Teenagers are soon-to-be-college students or fans who face pressures from peers, from drugs, and to win at every sport they play. The following case studies are catered to the high school student, asking the important questions that teens often face. What would you do?

Case Studies:
Sound familiar?

Two major basketball rivals play in their final game of the year. On one of the final plays of the tightly matched contest, a guard on the Away team goes down with an injury on a fouled shot. Although the injury did not appear to be serious, the Away team was able to replace the guard with a better free throw shooter who went on to make both foul shots and eventually the Away team wins the game by one point. As the Home coach erupts in protest, the crowd jeers the Away team as they participate in post-game interviews, calling them “cheaters.”

Discussion Questions:

Is it safe to assume that the home crowd and coach were over-reacting and participating in unsportsmanlike behavior?

Or that the away team capitalized on the injury, possibly even making this a part of the close-game strategy?
How would your coach react to this call if he or she were in the shoes of the Home coach?

How would you react as a player on the Home team? The Away team?

If you were a fan in the stands, how would you react?

What works?

Janice has lettered in swimming at her high school for the past three years. Despite hours of intensive training, Janice feels pressure to lose weight in order to perform well for her final swim season. Several of her friends on the wrestling team suggested a “natural” supplement that they use to lose pounds prior to their weigh-ins. After taking the supplements for several weeks, Janice’s fellow swimmers notice that she has not only lost weight, but is constantly sweating and unable to concentrate. Janice has told them that she has lost her appetite and that she eats half of what she used to, but that she is proud of her performance to date and doesn’t want anyone else to know about her new “edge.”

Discussion Questions:

What should her friends do?

What might happen if her coaches find out? Her parents?

Is telling someone the only option?

 

What would you do?