Equal Playing Time for All Is Needed

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed reading stories that praise scholar athletes and good sportsmen. These articles build character and develop social skills in players, and coaches alike. But I was disappointed to read your praise of Mike Evans, coach of the Chaminade High girls’ varsity soccer team. Mike’s policy of playing only his best 11 players and requiring his substitutes to sit on the bench the entire game is offensive to some of our most basic educational goals and principles. It is fundamentally wrong to label players as not good enough to take a position on the field. Such policies injure players’ self-esteem and diminish their confidence in themselves. Such a policy also creates a strained atmosphere of competition among players and their families.

I’d like to see the day when each and every student at our high schools has an equal opportunity to play on an after-school sports team. Until that day comes, the least we can do is adopt fair rules for playing time.

STEPHEN BAILEY

Northridge