Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
All-star brouhaha in Beachwood
BY: JANET DERY Associate Editor
A decision made in April to cancel this year’s recreation league baseball All-Star games in Beachwood has whipped up a recent firestorm of attention from parents and the media.
For the past several decades, children ages 9-12 have participated in the All-Star games on the Fourth of July. The decision to cancel was made after parents and coaches expressed concerns and the CEO of the National Alliance for Youth Sports stated in an article that such games are potentially damaging to a child’s self-esteem, says Karen Carmen, community services director for the city of Beachwood.
A memo from the Beachwood recreation department sent to coaches in May notifying them of the cancelled games stated: “We believe this minor change will enhance our program and provide unity on your teams. The games belong to all of the children, not just a select few.”
The goal of the recreation department, notes Carmen, has always been to “foster a love of the game and above all promote team work.
“I know this (decision to cancel) isn’t very popular,” she continues.
“But we did it in the best interests of the children. How do you tell a little kid he didn’t make the all-star team?”
Many Beachwood parents strongly disagree with the cancellation; the CJN made several calls but was unable to find a single parent in favor of the decision.
The cancellation is “horrendously hypocritical,” says Elizabeth Gloger, whose 9-year-old son Jeremy would most likely have played in the All-Star games this year. “Beachwood constantly pushes competition among children this age, as in the wonderful program Destination Imagination. Who’s to say that playing a sport is any less competitive than following more academic pursuits?”
Gloger has an idea why the games were really cancelled, and it doesn’t have to do with bruised egos but with the process of creating the teams. She notes that in past years some players were selected more because of who their parents were than for their natural ability. “Canceling the game was overkill, but it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to come up with a consistent way of selecting the team,” she says.
Randy Alter coaches softball and baseball four nights a week at Beachwood. His 10-year-old daughter would have been eligible for the All-Star games.
“My kids aren’t happy, and that’s the bottom line,” explains Alter, who says he finds the decision to cancel troubling. “It’s systematic of the entire school system, which caters to the lowest common denominator. You do see excellence out there, and it should be rewarded. When you get to be 9, you should realize you’re not the best at everything.”
Shelly Pressman’s daughter Jordan, 10, has played on the All-Star team in past years and has always enjoyed the experience, says her mother. Pressman compares not having the games to not having an honor roll or AP classes.
Pressman is very competitive and encourages her children to be that way, too. “Not everyone should make the team,” she explains. “You have to work for it!”
The games may be reinstated next year pending further review, says Carmen. “If the Beachwood residents and players think this is not how we should proceed, we have to review it. There is no dishonor in changing our minds.”
The story was covered by WKYC/Channel 3 News, NewsNet 5.com, MyFoxCleveland.com, World NetDaily.com, and was the topic of the Bob Franz call-in show on WTAM 1100 Talk Radio. And readers of the online Catholic Message Board weighed in with opinions.
Carmen, who says she has received calls and e-mails from people all over the country, admits to being caught off guard by the attention the local story has generated. “It’s mind-boggling,” she says. “I’ve been a hero and a creep all in the same day.”
jdery@cjn.org Ban All-Star games’
Excerpts from “Bench All-Star Games/Kids will thank you for it” by Fred Engh, CEO of the National Alliance for Youth Sports. You can read the article in its entirety at www.northstarpubs.com.
All-Star games should be benched for several reasons:
It doesn’t take much to figure out that kids who mature quicker than others are going to be stronger, faster and probably more productive on the field. So, we’re simply recognizing players whose bodies have developed faster in many cases.
The entire process is twisted. I’d love to know the percentage of kids who are chosen for these All-Star teams who have a parent involved in coaching. Mom or Dad justify choosing their own child n even if he’s clearly not one of the better players n because they’ve surrendered a lot of their free time to volunteer to coach.
The injury factor. Stress fractures, trips to specialists and surgeries come into play when these seasons are extended with extra games and practices. They take a toll on young bodies and lead to an avalanche of overuse injuries.
