Jimmy Jones coaches basketball at East High School. This year, the East basketball team has already been selected for the regional championships, led by one of the most highly touted high school basketball players in the country, Dwayne Wright. In the final conference game of the season against West High School, Coach Jones watches as Dwayne scores countless points against the underpowered West players. While Coach Jones’ strategy has always been to let all of his players play in the case of a rout or otherwise, many college scouts are in the stands to see Dwayne play. In addition, parents and fans have pressured Coach Jones to leave Dwayne and the other starters in against this team in the hopes he will break the state points record. As Coach Jones looks to the West sidelines he sees the humiliation in the eyes of the overmatched team and the glare of the opposing coach, while on his own bench, many seniors look to him to put be put in for their last game.

Discussion Questions:

What should Coach Jones do?

Who should decide which students play in the game?

Would it matter if the game were a close match or if it wasn’t the last game of the season?

What do you think the other players would want to happen?

What would you do?

Teen Issues in Sports:

Drugs:

Should there be mandatory drug testing of high school athletes?

Should high school athletes who get caught taking performance-enhancing drugs be banned from their sport?

Sportsmanship/Gamesmanship:

Is, intentionally taking unfair advantage over another, deliberately bending the rules, or not living up to spirit of the game the same as cheating?

Is "trash talking" or “showing off” poor sportsmanship?

Religion:

Should there be separation of church and sport?

Should on-field prayers or other displays of religion be banned?

Referees, Umpires, Officials

What should be done when fans and players jeer referees or their calls?

Should judges, scorers, referees, umpires and other officials who favor the hometown team or certain star athletes be disciplined? Should findings of unfair officiating be made public?

What should players, fans, managers do when officials don’t enforce the rules fairly?

 

4- 6 Year Olds | 6 - 9 Year Olds | 10-13 Year Olds
Teenagers