Play Fair or Fair Play?

Under which condition is it “fair” to use equal play time and under which condition is it “fair” to use unequal playing time? This was a question posed in an article by Nancy Justic, a former competitive swimmer and college sports information director.

Everyone involved in sports is aware that to “play fair” both teams need to abide by the same rules, no matter what the rules are, they must be adhered to by both teams so one will not have an advantage over the other. Fair play also includes good sportsmanship, promoting and respect for sport, respect for others, and not using performance enhancing drugs to gain an advantage over the competition. Few would find fault with this definition of what it means to “play fair.”

Fair-play is a term coined by Ian Davidson, who is the Principal of Clarenville High School in Clarenville in Newfoundland, Canada. Davidson, 41, says his goal is “to grow as a person every day and make myself increasingly important in the lives of children.”

Davidson describes the term “Fair-Play” as he uses it in his article “to refer to athletic events that require, essentially an equal amount of playing time be given to all members of a participating team.” What? You say. How does that work? According to its founder Ian Davidson, it worked well enough that “the Fair-Play division was an immediate success on the sporting scene and has proved that Fair-Play sporting competitions are viable alternatives to traditional athletic events.” Schools with enough athletes to field two teams can offer a “Fair-Play” team. Athletes must choose which team they want to participate on before the season starts and no one can play on both teams.

According to Davidson, who has been involved with coaching for over ten years, he has had the misfortune “of watching hundreds of children languish on the bench for entire tournaments where they never once got on the floor. While this type of coaching may be appropriate in professional basketball, it is not in high schools,” said Davidson.

By using “Fair-Play” rules, Davidson strives to instill three important aspects of sports: Tolerance, Respect and Teamwork. Participation in Fair-Play sports demands that athletes accept the mistakes of their peers who are playing while they sit on the bench. They realize that to win they should direct their efforts to helping their teammates improve their skills. By helping their teammates become better players they learn to develop and value their relationship with their teammates, coaches, teachers and parents. The development of tolerance is important in both the sporting world and in life.

Respect is another important component in sports. Sport”person”ship is respect for oneself and others. Davidson said by, “developing respect for others involved in a sport through a system of equal participation removes the temptation to exclude certain athletes in the pursuit of success at all costs.”

Teamwork is a necessary ingredient for success in sports. Fair-Play encourages teamwork because all players must play during a game. Few championships are won by the efforts of one player. Davidson gives this example: “Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen in Chicago and won six NBA championships. Jordan moved to Washington and when forced to shoulder the load, could not produce a championship.” Today’s exceptionally talented Caitlin Clark certainly has helped the Fever become more competitive, but she could not win a game without her teammates.

Davidson explains that the development of a Fair-Play sporting division was a necessary complement to the traditional sporting structure. For most athletes, high school graduation is the end of their competitive sports career. The elite few, who go on to play at the university level or professionally, are the only athletes who get long-term benefits from today’s sporting structure.

In conclusion, Davidson said he believes, “Athletes raised in a Fair-Play system learn to work as a team to achieve goals and can all take pride in knowing they shared in the success. More importantly, it is my experience that Fair-Play sport produces quality human beings both on and off the playing field.”

In Nancy Justic’s article, she supports many of Davidson’s theories. She observed that the younger the athletes are, the higher the chances of realizing negative side effects of playing performance-oriented games. She said, “These kids are not equal in talent, physical abilities and sport intelligence.”

The Aspen Project Institute Project Play recommends, at least through age 12, to invest in every child equally, including playing time. It is an important development tool that too many coaches base on skill level and the game’s outcome. One article stated that most youth would rather play on a losing team than sit on the bench of a winning team.

Jon Solomon of the same institute said research shows that what kids want out of sports is both action and access to action. Getting stuck at the end of the bench does not foster participation. And more participation is badly needed in youth sports. “There’s a time to sort the weak from the strong in sports. It’s not before the kids grow into their bodies, minds, and true interests.”

James Leath, Head of Leadership Development said, “Kids who quit sports usually do so because of lack of playing time which can be a result of lack of confidence. Confidence is a byproduct of proper preparation and adults who believe in the players.”

One guideline from the Positive Coaching Alliance said, “Good coaches get players into the game. Players who stay on the bench don’t benefit as much from sport.” The Jr. NBA that is responsible for the world championship for 13- and 14-year-old, encourages coaches to have strategies to get all of their players into games for meaningful minutes, and not just in garbage time of a blowout.

One authority said, “Great coaches develop all their players and provide them the opportunity to contribute to the outcome of games and in doing so build their confidence and competence and winning becomes a byproduct as a result.”

Davidson expressed his thoughts with this observation: “Twelve students are chosen for a high school basketball team, but only eight play—ever. Except for a few minutes at the end of a game easily won against weaker opponents, they simply do not play, How is this fair to the four athletes who spend their season on the bench.?

Sports is an important part of growing up for many youths and it is up to everyone involved to strive to make it an experience that will result in positive results that will last for a lifetime. The above article was taken from articles on the internet and gives some different suggestions, observations and ideas, for readers to agree or disagree, however the reader interprets it.