Real Team Attitude - Would You Want Him?

[JasonTX]

In my chapter we provide officiating services to 28+ schools and that includes jr. high on up to varsity. Each year our member vote on 2 schools each year that have showed the highest level of sportsmanship. When those schools have their sports banquets we award them with a plaque for the sportsmanship award. Schools that receive that reward are very grateful to receive it. We vote on this before the playoffs begins. It's no surprise that teams with good sportsmanship exel on the field. One of the teams this year made their way through the playoffs and won a state championship. It all starts at the top. The head coach for that team is the best I have ever worked for. You can totally screw up on a call and he won't say a word. I've never heard of him ever hollering at an official. That type of environment allows us to concentrate on officiating.

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

In my chapter we provide officiating services to 28+ schools and that includes jr. high on up to varsity. Each year our member vote on 2 schools each year that have showed the highest level of sportsmanship. When those schools have their sports banquets we award them with a plaque for the sportsmanship award. Schools that receive that reward are very grateful to receive it. We vote on this before the playoffs begins. It's no surprise that teams with good sportsmanship exel on the field. One of the teams this year made their way through the playoffs and won a state championship. It all starts at the top. The head coach for that team is the best I have ever worked for. You can totally screw up on a call and he won't say a word. I've never heard of him ever hollering at an official. That type of environment allows us to concentrate on officiating.

Amen! My high school football coach was like that. I got nailed for holding once, and I turned to the official and said "That's bullsh*t." Not only did I get my 15, but I got to sit for the week and write an essay on sportsmanship. He set an excellent example, and now as an official, I really appreciate guys like him. Unfortunately they seem to be a dying breed....

[OverAndBack]

You gotta remember, these are kids we're talking about. I know there are a great many kids who "get it," who are polite and respectful and have had good upbringings and such, but they're still young people and they do stupid stuff sometimes (I know, I have two of them).

I think one of the many jobs of a college coach (if they take their jobs seriously) is to educate and mold young people in more ways than just getting them to play their sport better.

If I'd recruited the kid who was all petulant after such a loss, I'd like to think I'd remember that he's probably 17 years old and, rather than looking at it as a negative, I'd look at it as an opportunity. I'd have an opportunity to help shape a young person and give them the benefit of my experience, hopefully that would pay off for him down the road.

Now, does that mean I'm going to look the other way in a Lawrence Phillips situation or brush transgressions under the rug like at some schools (or give out some Bobby Bowden-like meaningless punishment like make a guy sit out a quarter of a bowl game)? No. Nor am I going to say I'd never cut my losses eventually and give up on a kid.

But this is behavior that, while far from optimal, isn't out of the ordinary for a young person, especially a young athlete who plays an emotional sport.

I'd look at it as an opportunity, whether I was the kid's coach or the kid's father.

This is part of what we're here for, boys and girls.