Sportsmanship

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:28 pm

Wow! Hat's off to the teams that are going to state! Some were predictable; some were not. I just want to say this. While I have no hard feelings about the PLAY -- as in the teams who played best on that particular day won (even if their opponents were playing with several injured and ill kids) -- I do have misgivings about the SPORTSMANSHIP of some of the teams that are advancing. When a winning team cannot accept a "good game" from the parent of the team in which they just defeated but instead feels the need to say things like, "hah! we beat you four times!" -- THAT is poor sportsmanship. When a player is down on the ice with his head bleeding and needs to be strapped on a board and taken away to the ER and the player who checked the injured boy stands on the sidelines smiling ear to ear while parents from that town are laughing and making snide comments, THAT is poor sportsmanship. I pray that your teammates and children may never be injured and that if they are, that those around you may show more compassion. Of course there are those that did carry themselves respectfully. Unfortunately, those that behaved in a very poor manner are the ones that stood out.

inthestands · Post by **inthestands** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:06 am

Hockeyma, I don't think this sportsmanship issue should be defined only to the teams moving on to state. There are many teams not going that suffer from the same issues.

Bottom line is this starts at home. If the kids don't have the proper guidance every day from little on, how do we expect they would just "have it" on the rink or anywhere else.

We like to blame the coaches, officials, teachers or whom ever... If they get good teaching from the start, these others that come in and out of their lives will only enhance what they are learning at home.

Make sure the kids coming out your door have the right stuff, and that you or your teams parents aren't the ones laughing when a player from another team is laying on the ice.

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:06 am

Believe me, I know that it is not an issue with just the teams moving on; the timing just caused me to mention those teams as well as the fact that it is those teams that are moving forward that did display such behavior.

I very much agree that it comes from the parents. Both teams that I have in mind had both parents and children acting inappropriately.

I don't blame coaches, officials or teachers. (Though I do believe that coaches can and should discipline the behavior when they are aware of it and I know that in one of these cases the coach did -- that would be the enhancement you were talking about inthestands) I very much believe that it comes from the home and the behavior -- good or bad -- is displayed not just on the rink but in life. I am much more concerned with the making of good people than good hockey players!

I also know that there are individuals on each team that unfortunately can ruin the reputation of the team by there actions, but you do not need to be concerned about who is coming out of my door. Not that I think they are perfect, but I do know what kind of individuals they are and when they do error in judgement, they are made aware of it.

... And as far as the parents on my team laughing while a child is injured on the ice . . . I would react just as repulsively to that behavior if it came from someone on my team. The only difference is, I would confront those that I know instead of walking away from the stranger. I would hope that that would never need to happen.

happymama · Post by **happymama** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:15 am

I have to admit that I have been at a lot of youth hockey games and have never had to witness what you are describing. That's not to say that you don't have a few kids that may act with disrespect but usually a coach takes care of that pretty quickly. Usually when a kid is hurt and leaves the ice on a stretcher all the fans, players, coaches and everyone in the rink give respectful clapping as the player leaves. But rarely do you see teams or players laughing because they have hurt someone and they are now bleeding on the ice and being strapped to a board.

If that is what you saw, I would contact that Associations President and also their District President and report the team, coach and players/parents if you know who they were. Describe in detail what you witnessed so they can take appropriate action against the coach, players and others.

There is absolutely no place for that type of behavior in youth sports (or adult sports for that matter).

CoachJ · Post by **CoachJ** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:52 am

happymama wrote:I have to admit that I have been at a lot of youth hockey games and have never had to witness what you are describing. That's not to say that you don't have a few kids that may act with disrespect but usually a coach takes care of that pretty quickly. Usually when a kid is hurt and leaves the ice on a stretcher all the fans, players, coaches and everyone in the rink give respectful clapping as the player leaves. But rarely do you see teams or players laughing because they have hurt someone and they are now bleeding on the ice and being strapped to a board.

