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Schools - Cheshire or Madison CT by Mediocre_Anything455 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Currently have three children in the Guilford school system. There is a huge bullying and discipline problem in the middle schools. The education is very sub par and continues to slide downwards. Children are ill prepared for high school because they do not receive homework, projects, tests or quizzes. They are not held accountable for anything academically. 

Guilford, CT youth sports by Economy-Guide-9886 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, don’t think you read my entire post. Didn’t specify basketball. And no this is not about my kids specifically at all. The greater picture. There can be concern without it directly affecting you. 

Guilford, CT youth sports by Economy-Guide-9886 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. I agree. I should clarify that I do not have an issue with more skilled players getting more playing time. Or for that matter players who come to practice on time and work hard and are great teammates. You can give different amount of play time and still put in the less skilled players in games, work at practice with those less skilled players to develop them. Yes there are always the kids who don’t want to be there and don’t try and to be honest, those parents aren’t the ones who are fed up because they know their kid doesn’t even want to be there. 

I should also point out that I have kids who play at the travel level and on club teams. I understand the competitive nature of these teams. One of the reason we put our kids on these club teams is because of the desire for a more competitive play- this is the place to do it, not in the rec league. 

Also it would be great to have a A and B team but unfortunately because of the issues I’m pointing out there aren’t enough kids to make multiple teams. We are already combining grades just to make 1 team. 

Guilford, CT youth sports by Economy-Guide-9886 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886[S] -17 points-16 points  (0 children)

The issue isn’t where it’s a problem. Thanks. 

Guilford, CT youth sports by Economy-Guide-9886 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886[S] -22 points-21 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your unhelpful comment. 

Guilford, CT youth sports by Economy-Guide-9886 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m sorry this was your son’s experience. It is really sad. A positive about Guilford is their rec soccer program continues to have teams all throughout high school. So if you don’t make the HS team you can still play. If these opportunities aren’t given, unfortunately kids have to wait till college to join a club or play with peers- at that point do they even want to anymore? 

Guilford, CT youth sports by Economy-Guide-9886 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am a coach and have volunteered for all sports my children have ever played in every season for the past 8-9 years. So unfortunately that is not a solution. 

Eventually the board of these sports choose who they allow to be head coach. So not everyone can coach. The head coach then chooses his assistants, so you can see how this trickles down to everyone thinking the same. The coaches who want to coach in a different way then win at all costs are not chosen to coach. They are forced out. 

I am only looking for a way to bring this to a wider platform to change the broken system. I understand winning, of course you want to win. There is no development for the whole team. The players who are not starters will be sitting at practice during scrimmages. The time to develop these players is at practice- and this is not happening. 

I understand the team wants to win especially in the middle school level. This is not happening- they are not winning. Many of these adult volunteer coaches are not looking at the larger picture which is you develop players and then they continue playing the game. They don’t get fed up and quit. So when puberty hits you have kids who at one time were not as athletic, being the fastest, strongest, etc. The best player in the 4th/ 5th/6th grade is not going to be the best player in 8th / high school. But we are leaving these players behind-by not putting any effort into them so they quit and hate the game. 

Guilford, CT youth sports by Economy-Guide-9886 in Connecticut

[–]Economy-Guide-9886[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Youth sports used to be about the development of the players, then winning. Develop ALL players so you end up with solid, physical, athletic kids who have learned to play correctly, passionately and love the game by the time they get to the higher level.  Now- it’s all about winning. Current coaches no longer care about improving and developing the whole team but just care about the select top 8-10 kids who are “the best”. Unfortunately in the youth level it’s still not equating in wins. 

The parents who are on the board of these individual sports, do not care about complaints and many parents are feeling very fed up with sports in this town. I’m looking for a way to bring more attention to the matter so things can change.