<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0B6jjh_0vq3WPvf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0B6jjh_0vq3WPvf00" width="1569" height="1045" ><figcaption>Lake Catholic and Kenston are shown during prematch introductions Aug. 29. (Brian Fisher – for The News-Herald)</figcaption></figure>If you’re around high school sports long enough, you begin to accept there are an array of personalities who drive the landscape forward.Within that array are various mindsets and approaches on how to achieve success.There is also the likelihood, with human tendency being what it is, for some concepts to be repeated if it’s believed they can be helpful in more than one place or instance.That leads to an issue within our high school sports scene that will never go away — obviously, this is tongue-in-cheek to some degree, so don’t take what follows here too seriously.But that “issue” is cliches.We’ve all heard them. Those phrases that you hear as if they’re recited by a choir out of a songbook.Some are tried and true and carry special meaning in certain programs because of their staying power. Some should have been past their expiration date before they were even introduced.Again, we’re just having fun. Bear that in mind.But here are a few cliches that tend to catch my attention:Getting 1% better every dayThis became a thing in the last five years or so.The idea is improving through repetition and action to peak toward a lofty goal.It is a lovely thought, and if it does get a student-athlete or program one step closer to their aspirations, awesome.Not to be a contrarian or overthink it, though, but here’s something I’ve never quite understood about getting 1% better every day:If you’re attempting to get 1% better every day over an entire season, aren’t you starting with a low bar by definition?Isn’t there a decent shot that practice or a game doesn’t go well, so you get 1% worse or more and, in theory, you need to get back that percentage at the next opportunity?What if you have a series of training days and competition in which you do, in fact, get 1% better? If you started at, say, an 80% base, and get 1% better every day for 20 days, haven’t you gotten as good as you’re going to get, when you’ve peaked at a point at which you won’t get any better?What metric is used to determine you’re 1% better? Couldn’t you get 2% better in a given day? Perhaps 1.4% better? Less than 1%?It’s great to have a goal of getting better as an individual or program. But maybe putting a metric on it is a bit much.We’re a tight-knit groupNot to be too contrarian, but it is kind of funny how often — NOT the basis of the thought mind you, but how often — teams claim they’re tight-knit.The world would be a fantastic place filled with harmony if it were true every high school sports team was as tight-knit as they claim.That means, by definition, every single student-athlete on that team gets along. There is no issue in competition or away from it that could possibly derail a pursuit of success.Yet, is that true in every instance? Of course not.For the multitude of teams to which that applies, through years of hard work, friendship and accumulated trust, good for you. That’s the pinnacle you can achieve to be together no matter the outcome. If that bond is so tight, those bonds carry well through high school and are the basis for lifelong friendships.The issue is, it’s no secret there are teams who say this at any level of sports and it’s not true.There are issues that can impact a team — not passing the ball, not talking to the quiet freshman at the end of the bench, controversy, defeats, disagreement or disillusionment with coaches. That’s not to mention the issues of being a teenager that all of us no matter the age can appreciate because we dealt with it as well.Quick story to illustrate the point, as always with no identities invoked: A long time ago, there was a talented softball team. They had an early exit from the postseason that was shocking in its timing. No one could figure out how this skilled, experienced team could fall so far short of their goals.After the season, the coach was asked what happened. It boiled down to the fact that a boy was dating a student-athlete on the team, those two broke up and the boy began dating one of her teammates. Indeed, that’s high school life sometimes.This is 99.9% facetious in its delivery, as noted previously.But in all seriousness, if you do venture to tell anyone who will listen your team is “tight-knit,” please make sure you’ve established those bonds in the first place. And make sure they’re so unwavering they’re true when they’re verbalized.Tradition never graduatesThis is another one in which you’ve got to put in the work every year to ensure accuracy.If you’ve wavered from the principles of the concept through 17 coaching changes and a group of student-athletes who couldn’t name their predecessors who established the foundation for that tradition, then it’s not technically your tradition anymore.There comes a time when the torch will be passed. When it is, there is nothing more important than guaranteeing as best you can the proverbial torch is being passed into capable, steady hands of stewardship.Also, going on one regional run 20 years ago isn’t a tradition. It’s a sustained track record of success and legacy built over time.So as people moved on in life as they will inevitably by passage of time and circumstance, make sure those who held their end of the bargain impart upon those inheriting it why it’s important and what it required. Then, they’ll be prepared to author their own chapter.One last time, this is all stated largely in jest.Through different personalities come different concepts, some which make sense to share and use as your own.Just please, do it wisely.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Some high school sports cliches don’t make total sense | Opinion

If you’re around high school sports long enough, you begin to accept there are an array of personalities who drive the landscape forward. Within that array are various mindsets and approaches on how to achieve success. There is also the likelihood, with human tendency being what it is, for...

Some high school sports cliches don’t make total sense | Opinion

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