Captaincy/Awards & MSHSL Violations

[ghshockeyfan]

Curious what the thoughts are about this.

Should players with any MSHSL violations be eligible for Captaincy/Team Awards/All-State & All-Conf./Media Awards etc?

I have my own beliefs, but I'll keep them to myself for now...

[Rocketwrister]

I did run into this problem before where I kept the kid as a captain. Great kid, only one who could "run" the team, and was truely sorry and came back with a vengance afterwards...

Now looking back maybe there should of been a change. Consistency is also a very big point as a coach and I know there are a ton of different situations that go with all the different players but....

Good questions GHS!

[hockeyfinatic]

NO!

[hockeywild7]

Yes, if it is there first mistake. As a head coach of a high school sport I have had this occur twice. You have to remember they are kids, and kids make mistakes. The MSHSL has a penalty they are required to serve and it is a good guideline to follow. I tell my players and parents that the team will decide what happens to a player who breaks the rules outside of what they are required to do under the MSHSL. They will decide through voting if these players should recieve awards or captainship. You truly dont always know the circumstances under which student athletes sometimes break rules. A student can acquire a drinking penalty for not only drinking but just being at a party with alcohol. There are too many scenarios to go over but the bottom line is if they break a MSHSL rule they have to serve the penalty. As a parent and a teacher/coach I understand how difficult teen life can be. In both situations I had the players payed there penalties and in both cases were voted for an award and one recieved a captainship. I guess it comes down to how much penalty is enough and I think it goes to a student athletes history and individual situation. One player who I had an incident with was a senior and was an average player. She wanted to quit playing after her incident and I convinced her and her parents that this was the worst thing she could do. She needed a team and a committment to pay her penalty and make ammends to her teammates and herself. The last thing she needed was to go home everyday after school and regret quitting because she made one mistake. She needed to stay involved in an activity and own up to what she did. She did exactly that and was voted most determined after the season was over.

[ghshockeyfan]

There are two different possibilities/philosophies of thought here I believe, and I think they were just illustrated in the last few posts.

Either:

1) You look at this as kids can reform & work their way back from a mistake


2) You look at this as a privilege that would send the wrong message to all if they were allowed to do #1.


I'm just curious as to what people think and again I'll refrain from my opinion for now...

Maybe I should ask is how does your school/district/conference/coach handle these MSHSL violation situations?

Is a player eligible for awards/captaincy after a MSHSL violation? Are they even still allowed to be on the team? Are your rules more strict than the MSHSL?

Would you as a coach NOT nominate kids for awards or tell media not to include players based on violations?

What about National Level Development (NDP, etc.) events? Are these "awards?"

Some coaches are afraid to put team rules (beyond MSHSL) in-writing as it may "corner" them.

Some coaches try "one & done" or more severe policies than MSHSL/district/school but parents fight them as they don't mirror MSHSL/school/district guidelines.

Some parents get upset when coaches speak the truth about their assessment of players to college coaches too. A coach must always be 100% truthful with college coaches that come calling about players, else the HS coach loses all credibility for selling something that isn't what they built it up to be. This would hurt future prospects if the coach loses their credibility.

MSHSL violation concerns may affect a player's "recruitability." Especially if there is a pattern vs just one.

[ghshockeyfan]

Here's a few hypothetical situations:

1) Player posts on MySpace profile/bio that they drink. Many times kids will put false info (names/bio info./bday/etc.) on these to maintain their privacy or appear older, etc. This is discovered and turned in as a MSHSL violation. Player admits to this but says it was a lie and mistake to post.

Do you consider the kid for captaincy/awards?

If so, what criteria do you use? Do you consider your knowledge of player, standing in community/reputation, etc.?



2) Player is in AAA Summer locker room and a team mate brings alcohol into the locker room. Team mate asks any players to take alcohol to help her dispose of it. Player takes it and throws it away on way home from rink. This is discovered and turned in as a MSHSL violation. Player admits to taking and disposing of alcohol and doesn't even realize this is a violation when questioned.

Do you consider the kid for captaincy/awards?

If so, what criteria do you use? Do you consider your knowledge of player, standing in community/reputation, etc.?



3) Players' parents inadvertently leave open bottle/can in car. Player not aware of situation is pulled over and cited by police. This is turned in (by police to school) as a MSHSL violation.

Do you consider the kid for captaincy/awards?

If so, what criteria do you use? Do you consider your knowledge of player, standing in community/reputation, etc.?

[skater1033]

I know this is a old post, but I think that it is unexceptable to have a player be the "leader" if they have done something against the rules. No matter if they are the only one that can "run" the team. I am sure there are other girls on your team rocketwrister that would of done the job just as well or even better and followed the rules!!!

[ghshockeyfan]

Here's another hypothetical I've heard as of late - there is a need to address the situation where a kid has a picture taken with alcohol in it. I.e. a picture with a beer can, etc. Then, should an administrator treat this as a posession (MSHSL violation)???

[Rocketwrister]

I know this is a old post, but I think that it is unexceptable to have a player be the "leader" if they have done something against the rules. No matter if they are the only one that can "run" the team. I am sure there are other girls on your team rocketwrister that would of done the job just as well or even better and followed the rules!!!

Didn't take long to figure this one out.

As for your post....possibly but I doubt it. Just as the rest of the coaching staff said...