In response to concern over the Weedsport Central School District's expectations for athletes and requests to miss practices, and the athlete's subsequent removal from a team, I am drawing on my experiences as a former coach, athlete, parent and educator in the Weedsport district for 30 years.

I obviously grew up in an era much different than today's. The Weedsport district has a policy of allowing athletes participating in spring sports the opportunity to travel, vacation, etc., during their spring break.

There are usually no games or events scheduled over break. Practices may be held for athletes in town over spring break.

I remember a time when both practices and games were scheduled over spring break and athletes were expected to attend. There was not the uproar about students practicing or playing in contests.

Eventually, the trend I guess, was for more families to go on vacation during spring break.

Some school districts realized the conflicts that now existed and revised the spring break practice policy and scheduling of games to accommodate families and their students.

Some people believe that students should be allowed to miss practice for family vacations any time they want. Some say why not have them miss a game or two if they are absent. The problem is if you allow this, you risk never having a complete team to accomplish the goals you set to reach.

I am sure most families do not see the significance of an absence from practice or a game(s).

Unfortunately, if these types of requests were to occur routinely, and they would, it would affect much more than the student (and family) who wants to go on vacation.

It disrupts the whole flow of building a team, working together to accomplish a common goal and making the same sacrifice as the ball player or teammate next to you.

Athletes learn lifelong skills through participation in athletics, and increasingly so in programs that are successful.

Success comes from hard work, dedication and sacrifice.

For many students/athletes, their future will not include a professional sports career, but will rely more on their educational background and the values taught to them by participation in sports.

There is something to learn from both winning and losing, however. I dare say that anyone who has been involved in successful athletic programs, has gained much more from their experiences.

Frank Yorio

Weedsport