Hi,
I write on a sombre note. I'm sure we have all read or heard about it somewhere by now about our school kids not having enough discipline or self control, and fighting during sporting events!
What with the latest media coverage on the violence that has surfaced amongst our local sports schools, i have to say, it has admittedly struck a nerve in me. Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said that he was disappointed at the news of fight. To quote him: "Here we are celebrating the YOG values of respect, friendship and excellence and there, we see this kind of violence erupt. Students, coaches or officials involved... cannot let emotions overwhelm them and cross the line of sportsmanship." To sum it up, the recent brawl between the school rugby players sends out the wrong message on sportsmanship.
If anything, i think it sends out another kind of message ahead of the YOG -- which might just be right. Let me explain.
"You must have discipline to play rugby. You don't want any bad injury to happen. It is much better to play a fair game and enjoy the sport." That's what coaches all around the world from junior to senior levels, teach kids.
Most agree that the blame should not fall entirely on the boy who hit 15-year-old ACS(I) player Leonard Wee, the incident that sparked the pitch invasion. The schools, their coaches and both teams should have done more to ensure the game did not end the way it did. Yes, the crowd joined in the fight. But did no one realize the average age of the crowd was 15? Which brings me back to my point that this is the impressionable age where emotions run high, so if you're gonna put them together to watch something as passionate as this, then at least ensure there's enough security, both on and off the pitch.
SAS principal Belinda Charles also alleged that her student had been taunted and made to hear uncomplimentary remarks about his mother. The moment i read this, one thing came to my mind: A certain world cup final and a certain Zinedine Zidane and his now legendary headbutt.
He, like Leonard, was being taunted throughout the match, and he, like leonard retaliated. The difference? At that stage, there were enough people on standby to make sure nothing escalated past the headbutt. Picture a bar full of rowdy italians and french when that happened. You would think things would turn uglier than Missy Elliot in pajamas. Still, wouldn't you expect a grown man, at that stage with the world watching, to behave?
So then, are we asking our 15 year old boy to be much wiser than a thirty something professional, who gets paid to play? We instil values of pride and commitment in the sport. Shouldn't we then realize this boy could have no ulterior motive, all he was doing was playing for his school's colours. And along the way, he showed he was human.
Trust me i'm not advocating his behaviour. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own actions. If the boy retaliated, he should be blamed, not the school. (I didn't see the world blaming France when Zidance delivered that wrestling move). True enough, Zidane got a red card and his reputation was somewhat tarnished. But the only difference here is that this boy is not famous. So the media has got to find a more juicy person to blame. In this case, the school, or even one better, the whole sport scene here in singapore schools. It can be a few milliseconds' difference between a good tackle and an illegal one when a person is no longer holding on to the ball, and that is all it takes to make someone angry. So when the lines are drawn so fine, how can we expect a teenager to behave light years ahead of his age?
Ultimately, on hindsight, I think it's a blessing our media has harped on it this much because it simply means that crowd control at school sporting events will be tighter in the future.
There's a reason why it's the 'Youth' Olympic Games, and that's simply because we want to celebrate the passion and commitment, teamwork and zeal that kids have for sport. Along the way, expect the human in them to show. Emotions will run high and tempers will flare. Scuffles may take place. But at the end of the day, kids will be kids, and if we're truly celebrating all that there is to Youth, then i say we take this in our stride.
The efforts the schools are taking now, (they are sitting down both teams to meet each other and talk things out, and explain their actions and apologize if need be), this is an example of contructive methods that can be enforced, not because they are kids but inspite of it. I think this is the single most obvious depiction of what is being done correctly. Because they (the schools) are working this situation to suit the youth. So kudos to what's being done.
I don't imagine a certain Mr Zidane to be sitting down over coffee with Mr Materazzi and discussing the reasons for this very painful headbutt. But that's the thing. That's because they are adults, and with fame and fortune, egos inevitably grow. And with egos, many things cannot be accomplished. This, is the single most underlying point i'd like to make. Embrace all there is to our youth, and work out ways that work for both them, the sport, and our society. Don't simply jump on the bandwagon and wail ''where have we gone wrong?''
The saying 'Kids these days..' needs to start being something that's said not only in disapproval, but with pride as well. If not, who else will stand up for us?
So come August, come the YOG, let's not stand aghast if things get ugly. Instead, let's remind ourselves that these are the youth who are on the fringes of maturity, grasping their way through esteem issues. And if we want to give them a platform and expose them to the world this way, then at least be prepared to see the raw passion that only a child will have. Innocence even. Embrace that, understand that. Do not tolerate it, but understand. I'm sure all the organisers, referees and law enforces will do their job as well.
In the meantime, let's sit back and enjoy the games (: