Play On
Source/Author: Mike Murphy, Headmaster
February 05, 2016
One of my worst memories of a high school athletic event happened during a soccer playoff game. Throughout the first half, the fans and eventually the players loudly voiced their disapproval of the calls and perceived non-calls by the referees. This got so bad that the referees asked the administrator on duty to address some of the fans who had resorted to profanity-laced protests. To say the least, the fan behavior was influencing the players.
With the score tied 0-0 and with little time remaining in the second period, the visiting team kicked a long pass over the heads of the home team defenders to a forward who trapped the pass and sprinted toward the goal. The defenders stopped and threw their hands up in the air and yelled at the referee that the opposing player had been offside. Meanwhile, the visiting player advanced on the goal and without anyone chasing him-because the defenders were yelling at the referees-got past the goalie and scored the goal that won the game and knocked the home team out of the playoffs.
Those of us who were present realized that everyone contributed to the loss. The players forgot to play because they were more interested in being referees than players. The parent fans forgot they were there to support their children because they became more interested in the referees than how their boys were playing. The coaches lost control of the team because the fans were louder and more persistent.
I am well aware that those who were more emotionally involved than I may have a different interpretation of these events. However, I currently have control of the keyboard and can attempt to send some guidance to our current student-athletes and their parents.
My advice is pretty simple:
- Students / Athletes: Do your job the best you can and let the others do theirs. Play on, do your best and enjoy the event.
- Parents and Guardians: Enjoy watching your sons and daughters play.
- All of us: In the absence of replay cameras and different rules, all the complaining will not change the game or event.
Experience teaches that we do little good when we try to take over the role of the coaches and/or referees.
A few years ago, "Sports Illustrated" published an article in which successful professional athletes recalled their best memories with their parents. My favorite response was from an all-pro football player. He noted that his parents never commented on the quality of his play. After each game they told him they enjoyed seeing him and his teammates play. He suggested that all parents follow his parents practice. I agree.
Cheers!
Mike
Mike
