Sending the wrong message


The little hair left on top of my head was made to stand on end as a result of embarrassingly poor sportsmanship displayed by parents of a neighboring town’s team at my 13 year-old’s Little Silver basketball game this past Saturday, Feb. 2.

I was enjoying watching the close match between two good teams until the last 43 seconds. To my complete amazement, the scoreboard operator — the father of a player on the opposing team — "ran up" the clock. Down by two points, this man stretched 43 seconds into about a minute and half in order to give his son’s team more time to even the score. Not once, but twice he froze the clock for what seemed like an eternity for the final seconds of a competitive basketball game.

Although the L.S. team won, I was obliged to discuss clock protocol with the scoreboard operator after the game.

What started as a private conversation was made a public scene by this "gentleman," apparently incensed that I would question his integrity. Soon I was bombarded by opposing team fathers, even the coach, with barbs like, "It’s only a rec. game, don’t take it so seriously!," "Well, then, you work the clock next time!" All pitiful defenses. It was even suggested that I be banned from future games.

Because it was a rec game is precisely my point. It is at this level that the foundation is laid for young players to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner for the rest of their lives. Running up the clock because you’re in control of it delivered absolutely the wrong message to kids on both benches.

Although it’s been said a million times before, but perhaps not heard, it’s worth repeating: Instill in your children that winning is not the overwhelming objective for participation in sports, but rather developing team participation skills and competing fairly within a defined set of rules. These skills can be invaluable when carried over into other areas of life.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines sportsmanship as "conduct (fairness, respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) becoming to one participating in a sport." Try practicing it.

Patrick Llewellyn

Little Silver