|
Editorial: Sportsmanship challenge
Op-Ed · September 18, 2014
Yes, we are glad to see West Branch coaches and parents pounding the drum for local athletes to practice good sportsmanship. Yes, we are glad that the Iowa High School Athletic Association recognized West Branch Community Schools for going an entire year without seeing a single player or coach get ejected from a sporting event.
But we are disappointed by the number of other Iowa schools to receive such a letter: Just 47.7 percent of IHSAA members, or 178 schools.
We had to read that again. Less than half?
This is terribly disappointing.
In all sorts of sports, athletes and coaches can get called for fouls, penalties and unsportsmanlike conduct. But to get ejected from a game goes beyond even those. Being ejected goes beyond just being angry, but taking your anger out on someone else in a way that disrupts the game or threatens the integrity of the game. According to the IHSAA handbook, a coach or athlete can get tossed from a game for “flagrant, violent or verbal misconduct.”
This seems like such a low standard that it ought to be reasonable for a higher percentage of schools to attain it. Note that the IHSAA does not mention ejecting fans, just coaches and players whom fall under the jurisdiction of the school.
Yes, we understand that people can get emotional during sporting events, especially when games are close and there is a lot on the line. Yes, we understand that it is difficult to find good coaches, especially at small schools. But with all the people representing a team at each event, whether a handful like a golf team or dozens on a football team, someone ought to be able to keep things from getting out of hand.
Thankfully, West Branch has accomplished just that. Perhaps the IHSAA ought to find models of good sportsmanship to share with the 56.3 percent who struggle in this area.
We can do better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
