It sounds like a philosophy filched from the kiddie leagues,
where winning and losing are supposed to rank below how you play
the game. But head basketball coach David Arseneault’s approach is
racking up wins too. By playing up to 17 players a game and running
a steady stream of three-point attempts, he’s led Grinnell to three
of the last nine Division III Midwest Conference titles. And last
season the Pioneers broke records with an average of 126.2 points
per game. The team’s performance also has drawn the attention of
ESPN2, which is airing Grinnell’s Feb. 3 game against Wisconsin’s
Beloit College live.
Grinnell’s success proves the merit of making sports an
inclusive learning experience, according to Washington
Post kids sports columnist Fred Bowen. Fans of the Big Ten may
scoff, but why not implement the ‘play everyone’ rule at middle
schools and high schools, Bowen asks. It may help bring competitive
parents and kids back to the fun of sports. And it could help them
win too.
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What a Way to Play
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