Woodenstick
02-05-2007, 08:47 AM
In the packet containing my new NFHS rules from US Lax there was a 4 page hand-out entitled "MDOC/WDOC Sportsmanship Card." As far as I can tell, the procedures in this are recommended for all youth leagues.
The Hand-out recommends that each youth team provide a sidelines manager. If the sidelines manager sees bad behavior by a coach, player or spectator, he or she tries to stop the bahavior. If this fails, the bad actor receives a sportsmanship card and the sidelines manager tells the official that the carde has been issued. The official then announces that "the game will proceed under the sportsmanship card," meaning that if the bahavior does not stop, the official will terminate the game and the "innocent" team then gets a 1-0 victory. There is a lot more to it, but this is the gist of the procedures.
My thinking is that a sideline manager is a great idea. But I also think that these procedures have some issues.
1. We just had a discussion about whether an official could "terminate" a game for bad behavior. At best it seems the official can "suspend" the game.
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=69654&highlight=terminate
The hand-out itself states that the rules do not address termination of a game for USC.
2. Every referee class I have ever taken in lacrosse or other sports has stated that it is a bad idea to make threats, as they may limit your options. Here the playing of the sportsmanship card seems to eliminate several options for dealing with questionable behavior (ejection, penalty, warning) and give the official one option - terminate the game. Furthermore, the card could be issued by someone who is not an official, but giving the card puts the official in a box - either support the sidelines manager and threaten to terminate, or cut the sidelines manager's legs out from under.
In most cases, I believe that the best procedure if one person is acting like a jerk is to eject that person and continue w/o their presence. Why punish everyone for one idiot?
As LP 5435 says:
rebut? :dummy:
The Hand-out recommends that each youth team provide a sidelines manager. If the sidelines manager sees bad behavior by a coach, player or spectator, he or she tries to stop the bahavior. If this fails, the bad actor receives a sportsmanship card and the sidelines manager tells the official that the carde has been issued. The official then announces that "the game will proceed under the sportsmanship card," meaning that if the bahavior does not stop, the official will terminate the game and the "innocent" team then gets a 1-0 victory. There is a lot more to it, but this is the gist of the procedures.
My thinking is that a sideline manager is a great idea. But I also think that these procedures have some issues.
1. We just had a discussion about whether an official could "terminate" a game for bad behavior. At best it seems the official can "suspend" the game.
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=69654&highlight=terminate
The hand-out itself states that the rules do not address termination of a game for USC.
2. Every referee class I have ever taken in lacrosse or other sports has stated that it is a bad idea to make threats, as they may limit your options. Here the playing of the sportsmanship card seems to eliminate several options for dealing with questionable behavior (ejection, penalty, warning) and give the official one option - terminate the game. Furthermore, the card could be issued by someone who is not an official, but giving the card puts the official in a box - either support the sidelines manager and threaten to terminate, or cut the sidelines manager's legs out from under.
In most cases, I believe that the best procedure if one person is acting like a jerk is to eject that person and continue w/o their presence. Why punish everyone for one idiot?
As LP 5435 says:
rebut? :dummy: