Sportsmanship

[beeroclock]

Have to get this off my chest and would like to see what other people think.
Yesterday my clubs U/14 Red side was involved in what I believe was a debarcle.
They were promoted to the Red comp this season after finishing runners up last season although they were held scoreless in the grand final,that's life, the top two go up.
In a six team comp they have been flogged all season playing against clubs that generally have two sides to pick from where we have one and usually are struggling to fill a side each week.
To the coaches credit and to the players they have held their heads high and never said this is too hard and given up.
Every other club knows we are the whipping boys of the comp. So be it,they try every week.
Yesterday I was disgusted to see our boys go down 41.14 to 1.1 but once again they turned up and had a dip.
In 99% of the games at junior level if one club has not enough players to field eighteen positions on the ground then they match up to even.
Despite the opposition sitting clear top on the ladder they chose not too.
Five minutes into the game we were down to sixteen players and that's how it remained.
With no bench compared to four for them our boys plugged on for the full 80 mins and walked off the ground broken and dismayed at the lack off sportsmanship showed by the opposition.
I'd like to know what the opposition got out of the game.
We know this is a massive learning curb for our boys this season and hopefully they come back bigger and stronger next season.
Like to know everyone's thoughts.
By the way Golden Grove thanks for the game.

[FOURTH ESTATE]

Don't have to mention the club but which Junior league.

Though all leagues had the mercy rule for a score like that 41.14 to 1.1
It then would be 11.11 to 1.1

[beeroclock]

Don't have to mention the club but which Junior league.

Though all leagues had the mercy rule for a score like that 41.14 to 1.1
It then would be 11.11 to 1.1

Your missing the point FE.

[hawkseye]

If it was a younger age group I would agree with evening up the numbers but u/14s I think they are old enough to deal with it. I know I copped some hidings from Henley, Pt.districts and West Lakes at that age. Just my opinion mate but still feel sorry for the lads no one likes being belted.

[jo172]

In red division NEMJFA you don't player match. Only for the Blue and White divisions.

Brings some unfortunate results as you've just described though.

[beeroclock]

In red division NEMJFA you don't player match. Only for the Blue and White divisions.

Brings some unfortunate results as you've just described though.

Your right.
You don't have too.
Ways of winning and ways of losing.
We lose with pride every week.

[Phantom Gossiper]

If it was a younger age group I would agree with evening up the numbers but u/14s I think they are old enough to deal with it. I know I copped some hidings from Henley, Pt.districts and West Lakes at that age. Just my opinion mate but still feel sorry for the lads no one likes being belted.

Did you enjoy the floggings? Because people in the past have been on the receiving end, does that make it right?

What message are you sending 13yo kids if you show such little mercy and distain another side like that?

I agree you dont need to match up numbers at this age group, but i'm sure there are several other ways a side could go about things - change players up, give more game time to those who might otherwise warm the pine regularly.

[hawkseye]

Of course You dont enjoy being belted at the time but the next day you get up and go to school and after the game you go home and hang out with your mates or whatever. I would rather those lads out there on the field running around than plonked in the lounge in front of the PS3 or shut behind their bedroom door on the computer all day.

[Phantom Gossiper]

I would rather those lads out there on the field running around than plonked in the lounge in front of the PS3 or shut behind their bedroom door on the computer all day.

As do I, but how many times would you want to get flogged by 40 goals before your confidence is that shot that you think bugger this i'd rather sit my backside on the lounge and play X-Box (see what i did there ).. kids appear to lack the resilience they used to these days and society seems to encourage this softcockalitits where it is easier to give up..

[Dogwatcher]

kids appear to lack the resilience they used to these days and society seems to encourage this softcockalitits where it is easier to give up..

Isn't that the message you're sending, though, in your previous posts?

[Hefty]

In red division NEMJFA you don't player match. Only for the Blue and White divisions.

Brings some unfortunate results as you've just described though.

Your right.
You don't have too.
Ways of winning and ways of losing.
We lose with pride every week.

It's not Under 8's beeroclock! So, what age cut off would you like the mercy rule??

How is it Golden Grove's problem that in Under 14's Ingle Farm can't field a full side?? I know when I played junior footy I hated being asked to play for the opposition team (especially Ingle Farm )

[beeroclock]

In red division NEMJFA you don't player match. Only for the Blue and White divisions.

Brings some unfortunate results as you've just described though.

Your right.
You don't have too.
Ways of winning and ways of losing.
We lose with pride every week.

It's not Under 8's beeroclock! So, what age cut off would you like the mercy rule??

How is it Golden Grove's problem that in Under 14's Ingle Farm can't field a full side?? I know when I played junior footy I hated being asked to play for the opposition team (especially Ingle Farm )

Who asked for opposition players?