If that is what you saw, I would contact that Associations President and also their District President and report the team, coach and players/parents if you know who they were. Describe in detail what you witnessed so they can take appropriate action against the coach, players and others.

There is absolutely no place for that type of behavior in youth sports (or adult sports for that matter).

Woodbury is most likely the team you are talking about. If it is them you should single them out on here. If they want to act like that, they don't care what you think of them. Please name Team and # of child so they can see the whole forum is proud of them.

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:01 am

I will only say that Woodbury is NOT one of the teams that I was speaking of. The fact that you singled them out saddens me as it makes me aware that similar situations are happening with more teams than I am aware. . . .

How can hockey overcome some of the bad rap it gets when these are the type of teams that are rising up and representing us as the "cream of the crop"?

CoachJ · Post by **CoachJ** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:17 am

hockeyma wrote:I will only say that Woodbury is NOT one of the teams that I was speaking of. The fact that you singled them out saddens me as it makes me aware that similar situations are happening with more teams than I am aware. . . .

How can hockey overcome some of the bad rap it gets when these are the type of teams that are rising up and representing us as the "cream of the crop"?

I only said Woodbury for it has beating Eagan 4 times. Woodbury also has a big kid that likes to try and hit kids as hard as he can. Woodbury is a great team and sometimes lacks sportsmanship.

FREDFLINTSTONE · Post by **FREDFLINTSTONE** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:32 am

Hockeyma,

You are talking about the north region. Right?

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:50 am

Nope! Wow. I guess they come from every region, huh?

Love2skate2 · Post by **Love2skate2** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:58 am

this doesn't seem like a thread that should be on here...if your concerned THAT MUCH - call minnesota hockey. no one on here can do anything about it

Can't Never Tried · Post by **Can't Never Tried** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:02 pm

hockeyma wrote: (Though I do believe that coaches can and should discipline the behavior when they are aware of it and I know that in one of these cases the coach did

I agree with this statement...and have done this myself in the past, and I believe that there is another pc of the puzzle some may be over looking.

These same kids, and their parents that don't provide the needed discipline at home, are a nightmare to try and correct and discipline in sports.....Why?? because if you tell them that you don't approve, or punish the player for breaking what is probably a team rule anyway, guess what happens? Yep.. here comes Mom or Dad, in the coaches face, because you!! Coach had the nerve to do what should have happened at home...after all our little Johnny would, and can do no wrong, and how dare you upset him like that

I see this happen right on up to the HS level and it makes me sick!

Parents beware.... your child may be the next "great one", but if you or your child have, or are developing these tendencies to make life impossible for the coach, you will be wondering why he's not making teams or advancing. Your baggage can hurt them more then their own issues.

DMom · Post by **DMom** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:27 pm

they don't recognize themselves though.

It makes me more thankful for the coaches and the parents we shared the last season with.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:43 pm

Love2skate2 wrote:this doesn't seem like a thread that should be on here...if your concerned THAT MUCH - call minnesota hockey. no one on here can do anything about it

Hockeyma, PM me, I can do something.

tomASS · Post by **tomASS** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:45 pm

Can't Never Tried wrote: I see this happen right on up to the HS level and it makes me sick!

Parents beware.... your child may be the next "great one", but if you or your child have, or are developing these tendencies to make life impossible for the coach, you will be wondering why he's not making teams or advancing. Your baggage can hurt them more then their own issues.

