INSIDE THE GAME: When Politics Collide With Player Development

In youth sports and beyond, there’s an uncomfortable truth that rarely makes the highlight reel.

Politics exist.

From AAU circuits to high school rotations, from travel teams to varsity locker rooms, there are often circles within circles — an inner ring and an outer ring. It doesn’t take long for players and parents to sense where they stand. Playing time, exposure, roles — sometimes they feel earned. Sometimes they feel predetermined.

And that tension? It can test families.

But here’s the deeper truth: while politics may influence opportunity, they don’t determine destiny.

What consistently rises above favoritism, perception and noise is work ethic.

The grind doesn’t lie.

There are moments when a change of environment is necessary — when a player truly needs a better fit to grow. And then there are moments when the harder reality sets in: maybe the perception of politics isn’t fully accurate. Maybe the athlete simply isn’t ready yet.

That’s a difficult pill to swallow in a culture wired to vent online and assign blame.

But development has never come from complaining.

The most resilient families teach a different response. Keep your chin up. Stay humble. Go to work.

Instead of crafting social media posts, they craft skill. Instead of chasing validation, they chase improvement — one day at a time. They emphasize respect. Coachability. Body language. Preparation.

Because those are controllables.

And ultimately, faith over frustration.

For parents, the responsibility runs deep. It’s about placing your child in the best possible environment — but it’s also about preparing them before they ever step into that environment. Coaches see athletes for a few hours a week. Parents see the unseen hours. The mornings. The extra reps. The character when no one is watching.

As coaches, the frustration works both ways.

It’s easier to blame a system than to confront a skill gap. Easier to point at politics than to point at weaknesses in footwork, strength, IQ or confidence.

The brutally honest truth — when it comes from a coach who truly cares — is often this: your child needs to get better.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t talented.

It doesn’t mean they aren’t loved.

It doesn’t mean they won’t get there.

It simply means growth is required.

The healthiest mindset a young athlete can adopt is this: control what you can control.

The unseen hours.

The extra reps.

The conditioning.

The film study.

The response to adversity.

Adversity will show up. For everyone. On every level. In sports and in life.

The question isn’t whether it will hit.

The question is how you respond when it does.

Victim or victor?

Complaint or commitment?

Excuse or effort?

Politics may exist in sports.

But character outlasts it.

Work ethic exposes it.

And resilience overcomes it.