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I notice the HS coaches are noticeably absent on this post. I haven't a clue where to begin. 22-1 Really. Can anyone with soccer knowledge defend a 22-1 score ? anyone.



I think perhaps the reason that HS coaches are noticeably absent from this discussion is that we seem to have it every year for the last few years, at least two or three times per season. How many times can you weigh in on the same topic? It's been discussed and discussed, and then someone else sees a different score that offends them and then it's a whole new outrage again.

Truth is, most people don't say too much because the main thing a discussion like this does is just call attention to the disparity between the two teams. Nothing can be said to defend one team without making the other look worse, and where's the sportsmanship in that?

I think it's just a compulsion...not only do people demand an explanation for running up a score, but supporters of the winning team seem to always feel the need to explain the LACK of running up a score when restrictions are used. Very seldom do you see a score posted as "Well-Established Club Player-Stacked Team 5, Developing Team with Hard-Working but Inexperienced Players 0." Someone almost always feels the need to say that Team A "finished the game with 8 on the field," "spent the entire second half passing the ball around," "played second and third string almost the entire match," or posts a 10-0 score and feels the need to report, for accuracy's sake only, of course, that the game was called at halftime--all this rather than just posting a reasonably respectable score and letting people think what they will. Is any of that any more sportsmanlike or respectful to the other team than going ahead and playing the game?

Honestly, as someone who has coached a developing team through several seasons of receiving high double-digit scores, the maddest I've ever been was when the dominant team would make it clear they were toying...getting a breakaway, faking as if to shoot, then turning and dribbling back away from the goal. I'm all for restrictions--make it difficult to score to try to even the playing field--but if halfway through the game (or before) you're telling your team absolutely NOT to score, then you're not giving the developing team a chance to figure out how to STOP a team that's trying to score.

I remember a few years ago my girls were playing against one of the stronger teams on our schedule and we gave up 7 goals...the other team in the last ten minutes was physically and vocally letting us know they intended to score more. How did my girls feel about that? Proud as they could be..."Coach, they didn't let up on us...they didn't score all they wanted to because we didn't let them!"

That said, no excuse IMHO for leaving all your starters in and giving them free rein to score any way they want in a lopsided game just to boost stats, or put a team back in their place after they finally get one in...but I don't know if that is the case or not. Just hearsay. All I can say is hats off to Northwood for having the heart to keep attacking and get a goal in! That one score probably meant more to them than the 22 that went the other way.

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