Because the girls have fun doing it? Because it allows them to interact with other children? Don't fault the girls for wanting to do what they love and enjoy

 

They haven't won in over 4 years. Do you really think that is fun for them? Do you think that they enjoy getting embarrassed?

Here is my arguement....

 

Why was the game scheduled?

 

If the team that didn't score is that bad, then why are they playing a varsity schedule?

 

It's not the winning teams' fault that the other team didn't score.

 

If people were going to complain, then the game should have been called at half.

 

I don't mind you playing the "devil's advocate" role...

 

They are playing because the school offers a sport for the girls to compete in. There's no law against being bad. I don't fault the winning team for pitching a shutout...I fault the other team's COACH for do something that can only be for the wrong reasons...keeping the screws turned for the maximum possible humiliation. As I stated previously on this thread, I don't have a problem with a large winning margin - even if that margin is 50 points and even if it's my team that's on the losing end. Go ahead - keep running an offense and trying to score. Play solid defense - I'd be (if I was on the losing end) - more embarrassed if you allowed me to get anything without earning it. But keeping your starters in and pressing full-court until the score reaches 100-0 is completely indefensible. Keep your team playing hard, work on new sets, even simply requiring them to make a few extra passes - won't change the outcome (it'll still be a rout), but it'll show that the winning team is intent on winning, not abject humiliation.

 

And - it should be noted, as this is important here - the losing team DID NOT complain. The winning team's school administration is who made this a story.

 

That still doesn't explain the points that I made. Why is this team playing basketball? Clearly they don't need to be competing at a varsity level.

 

I can see your point here, but some questions have unknown answers. Are there seniors on the losing team? Will Texas allow seniors to play JV or freshman ball? With only 8 players, they may not have a choice about what division they play in. I agree that they currently can't appear to compete at the varsity level - but I disagree with the concept that they "don't need to be." And I can't imagine telling people that they can't participate because they're not good enough!! :ohbrother:

 

They haven't won in over 4 years. Do you really think that is fun for them? Do you think that they enjoy getting embarrassed?

 

If they weren't enjoying the experience, do you think that they would have a team? Should the school's administration post a sign on the gym that says "Due to complete lack of competitiveness, we are no longer going to offer girls the opportunity to enjoy the game of basketball"?? :confused: The last team I coached that went winless had just as much fun as the team that went undefeated (the next year).

 

The bottom line is this: Nobody is saying the winning team should have stopped playing hard. Nobody is suggesting that they should have "let" the other team score. Nobody is saying that you quit playing hard, fundamental, disciplined basketball. But there are many simple things the coach can do to prevent acting as if you are trying to embarrass the lesser team. And none of them require you to quit playing hard, fundamental basketball.

Good post!!! You have made a lot of valid points. I think that some of what I have said and some of what others have said are highlighted.

 

Clearly, none of us were at the game, so we don't know the entire situation. Maybe the topic should be... should the coach have been fired???

Its one thing to win. Its another thing to run a full court press with your starters in the 4th quarter against a team that hasn't scored yet.

 

I have been trying to find a picture from the game (j/k):

That still doesn't explain the points that I made. Why is this team playing basketball? Clearly they don't need to be competing at a varsity level.

 

:confused:

 

What should be remembered about any team is not whether than won or lost, but how they played the game. Any blowout game can be played with dignity and fellowship. If all a coach ever teaches our kids is the game of basketball and that winning is everything, they have done our children a great disservice. You should always win, lose or draw with class and a good coach knows how to teach that as well. JMO

I have no problem with running up the score in the pros and college. I don't see a problem with letting high school teams run their offense even if it is lopsided. What I don't like is seeing players and parents celebrating a shut out and for reaching a 100 pts against any team. Especially a handicapped team.

 

I'm reminded of something about Mary when Matt Dillon is playing football with her handicap brother and friends.

I have no problem with running up the score in the pros and college. I don't see a problem with letting high school teams run their offense even if it is lopsided. What I don't like is seeing players and parents celebrating a shut out and for reaching a 100 pts against any team. Especially a handicapped team.

 

I'm reminded of something about Mary when Matt Dillon is playing football with her handicap brother and friends.

 

I would tend to agree but, a coach has no control on the action of the parents. He also is walking a thin line on controlling the emotion of players (assuming they are not clearly out of line).

 

Where the coach screwed up here is allowing his team to push for 100 and the shutout. The other factors are side effects beyond his or her control.

