sportsmanship

[iwearmysunglassesatnight]

[quote="ihsdana"]I’ve been coaching hockey for 19 years and have been involved in hockey for over 30 years and what I witnessed the other night during a tournament, completely set me back. In all my years from coaching to playing or even as a general spectator, I’ve never witnessed a total lack of respect for the game and sportsmanship from the White Bear Lake Bantam B Orange team. WBL is the visiting team. They announce their starting line up and the kids on the other team are tapping their sticks for the visiting team. In the announcing of the home team, the WBL players turn their backs to the other team and skate away. The WBL team turned their back as if they had rehearsed this habit.

I’m truly curious to hear where our society stands on sportsmanship. I’ve talked to nearly 50 people on this incident and everyone of them was stunned.

What is sportsmanship? How does an individual or a team display sportsmanship? As a society, are we really teaching our kids the value of sportsmanship? Who’s responsible in explaining to our kids what sportsmanship is all about, is it the coaches, parents, local association or do we allow the kids to learn on their own? Does sportsmanship solely lie on the shoulders of the players or does it include, coaches and parents?

I believe as a coach, we are responsible in being a positive role model. Not only do we teach the kids about their specific sport, but we also teach them life skills they won’t see in school. Part of these life skills should include, teamwork, sportsmanship, and self-discipline to name a few. MN Hockey came out with the HEP program in hopes of improving items such as sportsmanship.
Do we blame the kids? No, shame on you parents and shame on WBL Bantam B Orange coaching staff![/quote]

I would imagine speaking to 50 people about this took some time. Perhaps asking the coach about it would provide a more clear answer.

[ihsdana]

I thought of it, but at the time it probably would have caused a scene. By the time the blood pressure went back to normal the opportunity was gone.

[greybeard58]

For an action like this at the very least the President of White Bear Hockey should be notified of the date,time,location and the opponent. Describe what happened. You could also copy the District 2 Director. If this is a one time indecent the association can take the appropriate action and if this is a continuation of incidents then the District might need to get involved.

[O-townClown]

Who were they playing? Was it a rivalry game where there is some history?

[ihsdana]

No rivalry. Teams were Rochester Bantam B Black and WBL Bantam B Orange

[TTpuckster]

Who were they playing? Was it a rivalry game where there is some history?

O-Town?

Does this really matter?

[hockey_is_a_choice]

Sportsmanship. Put simply, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If kids have good role models, i.e., coaches and parents who demand that their players or children take the high road and participate with class, kids will follow the lead. If, however, kids have role models who tolerate bad behavior, some kids will push the envelope and be poster boys for bad behavior. Now, we cannot control how other people raise their kids, but we can set expectations for our own kids and players. I expect my boys to shake opposing players' and coaches' hands after every game. Further, I expect my sons to shake the refs' hands and thank them for their services after every game. I expect my boys to be respectful during introductions and remove their helmets when the National Anthem is played. I also point out bad behavior to my kids and let them know how I would handle the incident if they ever behaved in that manner.

A few years ago, during a summer AAA squirt game, a player from the opposing team was thrown out of the game for taking too many penalties. As the 10-year old lad was leaving the ice, he yelled and swore at the refs. Then, on his way to the locker room, this charming little boy banged his stick on the arena walls. Later, I told my son that, if he were ever thrown out of a game, I expect him to leave the ice quietly and go straight to the locker room to wait for his coach to talk to him at the end of the game. I told my young skater that, if he ever behaved like the kid who was thrown out of the game, he would see me flying out of the stands. I told my son that I would grab him by the collar and drag him to the opposing team's locker room at the end of the game and make him apologize to every kid and coach in that locker room. Then, he would go to his locker room to apologize to his teammates and coaches. He would also apologize to the refs. To close out this teaching moment, I told my son that I would then decide if and when he ever played organized hockey again. Suffice it to say my son has never lipped off to a ref or coach and he acts appropriately when in the presence of the opposing team.

As parents we owe it to our kids to demand that they have class, even when their teammates or coaches are poster boys for bad behavior. I don't care if there is some kind of history between the WB team and the other program. Sometimes you send a bigger message by taking the high road.

[ALSANITI]

Sportsmanship. Put simply, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If kids have good role models, i.e., coaches and parents who demand that their players or children take the high road and participate with class, kids will follow the lead. If, however, kids have role models who tolerate bad behavior, some kids will push the envelope and be poster boys for bad behavior. Now, we cannot control how other people raise their kids, but we can set expectations for our own kids and players. I expect my boys to shake opposing players' and coaches' hands after every game. Further, I expect my sons to shake the refs' hands and thank them for their services after every game. I expect my boys to be respectful during introductions and remove their helmets when the National Anthem is played. I also point out bad behavior to my kids and let them know how I would handle the incident if they ever behaved in that manner.