Fast Company (a sales & marketing business publication) had an article about 2-3 years ago about how these parents are now making their way into the job market with their kids. Complaining to the company if they don't get a promotion, or following up with HR if their kid does not get a certain job.....It was funny and very scary at the same time that we have become a generation in many instances that would shame our own parents and grandparents.

rockcrusher · Post by **rockcrusher** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:50 pm

We had an incident this weekend at our Region Tourney. It has to do with sportsmanship and common sense. One of the teams, (which will remain nameless) proceeded to urinate all over the lockerroom after being eliminated after Saturday nights game. I am a coach, and personally inspect the lockerroom after every practice, game, whatever. After the first week of the season, my kids know the room will be clean or we skate. This is an even bigger deal if we are at an out of town rink, treat it with as much respect as your own rink. One other thing, not one team, and we played 4 games this weekend, had all their players take their gloves off in the handshake line at the end of the game. Is it just me, or is that disrespectful? I make it a point that all of my players have their gloves off to shake hands. Do I sound like Hitler or am I trying to do things right??

QuackerTracker · Post by **QuackerTracker** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:12 pm

rockcrusher wrote:We had an incident this weekend at our Region Tourney. It has to do with sportsmanship and common sense. One of the teams, (which will remain nameless) proceeded to urinate all over the lockerroom after being eliminated after Saturday nights game. I am a coach, and personally inspect the lockerroom after every practice, game, whatever. After the first week of the season, my kids know the room will be clean or we skate. This is an even bigger deal if we are at an out of town rink, treat it with as much respect as your own rink. One other thing, not one team, and we played 4 games this weekend, had all their players take their gloves off in the handshake line at the end of the game. Is it just me, or is that disrespectful? I make it a point that all of my players have their gloves off to shake hands. Do I sound like Hitler or am I trying to do things right??

I can't stand to see kids wearing their golves in hand shake lines. Someone needs to teach kids respect. Plus kids without golve on are less likly to throw a punch at someone in the handshake line. Oh and coaches should be taking their gloves off to shake a refs hand.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:05 pm

rockcrusher wrote:We had an incident this weekend at our Region Tourney. It has to do with sportsmanship and common sense. One of the teams, (which will remain nameless) proceeded to urinate all over the lockerroom after being eliminated after Saturday nights game. I am a coach, and personally inspect the lockerroom after every practice, game, whatever. After the first week of the season, my kids know the room will be clean or we skate. This is an even bigger deal if we are at an out of town rink, treat it with as much respect as your own rink. One other thing, not one team, and we played 4 games this weekend, had all their players take their gloves off in the handshake line at the end of the game. Is it just me, or is that disrespectful? I make it a point that all of my players have their gloves off to shake hands. Do I sound like Hitler or am I trying to do things right??

Sounds right to me.

Stars · Post by **Stars** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:15 pm

While I am neither Pro Woodbury or against them, to single a kid out on any team unless you personally can state facts, keep quiet. To say a child on that team likes to hit people is a bit ridiculous. Checking is part of the peewee game. Have you heard from this child or team that he likes to hurt people? I have seen this big kid play a few times and it seems to me there are many times that this kid avoids contact, if it is the same child you are talking about. There is one on offense and 3-4 more on defense that are big.

One another note, while they have beaten Eagan 4 times this season, when they have beaten us, they have never been anything but straight up. They even take off their gloves!!

inthestands · Post by **inthestands** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:11 pm

Personal names of any kind in a public forum equal one thing. Negative feedback.

You might find a few good comments, but for the most part any personal names brought up or references made relate to bad feed back.

This is not only the case with hockey message boards, but any message boards.

dingle · Post by **dingle** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:53 pm

It's kind of ironic that Woodbury has been singled out for bad sportsmanship. I have seen them play many times this season, at one tournament many parents from opposing teams got pretty angry when the games were getting ugly and kids were getting hurt, one of the problems was the 2 young and inexperienced refs were not controlling the game, and according to people watching the game, the Woodbury coaches were using there outside credentials to influence the refs, some noted that the woodbury players were slashing the necks of the opposing team.

This must be a wide spread problem with Woodbury because the report from the staff at the Xcel says that there favorite fans will be coming back for the state tournament. They were singled out as being the most troublesome,obnoxious, and disrespectful fans at last years state tournament and they are spreading the word to the staff.

