ABOUT THIS ISSUE
A SECOND LOOK AT YOUTH SPORTS
ECENTLY, I heard a story about a youth league president who was teaching more than the rules of the game. Unfortunately, though, in this case, he didn't realize it. He was influencing his team members far beyond the X's and O's of competition. Faced with a shortage of players, he illegally recruited a handful of 11-year-old girls to play on his to-andunder softball team. When confronted with the wrongdoing, he asked his coaching associates to "not count those games" or to "simply replay the games" in place of forfeiture.
the rules are what give meaning to the word "winner." From Steve to Stan, all have taken a Second Look at the meaning of winning through their trust in Jesus Christ and becoming positive role models to youth in sports. •
- Kyle Rote, Jr.
N EIL RICKLEN
Now what was fair? How would you have felt if your team had lost to a team that had used ineligible players - older athletes who were bigger and stronger? And what if you had played on the offending team? Would you have felt it was right that you had to forfeit games, not because you had done something wrong but because your teammates and your coach had allowed that to happen?
Sadly, this very example happens all too often in youth sports. Coaches and athletes will strive to win at any cost. Winning becomes the only standard to measure self-worth and importance. I realize there aren't any national tournaments for the happiest teams or the most congenial teams. But I challenge you to read in this issue about Steve Alford, Ozzie Volstad, Stan Smith, Jenna Johnson and Suzie Rapp. Perhaps you'll discover that there's more to competition and life than to cheat in order to win. Competing to the best of your ability and playing within
Kyle Rote, Jr., is a former professional soccer player for the Dallas Tornadoes and a three-time winner of television's Superstars competition. An author, television sports commentator and motivational speaker, Kyle and his wife, Mary Lynne, live in Memphis, Tenn., with their three children. Kyle and John MacArthur co-host Second Look, a new TV program that "looks at life" through the eyes of sport and is presented by Radio Bible Class.