Falling Players, Gringos & More makes for an interesting read….
Sports violence is an epidemic plaguing our nation. Each year, millions of people participate in sporting competitions on some level. As society places an increasing value on athletic success, the desire to succeed in sporting competitions increases as well. As a result, athletes are increasing their resolve to succeed at all costs, even if the costs include resorting to violence. Violence in sports is present at all levels. Professional, collegiate, high school, and even youth athletes engage in sports violence. Whether in an organized league or a recreational league, at times it becomes a forum for unpunished criminal violations. And as offenders go unpunished and referees fail to card players, the epidemic is exacerbated.
Most people would generalize that when it comes to aggressiveness in sports, that men (“the stronger sex” as some may say) are the more aggressive sex. But recent events such as the indicent involving University of New Mexico junior defender Elizabeth Lambert, show that women are just as culpable. In Soccer (like many other sports), there's a fine line between assertiveness and aggression/violent behaviour (illegal play). Being assertive is something to encourage, illegal play is not. The mantra that teams should win at all costs leads to unnecessary roughness and may result in injuries to other players.
Recently I have found that some coaches are increasingly putting an emphasis on teaching their players that aggressive or violent behavior is part and parcel of the game. If one were to watch La Liga or Serie A or even the MLS, it would seem that professional sports have also led to an Institutionalization of Violence in Sports.
Even at a young age some coaches teach players to use violence as a tool for sport success. I understand that some players like to do a little shirt tugging and I can accept that and even tolerate an accidental foul or injury inflicted by another athlete with inferior skills. But is unacceptable when excessive force and intimidation tactics are consistently used by teams against their opponents. Under no circumstances is it acceptable or a legitimate part of the game to close line, kick, trip, tackle, push, head butt or shove opposing team members. Players on the soccer pitch should NOT be made to feel like a quarterback running through a defensive line!
After last nights Toronto FC game against Santos Laguna’s, in which Astone Morgan was a recipient of a flagrant headbutt from winger Darwin Quintero in second-half injury time, Winter condemned the incident and added that “it’s not good for football,” but this much is clear about Wednesday’s opener: it doesn’t matter how old you are or what level you play at, this type of behavior is always unacceptable. For once it was nice to see a referree, give out a red card for such a flagrant foul. It also reveals that although this incident was viewed by many spectators, the incident was interpreted very differently from the two managers.
http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/03/falling-players-gringos-more
Most people would generalize that when it comes to aggressiveness in sports, that men (“the stronger sex” as some may say) are the more aggressive sex. But recent events such as the indicent involving University of New Mexico junior defender Elizabeth Lambert, show that women are just as culpable. In Soccer (like many other sports), there's a fine line between assertiveness and aggression/violent behaviour (illegal play). Being assertive is something to encourage, illegal play is not. The mantra that teams should win at all costs leads to unnecessary roughness and may result in injuries to other players.
Recently I have found that some coaches are increasingly putting an emphasis on teaching their players that aggressive or violent behavior is part and parcel of the game. If one were to watch La Liga or Serie A or even the MLS, it would seem that professional sports have also led to an Institutionalization of Violence in Sports.
Even at a young age some coaches teach players to use violence as a tool for sport success. I understand that some players like to do a little shirt tugging and I can accept that and even tolerate an accidental foul or injury inflicted by another athlete with inferior skills. But is unacceptable when excessive force and intimidation tactics are consistently used by teams against their opponents. Under no circumstances is it acceptable or a legitimate part of the game to close line, kick, trip, tackle, push, head butt or shove opposing team members. Players on the soccer pitch should NOT be made to feel like a quarterback running through a defensive line!
After last nights Toronto FC game against Santos Laguna’s, in which Astone Morgan was a recipient of a flagrant headbutt from winger Darwin Quintero in second-half injury time, Winter condemned the incident and added that “it’s not good for football,” but this much is clear about Wednesday’s opener: it doesn’t matter how old you are or what level you play at, this type of behavior is always unacceptable. For once it was nice to see a referree, give out a red card for such a flagrant foul. It also reveals that although this incident was viewed by many spectators, the incident was interpreted very differently from the two managers.
http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/03/falling-players-gringos-more