The downside of exceptionalism

Trilby · 08-26-2008, 06:04 PM

from LOOKOUT: "No kid was ever damaged by realizing there are some players that are just a bit more special. In fact, I would suggest that most players benefit by playing with and against that special player." end LOOKOUT.

my meager two cents. I do not believe a kid should get a trophy just for showing up. All of life is "showing up." I also know how heady athletes (esp teen athletes) can get when all this hero worship is loaded on their inexperienced shoulders...then, they might, MIGHT, get to play with the Big Boys and THAT, my friends, truly seperates the boys/girls from the men/women. It's right there where a kid decides whether he wants to really, really want to bust their, uh, rear ends. These kids ARE special, have a certain drive (that I certainly do not have) and I do believe true athletes, like Dara Torres or Michael Phelps or Shawn Johnson (sorry to be so USA-oriented, but I really don't "know" the other outstanding athletes of other countries...except Yao Ming, who really plays for the US) have a certain special something* and you can actually FEEL the greatness float off of them. They definitely should be recognized as special.
When we are talking about 5 year-old newbies, who knows which kid is going to excel? 5 year-olds don't need to be yelled at, but encouraged.

College football is BRUTAL and I cannot imagine what a man or woman would have to give up to go pro. I think our American pro/champ athletes feel very special, indeed. Nearly God-like. Maybe it's too much, too "special" but then again, maybe it's just right. I think LeBron James is a good example. But then again, he plays for Cleveland

and Ohio can use all the good things/people we can lay claim to. We have Shawnee and LeBron and that's about IT.

/end possibly irrelevant rant/

name the movie: "certain special something" was the beginning of a song and win two points!

SamIam · 08-26-2008, 06:33 PM

OK, dumb question, since I know nothing of little league or baseball. Why can't this gifted kid be placed in a league that's more in line with his talent. Frankly, I'd be bored if I never got to go up against a team that would challenge my skills.

lookout123 · 08-26-2008, 06:56 PM

I don't know all the details but here is my $.02.

He is nine. I don't know if that is just turned nine or about to turn ten. I don't know if he is a mature nine year old or normal nine year old with an unusually wicked arm. All of those things are important factors.

In the context of Lil Lookout: when he turned five the other coaches demanded he be moved out of the 6 and under soccer league because he kicked too hard. He was small even for a five year old and he wasn't the most emotionally mature, but I was coaching so I moved him up to U8. That meant he was a small five year old playing against kids up to 8 and a half. he was going into kindergarten and there were kids in 3rd grade playing the same league. The first couple sessions were kind of dicey as the older kids picked on him, and roughed him up, but he pulled through and became a pretty good player.

When he turned six I started hearing demands for something to change because he was "too good" for the league. For crying out loud, it is a little kid who wants to play with his friends. He was still small and getting his world rocked but he was good with the ball at his feet. He was averaging five points a game and you could count on him to create a play when the ball was at his feet. Should I have moved him up because he outscored everyone else? I didn't think so.

He just turned 7 and he is still small, but now about average size for the U8 league. The kid can score at will. He creates chances on goal with an amazing understanding of the game. In the rec league regardless of the team he would have been the best player in any position. I asked if he wanted to move up to the next age group (again a year early) where he would be playing kids up to 11 years old. He wasn't afraid of playing against them but he wanted to play with his friends. That is what the game is about - kids playing with kids. The other kids didn't get mad that Lil Lookout was better than them - the parents got mad that Lil Lookout was better than their kid. He played that last session in U8 but was miserable because he started hearing the comments made by parents about him not belonging there. Now he's in U10 and he's still lighting them up but he has no friends on the team. watching him I almost wonder if he is playing with a vengeance for not being able to play with his friends. He is like a man on fire when he takes the field with this team. No talking, just playing. His only friends in the whole league are two other boys who moved up early just like him. The other kids are talking about the 4th and 5th grade and he just started 2nd. Kind of sad really.

My view as a parent and a coach is that it is ok to move a kid up early if they are prepared and willing, but they should never be forced up. These are rec league sports and the kids should be allowed to shine with whatever skill they have. They have a whole lifetime of feeling insecure and inadequate ahead of them - let them enjoy childhood. Sometimes I think kids would be better off if all the adults would just eff off and die. yeah, i know logically that is inaccurate, but you know what i mean.

footfootfoot · 08-26-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

name the movie: "certain special something" was the beginning of a song and win two points!

How many points do we need to accumulate to win a blow job?

[What's wrong with 'er? She's beautiful, she's rich, she's got huge ... tracts of land...]

