Crazy-Proofing High School Sports

“Finally, somebody has actually stepped forward and appropriately addressed what most of us (principals and activities directors) have been fighting for years…”

During his numerous years as teacher, coach, and administrator at the interscholastic level, Tufte (education, Univ. of Mary) has witnessed both the positive and negative aspects of sport. In this book, he laments the loss of joy experienced by high school student-athletes and lays the blame squarely on adults. His aim is to describe the current conditions of high school sport in a way that will encourage those involved (educators, administrators, and especially parents) to work together to remedy the situation. Tufte is a realist in the sense that he does not argue for an abolishment of high school sport, and he fully recognizes the physical, psychological, and social benefits of sport participation. He writes from personal reflection, observations based on his experiences, and interviews with educators, parents, and student-athletes. He advocates for educators to take the initiative in this process, to refuse to be silent, and to clearly identify the educational role of interscholastic sport. This book will be of greatest interest to individuals working closely with high school athletics but will appeal to the general reader as well. Summing Up: Recommended.