OT - OSAA gone too PC?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Texref

How is turning your back or "reading" the paper during introductions deriving joy from the misfortune of others?

It's not. It's a dumb policy with non-athletes trying to exert their ideal into a place where it doesn't belong.

[Texref]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

It's not. It's a dumb policy with non-athletes trying to exert their ideal into a place where it doesn't belong.

I absolutely agree with you. I was asking Nevada though as he seems to be on his high horse about this one

[Juulie Downs]

Wreck (oo, not a very good nickname!) -- I suppose they conjectured that these things were "provocations" even if in themselves they may not be all that bad. But it does seem way, way over the top.

I'd rather see them find ways to ENcourage positive cheering and appropriate behavior, rather than just stomp down hard on the bad stuff, or what they see as bad stuff.

I agree that I'm not sure how prohibiting the things you listed will help prevent the kinds of incidents you referred to. Those were indeed ugly and had little to do with turning backs. holding newspapers, etc.

Some of the stuff in that list is mild in comparison to what I heard once at a state tournament game several years ago. Big city school (predominately black-we'll call them school A) playing school from the next big city (predominately white-we'll call them school B). For the sake of identity and obviousness, I'm not even going to mention the gender of the tournament being played. School A starts a chant, something in reference to their players being much quicker and better shooters. I can't remember exact words, but it was a bit of a "we're better than you" kind of attitude to it. School B comes back with a "Who's Your Daddy?" chant with an aristocratic snootiness in the chant. I never saw so many administrators from a school converge on the student body so fast!

[Tim C]

"Especially the part about him being against your interp of the new rules."

It is not "my" interp . . . it is the interpretation of the OSAA as given by Cindy Simmons (Assistant Executive Director of the OSAA) at the State Baseball Commissioners meeting.

Regards,

[SamIAm]

JMO -
Schools compete for more than just the final score. The spectators want to show more support than the other teams spectators. When the support gets to negative actions, even the "just a little negative" actions, how do you show more support? By doing the same thing (that would be a tie score) or something a little more negative (my teams spectators won). How does this not escalate?

If you remove all the negativity (picture Donald Southerlland in Kelly's Heros as I just did and you will get a laugh), escalation should only harm your ears.
That would be a perfect world, which we don't live in. So, should we allow negativity and just remove that which exceeds the officials limits? Who likes doing that?

It is mush easier to officiate the game while listening to fans cheering for their own team as opposed to thinking "am I going to have to get game admin to remove the bozo in the second row".

[Tim C]

" . . . but somehow you attack me . . ."

Please show me were I "attacked" you.

"I think you've exagerated a bit here."

Let me see I "exagerated" just where? I tried to explain the reasoning behind the OSAA ruling. Nothing more.

I agree with the rules and that, somehow, makes me the bad guy.

Go figger . . .

[bob jenkins]

Like all "moral" judgments, no matter where the line is drawn, some will say it's too severe and some will complain it's too lax.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Like all "moral" judgments, no matter where the line is drawn, some will say it's too severe and some will complain it's too lax.

And that is why you cannot legislate morality for only moral reasons. It would be better if they just made a statement about negative behavior than trying to single out specific actions that are often harmless. As said before, the most inappropriate comments I hear are from parents. You would think the parents are going to fight by the things they say and the way they behave. Kids tend to be much more lighthearted and fun.

Peace

[WreckRef]

I think they are using too broad of a sword to try to eliminate a problem. Like I have said all along, the problems they are trying to eliminate (racism, etc.) do not belong in society, PERIOD, let alone sports. I just think they are taking it too far and eliminating what is harmless fun for the student body. I mean, really, is a player emotionally ruined for life if a student from the opposing section yells, "Air ball!!!" at him/her after he/she throws up an air ball?

I know that if these were the rules when I was in high school I probably wouldn't have gone to any basketball games.

When I was an athlete in high school I had a couple of racist slurs thrown my way (I'm a minority.) While they didn't bother me because I just chalked it up to stupidity, I do see how it could bother others and I definitely believe it has no place in sports. It just seems like they are punishing the overwhelming majority who attend the games and want to have fun with these new rules.

Disclaimer: This is all JMHO.

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Like all "moral" judgments, no matter where the line is drawn, some will say it's too severe and some will complain it's too lax.

Ooo! Oooo! I wanna say it!

"Always listen to Bob........."

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by Tim C

So let me get this straight: The Oregon School Activities Association has generated rules that require schools to model Good Sportsmanship and you are against that.

The OSAA is just following the general philosophy the NFHS that feels that a sporting event is an extension of the classroom and a learning experience for players, coaches, officials and fans.

My, what a terrible thing.

Let the college crowds model what ever they want. High school sports has a totally different direction (intended result) than college or professional sports.

If attendance is down because of this (and there is no data to prove it is or is not) then perhaps it is the correct people that are staying away. I have enjoyed football and basketball games more this year than anytime in the past 10 years.

Tim Christensen

Secretary
Oregon Athletic Officals Association
State Baseball Umpire Committee

Publication Committee Member
National Federation of State High Schools
High School Today

Tim,
First question: When you go to games, do you go as an observer or as a fan?

Whether you want to admit is or not, the OSAA has taken things further than the NFHS Rules indicate.

I have played sports since the early 1960s, coached sports since the mid 1970s and first officiated in the late 80s. I have been an Athletic Director, Athletic Board President, League Commissioner, Referee Assignor, Referee Mentor, Referee Assessor, Club Director, etc. during the past 20+ years. I think that I have always taught my players to play the right way including utilizing good sportsmanship at all times.

My personal opinion is that the OSAA has gone too far with some of these regulations. You have the right to disagree with my view, just as I have the right to disagree with yours. For gosh sakes, if kids can't have some fun at the games they are likely to find something else to do. I know, I know, kids can have fun by just cheering their own team. I am sure that is your opinion. That is fine. I just happen to disagree.

We have some very clever "Student Sections" in Central Ohio. Yes, they do the basic "Air Ball", etc. But, they also come up with some very interesting cheers as well. "You can't do that", "fundamentals", and many other catchy cheers do not cause harm to the game or the team in my opinion (don't officials actually tell the players "they can't do that" when they commit a foul or "fundamentally, you cannot take four steps while holding the ball"?).

There are some aspects of these rules that may make sense. But, I just think that some of them have gone too far.

As the distinguished Bob Jenkins accurately stated:

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Like all "moral" judgments, no matter where the line is drawn, some will say it's too severe and some will complain it's too lax.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

We have some very clever "Student Sections" in Central Ohio. Yes, they do the basic "Air Ball", etc. But, they also come up with some very interesting cheers as well. "You can't do that", "fundamentals", and many other catchy cheers do not cause harm to the game or the team in my opinion (don't officials actually tell the players "they can't do that" when they commit a foul or "fundamentally, you cannot take four steps while holding the ball"?).

I love the "He's a Freshman" clap, clap, clapclapclap.

Or the "Just like Football" only to have the team that won in football lose in the playoffs. That was rather funny last night.

Peace