Reflections From the IM Season

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally posted by lrpalmer3
I can understand your point, but are you saying that you've given a T for every unsporting act that you've ever noticed?

[Edited by lrpalmer3 on Mar 3rd, 2005 at 06:00 PM]

Generally speaking, the sooner you start penalizing unsporting acts, the sooner they stop. The longer you let them go unpenalized, the more difficult it is to get them stopped.

It's classic adolescent behavior. They feel entitled to push the limits. If they feel around for the fences and don't find them, they begin to feel that whatever they're doing is okay. Then when they later get whacked for it, they feel their rights have been violated. It's a lot easier to establish the boundaries and defend them than it is to get them back in line once they've gone beyond the boundaries. So show them where the fences are the first time they reach them.