More levels could solve playing time issue at Bishop Manogue

Re: " Coach claims racial bias in firing ," March 24:

I have read your interesting RGJ article on the high school playing time issue. I am a lifelong basketball fan, youth league coach, and a Bruin booster ever since the John Wooden days at UCLA. I also have coached high school varsity level basketball in spring and summer leagues in Los Angeles.

Typically I would want to play the best players, while remaining sensitive to spreading playing time around when we got ahead, or in games that weren't as critical for advancing in league competition. There are going to be parent pressures, and a coach just has to deal with that as best as she or he can. The idea of equal playing time for all works in intramural league games, youth leagues or in summer leagues, but not in high school regular-season competition. Distribution of playing time needs to be based upon a true meritocracy; otherwise there is no fairness for the athletic kids who shouldn't be held back.

It sounds like that particular high school might possibly consider having varsity, JV, B1, B2 and C teams. That would afford more playing time for all students showing up at tryouts, and the students will learn that they will have just as much fun and satisfaction on any of such teams — maybe more because the level of play will suit some of them better. The athletic should be able to find walk-on volunteer coaches who will take a B or C team, just to get that experience on their resumes.

In my experience in Los Angeles City Section play, under open enrollment policy, good players would gravitate to strong programs with known, winning coaches. This is not unlike a high school with a prominent magnet program in science or theater arts, which would attract students strong in those fields. It is going to happen, and good young players will want to enroll at a high school with a strong program. I don't perceive any unfairness in this; it is only the recognition of a truism.

In my opinion, tuition scholarships at the secondary level are best offered to students based on past academic achievement, future academic potential, and family need. Then those students can go to basketball tryouts and play on whichever level of team for which they might earn a spot on the roster. There might be four or five levels of play, as suggested above, and everyone gets treated fairly in this type of arrangement.

Tom Stindt is a UCLA graduate and youth league coach.

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This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: More levels could solve playing time issue at Bishop Manogue