Popped a coach for clapping at me

[Rich]

Originally Posted by LRZ

The sportsmanship code read to the coaches and captains before every PIAA-sanctioned event reads, in part, "Actions meant to demean opposing contestants, teams, spectators and officials are not in the highest ideals of interscholastic education and will not be tolerated."

If that shoe fits....

Codes like this read before games might as well not be read. Nobody listens to them and they become part of the background noise.

[bigbeardedbryan]

Originally Posted by Rich

Codes like this read before games might as well not be read. Nobody listens to them and they become part of the background noise.

A few schools here have their PA announcers read them before the starting lineups are introduced, five minutes after the crew was forced to read them to head coaches and captains - doubling down on the useless.

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by bigbeardedbryan

...the crew was forced to read them to head coaches and captains - doubling down on the useless.

What the .....???

[LRZ]

In PA, there is a mandatory pre-game with head coaches and captains, at which we are required to read the sportsmanship statement verbatim. I do so, trying to give it meaning by my tone of voice--many refs recite it mechanically, in a monotone--then ask if there are any questions; there never are--then "good luck, have a great game and have fun."

I don't fool myself that the code is effective in controlling behavior--likewise, for example, the code in Legion baseball--but it is required, so I make the best of it. On occasion, I've dealt with a hectoring coach by repeating the part about demeaning officials will not be tolerated, like a warning.

[bigbeardedbryan]

Originally Posted by LRZ

... read the sportsmanship statement verbatim.

Emphasis on "read," too. I got docked on an evaluation for having memorized the sportsmanship statement and, therefore, not holding the PIAA card in my hand and reading from it.

I'll leave it to your imagination which method I think seems more professional.

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by bigbeardedbryan

Emphasis on "read," too. I got docked on an evaluation for having memorized the sportsmanship statement and, therefore, not holding the PIAA card in my hand and reading from it.

I'll leave it to your imagination which method I think seems more professional.

Wow, that's crazy - in NJ we have the same requirement, I never even thought to memorize it! I feel silly reading from the card, and I am sure the kids feel just as stupid, standing there, watching me read from a card!

[Rich]

We have a real sportsmanship problem, and I've witnessed first hand that people think these cards/banners/announcements are actually solutions that fix things.

They don't. Anyone with half a brain realizes that these efforts are just paying lip service to the problem.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Rich

Codes like this read before games might as well not be read. Nobody listens to them and they become part of the background noise.

Or somebody like me would be a smart-ass and say something like "wasn't there a sportsmanship code read before the game?"

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Or somebody like me would be a smart-ass and say something like "wasn't there a sportsmanship code read before the game?"

Funny, I probably would do the same thing.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Funny, I probably would do the same thing.

Peace

Yup. Been there, done that.

"Take care of your knuckleheads before we have to."