“Of course there is you say.” Look at all the technology we have that is quickly obliterated by the next new thing. What doesn’t change much is who uses the changes in a particular way. That would be the human beings of a particular generation.

For example, in the world of collegiate athletics there is a big consideration on the table now as to whether athletes should be legally paid. The premise is that their performance fills the stadiums and arenas across the country. So, why not a share of the spoils? There is a prevailing concept of college athletics being amateur. The USA might be the only country in the world that worries about that.

The British, back in the day, promoted this with vigor. I have felt for a long time that this was to keep the “riff-raff” out, i.e., the poor and uneducated. If you were poor and in your prime it was almost impossible to train without financial support of some kind. Therefore, the “country club” set dominated. A lot of that carried over to the “good ole” USA.

Let’s look at why I think things have not changed much …
I just finished reading a book called “The Real All Americans” by Sally Jenkins. It is about the struggle of the American Indian to be “white educated.” The first Indian School to attempt to was Carlisle Institute, the Carlisle Indians. They were mostly poor and represented many levels of competency. The school opened in the late 1800’s.

The Indians loved sports and became especially attached to American Football. They were coached primarily by legend Glenn “Pop” Warner who had youth football named after him that exists today.

They initiated the use of the forward pass and were experts in trick plays. They had to play Ivy League teams like Harvard, Yale and Princeton who played “3 yards and a cloud of dust” football. They were much bigger and stronger, but not quicker and more skilled. People wanted to see the Indian team play, so they drew big crowds for the day and the money rolled in. The poor Indians said how about letting us have little bit of money so we can actually live and train.

Eventually, Coach Warner figured out how to do that and of course other schools found out and they were sanctioned for it. Eventually, the great Jim Thorpe lost his Olympic Medals for being a pro. Structures have changed, but the issues are the same. Over-promise the “American Dream” and under-deliver what is really needed.

Remember, check out the Coaching Bookstore to find your next reading material that will affect your performance and your ability to affect that of others.