New Wisconsin Rule

[Altor]

Believe me when I say that I've never been part of the "offended" crowd. I'd never suggest to turn off the scoreboard.

Calling an NHL goalkeeper a sieve is one thing. Saying that to a 14-year-old in a high school setting is simply not appropriate. The NFHS and every one of its member organizations tell us to teach/preach sportsmanship to our youth. This is not good sportsmanship.

[JRutledge]

Kids are going to sometimes cross the line. That is what adults are for. That is what teachers and administrators are for. And if you think kids will not call a big girl in their mind names from the cheerleading squad, we are even more naive. I agree it is not appropriate, but this outrage is funny. Kids when I was coming up said a lot worse and then some. But we knew that if we said those things out loud we would likely get in trouble.

All I hope is that we do not have to police this when half of the things said we will not really be paying attention to or understand. There are jokes between schools that it takes awhile for someone not at those schools to understand. Let the AD and Principal deal with this stuff. Keep us out of it please.

Peace

[Altor]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

All I hope is that we do not have to police this when half of the things said we will not really be paying attention to or understand. There are jokes between schools that it takes awhile for someone not at those schools to understand. Let the AD and Principal deal with this stuff. Keep us out of it please.

This, I agree with. It's the job of the site/school administrators to take care of this. Not the contest officials.

[Rob1968]

Related matter:
Last week, Women's Varsity game, the background music during warm-ups, which is often played sooo loud, was Rap music, and one of the songs had the "N" word, and other things, as a part of the lyrics. This was at a Charter school, and the principal was there, and was the announcer.
I mentioned to the principal that he/they need to be more aware of the music content . . . he had no idea what was being said in the lyrics! He seemed surprised that I brought it to his attention!
Whether it's the student section, an individual, or the music, there are limits to propriety.

[SD Referee]

Originally Posted by Altor

Believe me when I say that I've never been part of the "offended" crowd. I'd never suggest to turn off the scoreboard.

Calling an NHL goalkeeper a sieve is one thing. Saying that to a 14-year-old in a high school setting is simply not appropriate. The NFHS and every one of its member organizations tell us to teach/preach sportsmanship to our youth. This is not good sportsmanship.

Kids do that stuff to each other in life, in athletics, in study hall. I honestly don't think this stuff bothers 99% of kids. It's the 1% and the wimpy parents that get all bent out of shape about it.

If we are going to teach sportsmanship and make it a priority, lets start at the college and pro level. Tons of trash talking and rubbing it in the face of your opponent. I don't mind at all, but if we are worried about ridding sports of that stuff, let's start there. Kids see it on TV and think that is the way to go about it.

[Amesman]

So how do they handle the passive-aggressive type chant that takes sports ribbing in stride?

I speak, of course, of the student-body riposte at some well-to-do schools that takes place when their teams are getting waxed: "That's all right, that's OK, you're going to work for us some day!"

Unsporting?

[Dad]

Originally Posted by SD Referee

Kids do that stuff to each other in life, in athletics, in study hall. I honestly don't think this stuff bothers 99% of kids. It's the 1% and the wimpy parents that get all bent out of shape about it.

If we are going to teach sportsmanship and make it a priority, lets start at the college and pro level. Tons of trash talking and rubbing it in the face of your opponent. I don't mind at all, but if we are worried about ridding sports of that stuff, let's start there. Kids see it on TV and think that is the way to go about it.

Plenty of studies having to do with this subject. Had you said 1% you would've been closer.

[so cal lurker]

Interesting, while at time silly discussion, which (as all such discussions seem to) devolves into reductio ad absurdum.

To me what is appropriate varies dramatically by level. I see little connection between what is appropriate at a high caliber varsity game (young men and women) and at a junior high game (boys and girls) or a 5th grade game (young boys and girls). And I agree (absent unique circumstances that actually disrupt what is happening on the court) they should not be a referee issue, but game management/school officials. (I know in my high school many moons ago, an administrator was always responsible, home or away, at varsity games to make sure we didn't go too far -- and I have seen the same thing in games I have watched now.)

[Dad]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

Interesting, while at time silly discussion, which (as all such discussions seem to) devolves into reductio ad absurdum.

To me what is appropriate varies dramatically by level. I see little connection between what is appropriate at a high caliber varsity game (young men and women) and at a junior high game (boys and girls) or a 5th grade game (young boys and girls). And I agree (absent unique circumstances that actually disrupt what is happening on the court) they should not be a referee issue, but game management/school officials. (I know in my high school many moons ago, an administrator was always responsible, home or away, at varsity games to make sure we didn't go too far -- and I have seen the same thing in games I have watched now.)

Wisconsin is probably a unique circumstance.

[SD Referee]

Originally Posted by Dad

Plenty of studies having to do with this subject. Had you said 1% you would've been closer.

So you believe that some innocent chants being done by students are having long term negative effects on kids?

I'm not talking about the ones that go over the line and refer to somebody as fat or some other physical features. I'm talking about calling somebody a "sieve" or other good natured chants.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by SD Referee

So you believe that some innocent chants being done by students are having long term negative effects on kids?

I'm not talking about the ones that go over the line and refer to somebody as fat or some other physical features. I'm talking about calling somebody a "sieve" or other good natured chants.

Not at all during sporting events. You brought life and study hall into it and I wasn't sure why. I've never heard a chant ever that made me think for a second that an AD needed to deal with it.

In fact, the worst chants I've heard were directed at officials and they just made me laugh.

[SD Referee]

Originally Posted by Dad

Not at all during sporting events. You brought life and study hall into it and I wasn't sure why. I've never heard a chant ever that made me think for a second that an AD needed to deal with it.

In fact, the worst chants I've heard were directed at officials and they just made me laugh.

That was my point exactly!!!!!!!

Unless somebody is mooing at cheerleaders or threatening somebody, the chants that are done at games are harmless in my opinion. They are not bad sportsmanship. It is just a bunch of kids being kids and having some fun. It's the PC crowd trying to take over again and I think it's a non issue..........most of the time.

Thanks for the discussion!

[Adam]

Keep it on topic, fellas.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by SD Referee

Kids do that stuff to each other in life, in athletics, in study hall. I honestly don't think this stuff bothers 99% of kids. It's the 1% and the wimpy parents that get all bent out of shape about it.

If we are going to teach sportsmanship and make it a priority, lets start at the college and pro level. Tons of trash talking and rubbing it in the face of your opponent. I don't mind at all, but if we are worried about ridding sports of that stuff, let's start there. Kids see it on TV and think that is the way to go about it.

We aren't talking about in life or in study hall. We aren't talking about sportsmanship at the college or pro level. The WIAA represents interscholastic athletics in Wisconsin. That's who they are concerned about, and rightfully so.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Altor

We aren't talking about in life or in study hall. We aren't talking about sportsmanship at the college or pro level. The WIAA represents interscholastic athletics in Wisconsin. That's who they are concerned about, and rightfully so.

I do agree with this statement, but I also hope that they put this in the hands of the administrators of the particular schools.

This to me could all be done without making it public in a news article.

Peace