The Rationale of "Fun"

In our culture, we see words or phrases that have come along and morphed into cliched representations of a philosophy or of a process. These "buzzwords" become part of the lexicon and serve to define both a sense of who we are and what we believe. There are no aspects of our society that are immune to these pseudo-intellectual constructs; and many of these words are utilized across multiple disciplines. The problem of so many of these words or phrases is that they have come to represent a perspective that is essentially more style over substance.

For example:

Diversity. Defined as: "The state of being diverse, or variety". This word has become synonymous with another word Inclusivity. These two words have come to represent an attitude more than policy. I say that because even if programs or legislation is enacted to buttress the philosophy, it still is a matter of a personal mindset whether or not you believe in it. Common sense would hopefully dictate action since an organization can succeed only if everyone involved is part of the solution. Paradoxically, in their zeal to demand diversity and inclusivity, people can essentially exclude those who don't hold the same vision as sacred.

Exit Strategy. This is an interesting phrase that businesses have adopted in recent years. While it certainly can define what the final steps are at the completion of a project, it also can be positioned as a way for an organization (or a person) to "efficiently" leave so as to minimize either failure or damage. This obviously falls in another buzzword category known as: CYA.

Synergy. We all want synergy - the process where we come to understand that the sum of the parts that are found when working together are brilliant. Yet why can't we ever truly grasp that concept? Is it because the perspective of synergy would clash directly with another powerful concept: Individuality?

And of course, no discussion of this nature would be complete if I didn't mention words such as: Empowerment, Engagement, Mentor, and Student-Centered (A popular phrase in modern education. Why? Isn't what is done in schools already centered on the student?)

All of this brings me to another popular buzzword that has become the defining word in athletics today:

FUN

It goes without saying that the youth and high school athletic experience should all be about "fun"....but no more so than it should be about the concepts of "participation", "competition", "character", "leadership", "overcoming adversity", and "winning/losing/success/failure". The problem lies in the premise that "fun" is the buzzword that is tossed out whenever a young athlete is not achieving at the level that they (or their parents) believe they should be.

Specifically:

If the task gets too hard.....

Or they are not winning as much as they would like....

Or the message is not what they want to hear....

Or they are not getting sufficiently rewarded for their efforts....

They fall back on the attitude that it’s not any "fun". Which in and of itself is not a big deal, except that someone has to answer to them (and their parents) for it not being fun - and that usually is the coach. What compounds the matter even greater is that school officials and administrators essentially overreact to the complaint wrapped in the word "fun" and have come to rationalize that if it isn't any fun for the child, then something must be done (mostly as a means to stop their own phone from ringing, or to protect their employment).

What is lost in all of this is the reality that "fun" is not the objective - fun is the by-product of a functional organization that is defined by clear boundaries and healthy relationships. This means that it will be populated with people who have a purpose, see the big picture, and live with principles and character. It also means that leadership is in place that supports the needs of all instead of enabling the fruitless search for the wants of a few.

I don't know if anyone really considers that EVERYONE in the athletic dynamic wants it to be fun. Enjoyment is no less a powerful driving force to a coach than it is to a player. The big mistake is made when people are held culpable for the environment not being enjoyable - after all, everyone has a stake in creating fun and moving in a forward direction. When all is said and done never forget that "fun" cannot be established as a lasting by-product if relationships are not valued by ALL participants.

Each day that passes, we move perilously close to a culture which believes that "fun" is our right.

What we need is a societal tenet that "fun" is our responsibility - to self and to others.

For in doing so, we will construct a world free of artificial platforms, and instead become an environment of real growth and lasting "fun".