I don't have a dog in this fight, but shouldn't "grow a set and line 'em up" be told to the home team who is scared of the other teams speed :idunno:

 

:thumb:

Growing the grass longer for one game only is bush league. It should be the same length for every game.

 

What about watering the field? I know your alma mater has been accused of this on numerous occassions.

Would doing this violate the principles of sportsmanship and the ethics of competition?

Would doing this violate the principles of sportsmanship and the ethics of competition?

 

 

IMHO, yes.

 

It would be like putting a coat of wax on a basketball court before a game with a faster team to even the playing field.

 

Years ago, my high school was playing one of the fastest basketball team's in the state that scored a lot of points on fastbreak baskets. The coaches took a ball and a broom and for several hours, worked or 'trained' the nets so that they were much more likely to flip up on the rim on outside shots from the corners, which our team hit a lot of. The result was that a much higher number of baskets from the outside corners resulted in the nets flipping up and getting hung on the rim. It allowed our team to get back on defense to while the officials had to get the net 'unhung'. It was effective and helped out team come away with a win. Granted our team was very good (was 1-2 years from a state title), but this 'homecourt advantage' was CREATED, not natural, and IMHO, was unethical.

What about watering the field? I know your alma mater has been accused of this on numerous occassions.

 

Yes, but all we do is run the ball

 

 

The coach that is worried about growing the grass longer looks like a coach that is scared IMO. What kind of message is that sending to your team?

IMHO, yes.

 

It would be like putting a coat of wax on a basketball court before a game with a faster team to even the playing field.

 

Years ago, my high school was playing one of the fastest basketball team's in the state that scored a lot of points on fastbreak baskets. The coaches took a ball and a broom and for several hours, worked or 'trained' the nets so that they were much more likely to flip up on the rim on outside shots from the corners, which our team hit a lot of. The result was that a much higher number of baskets from the outside corners resulted in the nets flipping up and getting hung on the rim. It allowed our team to get back on defense to while the officials had to get the net 'unhung'. It was effective and helped out team come away with a win. Granted our team was very good (was 1-2 years from a state title), but this 'homecourt advantage' was CREATED, not natural, and IMHO, was unethical.

That is a great example. The last line about home court advantage is perfect.

Yes, but all we do is run the ball

 

 

The coach that is worried about growing the grass longer looks like a coach that is scared IMO. What kind of message is that sending to your team?

 

 

Isn't watering the field the same as growing the grass out?

I don't have a dog in this fight, but shouldn't "grow a set and line 'em up" be told to the home team who is scared of the other teams speed :idunno:

 

The home team wasn't complaining about it.

The home team wasn't complaining about it.

 

Um, what?

Isn't watering the field the same as growing the grass out?

 

Yeaaa... just because my old school does(did) it doesn't mean I agree with it.

Pretty much what I was thinking. Makes me wonder why people make such a big deal about it when it is done. I've seen it from high school to the pros where people complain about it. Both teams play on it. Adjust and hush up about it.

 

Totally disagree. If a team is built on superior speed or an offense predicated on "getting to the corner" then a sloppy or "high cut" field is to the advantage of the slower team that may very well rely on power plays and "grind it out" offenses.

 

I've seen "watered down" fields negate great "run and shoot" and wishbone teams whose offensive ability is to "run in space". While both teams "play in the same conditions," it does not mean that one team is limited significantly more than another team.

 

I would also add the fair sportsmanship factor is another aspect of this. If the rains come down by nature's hand and not man's - that's the factor of life. If fire trucks dump water on the field, then that is cheating IMO.

 

If the grass is tall because of choice and design, that's poor sportsmanship IMO. To me, homefield advantage is limited to crowd noise and familiarity with the stadium, field and surroundings.

I don't see a problem with it. If it makes a fast team slower, then it has to make the slower team even slower.

 

Not true. It puts all teams on a slower footing but odds are the "slow team" doesn't have a lot of plays designed to hit the corners and out run the opposition. The fast team does.

Good grief. Same conditions for both teams. Home field advantage. Grow a set and line 'em up in my opinion.

:thumb::thumb::thumb::popcorn:

Yeaaa... just because my old school does(did) it doesn't mean I agree with it.

 

I was just curious to see your stance on it.

Yes, but all we do is run the ball

 

 

The coach that is worried about growing the grass longer looks like a coach that is scared IMO. What kind of message is that sending to your team?

 

I think it teaches some strategy. No one complains when the fast teams all get paid turf fields and the poor mountain slower mountain schools have to travel and play on their surface; so what is wrong with growing grass out> I wouldn't thinl purposely soaking the field is right but if it rains, it rains and it benefits the home teams if they want it to IMO. I've never ever understood the philosophy that people say EKY teams cheat when their grass is high or their field is muddy because those same people can never understand that they can't afford the turf fields and they often only have 1 field for the high school, middle school and elementary school, therefore the field is going to be pretty bad by week 4-5.