Fairness in Bellmont Team Sports

It is past time to address an issue that has festered and grown for some time in athletics at Bellmont High School, favoritism and politics with the emphasis on religious and ethnic issues. Politics has unnecessarily and negatively affected the experience and growth of many student athletes, some severely. This observation is after attending and participating in sports at both Decatur High School and Bellmont High School; and observing local sports for decades. The current situation is very clear with a simple analysis of participation in two sports. Not experienced as a problem at DHS or initially at BHS, the problem has become very prevalent and obvious in some sports after the consolidation of the High Schools.[1]

The root cause is a system that tolerates this tendency and makes no attempt to hold coaches accountable for proper, equal, and fair treatment of all athletes. Changing one coach does not change “the system” short or long term, but may be required when the coach’s past bias cannot realistically be expected to change. However, any replacement must be screened for this form of bias for the situation to improve. The “system” has to change starting with definitions of proper behavior with accountability. Policies exist and sound good, but without accountability they are just empty words on paper degenerating to false Public Relations; AKA propaganda. An important part of the solution is simple and effective if implemented with sincerity at the top of the chain of command, the School Board.

One important principle in successful businesses is a “firm but fair” mentality with execution at all levels of management and supervision. Such is not consistently the case at Bellmont in many team sports. The concept of “firm” is adhered to in varying degrees, but the concept of “fair” is sadly absent with some coaches. This is not tolerated in successful businesses, and should not be tolerated in a public school system. These are fragile, vulnerable, and sensitive teenagers developing self-esteem for a lifetime. They have no EEOC to appeal to. There is no HR department for student athletes. Expecting a child to risk reprisal and further harassment by reporting is not realistic. Their self-esteem should not be jeopardized based on what middle school they attended, who they are related to, or any other form of political influence. It should be enhanced by their abilities, hard work, sportsmanship, and team spirit.

North Adams does not have policies or a “chain of command” that even attempts to be effective on this issue. There are unenforced policies without any attempt for determination of violations. There needs to be an accountability system starting with the coach, AD, Principal, and eventually reaching the School Board if lower levels do not handle situations properly. No accountability translates to hot air public relations for appearance sake only. This is not an issue that can be buried or white washed somewhere in the chain of command as it has been in the past.

The School Board must define proper and ethical treatment of student athletes; starting with reading what is already in place. In addition the Board must insist that the Athletic Department institute the following:

At the end of each season all players must fill out an anonymous questionnaire sent to their home address and returned to the School Board designated recipient and not BHS staff; describing the coach’s equal and fair treatment of players as well as any other issues the Board deems relevant, or the lack thereof. In business this is part of what is called a “360 performance review” and can be very helpful in producing the best environment at all levels. Some schools have already implemented such a system in part to improve the athletic experience as well as the success of the programs. Some coaches encourage this process as it enables them be better coaches. An excellent start would be any athletes from last year’s teams either still students or recently graduated. One spring sport is notorious for this tendency.
1. The appropriate individual must review the results with the coach, subject to any disciplinary policies as typical in any position; and as appropriate in any part of the athletic department.
1. The unedited results must be made available to the parents of all players. Parents will need to pursue up the chain of command as necessary and appropriate.
1. The Board must have access to the unedited raw questionnaires and review once a year.

