sportsmanship

[TheLoo]

when, if ever, is a score 'out of hand' and a team is guilty of running up the score? We were having this talk in the GRLC board but I wanted to hear opinions.

[TexOle]

I think that is something up the coach. Coach Graff is a great example of a coach that knows when the scoring excessive. I still remember playing against Duluth years ago, and after they destroyed us having scored 19 he called off the dogs. I did not see many more shots other than those that would not be appropriate to shoot. If you do something to upset Coach Graff then if he is able to run up the score then he does. He might also run up the score to prove a point. I have seen Duluth run teams in to the ground, but at the same time I have never felt bad about Duluth doing it to any team I have played on. They show sportsmanship and are a joy to play against.

The main issue with running up a score is do you tell your players to stop shooting. What about the guy who gets an open look on the crease? I hated guys that passed up that shot. It was more insulting than letting another goal in. There are also some players who rarely play or have never scored. Do you tell those players not to try? If you are up big celebrate the goals and the game, but don't rub it in to the other team to where the game is dishonored.

Honor the game!

[Brendan Barry]

I've been on both ends of the spectrum. We've been down by 20 points and we've been up 20 points. This season, our coach put in a rule that we aren't allowed to score more than 19 points in a game if we are in a "comfortable" range. But if its a close game, balls to the wall...

[AflacLax]

The answer to this is two-part. One part is not running up the score to crush a team. The other falls in line with what TexOle said about it being "more insulting" not to take the shot.

Part of sportsmanship is honoring your fellow competitors. If a team stops shooting or playing to their full extent they are not honoring their competitors, but rather humiliating them by declaring that they are not even worthy of a game.

In a situation where a team is up to that point (10 or more goals) and it's certain that the opponent is beaten, they should not run up the score for the sake of sportmanship. Rather, they should play all reserves and subs and continue to play hard. This is good for both teams as it prevents clutch injuries for the winning team and give valuable learning time to subs. The losing team is still getting a good work out and is being honored as an opponent.

[A.J. Stevens]

I prefer to follow coach Tierney's lead

"Nineteen has been a meaningful number for Princeton all year. Every time the Tigers scored that many goals, coach Bill Tierney instructed his players to stop the madness and hold the ball.

You see, back when the Tigers were not perennial Division I champions, Tierney promised himself he never would put 20 goals on the scoreboard against an opponent in a mismatch."

http://www.ncaa.org/news/1997/19970602/ ... 22n18.html

I was taught early on that what goes around comes around.

[Maple Leaf]

to me this 19 goal rule has always been a little ridiculous... what are you supposed to tell a 4th or 5th line middie who rarely gets to see the field, ok, 5th line, thanks for coming out and practicing hard all week and trying to improve your game and contributing to the team.... but please don't score when you get in there. I think that is an insult to their efforts all week, as well to the other team. What does that say to the other team... we are so good and arrogant we are just gonna play keep away and run out the last 10 minutes of the clock because we don't want to score any more goals cause we know you are so bad that you aren't gonna score any more goals.

this being said, i would not encourage players to run and gun, and to push the ball... if by chance they run a set and get a good look, i would encourage them to attempt to put one in. Usually once you have your 5th or 6th line of middies in you don't have to worry about scoring any more. i would be happy if a guy is able to score his first career goal given the chance late in a game.

[Danny Hogan]

keep away is more humiliating than any goal over 19, provided it is scored by a bench player.

[emo]

In my last game in high school, my team lost 26-0. We hadn't won a single game that year. Our starting goalie was sick and couldn't play and a couple others were injured. The opposing team's coach never took out his starters and they kept scoring into the fourth quarter. I've never been more embarassed playing a sport in my life. I hope that guy feels like a big man.

[Campbell]

The term "running up the score" is a sympathetic plea by fans and losing teams. I would never look upon a team beating me by 20 points as unsportsmanlike. Everyone comes to play and you have to be prepared for the outcome, no matter what it is. As a coach if you hold back on your scoring you do your team a great disservice because every minute a player is in a game is a learning experience, no matter their level of ability. I think coaches that don't allow all their players to play in a winning situation are hurting their team, but you can't tell these guys to hold back, they need the experience just like everyone else. If you cant handle getting beat by 20 points then you shouldn't play competitive sports.

[Brendan Barry]

What I want to know is who has 6 lines of middies?

[LAXDawg14]

my opinion is that keep away is more humiliating than having the score run up. Also its hard if you put in the players who never get to play then tell them they cant try to run the offense like its done in practice.

[OAKS]

What I want to know is who has 6 lines of middies?

Colorado had at least 4 when we played them in '03. Not much of a drop-off in talent either.

[Daniel Morris]

If this topic started on the GRLC board, what are the thoughts on Missouri beating Iowa 28-1? That is just absurd and I don't care how poorly Iowa played or how outmatched they were, I could never let my team take things that far.

[Adam Gamradt]

As a coach if you hold back on your scoring you do your team a great disservice because every minute a player is in a game is a learning experience, no matter their level of ability.

It's the minutes they play after they're done with college that matter the most.

We are not professional athletes. We are not grooming our players to be professional athletes. We are supposed to be teaching our student athletes how to behave like gentlemen.

Our sport is not going to grow without more teams, and higher quality competition across the board. On the surface a 27 goal victory seems excessive. However, I was not at this game. There are very good reasons to violate the 19 goal guideline, to those of us who subscribe to Tierney's philosophy.

Lacrosse, as I was taught, is a game based on honor and respect of one's opponent. Without a very good reason (attempt to injure, etc.), an incredibly lopsided victory lessens the inherent value of a dominating win, and reflects poorly on the victory.

There is a line, and it's quite fuzzy, I'll certainly agree to that. However, if you're capable of beating a team by 20 goals, you have ample opportunity to play your bench before getting anywhere close to that line.

Watch this video, and tell me that winning by as many goals as possible teaches our players anything remotely valuable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYPaNc57Ik

Remember, it's the minutes played after college that matter the most.

[Danny Hogan]

tell me that winning by as many goals as possible teaches our players anything remotely valuable.

i dont' think you'll find anyone arguing that you should run it up as high as possible. As a coach, i'm also not going to put my bench in there to pass around in circles.