A few years ago, during a summer AAA squirt game, a player from the opposing team was thrown out of the game for taking too many penalties. As the 10-year old lad was leaving the ice, he yelled and swore at the refs. Then, on his way to the locker room, this charming little boy banged his stick on the arena walls. Later, I told my son that, if he were ever thrown out of a game, I expect him to leave the ice quietly and go straight to the locker room to wait for his coach to talk to him at the end of the game. I told my young skater that, if he ever behaved like the kid who was thrown out of the game, he would see me flying out of the stands. I told my son that I would grab him by the collar and drag him to the opposing team's locker room at the end of the game and make him apologize to every kid and coach in that locker room. Then, he would go to his locker room to apologize to his teammates and coaches. He would also apologize to the refs. To close out this teaching moment, I told my son that I would then decide if and when he ever played organized hockey again. Suffice it to say my son has never lipped off to a ref or coach and he acts appropriately when in the presence of the opposing team.

As parents we owe it to our kids to demand that they have class, even when their teammates or coaches are poster boys for bad behavior. I don't care if there is some kind of history between the WB team and the other program. Sometimes you send a bigger message by taking the high road.

Well said. I think I have heard this conversation before. Oh yeah, it it almost exactly the same conversation I had with each of my boys. It is called, expectations and in turn, consequences if those expectations are not met. It is amazing how many parents want to just be freiends and not stand up and be parents. I woulde not tolerate my son doing this and I would make my thoughts known to everyone, especially the coach. That coach would know that my son will not be participating in anything that would show disrepect to the other team.

[Titan2020]

I’ve been coaching hockey for 19 years and have been involved in hockey for over 30 years and what I witnessed the other night during a tournament, completely set me back. In all my years from coaching to playing or even as a general spectator, I’ve never witnessed a total lack of respect for the game and sportsmanship from the White Bear Lake Bantam B Orange team. WBL is the visiting team. They announce their starting line up and the kids on the other team are tapping their sticks for the visiting team. In the announcing of the home team, the WBL players turn their backs to the other team and skate away. The WBL team turned their back as if they had rehearsed this habit.

Rehearsed?? Is it possible you are jumping to conclusions? Maybe this is one big misunderstanding. I'm curious what the rest of the game was like...did WBL display any other incidents this game / this weekend to further confirm your perception?

[Titan2020]

Sportsmanship. Put simply, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If kids have good role models, i.e., coaches and parents who demand that their players or children take the high road and participate with class, kids will follow the lead. If, however, kids have role models who tolerate bad behavior, some kids will push the envelope and be poster boys for bad behavior. Now, we cannot control how other people raise their kids, but we can set expectations for our own kids and players. I expect my boys to shake opposing players' and coaches' hands after every game. Further, I expect my sons to shake the refs' hands and thank them for their services after every game. I expect my boys to be respectful during introductions and remove their helmets when the National Anthem is played. I also point out bad behavior to my kids and let them know how I would handle the incident if they ever behaved in that manner.

A few years ago, during a summer AAA squirt game, a player from the opposing team was thrown out of the game for taking too many penalties. As the 10-year old lad was leaving the ice, he yelled and swore at the refs. Then, on his way to the locker room, this charming little boy banged his stick on the arena walls. Later, I told my son that, if he were ever thrown out of a game, I expect him to leave the ice quietly and go straight to the locker room to wait for his coach to talk to him at the end of the game. I told my young skater that, if he ever behaved like the kid who was thrown out of the game, he would see me flying out of the stands. I told my son that I would grab him by the collar and drag him to the opposing team's locker room at the end of the game and make him apologize to every kid and coach in that locker room. Then, he would go to his locker room to apologize to his teammates and coaches. He would also apologize to the refs. To close out this teaching moment, I told my son that I would then decide if and when he ever played organized hockey again. Suffice it to say my son has never lipped off to a ref or coach and he acts appropriately when in the presence of the opposing team.

As parents we owe it to our kids to demand that they have class, even when their teammates or coaches are poster boys for bad behavior. I don't care if there is some kind of history between the WB team and the other program. Sometimes you send a bigger message by taking the high road.

Well put and I agree, however this situation is very different than an individual being singled out. This is the whole team. Hard to say which way your son or anyones son/daughter would go when the rest of the team is going the other way.

Many times even the most well intentioned players get caught in a bad situation.

[hockey_is_a_choice]

I agree it is sometimes easier to follow than lead, especially when you are a teenage boy (or a hockey parent). Sometimes taking the high road is harder than following the gang. However, I can assure you that my son would still get an earful from me if he acted inappropriately. Whether bad conduct is initiated individually or by a group, it is still bad conduct and there should be consequences. As parents we can choose to hold our kids accountable as individuals for individual or group conduct or we can choose to put our heads in the sand. How many times have we witnessed a coach punish his or her team with push ups or a hard skate because one kid screwed up? You are a team and when one or more kids initiates or chooses to follow bad behavior, everyone on the team who chose to act inappropriately is in the wrong.

In this case, there should be consequences for the entire team. I would be more disappointed in my son for choosing to follow instead of choosing to lead because he knows the difference between right and wrong. In my mind it comes down to this: Are you a leader or are you a follower?

[likeiseeit]

i heard it was a misunderstanding,for a man with over thirty years maybe
you should of took the time after the game to find out what happened
instead of blowing something way out of portion. just saying there always two sides of a story.