Commercialization

With the popularity of Friday Night Lights, Remember the Titans, the new MTV series Two-A-Days, and others the Tampa Bay Online article, "Friday Night Lights, Camera, Action", talks a bit about the commercialization of High School Football.

Excerpts:

While local players and fans relish the flash of fame, sports sociology experts warn the increasing commercialization of high school athletics could ultimately corrupt prep sports.

David Shields, an associate professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and an expert on youth sports, said high school athletics have moved away from being grounded in educational values. The growing influence of national television exposure and corporate money puts more pressure on coaches to field winning teams that justify the investment, he said.

Earlier this year, three adults - ages 30, 23 and 20 - were discovered attending Immokalee (Florida) and playing on sports teams, according to the Naples Daily News.

Shields said he fears that students of high school age are not equipped to deal with the fame - or shame - that can come with national exposure. The result can be increased use of drugs or alcohol, early sexual activity and more widespread use of steroids.