Principle Two of the Arizona Sports Summit Accord states, “It is the duty of school boards, superintendents, school administrators, parents and school sports leadership – including coaches, athletic administrators, program directors and game officials – to promote sportsmanship and foster good character by teaching, enforcing, advocating, and modeling the Six Pillars of Character.”
This web of responsibility seems to have frayed in St. Helens, Oregon. Andrew Nemec writes in the Sandy Post about a boys soccer game between Sandy and St. Helens high schools on October 14th. Sandy lost 4-3 in an exciting overtime in which three goals were scored, but the game was rife with bad sportsmanship.
According to Nemec, one player from St. Helens “swore, used homosexual slurs and several sexual hand gestures directed toward Sandy spectators and players during the game.” He was eventually ejected from the game and suspended, but Nemec says that he wasn’t the only offender: “St. Helens players marked up on free kicks and throw-ins by referring to Sandy players using homosexual slurs and also made inappropriate, loud comments to Sandy coach Gary Luebbert while he tried to instruct his team from the sideline.” Two Sandy players also said they were punched in the stomach when the referees weren’t looking.
From Nemec’s account, St. Helens coach Neil Ford did nothing to change his players’ behavior, and the players seemed confident there would be no consequences for their bad behavior. St. Helens has clearly allowed a culture of ugly conduct to develop.
The Sandy coach knew enough about them to warn his players the day before the game. He explained to Nemec, “I told the kids the day before that it was going to be a physical game. We didn’t know it was going to be to the degree that it was, but we knew there was going to be the possibility of it being a little unsportsmanlike, maybe even dirty at times….”
What’s wrong at St. Helens? Punching and swearing at opposing players and fans is plainly wrong, but using homosexual slurs? In light of several recent, highly publicized stories of gay teens and teens perceived to be gay driven to suicide by bullies, how is it that the St. Helens parents, coaches, and administrators have failed to teach, enforce, advocate, and model better behavior?
Does the coach condone this behavior, or is he simply unable to control it? In an email exchange with Nemec after the game, the St. Helens coach just called it “an emotional match” and said the unsportsmanlike behavior was “disappointing.”
What of the parents? Nemec says some of them approached the Sandy athletic director after the game to ask him to talk to their school’s A.D. about it. But aren’t they, the parents, the ones going home with these kids?
And the St. Helens Athletic Director? She told Nemec, “We are currently investigating the incident. Certainly we are not appealing the ejection of our player. That is done. We have, indeed, imposed a second game suspension (on top of the OSAA regulations) through the athletic department and the administration.” She said nothing about the other players.
What do you think? Should St. Helens get a new coach? How many chances should a coach get to convey the message that slurs, taunts, and punches won’t be tolerated?
If you were coaching another team in this league, and you knew of this game, and of St. Helens’ reputation, what would you do? Steel your players for battle? Hope no one gets hurt?
What if you just refused to play them? In a recent NPR commentary, Frank Deford talks about prep-school football teams forfeiting games against teams with much bigger and stronger players in order to preserve the physical safety of their students. Is refusing to play a team with a reputation for poor sportsmanship out of the question?
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Loading ...The Arizona Sports Summit Accord
Nearly 50 influential leaders in sports issued the Arizona Sports Summit Accord in 1999 to encourage greater emphasis on the ethical and character-building aspects of athletic competition. Read the full text here.
Learn more about Josephson Institute’s customized sportsmanship training and seminars.
There is plenty of blame to go around, but the really short answer is that the Official is responsible for controlling the game, and it seems likely that knowing the reputation of the teams involved could have been prepared to address these infractions more aggressively.
Sportsmanship during an athletic contest is determined by the head coach. A clear message must come from the head coach and supported by the coaching staff regarding what he/she allows to happen and what is not allowed. Immediate consequences must occur when violations take place. It takes courage for the coaches to do the right thing, regardless of what the community thinks. If the coach isn’t capable of leading by example and enforcing appropriate team conduct, a change needs to take place. It’s that simple.
This is clearly an issue for the head coach to deal with. Were I the referee of this match, I would have stopped the game and spoken to the coach about his team behavior. Then I would give him an opportunity to talk to his athletes. If the behavior did not stop,I would impose a game forfeiture penalty on the offending team.
Let’s stop letting the parents off the hook when it comes to the issue of character building. Yes, the coach, the officials, etc have their responsibilities while the team is in competition. But, it starts at home. The majority of the problems today begin at home. We wonder sometimes why young people are like they are. Well to quote the old adage, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” I have seen this first hand. If parents would do a little more character building and stop expecting the teachers, coaches, referees to do their job, some of these problems would be eliminated. How about not allowing your son or daughter to participate if he/she can’t do it with a little class and good sportsmanship? Coaches, how about keeping the bad apples off the team or getting rid of them? It can’t be a good experience for the rest of the team even if it is in the heat of competition.
Parents it’s time to step it up. remember your children represent YOU.