In international sports columns, two Irish commentators recently did their best to discredit the excellent performance of the South African Springbok team winning the World Cup. Neil Francis and Ger Gilroy looked for any “proof” to create the perception of SA Rugby suffering under a so-called “doping culture”. The cases of Chiliboy Ralepelle and Aphiwe Dyanti, two prominent players who have been banned after being tested positively for illegal performance enhancement substances, are cited. In the elation after the World Cup win we might wipe these allegations aside as being sour grapes, but a stern warning last week from the CEO of the SA Institute for Drug-free Sport, Khalid Galant, should be carefully considered. Mr. Galant specifically criticised the high levels of tolerance at some schools for the use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances, commonly referred to as doping. He criticises principals, teachers, and parents who turn a blind eye when it comes to doping amongst school sports participants – a phenomenon that manifests itself across a variety of sports codes, including rugby, athletics, soccer, and swimming. This warning concurs with the serious concern expressed in June 2019 the well-known ex-Springbok rugby player Stefan Terblanche about schoolboy rugby: “I often found myself staring at the size of these kids and realising that somewhere the game that I started playing and loved at school has changed in such a way that I hardly recognise it anymore.” The emphasis placed on winning matches may lead to creating, as Galant puts it, a dilemma amongst some school principals. If they acknowledge a doping problem at their schools and act against it, the school may lose it’s status and marketing edge as a leading sports school.
Mr. Stefan Terblanche’s major concern is, however, not the increase in the size of schoolboys due to taking creatine and other supplements, with the resulting muscle build and adverse side-effects in their physical development. His main concern is educational in nature: the exploitation of school children for the benefit of effective marketing of highly competitive schools and the advancement of provincial franchises. The accompanying trading in sport talent is of concern, with schools attracting players in various sport codes by means of bursaries. In some provinces, there is even a “window period” similar to professional football for the purchasing of players.
On enrolling at a school with good facilities and professional coaching, gifted children in many cases undergo valuable talent development and are placed in a position that they have a real prospect of a national or international career. To eventually perform on the highest level, a carefully planned strategy that includes proper nutrition, excellent coaching, and focused body conditioning is essential. The downside of this, in some reported cases, are that children are taken out of their family environment without him or her necessarily assenting to such displacement. While sports participation potentially has a significant educational value, an obsession with sport and the occasional involvement of unscrupulous agents who do not have the best interests of the child in mind may, unfortunately, result in negative consequences for the talented child.
One highly visible instance of obsession in the school context is that of some parents and other supporters unashamedly showing their support for their children and “their” teams but displaying extremely unsportsmanlike behaviour. It is not uncommon to hear parents encouraging their children to “play the opponent off the field”.
International research has shown that numerous parents turn a blind eye to sport-related verbal and physical abuse by coaches in the name of “toughening up” the child for competition. In contrast and quite ironically, there is a disappointing lack of support and enthusiasm amongst some parents and principals for the compulsory Physical Education program in schools as part of Life Orientation. During this educational program all learners, also the physically less talented, are exposed to sport and games, physical fitness and recreational activities. This program aims at lifelong participation and the associated health advantages.
An obsession with sports achievements has numerous negative ramifications. These occurrences may nullify the educational efforts of thousands of dedicated, professional and well-balanced teachers, educator-coaches, professional sports coaches and school principals.
