Quote:
Originally Posted by ref3808
You're not alone. I had a sixth grade girls game this week. My partner and I were dismayed at the behavior at this grade level. We both gave warnings, I called an intentional and we were both close to using T's for that which God intended.
Too bad, the poor behavior just keeps moving to lower grade levels.
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While it is easy for us (and others) to make comments about poor behavior "moving" to lower levels, allow me to give an example that shows that perhaps history is repeating itself as much as anything else.
When I was in 6th grade (I won't give the year, I will only say that Don McLean had the #1 hit that year), there were two teams in our league that were known for having "bad boys." At that time, players were required to raise their hand (ONLY one hand) and lower it (within slamming it down) when a foul was called on them. Players were ejected when they received two technical fouls.
During many of our games, SEVERAL players on the opposing teams were ejected during that season.
As a collective lot, today's players may be a bit more bold than those of decades back, but I don't see the trend as being as negative as others do.
One thing that hasn't changed is that it is still disappointing to hear stories such as the one Mark has relayed to us. The positive that we can take from the story is the parent's reaction. I will say that in the case of the two teams back in my playing era, the parents would frequently be cheering the players' actions.