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Old Thu Apr 13, 2006, 07:35am
Forksref Forksref is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: N.D.
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I've had several games this year where a team was getting totally blown out, out-manned and out-played. Their coaches were wonderful with the kids, being very positive with them. The kids actually enjoyed the game. When I coached, I always told the kids that the number one goal was to have fun.

Two weeks ago I was doing a large amateur youth tournament in town. (I normally don't do these but the assigner was desperate!) A team from our state (6th grade level) was playing a team from Winnipeg. I first thought the Winnipeg team was comprised entirely of Native Americans but I found out later that they were Phillipino. I chatted with some of their parents before the game. The game was close and the Winnipeg team lost the game. During the game, parents of the other team were really into it, not abusive to us officials, but really into it as if it was the NBA Final. After the game I chatted with the Winnipeg parents and they were saying things like, "Good game! That was fun! It was fun to watch our kids play and have fun out there. Thanks for a good job." I doubt the parents of the other team would have been as gracious had they lost. I thought about the Phillipino team and parents, and concluded, "That's the way it should be! Out here for their kids and the enjoyment of sport, not worried about wins and losses. I don't know if it was a cultural difference or what, but it was really refreshing to see the entire group enjoy the day with their kids, regardless of the score.
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