THE ‘GET ME SOME POINTS’ ERA
ATRUISM THAT has become trite, mouthed by anyone who has an eye on what he or she wants to happen soon. The march of children around the world, regarding the wholesale availability of guns used in the massacre of students at school, has brought to the fore the idea that they may just be able to affect the future of American lawmakers who ignore their wishes. Here at home, our children have been on the front pages of our t wo national newspapers and they are the main stories of electronic and social media, with their exploits at the recently concluded ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletic Championships (Champs).
At Champs, children who are bought and sold – by past students and administrators – in an effort to win at all costs, do produce the points necessary for victory. ‘Recruitment’ is the preferred label used by powerful leaders of our society to justify this practice that has seemingly become the norm as talented children are enticed to change schools and allegiances even in the face of attempts by school sports governing body ISSA to reduce or even halt this practice.
The arguments used to justify recruitment are eerily similar to the arguments used centuries ago, whereby, the buyers who went to the west coast of Africa obtained ‘citizens’ from leaders/ administrators of villages, who received baubles, beads, and other tangible enticements to send these citizens to ‘specialist’ countries, where they were supposed to be ‘developed’! History has shown us that there was no development of the citizens in their new country. They were ‘recruited’ to work and produce. Woe to those who, by injury or sickness or ‘bad mind’, did not do the bidding of the ‘recruiter’. Peculiarly, very little was heard of them once they failed to work/win.
SPECIALIST SCHOOLS
Something must be radically wrong when the schools that perennially do well at Champs seem to produce fewer and fewer of those athletes who go on to represent the country at the Olympics and other international competitions with distinction. Why do most of our world-leading athletes come from schools that in no way could be described as specialist schools? However, this year ’s Champs has produced notable results from children who scored an average of over 90 per cent in their GSAT exam, going to the school of their choice, and still, despite growing where they were planted, won and defeated children who had the best coaches, the best equipment, and the best support groups.
There is absolutely no doubt that there are some children who were recruited from so- called “no name schools” that have performed exceptionally well for their new and specialist schools. Every Jamaican sports fan has basked in the glory of our children producing mindboggling results over the five days of Champs. Kevona Davis (at 16 years of age), Christopher Taylor, who apparently has another year at Champs, and the Edwin Allen Class 3 Girls 4x100m relay team, were, to me, the main standouts at this year’s renewal. Dejour Russell, already a national treasure, should go on to do well at the Commonwealth Games now that he has decided to concentrate on hurdling, which is his best event.
But what about Naomi? What about Michael Stephens and young Jhevaughn Matherson? Are they finished, or will an adult who is genuinely interested in their personal development get specialist opinion and realise that severe muscle tears need at least two, yes two, years of treatment and rehabilitation before being subjected to high-speed contraction and relaxation, the physiology of running fast.
It is obvious to me that in the mad rush to win at all costs, a significant proportion of our children are being sacrificed at the altar of “get me some points”.
We seem to be in the process of recovery from a “Post Bolt-era Stress Disorder ” that saw our national treasures afflicted by disqualifications and poor results in recent international competitions. There is now a buzz that seems to say, Just wait until the World Under-20 Youth Championships. We are ready.’ All these children require is to be given a chance. Allow them to train and develop their obvious talents. No rush. Let them understand that excellence at athletics is fleeting. There are very few (percentage wise) who are able to live like Bolt out of running fast and jumping/throwing far. Education is key. When injury or father time brings a halt to an athletic career, the lessons learnt and qualifications earned while at school will be worth their weight in gold.