Once i was coaching a rec league girls game, and we were pounding the other team. The ref came to me and told me to call off the dogs. I did, and I don't think our team scored again that season. We never could get it back. First of all, it's the coach's job to keep HIS team sharp. We also should be teaching good sportsmanship and building character, but we still play to win and you win by scoring goals. It's the other teams responsibility to keep the score down. I've seen teams pass it around and not try to score, and I really believe the losing team would rather they try to score. Playing a man or two down preserves the quality of play and at least makes it meaningful.