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posted 04/12/2011
Honor the Game
Dear Parents/Players/Fans-
I sincerely hope that everyone's season is going well so far. As the competition heats up, sometimes we all need a reminder that sports isn't always about winning but learning life lessons.
Each and every day we need to remember that our coaches, team parents, scorekeepers, timers, equipment managers, fund raising volunteers, snack schedulers, spirit wear coordinators, sideline cheerleaders are all volunteers. They along with this board give 100% of their lacrosse time freely and it is all for our amazing youth players.
Last year and this year the league affliated with the Positive Coaching Alliance and have required our coaches to be certified by taking a two hour course which includes the following powerful easily remembered component: ROOTS
As the season goes forward, please help us Honor the Game by following the ROOTS example:
R is for Rules
Rules allow us to keep the game fair. If we win by ignoring or violating the rules, what is the value of our victory? TVYLL believes that honoring the letter AND the spirit of the rule is important.
O is for Opponents
Without an opponent, there would be no competition. Rather than demeaning a strong or weak opponent, we need to honor both strong and weak opponents because they challenge us to do our best as players and as leaders. Athletes can be both fierce and friendly during the same competition (in one moment giving everything to get to a loose ball, and in the next moment helping an opponent up). Coaches showing respect for opposing coaches and players sets the tone for the rest of the team. On same note, parents on the spectator side should applaud great play by other teams even if the results are not what they had have hoped for. Comments about players abilities should be kept to oneselves. Please remember that we have both experienced and new players every year so we need to encourage and applaud them all.
O is for Officials (VERY IMPORTANT)
Respecting officials, even when we disagree with their calls, may be the toughest part of Honoring the Game. We must remember that officials are not perfect (just like coaches, athletes and parents!). Take time to think about how to best approach an official when you want to discuss a call. What strategies do you have to keep yourself in control when you start to get upset with officials" calls? We must remember that the loss of officials (and finding enough in the first place) is a major problem in most youth sports organizations, and we can confront this problem by consistently respecting officials. Never confront an official in front of players. Always finish the game by shaking their hands and saying Thank You!
T is for Teammates
It"s easy for young athletes to think solely about their own performance, but we want athletes to realize that being part of a team requires thinking about and respecting one"s teammates. This respect needs to carry beyond the field/gym/track/pool into the classroom and social settings. Athletes need to be reminded that their conduct away from practices and games will reflect back on their teammates and the league, club, or school.
S is for Self
Athletes should be encouraged to live up to their own highest personal standard of Honoring the Game, even when their opponents are not. Athletes" respect for themselves and their own standards must come first.
On a final note to Parents and Coaches, please remember first and foremost that this a game and it is most importantly about having fun! In another year most players will not remember the score of a game or even their win/loss record but they will always remember the good time they had together as a team, that pat on the back from the coach saying good job and the proud smiles from their family no matter how they performed.
Enjoy these times as they go by so fast.
See you all at the fields and thank you in advance for helping us Honor the Game!
Sincerely,
Maggie Williams
TVYLL President
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