High School Football and Sportsmanship

Re “Students Mourn Loss,” Oct. 2:

My heart goes out to the family, friends, teammates and players of all those involved with high school football. In just the past three weeks, I have witnessed in high school and Pop Warner football three boys being carried off the field on a stretcher, a broken arm, pulled muscles and strains, and now the tragic death of Matt Colby, defensive lineman for Costa Mesa.

I have a son in JV football. These incidents and many more have forced me to reevaluate and contemplate football, what it has become and the direction it is heading.

It seems to me that football’s main focus has become entrenched in size, dominance and power. Rather than the win-at-all-costs or second-to-none attitude, high school coaches may want to rekindle the true spirit of high school football by refocusing on the importance of hard work and dedication, and the value of sportsmanship.

Kara Frazier

Trabuco Canyon