Talking to coaches
 

In addition to doing HS games, I run our Church League. I train and schedule young officials. I referee a few games myself and I observe the officials.

This year before the season begins, I am going to talk to the coaches about sportsmanship and the fact that this is CHURCH league and not the NBA.

I'd love to hear advice from you guys. Any ideas of how to convey these ideas?

Thanks in advance.

If the Church League is made of of kids, I have no issues there. If the Church League is made up of adults, then you may have more blowback. It does not mean that you should not do it on the second example, but adults think they know better and what you say might not go over as well. Kids still are used to be told what to do or having to listen to adults so they might pay a little attention.

Peace

Since you’re in Maryland take some excerpts from the MPSSAA’s “Coaches Leading the Way” handbook and just add in points you feel would be appropriate for the church league. Combined I would think that should do the trick.

Thanks to both of you. I am looking at the MPSSAA site now.

Have the teams meet for a prayer at half court just before the game begins, led by the "home" team on the schedule. Suggest to the captains/coaches that part of the prayer include thanking Him for the time of friendly fellowship, a request to keep everybody healthy, and a reminder to the competitors that they are playing for His glory.

This suggestion makes me laugh. I used to work a greek church men's league. The league was very competitive and there was always a lot of wagering going on each game. Many of the teams brought in ex college players and ex professional players from overseas. None of them were greek, they were all ringers. League rules dictated that the teams line up at mid court facing each other while they said a prayer before each game. The ball was tossed and they started beating on each other and talking trash just like any other men's league I have ever officiated.

It is not uncommon for a church league to stress zero tolerance for any unsportsmanlike behavior, and some have penalties of their own, such as an automatic suspension for an ejection, etc. Announce it, then enforce it. The players and coaches will adjust.

I've heard of leagues requiring the coaches to sign some of sportsmanship statement with some rules/guidelines for them. I believe making them sign something will make them feel a little more accountable.

And I played in both a basketball and softball league where we couldn't get enough church members to play one season, so we asked friends and co-workers to help us out. We felt bad enough that we didn't attempt to field a team the next year. What's your point?

Beyond what's been said, have your officials set the tone early and often.

My point is that praying before the game doesn't help. The guys were just as likely to do stupid stuff in that league as they were to do it in the leagues that didn't pray before the start of the game.

We joke here that church ball is the only brawl that begins with a prayer.:D

That was my experience as well. I remember all of us (officials too) holding hands in a big circle, hugging after the prayer and you would have thought the devil gave the prayer because nothing done before seemed to matter. I remember more Ts and rough play then any other game I have had. This is the reason I stopped doing all men's leagues in the first place because of leagues similar to these.

Peace

When I ran an organization that conducted "church" games, I instituted the rule that not only would we have a prayer before each game, but immediately after, as well. After the 1st week, it really made a positive difference in the attitudes. (A couple of the worst sportsmanship offenders chose to not continue. And at first, I was told that "making the players responsible for their actions - rather than the Good Lord - was "unfair" . . .)