Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
April 27, 2007, Washington Post

Redskins: Back to the Drafting Board

The National Football League holds its player draft this weekend. That's when NFL teams pick the best college players for their squads. To make things fair, the teams with losing records last season usually get to pick before the ones that had winning records.

In any sport, a player draft is about teams trying to get better. Each team takes an honest look at its players and figures out where it needs to improve.

Take the Washington Redskins. They had a record of 5-11 (five wins, 11 losses) last season. Among the 32 NFL teams, their offense ranked 13th and their defense was 31st. The Skins need to improve in plenty of positions, especially on defense. Washington has a chance to pick a very good player because it has the sixth pick in this year's draft.

Coach Joe Gibbs and his assistants must decide whether drafting a pass-rushing lineman or a super-quick cornerback would toughen up the Skins' defense. Or maybe Gibbs wants a top-flight receiver to help Jason Campbell, the team's young quarterback. Gibbs had better pick well, because the Skins don't have another pick until the fifth round of the seven-round draft.

The player draft is a good model for kids. I don't mean that youth teams and leagues should hold player drafts. But I do think that all kids who play sports should think about and work on what skills they need to improve -- just like NFL teams try to get better through the draft.

Say you just finished your basketball season. You were a pretty good dribbler and rebounder but you stunk at free throws. Sounds like you should go down to the park with a friend or a parent and practice free throws. Don't just shoot 50 in a row. Play around for a while, then stop and take five free throws. Then play some more, stop and shoot five more. Keep track of how many you make to see if you are improving.

It's the same with any sport. You won't get better by sitting around hoping it will happen. But get started by being honest with yourself about what skills you need to improve. If you are not sure, ask a coach or a parent who has watched you play.

Remember, even the best players and teams keep trying to get better. The Redskins can't say after a 5-11 season that everything is fine and dandy. They need to get some players who will help them get back to the playoffs.

Starting this weekend.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is an author of sports novels for kids.

© 2007 The Washington Post Company