Look people, this is a sport. A sport that keeps score so at the end a winner is proclaimed. Has the world we live in become so PC that when you win you shouldn't score as many points as you can because the other team isn't worthy enough to be on the court with you? That's your fault because you have the talent to not only score 100 points, which isn't done often, but you can also shut the team out in a basketball game? I am of a different breed because if I am coaching the losing team I am either a.) trying to figure out how to get my talent as good as that team or learning to better develop my players or b.) not scheduling teams that can beat me 100-0. All coaches can make a schedule and immediately know which games are going to be the toughest. While every one is being sympathetic to the losing team, has anyone asked why this game was scheduled in the first place? And now the winning team is going to forfeit and the head coach got fired? Seriously? I understand all the whining about how they "ran the score up", but come on, a little responsibility needs to be taken from the losing team. If Burgin Independent Schools starts a football team and they schedule their first game against Highlands, then they get what they deserve for scheduling a juggernaut when you clearly aren't ready for a juggernaut.

I have no problem with running up the score in the pros and college. I don't see a problem with letting high school teams run their offense even if it is lopsided. What I don't like is seeing players and parents celebrating a shut out and for reaching a 100 pts against any team. Especially a handicapped team.

 

I'm reminded of something about Mary when Matt Dillon is playing football with her handicap brother and friends.

 

 

 

 

Special Needs not handicapped, and I still blame that on their head coach for scheduling the game in the first place. Why would he put those kids in that situation?

 

 

It wasn't too long ago when the nation was celebrating the exploits of Jason McElwain, the autistic kid who scored 20 points in 4 minutes.

WoW... He kept his starters in till the 4th quarter!!!

I have been trying to find a picture from the game (j/k):

 

Outstanding! :laugh:

Outstanding! :laugh:

 

I got a good chuckle out of it :lol:

Look people, this is a sport. A sport that keeps score so at the end a winner is proclaimed. Has the world we live in become so PC that when you win you shouldn't score as many points as you can because the other team isn't worthy enough to be on the court with you? That's your fault because you have the talent to not only score 100 points, which isn't done often, but you can also shut the team out in a basketball game? I am of a different breed because if I am coaching the losing team I am either a.) trying to figure out how to get my talent as good as that team or learning to better develop my players or b.) not scheduling teams that can beat me 100-0. All coaches can make a schedule and immediately know which games are going to be the toughest. While every one is being sympathetic to the losing team, has anyone asked why this game was scheduled in the first place? And now the winning team is going to forfeit and the head coach got fired? Seriously? I understand all the whining about how they "ran the score up", but come on, a little responsibility needs to be taken from the losing team. If Burgin Independent Schools starts a football team and they schedule their first game against Highlands, then they get what they deserve for scheduling a juggernaut when you clearly aren't ready for a juggernaut.

 

First, I don't really think anybody has said anything about the winning team being a "juggernaut."

 

But regardless, your logic is flawed. If sportsmanship was defined as you define it, then it is OK to purposely do everything possible to publicly humiliate a team just because they have the "audacity" to agree to play a game with you... It's the same mentality as blaming the victims of crimes for being victims... :ohbrother: Bottom line: The losing team didn't tell the winners to keep pressing for four quarters with their starters.

 

In this team's case - using your philosophy - this team wouldn't have scheduled anyone, but would have simply folded their program. They haven't beaten anyone in four years. Is this what competition means? Is this what we want competition to teach our kids? Give up?

 

Maybe the winning team should be penalized for agreeing to play an undermanned team...it takes two to make a schedule.

True, it does, and if I know I can beat you 100-0 then trust me, I am going to schedule you. But as I have said, this is where I am different from the politically correct world we live in. I don't want the opposing coach to let up on my team. I want my team to figure out how to stop the other team. I don't want a team that has been pressing to stop pressing and let us get the ball to half court. We aren't getting any better by you letting us bring the ball up the court. I don't want your pity. Whip my team and whip us good. If we meet again, we will play just as hard, but don't give us 2 points just because it is the "classy" thing to do. Don't call off the dogs whether they be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd string(they need game time experience too) because it is the "classy" thing to do. To me that is insulting and disrespectful, and yes, if I can whip you that bad, you better believe I will. There is a scoreboard keeping score for a reason. If you don't want me to score, then stop me because we are coming all game long. Period.

As bad as what this guy did is wrong, there are/have been coaches around here that did very similar things.