Junior Varsity sports may not be considered a major high school activity by many fans. However, the participants are more than the opening show for most of the varsity fan fare. Most accomplished athletes have gone through the passage of this at one time. Some great athletes have gone straight to Varsity, but it is more of an anomaly, than the norm. Why are JV sports such a vital part of the adolescence stage? For one thing, it is the aspiration that it brings out in youths. You see JV sports not only affects ninth and tenth graders in High School, but it affects students as young as 7-8. How is this? Well, most aspiring 7-8 year olds dream of playing someday on the same field or court that their parents or relative has dragged them to. You know, the first taste of a real big crowd and intense game is at the high school level. These youngsters get a feel and taste and develop a desire to play at the next level.
The very first taste of the next level. The level in which there is an elimination process, a competitive process. If there were no JV then there would be thousands of youths whose dreams would be gone. Most youngsters at an early age are realistic too. Most know that they may have a chance to make the JV team but not be good enough to be at the Varsity. The elimination of the JV programs may eliminate the desire to continue playing a sport at an earlier age. Is this bad? There are always academic or other extracurricular activities that may do our youths better. However, aspiring in athletics teaches youngsters about goal setting, work ethic in practice, mental training and discipline. Although these youngsters may not continue playing in high school, it does set the foundation to become better students.
It is not about playing a few games in high school at the 9-10th grade. You see it is the means not the end that will be affected by not having JV sports.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Two Weeks Sorely Needed For Summer
The BOE may incorporate an extension of the Hawaii DOE summer vacation. Currently classes begin the first week in August. Ever since adopting the all year round schedule, summer sports aficionados have suffered.
Summer of old used to be 3 months. Three long months. Too long to make curriculum stick for next year, according to educators.
In sports, athletic trainers and coaches talk about periodization. The time when an athlete takes time off from their sport or training schedules to rest certain parts of their body.
The two weeks of extra summer vacation would do youth summer sports participants wonders. Summer school students that could not get enough classes or time to complete their requirements pushed the decision. Many summer class offerings were eliminated which put too much stress on the fall schedule. Baseball, Volleyball, Softball, and basketball players find it difficult to squeeze summer training and tournament play into the schools starting dates. Most of the Hilo Little League Senior team missed almost a month of classes due to the goal of achieving a World Title.
One private school was even mentioning that they would not condone any missed classes due to a sports extracurricular activity. Most educators and faculty have been real great in accommodating these athletes in chasing their dreams as well as Hawaii's dreams. If you win you get treated a little bit better. However, lose and you may find some incomplete scores or less forgiveness. Some youth baseball and basketball players have been traveling for several years to the mainland. Many of these athletes have missed up to one month of class if they were successful advancing past states to regionals and world tournaments.
Give the BOE and DOE credit for giving these players, parents and educators a little more breathing space---- Next year at least!
Summer of old used to be 3 months. Three long months. Too long to make curriculum stick for next year, according to educators.
In sports, athletic trainers and coaches talk about periodization. The time when an athlete takes time off from their sport or training schedules to rest certain parts of their body.
The two weeks of extra summer vacation would do youth summer sports participants wonders. Summer school students that could not get enough classes or time to complete their requirements pushed the decision. Many summer class offerings were eliminated which put too much stress on the fall schedule. Baseball, Volleyball, Softball, and basketball players find it difficult to squeeze summer training and tournament play into the schools starting dates. Most of the Hilo Little League Senior team missed almost a month of classes due to the goal of achieving a World Title.
One private school was even mentioning that they would not condone any missed classes due to a sports extracurricular activity. Most educators and faculty have been real great in accommodating these athletes in chasing their dreams as well as Hawaii's dreams. If you win you get treated a little bit better. However, lose and you may find some incomplete scores or less forgiveness. Some youth baseball and basketball players have been traveling for several years to the mainland. Many of these athletes have missed up to one month of class if they were successful advancing past states to regionals and world tournaments.
Give the BOE and DOE credit for giving these players, parents and educators a little more breathing space---- Next year at least!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Kevin Is Truly Big Island's Iron Man
Couple days ago a story ran about the BIIF Boy's Volleyball DI and DII players of the year in the Hawaii Tribune Herald. One story of interest was about Kealoha Kramer. The Kamehameha two sport athlete was the big story of the DI Boy's Volleyball season. However what was significant about the story wasn't about Kealoha. Now not taking nothing away from Kramer, who was an outstanding athlete with great attitude, skill and academics. The significance was the journalist writing the story. The story was the first feature story by Hawaii Tribune Herald Sportswriter Kevin Jakahi since becoming ill. That story was like a hurricane that hit the Big Island. It was a story that was written with much passion and spirit from Kevin who put his heart and soul into the articles that followed.
In the days that followed Kevin was on a tear, ripping story after story with such passion. He was back, he provided the Trib with something that was missing since his absence. Sure there were other free lance and staff writers that were hired after Kevin's absence, but Kevin's connection to the local people separated his writing. Kevin is a talented writer, who has a pure heart and truly cares for Hawaii Athletes. He has gone through much in his recovery with his illness that is similar to our featured columnist Wade Ishibashi. Truly Kevin is a true hero whose courage and grit leads us to become better people. Kevin Jakahi, welcome back you are truly the Big Island's Iron Man.
In the days that followed Kevin was on a tear, ripping story after story with such passion. He was back, he provided the Trib with something that was missing since his absence. Sure there were other free lance and staff writers that were hired after Kevin's absence, but Kevin's connection to the local people separated his writing. Kevin is a talented writer, who has a pure heart and truly cares for Hawaii Athletes. He has gone through much in his recovery with his illness that is similar to our featured columnist Wade Ishibashi. Truly Kevin is a true hero whose courage and grit leads us to become better people. Kevin Jakahi, welcome back you are truly the Big Island's Iron Man.
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