Mayo AD/coach

[Spartanfan1]

The mayo students have their own version of the button (yes used by other teams) they do it to obviously pump up the crowd and players. I talked to a couple players from the team I was told that the AD and Grosso (coach) told the players they can't hit the button anymore or go along the boards and give each other high fives after each goal because it is too disrespectful. The AD also told the student section not to yell sieve to the other goalie whenever being scored on or they will all be suspended. Also with Grosso mentioning that they are here not to have fun but win and get to the state tournament. Isn't the AD and coach going a little too far with this? The student section is there to pump up the crowd and the players are there to have fun playing the game they love.

What are your thoughts about all of this?

[newsguy35]

The mayo students have their own version of the button (yes used by other teams) they do it to obviously pump up the crowd and players. I talked to a couple players from the team I was told that the AD and Grosso (coach) told the players they can't hit the button anymore or go along the boards and give each other high fives after each goal because it is too disrespectful. The AD also told the student section not to yell sieve to the other goalie whenever being scored on or they will all be suspended. Also with Grosso mentioning that they are here not to have fun but win and get to the state tournament. Isn't the AD and coach going a little too far with this? The student section is there to pump up the crowd and the players are there to have fun playing the game they love.

What are your thoughts about all of this?

Sounds like the AD and Grosso (pending this is all true) are having a tough time setting priorities. I hope he really didnt say that "they are here to win, not have fun..." The last time I checked these kids were investing money to have fun. Yes, winning is big in some respects but at the same time they wont win if they dont have fun and vice versa.

On another note, the student sections are suppose to get under the opposing goalie and players. Your team should get excited when you score, I dont see the problem... Maybe the button is a bit disrespectful but so is the opposing team standing infront of the goalie they just scored on (sometimes so close its only 3 feet or less) and celebrating. I would say they need to take a chill pill.

[suntzu]

How about this: the players (high school students) should be following the rules set forth by the coach and the school administration. Quit whining.

If the coach doesn't want celebrations that he feels are unsportsmanlike, that's the way it is. If a player (or his mommy or daddy or girlfriend) can't deal with that, there is always the option of Junior Gold...

[Spartanfan1]

so what your telling me is if you want to have fun playing the sport, play junior gold and if your playing for your high school team you can't have fun. I mean thats the rule grosso gave to the kids. Doesn't seem right to me.

[suntzu]

so what your telling me is if you want to have fun playing the sport, play junior gold and if your playing for your high school team you can't have fun. I mean thats the rule grosso gave to the kids. Doesn't seem right to me.

Really? Grosso told the players straight up that they are not allowed to have any fun? Are you on the team and did you hear this firsthand? Or are you listening to your kid or another kid and completely buying their version of the events that are taking place?

Remember, hockey is about the team. It's not about some kid tugging his jersey or punching a button, basically acting like an NBA player on SportsCenter...

[MNHighSchoolHockeyGuy]

so what your telling me is if you want to have fun playing the sport, play junior gold and if your playing for your high school team you can't have fun. I mean thats the rule grosso gave to the kids. Doesn't seem right to me.

Really? Grosso told the players straight up that they are not allowed to have any fun? Are you on the team and did you hear this firsthand? Or are you listening to your kid or another kid and completely buying their version of the events that are taking place?

Remember, hockey is about the team. It's not about some kid tugging his jersey or punching a button, basically acting like an NBA player on SportsCenter...

The difference is NBA and NFL players are getting payed millions to act like little kids.High schcool kids play for the love of the game,and if they feel like celebrating a goal they should be alowd to.

[hockeydad]

How dare a coach demand his players and fans show sportsmanship and be respectful during a game.

What is this world coming to?

[hockeydad]

How dare a coach demand his players and fans show sportsmanship and be respectful during a game.

What is this world coming to?

[Sioux Fan]

Lorne

Wants his team to have fun. It is embarrassing to make such a big deal of a goal in a game that is what should happen. I think coach is right and he is not exactly a tyrant. I kinda wish he was a few years ago when they had some decent players. I hope Rochester Hockey starts developing enough A level players to feed the 4 high schools. Currently it is pretty thin.

I think if the player cannot have fun playing for Lorne Grosso he doesn't know what fun is.

[suntzu]

Lorne

Wants his team to have fun. It is embarrassing to make such a big deal of a goal in a game that is what should happen. I think coach is right and he is not exactly a tyrant. I kinda wish he was a few years ago when they had some decent players. I hope Rochester Hockey starts developing enough A level players to feed the 4 high schools. Currently it is pretty thin.

I think if the player cannot have fun playing for Lorne Grosso he doesn't know what fun is.

As usual, you're spot-on John.

[newsguy35]

How dare a coach demand his players and fans show sportsmanship and be respectful during a game.