For the past several decades, children ages 9-12 have participated in the All-Star games on the Fourth of July. The decision to cancel was made after parents and coaches expressed concerns and the CEO of the National Alliance for Youth Sports stated in an article that such games are potentially damaging to a child’s self-esteem, says Karen Carmen, community services director for the city of Beachwood.
A memo from the Beachwood recreation department sent to coaches in May notifying them of the cancelled games stated: “We believe this minor change will enhance our program and provide unity on your teams. The games belong to all of the children, not just a select few.”
The goal of the recreation department, notes Carmen, has always been to “foster a love of the game and above all promote team work.
“I know this (decision to cancel) isn’t very popular,” she continues.
“But we did it in the best interests of the children. How do you tell a little kid he didn’t make the all-star team?”
Many Beachwood parents strongly disagree with the cancellation; the CJN made several calls but was unable to find a single parent in favor of the decision.
The cancellation is “horrendously hypocritical,” says Elizabeth Gloger, whose 9-year-old son Jeremy would most likely have played in the All-Star games this year. “Beachwood constantly pushes competition among children this age, as in the wonderful program Destination Imagination. Who’s to say that playing a sport is any less competitive than following more academic pursuits?”
Gloger has an idea why the games were really cancelled, and it doesn’t have to do with bruised egos but with the process of creating the teams. She notes that in past years some players were selected more because of who their parents were than for their natural ability. “Canceling the game was overkill, but it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to come up with a consistent way of selecting the team,” she says.
Randy Alter coaches softball and baseball four nights a week at Beachwood. His 10-year-old daughter would have been eligible for the All-Star games.
“My kids aren’t happy, and that’s the bottom line,” explains Alter, who says he finds the decision to cancel troubling. “It’s systematic of the entire school system, which caters to the lowest common denominator. You do see excellence out there, and it should be rewarded. When you get to be 9, you should realize you’re not the best at everything.”
Shelly Pressman’s daughter Jordan, 10, has played on the All-Star team in past years and has always enjoyed the experience, says her mother. Pressman compares not having the games to not having an honor roll or AP classes.
Pressman is very competitive and encourages her children to be that way, too. “Not everyone should make the team,” she explains. “You have to work for it!”
The games may be reinstated next year pending further review, says Carmen. “If the Beachwood residents and players think this is not how we should proceed, we have to review it. There is no dishonor in changing our minds.”
The story was covered by WKYC/Channel 3 News, NewsNet 5.com, MyFoxCleveland.com, World NetDaily.com, and was the topic of the Bob Franz call-in show on WTAM 1100 Talk Radio. And readers of the online Catholic Message Board weighed in with opinions.
Carmen, who says she has received calls and e-mails from people all over the country, admits to being caught off guard by the attention the local story has generated. “It’s mind-boggling,” she says. “I’ve been a hero and a creep all in the same day.”
jdery@cjn.org Ban All-Star games’
Excerpts from “Bench All-Star Games/Kids will thank you for it” by Fred Engh, CEO of the National Alliance for Youth Sports. You can read the article in its entirety at www.northstarpubs.com.
All-Star games should be benched for several reasons:
It doesn’t take much to figure out that kids who mature quicker than others are going to be stronger, faster and probably more productive on the field. So, we’re simply recognizing players whose bodies have developed faster in many cases.
The entire process is twisted. I’d love to know the percentage of kids who are chosen for these All-Star teams who have a parent involved in coaching. Mom or Dad justify choosing their own child n even if he’s clearly not one of the better players n because they’ve surrendered a lot of their free time to volunteer to coach.
The injury factor. Stress fractures, trips to specialists and surgeries come into play when these seasons are extended with extra games and practices. They take a toll on young bodies and lead to an avalanche of overuse injuries.
 |
 |
|
| Coming to a living room near you... | Jewish leaders lament ruling in D.C. gun ban case |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of clevelandjewishnews.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments. Registration is free.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
