Politics in a football program?

[GalliaGrad78]

I have heard for years how "politics" ruin a football program. This does not seem logical to me. Let's say for a moment that I am a high school football coach, (that would never be the case!) I am merely an underpaid school teacher who happens to coach a ballteam for way less money that it's worth. Why would I bow to pressure from a parent, or grandparent or anyone for that matter? Is the owner of the local grocery store gonna refuse me groceries because I wont play his son/grandson? I think not. And if so, who cares? Is the policeman gonna pull me over for nothing or refuse to investigate a crime against me. Strike two. You get the picture. Is the school board gonna revoke my teaching contract? Not if I am a good teacher. Will they fire me from coaching? Big deal, I am obviously not doing this for the money! WHIFF!!!!

I would like if someone would logically explain this "politics in high school football" phenomenon to me.

Peace, out!

[Raiderball]

+1 I have said the same for years now.

[niholly]

I have heard for years how "politics" ruin a football program. This does not seem logical to me. Let's say for a moment that I am a high school football coach, (that would never be the case!) I am merely an underpaid school teacher who happens to coach a ballteam for way less money that it's worth. Why would I bow to pressure from a parent, or grandparent or anyone for that matter? Is the owner of the local grocery store gonna refuse me groceries because I wont play his son/grandson? I think not. And if so, who cares? Is the policeman gonna pull me over for nothing or refuse to investigate a crime against me. Strike two. You get the picture. Is the school board gonna revoke my teaching contract? Not if I am a good teacher. Will they fire me from coaching? Big deal, I am obviously not doing this for the money! WHIFF!!!!

I would like if someone would logically explain this "politics in high school football" phenomenon to me.

Peace, out!

Who cares?? You started a topic about something where no one is talking about it and you are explaining why you don't believe in politics. Would think this would be started by someone who was complaining about it. Not someone beating a drum saying I wouldn't do this or that so how can something like this ever happen.

[anderson2012]

I have heard for years how "politics" ruin a football program. This does not seem logical to me. Let's say for a moment that I am a high school football coach, (that would never be the case!) I am merely an underpaid school teacher who happens to coach a ballteam for way less money that it's worth. Why would I bow to pressure from a parent, or grandparent or anyone for that matter? Is the owner of the local grocery store gonna refuse me groceries because I wont play his son/grandson? I think not. And if so, who cares? Is the policeman gonna pull me over for nothing or refuse to investigate a crime against me. Strike two. You get the picture. Is the school board gonna revoke my teaching contract? Not if I am a good teacher. Will they fire me from coaching? Big deal, I am obviously not doing this for the money! WHIFF!!!!

I would like if someone would logically explain this "politics in high school football" phenomenon to me.

Peace, out!

You're not wrong in what you're saying, but...


the reality of politics existing in a football program IS possible, but only in that it would be an extension of already existing political pressures within the schooling system. No, there isn't a reality where you will get punished for failure to cave into the external pressures you mention (and if there ever is, and you find yourself there, then do yourself and your family and GTFO out of there, man!).

Patronage in government has been virtually stamped out in favor of the bureaucratic model which emphasizes hire based on merit (not the buddy system). The same can be said for the majority (read: not all of) public education. However, patronage can be found in school districts that are positioned in communities where there is a shortage of educators qualified to serve in official, administrative capacities... and, as logic would imply, a shortage of qualified teachers. To take it one step further, lack of people qualified to make for competitive elections onto school boards. Within these said communities, you almost always find an imbalance of power (some would argue representational) within the community. If not everyone has an equal amount of power, there is disempowerment present. Too often the case, the imbalance of power results from the population of the community. If 95% of the population in a community is traced to one of a couple clans or family trees specific to that community, you already have 5% of your population who is disadvantaged (unfairly) for not having "family" there. Now take it one step further: if there is a clan (read: singular) of the majority, they have the upper hand of entering the systems of function within the community (education, government, emergency services, utilities et al) through the sheer fact they have the numbers behind them.

With that considered, education is the function which meets a maximum: it's the most influential agency within a community which also has the weakest barriers to entry. Now... this is where the political pressures within a schooling system come into play. Imbalance of power within a community is going to directly translate into an imbalance of power within the schooling. It doesn't always have to be in the administration of the district for it to have a debilitating effect within. School board can do enough damage. Coaches can get put under pressures if said vices are tied into their profession, their livelihood (i.e. teaching). Reality is there's probably a dozen coaches across the state of Ohio that are told the renewal for their cushy job as an intervention specialist could get "lost" if they don't start the alpha and omega of football (take their parents' word for it!) aka some unprepared kid that just happens to have the "right" last name.

[91blue14]

I defer to ``the general or sky high`` on this one

[REDMEN95]

JUST ASK THE FOLKS OUT ROCK HILL

[osu 77]

I agree just ask RH and Ironton

[Nybucks70-80]

Politics- favoritism- the name game. What ever you call it , still exists at some schools.

[oncewuzblu]

It's out there especially in the small communities. From the PeeWee programs to the high school. Daddy coaches been a problem at ours for yrs. That is how they got a new coach, to many friends of friends jockeying for position and spots. School board just said heck with it we will hire an out of Towner cheap.

[NY BUCKS]

It happens more than you think.
Take a wealthy kid over a low income family
Wealthy kid will get the nod if they are even matched.