SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums SCHSSCA Question for coaches: Post match

I'd like to get some feedback from my fellow coaches about post-match activities of teams: what's good, bad, etc. I'm the first to say that I probably don't do everything the "right" way, but I do try to get my players to learn to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. I've noticed a trend over the years of more and more teams doing something that I question. Perhaps some of you can change my mind as I'm probably not seeing it clearly. I hope so.

Here's what happens: A team wins. They shake hands with the opposing team. They then form up and run across the field to where their fans sit and applaud their fans and their fans cheer them and it’s a big love fest.

I completely understand how teams want to appreciate their fans and vice versa. Sure, I've seen professional teams do it too. But is it something we should do? Isn't everyone going to get to see each other in just a second anyway? At home, I feel it is perhaps appropriate. Away, I don't think so. It doesn't sit with me somehow. Is this the lesson we want to teach - when you win in life or if you're successful or better at something - really rub it in the other guys face? Just doesn't seem good to me.

Thoughts?

"Act like you have been there before." Jerry Rice

Great professional football analogy. Anyone want to be helpful?

We applaud our fans for coming to every game, home or away, win or lose, because we're happy to have the support. We don't stop and talk, we just jog, clap, and job back.

I don't think that it's most team's intent to be "classless" through this act. I know that when I played we did this, victory or defeat, at every game to show our appreciation for our fans that came to show their support. It's not meant to be a slap in the face of the other team or anything like that, simply acknowledging/applauding the support that you have received.

When I remember to do so, I have my girls thank those who came to support us-- home or away. We don't make a big production out of it by running over in a line and raising a big ruckus, just a simple clap and wave, but Like Jr. said- it is just to say 'thanks' not meant to be braggarts.

tk

Sportmanship seems to always be a work in progress! We do not practice any applause of our fans on any other teams field! If carried out correctly it could be fine but I feel we should just do our job and get on with it. We thank our fans in the parking lot or by our performance. I realize professional teams do this.......HS soccer is not professional. One could argue playoffs may be different because of travel and I only speak of my teams actions!

I must stress that this isn't directed at any particular team (although I probably can't help that it will be). Before I came to James Island they did something similar and the boys didn't want to stop it. I don't want to seem spiteful or vindictive. Perhaps it's all born from sour grapes as we're not having the best season, perhaps not. This is something I've thought about for years. In many respects losing games has been good because it's given the team and me the chance to really consider what it feels like to win and lose and how we'd like to be treated - thereby changing how we treat others. I'm not saying it is bad or wrong, I'm just saying behavior can be interpreted lots of different ways and I'd like to hear both sides, the positives and negative. Maybe it would be good if we did it; maybe it wouldn't. That sort of thing. Peace.

A simple run over to thank your fans ( win or lose )(away or at home) is Class. Count the number of players from each team, then count the numbers of fans. Simple math. To thank the people who took the time, engery and effort to support their team seems seems to be a postive to me.

I've never had a problem with it as long as a team can do that win or lose like Paradox says. I've seen teams applaud the fans after a loss.
I think it's important that we stretch after a game for obvious reasons.