How involved should you become

[mick]

Originally posted by TigerBball
Now this is getting into the realm of coaching, but don't you think both coaches have a responsibility to both teams to do what is right for the game as a whole, not just their team. Now this does not mean jeopardizing a win, but embarassing an opponent does no good for either team.

"only the strong can show mercy, the weak must resort to cruelty" I don't know who said it, but it fits.

Tough question, TigerBball.
In a perfect world, yes.

But look at the variables they face:
The player (talent, numbers, desire, ability, willingness)
The parents (input, threats, support, lack of knowledge)
The fans (lack of knowledge, pressure to win)
The school (budgets, philosophy of sport)
The program (support staff at other levels, gym,weight room)
The opponent (history between the schools)
The Coach (intelligence, knowledge, training, previous coaches, up-bringing, amount of sleep, marital status, children, pressure at real job, debts, deaths, births)

On any given day, those factors (all of the above, none of the above, some of the above), and more, may affect any given coach.

I will offer this, though, a coach that will be around next year, probably feels some responsibility to the "game".
mick