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NFHS Voice: Respect Everyone
November 4, 2019
By Karissa Niehoff
NFHS Executive Director
Case studies have revealed that kids want to participate in high school sports because they are fun. Being a part of a team gives them an identity, a sense of self-worth and, in some cases, a reason for engaging in academics. They are included, accepted and feel like a valued member of a community.
This describes the ideal and the goal of high school sports. Fortunately, that atmosphere exists at a majority of the 19,500-plus high schools within the NFHS family. And since it is the desire of high school leadership throughout the country that these ideals continue, we are concerned about the growing decline in respect, integrity and unacceptable behavior in and around high school sports.
Racism is one of our greatest concerns nationwide. We have heard of students posting videos to social media with racist comments. We read about racial comments by team members of nearly all-white schools to opposing players from schools composed of nearly all minority students. There have been cases of white players disrespecting Native American players on the opposing team by addressing them in an unacceptable manner.
This type of behavior could be a reflection of events occurring in our society, or due to lack of a respectful environment at home. Regardless, they are not defensible reasons for the occurrence of these horrible acts within education-based high school sports and activities.
High school sports and activities exist to lift people up, not demean or tear people down. National politics or lack of role modeling by adults at home aside, coaches, administrators and other leaders in high schools nationwide must direct programs with respect, acceptance and dignity and demand the same from the school participants.
More than 50 years ago, Special Olympics began a global movement to break down barriers and end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. Since then, lives have been changed for the better all around the world. Many schools have implemented Unified programs in sports, performing arts and even physical education.
We must do the same for everyone. All student-athletes – regardless of race, religion, political views or gender identity – should be treated equally. As baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson said, “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me. ... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
As schools hire individuals to fill coaching positions, character must be the top prerequisite for the job. They must be guided by honesty, integrity and ethics, and they must be positive role models for students. And this is certainly not a new idea.
H. V. Porter, the first full-time executive director of the NFHS, had the following to say in 1950: “The amount of success (in improving sportsmanship) is largely dependent on the degree to which attention is constantly given to the matter by the school staff.”
We certainly agree with Mr. Porter but also believe that everyone must pay attention.
The NFHS has several free online education courses through the Learning Center (www.NFHSLearn.com) that can assist in establishing a program that teaches and models respect for self and respect for others. We suggest that “Teaching and Modeling Behavior,” “Sportsmanship” and “Bullying, Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors” be required courses for everyone working with student-athletes.
High schools must establish a culture that values the worth of every single person – both players on the school’s team and players on the opposing team. There must be a no-tolerance policy regarding behavior that shows disrespect for another individual.
Kids today are looking for a community, and high school sports and activities must be that community that is fun, respectful and supportive of everyone.
Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff is in her second year as executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is the first female to head the national leadership organization for high school athletics and performing arts activities and the sixth full-time executive director of the NFHS, which celebrated its 100th year of service during the 2018-19 school year. She previously was executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference for seven years.
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This Week in High School Sports: 3/12/19
March 12, 2019
This week's show highlights the incredible finish at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Boys Swimming & Diving Finals, hands out Game Balls to Farmington United gymnast Elena Vargo and Detroit Country Day hockey goalie Sam Evola, discusses basketball interference and closes with a look back at the 1986 Class B Boys Basketball Final won on a 70-foot buzzer beater.
The 5-minute program, powered by MI Student Aid, leads off each week with feature stories from around the state from the MHSAA’s Second Half or network affiliates. "Be The Referee," a 60-second look at the fine art of officiating, comes in the middle of the show and is followed by a closing MHSAA "Perspective."
Listen to this week's show by Clicking Here.
Past editions
March 5: Bronson bowling champions, Individual Wrestling Finals impressions - Listen
February 26: Lowell wrestling, basis for MHSAA's broadcast regulations - Listen
February 19: Traverse City Bay Reps hockey's Jake Stevenson, MHSAA Basketball Finals rematches - Listen
February 12: Midland Dow basketball's Molly Davis, small-town support for the Mio Thunderbolt - Listen
February 5: Alpena basketball's Chris DeRocher, sportsmanship shown on the court - Listen
January 29: Flint Kearsley bowler Imari Blond, Lansing Sexton's 1959 boys basketball run - Listen
January 22: Warren Woods-Tower wrestling, poor sportsmanship faced by officials - Listen
January 15: East Kentwood boys basketball, reflections from visiting a small-town gym - Listen
January 8: Niles Brandywine wrestling inspiration, parental sportsmanship - Listen
January 1: Unionville-Sebewaing three-sport star Rylee Zimmer, instructions for educational athletics - Listen
December 25: St. Ignace student official Jackson Ingalls, values of high school sports - Listen
December 18: Eastern Thumb Area co-op hockey, consequences of football playoff expansion - Listen
December 11: Battle of the Fans VIII, MHSAA.tv's growing list of broadcasts - Listen
December 4: New officials in southeastern Michigan, what college coaches are looking for in recruits - Listen
November 27: Defensive performances from 11-Player Football Finals, experiences at Ford Field - Listen
November 20: 8-player football champions Morrice and Rapid River, power of giving thanks - Listen
November 13: Port Huron Northern football, broadcasting one of the busiest championship weekends of the MHSAA school year - Listen
November 6: Three-time cross country champs, MIS as LP XC Finals home - Listen
October 30: Calumet football, changes to the MHSAA Transfer Rule - Listen
October 23: Jackson High football, "Football Week in Michigan" - Listen
October 16: Selection Sunday football primer, past playoff expansion - Listen
October 9: Pickford football, teams that finished undefeated/untied/unscored upon on the gridiron - Listen
October 2: Grand Rapids official Dolly Konwinski, "You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me" on a federal court case made by the parents of a kid who didn’t make the cut - Listen
September 25: Bronson volleyball's Kiera Lasky, the real blue-chip participants in high school sports - Listen
September 18: Hanover-Horton runner Judy Rector, countering a growing shortage of high school game officials - Listen
September 11: Alpena soccer coach Tim Storch, balancing interests of all high school athletes - Listen
September 4: Radio stations celebrating 77 years of high school sports broadcasts, and radio's importance in educational athletics - Listen
August 28: Forest Hills Central football's Tate Hallock, keeping perspective amid changing times - Listen
August 21: Lansing Everett football coach Mike Smith, MHSAA executive director transition - Listen