[Robb_Stark]

in the white divison under 14s golden grove suck and often get pumped by 40 goals whats the difference

[Footy Smart]

People are missing the actual point made by Beeroclock.

The Sportmanship or lack there of shown by Golden Grove and possibly the league not doing the right thing and leaving the side in the red comp when they are clearly not up to it (I believe they have a review process for grading after a few weeks into the year?)

Its not that the lads cant handle the flogging, its not a point about the sheltered youth of today, its the fact that in a game that is far from playing for sheep stations the coaches showed no respect and compassion for the other side of 12/13 year old lads. 'Life lessons' can be learnt while handing out a flogging and copping a flogging, the lesson you get from either depends on the guidence provided by the adults in this case they taught their own young players to basically kick someone while their down.

If that was MFC I would hope that the President has instructed the coaches to do the right thing.

[Lightning McQueen]

in the white divison under 14s golden grove suck and often get pumped by 40 goals whats the difference

I had Golden Grove 15 Whites a couple of weeks ago, they got pummelled and had the best spirits, determination and onfield manners I've seen all year. It was a pleasure to umpire them.
One player asked me to confirm where the mark was and when I showed him he thanked me sincerely, I was most impressed.

[Footy Smart]

in the white divison under 14s golden grove suck and often get pumped by 40 goals whats the difference

missing the point still its about the other side leaving a full compliment of players on the field despite being that far ahead. I agree with Beery on this.

[Lightning McQueen]

People are missing the actual point made by Beeroclock.

The Sportmanship or lack there of shown by Golden Grove and possibly the league not doing the right thing and leaving the side in the red comp when they are clearly not up to it (I believe they have a review process for grading after a few weeks into the year?)

Its not that the lads cant handle the flogging, its not a point about the sheltered youth of today, its the fact that in a game that is far from playing for sheep stations the coaches showed no respect and compassion for the other side of 12/13 year old lads. 'Life lessons' can be learnt while handing out a flogging and copping a flogging, the lesson you get from either depends on the guidence provided by the adults in this case they taught their own young players to basically kick someone while their down.

If that was MFC I would hope that the President has instructed the coaches to do the right thing.

When I coached and we were flogging the other side I'd put all my better players in defence and give the lesser talented players a shot on the ball.
I'd also tell the kids that if everyone in the team kicked a goal they could choose our training drills for the week.
Unfortunately there are many teams out there that purposely under-perform until the gradings are confirmed. Most grades are sorted accordingly.

[Robb_Stark]

in the white divison under 14s golden grove suck and often get pumped by 40 goals whats the difference

missing the point still its about the other side leaving a full compliment of players on the field despite being that far ahead. I agree with Beery on this.

some coaches change positions of forwards to backline etc some coaches play to win others play to teach depends on the coach and to be honest its the aggressive coaches that do this who wanna win sheep stations

i ment to say under 15s white as well lol i seen under 15s white out at angle vale other week go down by less then a goal and they havent won a game all year

you cant complain when you play in the G.F year before then suck following year just means you didnt recruit well enough but does that give you a right to stay down and smash weaker clubs in a different colour no

[bird of prey]

The only issue here is that the league should look at placing your team in the lower division. I know when I was a junior the league use to adjust teams if they were far too good or not good enough in their current division.

Can't expect the better team to take the foot off the pedal, especially in the top division, jus because they're playing a weaker team. The first thing a coach says to their players in seniors when playing a team near the bottom is to play as hard as you can, don't take them lightly. We need to teach kids this early.

These guys are 14 years old. Some of them are probably lucky enough to have had their first root already. I'm sure they can handle a beating on the field.
Although I must say, even at seniors, if a team was regularly getting beaten by those margins it would be hard to get numbers out also. Do we need to go easy on these men too?

[HH3]

When I played my one year of U/14's at North Haven in 2002, we had about 14 regular players, 2 being female (they were our better players) and a rag tag band of misfits. This was when we were in the Metro West comp, which matched us up with teams like Pt Districts, Henley, SMOSH, Flinders Park, etc and we got pumped EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. I know how it feels to lose all the time, but I think it just makes me appreciate when I do play in a winning side a bit more now.

On the one hand, I agree with beeroclock that it doesnt help struggling teams to be pumped by that much, but on the other hand, the better side shouldnt have to drop to the lower teams level.

Maybe the Golden Grove coach did change up the players in positions they dont usually play, and they were still too good.

Having said that, at U/14's level, I think they should have matched the player count on the field. Obviously, Golden Grove would have more rotations, and fresher players, but at least their would be 1 on 1 match ups all over the ground.