What is this world coming to?

There is a difference between being respectful and not having fun. I think the coach and AD need to assess whether having fun is really important to the kids or not and whether their actions after a goal is respectful or just plain having fun.

The button could be disrespectful but going thru the line on the bench I dont feel is disrespectful. I dont think that the kids coming together after a goal is disrespectful either. I guess it depends on your point of view on what disrespect is.

[Lucia4President]

I don't think Grosso would be coaching if he didn't want to have fun.

[goldy313]

Slamming your stick against the boards can be a misconduct penalty. What the Mayo players were doing was probably over the line and could easily have been called for a 10 minute penalty. Grosso isn't an idiot and keeping his players from sitting isn't stopping them from having fun, it's playing by the rules. This wasn't a team celebration thing.

[Spartanfan1]

Really? Grosso told the players straight up that they are not allowed to have any fun? Are you on the team and did you hear this firsthand? Or are you listening to your kid or another kid and completely buying their version of the events that are taking place?

Remember, hockey is about the team. It's not about some kid tugging his jersey or punching a button, basically acting like an NBA player on SportsCenter...

No, I am not on the team I actually graduated a couple years ago. But I did talk to a player on the team. I'm not sure if the whole "Not having fun" is 100% correct because I couldn't believe he would say it either but you never know. But the button and the skating along the boards giving each other a high five is a rule Grosso did say to the team.

[SEMinnHockeyNut]

I doubt any coach tells his players they cannot have fun; however, the celebrations of players in this era is a bit over the top in my opinion - especially things like the button. Student sections are great if they cheerly loudly and positively and refrain from unsportsmanlike behavior.

What is wrong with celebrating a goal with your line-mates on the ice and going back to the circle to prepare to do it again?

I agree with Sioux Fan, if they aren't having fun playing for Grosso, you probably won't have fun playing anywhere.

I think it is great that there is a coach teaching his players restraint and respect.

[hockeyknight]

Strange situation all the way around.......any other observations?

[LZ94]

Fogive me if I'm being naive.

What does it mean to "punch the button"?

[tomASS]

Seems too many people are offended too easily now days. There is a time and place for celebration. There needs to be a balance. Is it spontaneous and unrehearsed? Or is planned for maximum delivery of a message?

Is it a close game or is it a blow-out? One should exude a celebration. The other should require restraint.

A coach has a better pulse on how he wants to handle the situation and his rules should dictate how the team acts.

The AD has to keep peace with so many factions with so many numerous agendas. I couldn't be paid enough to handle that job.

I saw great fan support at a HS game that was wonderful up until the very end of a close game. The kids were using some big hwy cones as megaphones and an opposing team's fan grabs one of them and takes off with it. From there it escalated where police had to be involved. Maybe they were "one toke over the line"

It is becoming a shame how we have become too sensitive though.

Soccer HS games do not allow noise makers - saw one game in over time for a sectional championship. Fans were banging on the metal fixtures so loud. A player missed a Penalty kick and the referee allowed him to retake it because of what he considered unsportsmanlike conduct by the fans according to the rules. Kid made it, game over.

It's starting to become insane how we police our conduct but it seems we can not find a level that pleases everyone and I don't think we should have to. The same people who preach tolerance are the ones who seem to be less tolerant when the situation doesn't please them or offends them.

[HShockey2180]

That is likely what Grosso was referring to, telling them to cut down on the rehearsed celebrations in games like winona and east when it's a blowout 11-1, 8-1. When the game reaches that point, i think it's unnecessary to make a big scene after every goal, show some class, skate back to the circle, and at least appear to have some respect for the other team.

[hockeydad]

I remember an old coach...maybe Bud Grant...used to forbid touchdown celebrations. He told his players "Act like you've been there before."

[goldy313]

Fogive me if I'm being naive.

What does it mean to "punch the button"?

The Mayo students had a sign with a red button on it, after a goal the Mayo player would come over and slam his stick against the glass in front of the sign.

[rbk28]

Fogive me if I'm being naive.

What does it mean to "punch the button"?

The Mayo students had a sign with a red button on it, after a goal the Mayo player would come over and slam his stick against the glass in front of the sign.

thats an awful version of the button then...if done correctly ex. Elk River it's a great celebration

When someone scores a goal the fans are quiet, then when the kid hits the button the crowd erupts

[Lucia4President]

That is how Mayo did it.

[DickTrickle]

i can understand the hockey players not needing to make a big deal about it......But the fans!!!! i mean thats one of the only reasons why i go to those games is so that we can get under the other teams skin.......maybe someone cough"mr AD....we all nkow who that is" whitney should jsut ctfd

[Spartanfan09]

When did this start happening.........is this why we never did anythign against farmington???