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A post for thoughts and questions

• We’re back into fall sports action in the rural heartland, which (I assume) is no different than anywhere else in this country…traveling to games, sitting on hard bleachers, buying and wearing the team t-shirts. Do you ever think about how, even though we are a diverse people, we’re still so much alike?

• Speaking of sports…have you ever stopped to consider how complex the role of “official” is? Where a lot of coaching is making split-second decisions, officiating levels up. Every few seconds to minutes, depending on the game, the official’s brain is required to make constant judgement calls. From what I know about brains, this has to be taxing. Even the most competent person can have decision fatigue given the right circumstances, and officials willingly step onto a field or court knowing they have hours of decisions to make in order to help a game run smoothly. They also know they will make very few happy in the process. To the stripes, I tip my proverbial hat.

• Again with sports…the MLB has announced they will use an automated ball/strike system in 2026. I like the human element of baseball officiating, but I’ll wait to see what I think of the implementation. However, one concern I have is that the more we depend on technology for the professional level, the harder it will be on officials in the lower branches of sports competition. Fans (aka parents and grandparents) are used to all the replays, recalls, etc. on TV, so the officiating expectations change for Little League (or insert your own sport here). Youth sport officials don’t have replay screens, or cameras that show a play from all angles, so their real-time decisions have to stand…much to the varying opinions of the fans.

• I’m sensing a theme…have you ever noticed how bleacher-officiating is very lop-sided?

• I’ll stick with it, as apparently I’m on a roll…I appreciate the Kansas State High School Activities Association sportsmanship statement that’s read before athletic competitions in Kansas. Often the announcement includes some form of encouragement to cheer for your team, not against the opponents or officials. I know mistakes are made on all levels of the competition — that’s the human element, and we are in fact, human — but we would do well to listen and take it to heart for the benefit of our schools, communities, kids, and the people sitting next to us in the stands.

  Now, let’s go enjoy some Friday Night Lights…

What have you been thinking lately? Tell me about it in the comments!