Feature Story
Players should be “class” acts
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
I’ve pretty much stopped watching
professional football and basketball because of the unclassy
antics that the players put on. I’m not saying all players act like jerks in
these sports, but enough do to take away the term “class” for both.
A few years ago I wrote about playing
sports with class. I’d like to revisit that topic again – learning to have
class, and be humble and gracious.
With the professional athletic displays
evident on television, coaches have a bigger challenge than they used to. When
I played football, hockey and baseball none of my teammates nor I would have even considered any sort of unreasonable
display (other than reasonable joy and congratulations) after a goal, tackle,
touchdown or base hit. It would not have been acceptable and it really also
would not have been “cool.”
It is interesting to note that ego
displays don’t very often happen in baseball. The tradition and classiness of
that sport has stayed intact over the years because the managers and owners
have not been willing to have their teams and the whole sport “spoiled.” They
do have their own problems in other areas, however.
It is important, I believe, that coaches
at all levels of hockey, from mite through college, have a group discussion
with their teams at the beginning of each season to lay down ground rules as
what is acceptable and what is objectionable behavior in a variety of
situations. The outline and discussion for such a meeting might include the
following.
• Displays after goals, hard checks,
etc.
It is acceptable to show honest joy after
scoring and to share the congratulations among teammates. It is not acceptable
to make any remarks or signs to the other team in a demeaning manner or to make
exaggerated displays that bring undue attention. It is always unacceptable to
gloat over hard checks.
• After injury to an opposition player
It is acceptable to show concern for the
injured player then to assume a neutral position at your own bench. It is never
acceptable to make any negative comments to an injured player’s teammates no
matter what the circumstance. It is expected that the coach will assist the
injured player in any way possible.
• When the game is over and your team
has won
It is expected that all players and
coaches will be humble in victory and congratulate the team members for
a good game and to tell their coach you appreciate the game and the
competition. It is unacceptable to gloat and make any negative comments about
the other team no matter what the score.
• When the game is over and your team
has lost
It is expected that all players and
coaches will be gracious losers. Learning how to lose and be gracious is
not the same as learning to lose or not caring if you lose. It is
expected that players and coaches will shake hands and congratulate the winning
team and coaches for a good game. It is unacceptable to make “revenge” comments
or to refuse to shake hands no matter how the winning team acts.
• After a penalty has been called on
you or a teammate – or a disputed call by referee or linesman
It is unacceptable to show any display or
disagreement to the referee or the opposition. A vast majority of penalties and
other call are justified and warrant no argument. Any discussion about
the penalty should be by the coaches and/or captains only and should be in a
reasonable manner. Arguments and consistent badgering of referees and linesmen
will invariably hurt your team in the long run.
• During the national anthem and
presentation ceremonies (at tournaments)
It is expected that players and coaches
will be respectful of the situation and not engage in distractive actions.
There are a few other little things that
help make up a class team. Some examples are helping the officials with pucks
after whistles and thanking the referees (after every game). Conformance
to these guidelines makes playing the game of hockey more enjoyable and more
“honorable.” Players that are jerks somehow reduce the honor of the sport and
take something away from the game. Most of the items are pretty easy to
remember and are not unreasonable. Take a close look at the whole process at
your next game, however, and you will find many of them being violated.
It will take some monitoring by coaches
throughout the season to teach this very important aspect of sports. Coaches
must also monitor themselves. It is
impossible to teach lessons to players if all coaches are not following the
rules themselves.
I will never forget a scene that I
observed at a state tournament a long time ago. The game was just ending and
one player had scored a hat trick and was obviously going to be engulfed by
cameras and press. The assistant coach (who was also the player’s father) gave
him a big hug— and also reminded him discreetly and gently to be humble and to
give proper credit to his teammates. This coach and father certainly had his
priorities right and had the presence of mind to continue to provide great
direction at an important time for one of his players. This dad is still a
gracious man to this day.
John Russo, Ph.D., is founder and
director of the