easy job.  Some coaches travel across the country to find their next star.  Unlike college, kids play basketball all year round; ergo, the coaches recruit all year round.

How do the presidents of these elite private schools live with themselves?  Are they so mired in our sports culture that they allow such behavior?

No comments: