Political Correctness or Decency?

This argument is going to be more prevalent in the next few years, so it’s time for you to decide where you stand on this. Recently, Connecticut passed a bill that would penalize high school football coaches whose teams win by more than fifty points. The idea was born out of a problem between two coaches there, one who complained about another running up the score (keep on scoring even after the game’s outcome has reasonably been decided). There is a gentleman’s rule in most sports to “call off the dogs”, meaning that if it’s obvious that your team is going to win, you’re not going to go balls out and make a mockery of the game. To be honest, this is not really a problem in the professional ranks. If it’s clear that the Dolphins are going to beat the Saints easily, the coach is probably going to take out his starters (typically the best players) so they won’t get hurt in a meaningless play, and put in the back up players to get experience. College sports are a little different. Some football teams still run up the score for different reasons. If a team hasn’t beaten a rival in a long time, they may want to “send a message”. Some college coaches are trying to make a statement to those who vote on the rankings and a good beating will sometimes do that.

I personally like the rule that Connecticut instituted. And please, before you judge me, let me present the other side of the argument. Many “A” type personality people will counter with this argument: ‘If you’re not going to play to win, why are you playing’. I think that’s a very valid argument. And believe me, there are times I feel this way. In the above paragraph, when I talked about calling off the dogs, I had a tough time finishing the sentence, “meaning that if it’s obvious that your team is going to win, you’re not going to……”. What is appropriate word for QUITTING? But if the point is truly to win the game every single time, and you’ve already accomplished that, why risk injury to your players by running up the score? And how would you feel if it happened to you? A little background on me – I was never the one sitting on the bench. I have played on teams that won and teams that lost. I was the type of player who made the all-star team, but wasn’t the best one on THAT team. So don’t assume that I’m a non-athletic, liberal pansy who’s out to make everyone happy.

My BIGGEST problem is that the “win at all costs” attitude has permeated youth recreational sports. I talk to people who feel that if you suck at baseball, you shouldn’t go out for the team. One guy actually said, “If you can’t stand sitting on the bench, go take up piano”. Nice. So, children’s organized sports are now only for the talented. I guess if the less talented kids want to play organized sports they’ll have to go start their own league. Maybe get some umpires, uniforms, the whole bit. Um, wait. Isn’t that what we already have?

Listen, if you’re kid is a phenomenal athlete, good for you. If he or she is level-headed then they will shine throughout school and beyond. A ten-year old soccer league is not the time for them to exercise their dominance over other ten-year olds. It’s a time to learn how to play the game, how to be a teammate, and how sports relate to life. And let’s face it, for many kids, high school is the last true good time of our lives.