Coaches have a carte blanche to cite “attitude”, false subjective performance, or any host of other issues as a reason for treating any player with inappropriate discrimination. The issue is easily confirmed or rejected by interviewing other players. An “attitude” many times is simply the athlete reacting to the “attitude” of the coach. The experience at Bellmont in some situations has been a problem with the coach, not the player.
To the suggestion that parents should address any issues with the Coach or Athletic Director first; that has not produced any positive result in 50 years. It’s never been known to hear of any situation when that approach has accomplished anything positive instead reinforcing status quo if not compounding any bias. Additionally, this is a totally separate issue from a feedback system by the players; the most knowledgeable about the situation. Some foxes have guarded the henhouse for far too long.[2] This expectation only reinforces and further enables any coach’s bias.
To tolerate favoritism and even mental abuse without protesting is to enable and encourage the wrong conditions and behavior. It will just continue to fester and grow more prevalent. In reality this behavior is a form of adult bullying and systematic discrimination; and should not be tolerated; and would not be tolerated in any other public school system.
For the record, there are many very good, competent, and fair coaches at Bellmont. This is not an issue in individual sports (tennis, wrestling, track, cross country, golf, swimming, etc.) where a student succeeds on their abilities; or even some team sports with comparable coach discretion. This problem is most prevalent in team sports where coaches have total discretion on what athlete makes the team and actually plays; and coveted scholarships are in play.

The following are the keys to a successful ongoing effort annually in the future and after an initial internal assessment has been conducted:

A fair system will provide feedback for all, no one player or coach would be singled out. A “system” that relies on one on one talking with someone (player, parent, coach, AD, or Board member) is unfair to some coaches, and reinforces status quo if not retaliation. That is not appropriate, and begs the overall issue, now and especially for the future. This is NOT about any one coach or student athlete, but an environment that is not best for developing teenagers and with the lack of any accountability.
A parent has to be able to review unedited questionnaires by players. The questionnaires will need to be drafted carefully and professionally. If the loop of information is not closed at this point, it will not be a totally effective system.
At least one Board member has to take this seriously or the Superintendent. It is critical that at least one will to avoid efforts outside of NACS.

This is not intended to benefit any one student athlete, but all student athletes, Bellmont High School, and the community in general. Nor is this intended to address any one coach. To the coaches that do not subscribe to these tendencies (there are many), thank you for your dedication to Bellmont sports. Yes, all parents are partial to their children and some complain without merit. But if someone wants to suggest this is not an issue at Bellmont, they are not living in reality. Do we want our children to graduate thinking politics is unavoidable? Or, do we want them to graduate thinking hard work and ability is more important in life? What character traits do we want to develop? For children learn more by example than words. If someone wants to claim “it’s only sports”, they do not understand the reality of emotional development and the priorities of teenagers. Who should be their role models? Which and how many student athletes should we inappropriately deny the opportunity to develop their skills and self-esteem in favor of undeserving student athletes?

Coaches promoting and favoring players for whatever reason unrelated to the play, abilities, and teamwork mentality, is not fair to the player, team, school, or community. With this system there will be a documented defense of good coaches, and hold the other coaches objectively accountable for improper behavior. The students will be taught by example fairness, the benefit of maximizing abilities, hard work, and training.

A token and typical white wash, bury under the rug, “let me talk to this (or that) coach”, or “let us look into it” will not be acceptable. Only permanent concrete change and improvement will. Student athletes should not have to move or attend a different school system to find fairness and an equal opportunity. Sports should be about building character positively; not inappropriately destroying self-esteem. The most candid players will be those that have recently completed their last season or graduated.

This is not an insignificant issue. Some teenagers’ self-esteem, attitude on life, and mental scars are affected for the balance of their lives. Some have suffered even more severe consequences (can be shared confidentially with Board). Getting any one coach replaced is not the entire answer. Putting in an accountability system is an important first step. This problem is avoidable, unnecessary, inappropriate, and not in the best interest of the NACS district. North Adams is a public school system, not a private one; intended to serve all students in the community, not a subset. There are private schools available for evidently what many are trying to accomplish. If this is so insignificant, why is so much effort put into perpetuating this tendency?

[1] If one is not familiar with the North Adams School system a brief explanation is in order. Prior to 1968 there were three High School, Decatur (Public), Monmouth (Public), and Decatur Catholic (private). All three High Schools were eventually consolidated and became Bellmont High School. The parochial schools, primarily St. Joseph Catholic, and now Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School. Have maintained their grade school systems through grade 8. However the student from those grade schools then attend Bellmont High School for their last four years.

[2] https://www.competitivedge.com/unfair-coaches-revisited/