Enforcing Sportsmanship

[JWP]

More and more after-season tournaments are handing out fines for techicals. I did one this weekend -- everything from 3-4 grade to college level --that said if a player or a coach received a technical, it is an automatic $20 fine, and the player or coach is out of the game until the money is paid. We never had any problems ... except.

First game, 9 a.m. A high school kid didn't like a call, and as he walks away, I can hear what I think is an obscenity under his breath. I give him a "C'mon, 14, watch the language." At the next time out, he comes up next to me and says, "Hey, I'm sorry about that ... I just really, really need some coffee right now."