Trilby · 08-26-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

How many points do we need to accumulate to win a blow job?

One.

jinx · 08-26-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

name the movie: "certain special something" was the beginning of a song and win two points!

MP's Holy Grail of course.... but Prince Herbert doesn't actually get to sing his song at that point.

08-26-2008, 06:04 PM	#1
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	from LOOKOUT: "No kid was ever damaged by realizing there are some players that are just a bit more special. In fact, I would suggest that most players benefit by playing with and against that special player." end LOOKOUT. my meager two cents. I do not believe a kid should get a trophy just for showing up. All of life is "showing up." I also know how heady athletes (esp teen athletes) can get when all this hero worship is loaded on their inexperienced shoulders...then, they might, MIGHT, get to play with the Big Boys and THAT, my friends, truly seperates the boys/girls from the men/women. It's right there where a kid decides whether he wants to really, really want to bust their, uh, rear ends. These kids ARE special, have a certain drive (that I certainly do not have) and I do believe true athletes, like Dara Torres or Michael Phelps or Shawn Johnson (sorry to be so USA-oriented, but I really don't "know" the other outstanding athletes of other countries...except Yao Ming, who really plays for the US) have a certain special something* and you can actually FEEL the greatness float off of them. They definitely should be recognized as special. When we are talking about 5 year-old newbies, who knows which kid is going to excel? 5 year-olds don't need to be yelled at, but encouraged. College football is BRUTAL and I cannot imagine what a man or woman would have to give up to go pro. I think our American pro/champ athletes feel very special, indeed. Nearly God-like. Maybe it's too much, too "special" but then again, maybe it's just right. I think LeBron James is a good example. But then again, he plays for Cleveland and Ohio can use all the good things/people we can lay claim to. We have Shawnee and LeBron and that's about IT. /end possibly irrelevant rant/ name the movie: "certain special something" was the beginning of a song and win two points! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

08-26-2008, 06:56 PM	#3
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I don't know all the details but here is my $.02. He is nine. I don't know if that is just turned nine or about to turn ten. I don't know if he is a mature nine year old or normal nine year old with an unusually wicked arm. All of those things are important factors. In the context of Lil Lookout: when he turned five the other coaches demanded he be moved out of the 6 and under soccer league because he kicked too hard. He was small even for a five year old and he wasn't the most emotionally mature, but I was coaching so I moved him up to U8. That meant he was a small five year old playing against kids up to 8 and a half. he was going into kindergarten and there were kids in 3rd grade playing the same league. The first couple sessions were kind of dicey as the older kids picked on him, and roughed him up, but he pulled through and became a pretty good player. When he turned six I started hearing demands for something to change because he was "too good" for the league. For crying out loud, it is a little kid who wants to play with his friends. He was still small and getting his world rocked but he was good with the ball at his feet. He was averaging five points a game and you could count on him to create a play when the ball was at his feet. Should I have moved him up because he outscored everyone else? I didn't think so. He just turned 7 and he is still small, but now about average size for the U8 league. The kid can score at will. He creates chances on goal with an amazing understanding of the game. In the rec league regardless of the team he would have been the best player in any position. I asked if he wanted to move up to the next age group (again a year early) where he would be playing kids up to 11 years old. He wasn't afraid of playing against them but he wanted to play with his friends. That is what the game is about - kids playing with kids. The other kids didn't get mad that Lil Lookout was better than them - the parents got mad that Lil Lookout was better than their kid. He played that last session in U8 but was miserable because he started hearing the comments made by parents about him not belonging there. Now he's in U10 and he's still lighting them up but he has no friends on the team. watching him I almost wonder if he is playing with a vengeance for not being able to play with his friends. He is like a man on fire when he takes the field with this team. No talking, just playing. His only friends in the whole league are two other boys who moved up early just like him. The other kids are talking about the 4th and 5th grade and he just started 2nd. Kind of sad really. My view as a parent and a coach is that it is ok to move a kid up early if they are prepared and willing, but they should never be forced up. These are rec league sports and the kids should be allowed to shine with whatever skill they have. They have a whole lifetime of feeling insecure and inadequate ahead of them - let them enjoy childhood. Sometimes I think kids would be better off if all the adults would just eff off and die. yeah, i know logically that is inaccurate, but you know what i mean. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

08-26-2008, 06:33 PM	#2
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	OK, dumb question, since I know nothing of little league or baseball. Why can't this gifted kid be placed in a league that's more in line with his talent. Frankly, I'd be bored if I never got to go up against a team that would challenge my skills.

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