What's up with youth sports in DC? Janney ES?
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Anonymous
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We just recently moved to the area and I have had some odd experiences in youth sports in the past few weeks....in particular with girls youth sports. Most recently I had an unpleasant experience watching a Janney Elementary game where sportsmanship just seemed to be completely non existent. Like it seemed the goal was to humiliate the other (much weaker) team. Is this normal in DC youth sports? My daughter was really into competitive sports back in New York but I'm not sure I want her to be part of this. I guess they all need to learn how to lose at some point (I'm not in favor of "everyone gets a trophy" mentality) but it just seems a little overkill. |
Anonymous
| Welcome to the jungle fool |
Anonymous
| I had a similar experience last year with that school. I don't think this is a DC wide issue. I notice parents/coaches getting too into the games in NW but I don't think this is DC-wide. I see a lot of good sportsmanship with my daughters (who plays travel soccer) experience. There are bad sports everywhere....something kids eventually come to realize. Don't let some bad actors spoil something that can be so rewarding! |
Anonymous
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Unfortunately there are a lot of mismatched / unbalanced match ups and lopsided scores in youth sports. My son has played on a ton of terrible teams (we live in upper NWDC and kids did go to Janney). I agree there is not a culture of “mercy rules” where the winning team stops trying to score etc (though starters usually get subbed out). Kids know if they are playing on the weaker team and get used to it.
It is not acceptable to taunt and jeer however, and you should let the principal know. |
Anonymous
| There are teams instructed to have a child stand in front of the goal in the 8 and under rec leagues around here as well |
Anonymous
| Yeah, I think I see this here and there but not rampant "win at all costs" throughout NW. That school is a nightmare sports-mentality-wise. I have a friend who has kids there. Horror show. They apparently beat a team 44-0 in ES basketball this week according to the DC sports website.........that takes a real effort to do. |
Anonymous
So what do you propose? They stop the game entirely, so as not to create a massive blowout? This is not the way sports work. I assume Janney’s non-starters were better than the other team’s starters as well. You can’t stop scoring if the clock is running just to make the other team feel good. Taunting is one thing, but the score is what it is. A team shouldn’t try to lose to make sure the score is close. |
Anonymous
| Popping into the thread here. I propose maybe not pressing and trapping once up by a certain amount. You don't need to trap and aggressively steal the ball up 20-0.....especially in ES. Again, this is elementary school....not Middle/High School where I think you are probably right, harder to pull back. I don't think the goal should be to give kids a religious experience whether they question whether they should ever play the game again. |
Anonymous
Last year (CA) my daughter was in a school coed ymca team. 75% of the team was girls and all the players has never played basketball. We played teams that were 100% all boys. Some teams decimated us. I do however remember one coach who made his players pass the ball 5 times before they could take a shot. This was after the score was 20-0. This allowed them to work on passing skills without being a blood bath 🤷🏻♀️ |
Anonymous
| Taunting is not an issue at Janney ES. We should not punish students for being good at the sport. Sport teams are made to compete. That’s why there are playoffs and championships. There are all types of leagues that students can join outside of DCPS basketball if this is an issue. Also, other schools can simply coach better. Janney also has a reputation as back-to-back champions. To be the best you have to beat the best. |
Anonymous
Define "taunting". I have specifically seen parents and kids yelling and making noise while the other team is shooting free throws. This is Elementary school for god sake. I see this as no better than yelling "Don't miss" when a kid is kicking a penalty shot in soccer......which is gross. |
Anonymous
| In my experience at Janney, teachers and staff aim to keep the game quiet during both teams’ free throw attempts. As far as the team, they simply go out and compete. There is not much conversation between players. Now, if an adult is heckling students from opposing teams (which I haven’t witnessed) then maybe folks can approach the parents. However, when I attend games I see parents rooting for their child and also rooting for both teams. There are no comments made to belittle the other teams’ players. |
Anonymous
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I’ve taught and coached for over ten years in DCPS and have whooped Janney and been whooped my Janney. It’s Janney lol. I’ve specifically had to reach out to the head of the athletics department of DCIAA because they are the saddest example of sportsmanship yearly. It’s notoriously a tryhard parents proud to show their child they’re a good bball coach lol. It’s insanity.
Privileged and oblivious is an easy way to understand the mindset. Different parents volunteering over the years and it’s the same mindset so it’s a culture problem. Their former athletic director was their PE teacher and he couldn’t care about how well they perform he’s great and is a good friend. That said it’s an odd thing, but it’s Janney not getting it. Just weird for parents of children in elementary school to literally be able to see the other schools in warmups and go “Yeah we’re going to blow them out that’s a good idea I’m a great coach” I’m gone from DCPS but when I heard Janney was Janneying I had to come handout in this rumor mill. Would love to support you in fixing it because it’s lowkey embarrassing for them, but doesn’t sound like they feel it’s a problem. Keep winning lmao Sincerely, Hunter Coleman, former PE teacher in DCPS, Athletic Director in DCPS, and most important for some of you weirdos in here multiple ES Basketball DCIAA City Champion
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Anonymous
| I’ e been at all the games and there was no tainting, no belittling of the other team. Janney was just the better team. You all sound bitter and angry because your child didn’t win. It is not Janney’s fault the clock isn’t stopped when the score is lopsided. They even sub out their starters when they are up by a lot. The coach gives everyone a chance to play. This is so bitter and typical of DC Urban Moms. |
Anonymous
| Damn damn |