“The fact is that 98 percent of all student athletes are not going on to the next level in their sport. But with 18, 22 and 23-year-olds, sometimes education is only a backup plan” — Darin Meeker,athletic counsellor at Ohio State University When I was a kid, one of the sports I played was baseball. As a baseball player, I learned how important it was for me and my teammates to see ‘the big picture’, when we were in the middle of a crucial game. The pitcher needed to be constantly aware, not only of the hitter in front of him, but also who the next batter was, who was currently on base, how many outs there were, and so on. Batters, outfielders and basemen also needed to be aware of these things. Failure to see the big picture could lead to costly errors. Irrespective of which sport we played as kids, seeing the big picture helped us become more effective players, win matches and enjoy competition. Children who did this most effectively would guide the course of the game, take better decisions on the field with regard to substitutions, attack/defence strategy or batting/ fielding issues. Athletes can be great at seeing the big picture when they’re on the field or court. But when they leave the sports arena, they often succumb to tunnel vision in which school becomes a very low priority. What they don’t see is that even if they do realise their dreams of becoming professional athletes, life isn’t going to stop there. Only about five out of every 100 sports-persons who make it to the professional level will earn enough to provide for the rest of their lives. Everyone else will have to work once their sports career is over. Therefore it is crucial to ensure that sports-minded students become aware that there is a larger benefit to participating in sports than aiming for professional status. Very often, children who cannot make the cut professionally give up sports completely. Also, parents and coaches often discourage children from playing sports for the fun of it. In the process, children lose out the positive values that sports teach. With so much emphasis on the end-result, is it surprising that children don’t see the big picture of sports education and find it difficult to use its lessons off the field? When it comes to life off the field, what does ‘getting the big picture’ mean? It means: • Being aware of what’s going on in the world around you • Knowing what is and isn’t important to your long-term happiness • Using this information to make decisions that will have a positive impact on your future This awareness can be achieved by keeeping abreast of the latest developments in the world and in your specific field, understanding how they affect you and your family and be able to plan accordingly. As a teacher or parent involved in the lives of children, what can you do to ensure that young athletes get the big picture when it…
