Posted on 06/10/2010 9:14:56 AM PDT by walford
EMC Sports - A new rule meant to prevent blow out scores has angered some parents and participants of a local recreational soccer league.
Prior to the start of the season, the board of directors for the Gloucester Dragons added a new rule to the league's handbook to enforce the pre-existing ruling against having a final score differential of more than five goals.
According to the league handbook, "If at the end of a game there is more than a 5 goal difference in the score, the team that scored over 5 goals will have the results recorded as a loss when the game is recorded at the office."
Near the end of his team's first exhibition game May 20, 17-year-old Kevin Cappon was about to score his team's seventh goal when the referee informed his coach that if they scored another goal, they would lose the game.
Bruce Cappon watched his son put the ball out of bounds and join the rest of the team in passing the ball around until the other team narrowed the scoring gap to 6-2.
While he said he agrees that no one wants to see one team get blown out, Mr. Cappon added that penalizing the winning team is not the way to go about remedying the situation.
"If you bring a racehorse to a ploughing match, you can't blame the animals," he said.
According to Sean Cale, chair of the league's board of directors, the rule is supposed to serve as a gentle reminder to coaches to keep to the five-goal differential rule in mind.
To avoid the problem, the league has suggested some strategies, which include rotating players into other positions, passing the ball more prior to a shot on goal, kicking with the weaker foot and reducing the number of players on the field.
"I think it's a cop out," Mr. Cappon said. "They are pandering to mediocrity."
Mr. Cappon said that the league should be working more on balancing the teams instead of passing the buck onto players and coaches.
Mr. Cale agreed that team balancing is part of the problem, but that there is no easy solution and no way to please everybody.
"(The new rule) is until we find a better way," Mr. Cale said.
Cyril Moukarzel is the coach of Kevin's team. He said that he was not informed of the rule prior to the game.
"Everyone was surprised," Mr. Moukarzel said, describing the scene on the field as "chaotic" while he attempted to find some way to continue play within the rules. He said the referee suggested letting the opposing team score and taking a couple of players off of the field, which he decided against doing.
"It's not called soccer anymore," Mr. Moukarzel said.
Mr. Cale said that the rule change was communicated to coaches during pre-season meetings - without any opposition - as well as in parent communications.
However, he acknowledged that it was possible some coaches may not have been present at those meetings as the league is usually still trying to find volunteers to coach the teams up until a week before the season begins.
Although the spirit of the rule is to foster respect for the opponent, Mr. Moukarzel said that it embarrasses the losing team more to have the winning team not play to their full potential.
As he goes forward with the rest of season, Mr. Moukarzel said that when his team reaches a three-goal lead, he tells them to stop scoring and subs out his stronger players.
Mr. Cappon said he is among a group of parents who are organizing a petition for the league's board of directors to hold a special meeting to repeal the rule.
Mr. Cale said he and the board, which is made up entirely of volunteers, were surprised by the violence of reaction to the rule and wishes that parents had come to staff directly instead of airing their grievances through the media.
"The responses from parents have been quite rude and insulting," he said. "Paying a registration fee doesn't give you the right to abuse staff."
He added that he was disappointed that the fury over the rule has overshadowed the fun elements of the league. For example, in honour of the 2010 World Cup, each team is named after a competing country and has received full replica uniforms.
The Gloucester Dragons also brings in donations to send uniforms and equipment to kids who can't afford them, either in the community or in developing countries.
"Our job as board of directors is that a majority of people have a safe, fair and fun season," said Mr. Cale. "We do it because we love it."
I’m thinking it would be more embarrassing to the losing team to have the winning team toying with them.
How about just a four goal lead = game over rule?
I could coach an undefeated team easily in this league.
1. Tell my players to shoot the ball in our goal
2. If the opposing team is near the goal and not trying hard to score, foul to create a penalty shot
3. Hand ball, hand ball, hand ball
I would just instruct my team to only shoot on our own goal. We’d never lose a game. After a while, it’d be fun to watch the other team try to stop us from scoring on our own net, lol.
This is the absurdity carried to its logical conclusion. The teams would simply switch sides and defend their opponents’ goals.
Then I guess they would have to create a bizarro-rule that teams that lost by more than 5 points would actually lose. No wait, but then it would contradict the other rule and...
...my head just imploded.
The Law of Unintended Consequences was written by liberals.
I’ve sat my best players down for the same reason. I hate losing but if it’s going to happen I’m going down with my dignity intact and a healthy respect for my opponent.
I've got no problem with the "mercy rule" -- if the teams are that unevenly matched (even if just on that day), there's little benefit to be gained from continuing the game, for either side.
Except that this travesty was conceived and implemented by Canadians!
It’s the complete opposite of the “mercy rule”. Of course a classy coach/team will not run up the score but imposing a loss if they do is just plain silly.
Most good coaches will put in their bench, pull their key players, make them pass five times before shooting, etc....basically use it as field practice to avoid piling on.
Or they can impose the rule that after the half the score gets too lopsided the game is over. That will prevent run ups if the team really wants to play and have fun.
I don’t have a problem with it either.
For a true sportsman, there’s no fun in “running up the score” - and after all - a win is still a win.
I just glad my son learned his lesson the first time around.
Just Wednesday night, an opposing coach used profanities against our 12 year old catcher, causing a verbal scuffle between both coaches and the umpires (and a delay of the game)
Really, what a role model for the kids. No wonder they act like brats and expect somebody to make things fair for them.
No word on if this jerk got suspended from the league yet.
Oh yeah - and you are setting a great example for your players - wish more coaches were like you.
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