Handshake or Fist pound?

[Rich]

In Wisconsin high school basketball, players are not allowed to shake hands with opponents or officials. Period. The starters for the visiting team are announced and then the starters from the home team are announced and they all stay near the foul line by their respective benches.

Sounds a bit uptight, but I actually like not having the parade of handshakes.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

In Wisconsin high school basketball, players are not allowed to shake hands with opponents or officials. Period.

A few veteran officials tried to push that here, too. It didn't go anywhere.

I was glad, actually. Anything that discourages sportsmanship isn't a good idea, IMO. I can only see a negative impact this can have on player-official relations.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

A few veteran officials tried to push that here, too. It didn't go anywhere.

I was glad, actually. Anything that discourages sportsmanship isn't a good idea, IMO. I can only see a negative impact this can have on player-official relations.

I think you're overblowing the impact of this little exercise.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I think you're overblowing the impact of this little exercise.

I don't think so.

If you're a teenager that's instructed not to shake hands/fist bump with officials, you see us in a different, inaccessible light. It's a little thing, but it has a ripple effect on impressions.

Conversely, fist bumping opens things up for the kids, a little more than handshaking, IMO. (Handshaking is still the way to go for coaches, I say.) This act is very common in soccer around here (mostly post-game, some pre-game) and I see a difference it has on relations.

Does it eradicate problems completely? Of course not. However, the crap factor is certainly lessened when you've made positive contact previously.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I don't think so.

If you're a teenager that's instructed not to shake hands/fist bump with officials, you see us in a different, inaccessible light. It's a little thing, but it has a ripple effect on impressions.

Conversely, fist bumping opens things up for the kids, a little more than handshaking, IMO. (Handshaking is still the way to go for coaches, I say.) This act is very common in soccer around here (mostly post-game, some pre-game) and I see a difference it has on relations.

Does it eradicate problems completely? Of course not. However, the crap factor is certainly lessened when you've made positive contact previously.

I've done games both ways, and there's been no difference. Games with no introductions don't have the pregame handshake or fist bump. You're obviously free to disagree, but my experience tells me you're wrong.

Respect comes from the coach, and they're all perfectly capable of teaching it without the crutch of a handshake.