(12-17-2018 06:11 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(12-17-2018 03:31 PM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(12-17-2018 02:59 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(12-17-2018 01:36 PM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  Stop acting like an ass, it's not all about YOU!

Here are the rules I enforce with my lacrosse team, in order of importance:

1. Winning - we play to win, every time.
2. Sportsmanship - keep your hands down and don't talk back to the refs. Some jawing at other players is OK but at the end of the game you line up straight, bump fists with the other team and coaches, and look everyone in the eye. A thank you to refs is optional but encouraged.
3. Teamwork - pass the damn ball
4. Act like you've been there before - keep your celebration low key
   

We used to just have the first three but last year we had to implement #4 because they boys used to think doing a Fortnight dance - whether up by 10 or down by 10 - was acceptable. Damn that's embarrasing as a coach.

Only celebration we encourage outside the norm is the jump bump. But a game winning goal? Do that Fortnight dance young man!

I am particularity proud of #1 in this day and age because participation trophies grind me gears. The players and parents on my team are all in favor of #1. Refreshing for a lot of them, as well apparently.

Good rules.

I'm not a crotchety old man when it comes to celebrations.

I'm perfectly OK with Will Grier doing horns down after scoring that TD or guys celebrating after a turnover. I was OK with Neon Deon hi-stepping into the endzone & Ochocinco doing his little dances.

What I'm NOT OK with is guys being clueless to the situation. In this case, c'mon man, you're getting your proverbial backsides kicked. Your actions should reflect the FACT that the other team has dominated you and the ONLY reason you're getting that first down is that their subs are in the game.

In other words, don't act like you've won the Nobel Prize when in fact you've won the tallest midget contest......

Sportsmanship is important. But, my pet peeve is game awareness which includes this. If you are trying to reach the end zone on a 4th and goal then by all means try to stretch the ball across the goal line. However, if you picked up a first down at the 4 and time is not critical and you stretch the ball out only to have it leap out of your hands, or get swatted out, and you cost us a 1st and goal inside the 4 by fumbling it away, either to the other side, or through the end zone, then go straight to the locker room and we'll discuss your damn future after the game. If you have a brain then on every play your brain should be calculating what the most acceptable risks are and aren't, should be aware of where you are in the game, and ball protection except for on the final play of the half, or game, takes priority #1.

To me it isn't cool to stretch the ball out, it's stupid!

You're absolutely right. Another thing that gives me heartburn is when the player tries to get a yard or two more and they take the ball away because he's not concentrating on holding on to the ball.

The other is when a player gets a unsportsmanlike penalty costing the team in many ways. I would tell my players that if they can't keep their emotions in check then they probably need to go sit in the lockers until the end of the game. I'll bet that will make some players ears stand up erect like a rabbits.