I know some very nice Woodbury parents, but as a whole they should really take note at how they are viewed outside of Woodbury. I don't mean to make this a Woodbury bash, but this also comes from teachers that teach there and police men that work there, that do not reside in Woodbury.

FREDFLINTSTONE · Post by **FREDFLINTSTONE** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:11 am

I just can't believe the crap on here about Woodbury. Dingle, you say that people watching the game noted that players were slashing the necks of the opposing team. How is it that the opposing team can see the neck slashing but the refs can't. Anyone can come on this forum and state crap, but don't put a black mark on a team if you see one incident over a 40 or 50 game schedule.

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:54 am

Wow, I too cannot believe all of the statements being made about Woodbury. When I started this thread, I intentionally did NOT mention names of people or places and this is why --While I truly was disgusted by the the bad sportsmanship at regions, I do realize that ALL people are not bad. For the sake of those individuals on these teams that do stand upright and carry themselves with dignity, I do not think it is fair to peg an entire team. One cannot control the actions of others; even if you try to! I guess I was hoping that by speaking up, it may resonate with someone -- anyone who needed to hear it -- and make them think twice before acting in this way in the future. I am sorry that this has turned in to a Woodbury bash festival. -- To the good Woodbury folks -- Sorry. To the folks all over that need to learn a little about sportsmanship -- Please realize not only how your actions affect how people look at you, but at the entire team. Live your life and play your game so that your actions may be above reproach and perhaps others will follow! At the very least -- no one will be writing negative statements on a hockey forum about you or your team!

Stars · Post by **Stars** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:35 am

What is your issue with Woodbury?

Now you are tieing the behaviour of the High School fans to the Peewee team. These kids are also apparently responsible for the driving habits of the people from Woodbury? As well as the academic failures that occur in that city. You say the people of Woodbury should open their eyes and see ow others view them--I am sure that can be said for every town or city.

So not only do these kids have to handle working to play well in state, they have to be sure every fan who shows up at the Excel behaves them selves at the HS tournament and people do not get speeding tickets. That is a lot of pressure to put on a group of 12/13 year olds.

Let your beef with them go. If things were not controlled on the ice during a game that you were involved in, give specifics. Don't tell us all the beefs you have collected over the years, on the ice, on the streets and in the classrooms.

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:59 am

There is poor sportsmanship at all levels. It is not isolated to Bantams (as I experienced) or PeeWees or High school (as obviously others experienced). Tthere are good and bad at every age group and we all need to learn to carry ourselves with dignity and teach our children to do the same. I would like to see this discussion discontinue if it is going to continue on as it has been. This was not posted to rip on one team.

Good Luck to all the teams that are still play! Stand tall, play hard and carry yourselves above reproach. Ditto for the fans!

netminder.net · Post by **netminder.net** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:19 am

hockeyma wrote:

There is poor sportsmanship at all levels. It is not isolated to Bantams (as I experienced) or PeeWees or High school (as obviously others experienced). Tthere are good and bad at every age group and we all need to learn to carry ourselves with dignity and teach our children to do the same. I would like to see this discussion discontinue if it is going to continue on as it has been. This was not posted to rip on one team.

Well I would hope that you would feel some responsibility for this thread going they way it has. You stated that you experienced some poor sportmanship over the weekend, giving enough "clues" to get the wheels turning. As people began to "guess" at which team you were referring, you stated that this is not the team to which you were reffering, but instead said"

The fact that you singled them out saddens me as it makes me aware that similar situations are happening with more teams than I am aware. . . .

oblivious to the fact that Woodbury was only brought up because they had beaten the same team four times, which was one of the "clues" you left.
It is unfortunate that you experienced what you did, I agree that is it not the way these players should act. I also agree that something should be done to ensure that the team responsible for this

Bantams (as I experienced)

( more "clues") is dealt with. Do it through proper channels, I hope you indeed contacted Elliott like he asked, because that should be the way something like this is indeed handeled. Most definately NOT the way this was handeled

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