You are the coach of a 5th grade football team. You are ahead 28-0 with 2 minutes left in the game.

[Beausoir]

Would you call an on side kick to run up the score?

It happened at my son's game and a lot of parents were pretty disgusted with the opposing coach.

I didn't mind, because my son, Big Train, recovered the kick and lumbered 20 yards toward the endzone before being dragged down. He was pumped.

But, isn't it pretty poor sportmanship at this level to pile on the points like that?

Dunno what to think.

[SoxFan]

1. That coach is a schmuck

Some asshat with delusions of grandeur who validates his questionable manhood at the expense of 11 year old kids.

[Tyler Durden]

2. Of course it is.

Teaches "King of the Hill," beat the shit out of them, etcetera.

We had an AYSO soccer game when only half our team showed up. The other coach said "Play or forfeit" and played ALL 11 PLAYERS.

The other side's parents bellowed "ROLL IT UP! ROLL IT UP!!"

Revolting.

On another occasion, we were up 6-0, and the boys decided on their own to "miss" a block so the other team would not be skunked. I was so proud of them.

[_testify_]

3. Depends.

What was the line on the game? :)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Oh, I don't know.

Kids spend time learning a tricky play in practice. Seems they should get a chance to try it in a real game.

If he were simply trying to add points, sure, it's bad sportsmanship, but there could be other explanations.

[Beausoir]

16. That's why I didn't get too pissed off. They had obviously worked on the play...so..why not use it?

On the other hand, the coach is a bit intense. We had him last year and he is hyper tied up in the game.

[DS1]

5. Best time to try it out

sucks for the other team to be practice dummies though

[Beausoir]

15. What in the holy hell is that in your sig?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[DS1]

17. It was this

but I took it out when I discovered the file size. be nice to dial-uppers, they can't help being slow

[SeattleGirl]

6. Bad sportsmanship.

No need for that kind of thing at any level, but especially with young kids' teams. It's like the coach was saying, "Okay, we essentially beat the other team. Now, let's rub their faces in it."

Disgusting.

(Though, good on your son for his nice run.)

[IndianaJones]

7. Nothing wrong with it. nt.

[redqueen]

8. I think it is. Definitely.

Sad, but that seems to be pretty much par for the course in youth sports these days.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Not if he was betting on a 30 point spread. Seriously, though, it depends -

as DS1 said, it's also a wonderful time to try an on-side kick in a real-life scenario instead of just practice.

It depends on the motivation of the coach.

[Jimbo S]

10. Coach is a moran.

[flvegan]

11. I sure as hell wouldn't kick it to a kid with a nick like "Big Train"

I'd have kicked it to someone more akin to "A/V Geek" or "Unicorn Trapper Keeper Kid"

[Lyric]

21. .

Unicorn Trapper Keeper Kid

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
I had a Unicorn Trapper Keeper--a "Lisa Frank" one, no less! Covered in rainbows and hearts and clouds and flowers. I still have it, actually, but ThinkBlue1966 covered up the unicorn with a Dead Kennedys sticker.

:hi:

[One_Life_To_Give]

12. Not if 3rd or 4th string players used

Otherwise it's classless.

Heck I remeber games when most of the first string was sidelined. Defensive linemen substituted for fullback, etc.

[Coyote_Bandit]

13. Courtesy

is part of the definition of sportsmanship at any level of play. Piling on the score (or trying to) is never acceptable IMHO.

[Felix Mala]

14. Must have gone to Purdue...

That's how they teach football up there.

[LisaM]

18. Well, they probably see the nonsense that is the BCS

which encourages running up the score to rack up more BCS points. I think this needs to be addressed at all levels of the game.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

19. It's bad form and

sets abad example to the players. When you have the game in hand, you ought not be trying to stick it up your opponents ass. There is a thing called karma............

[Connonym]

20. It's rude but a good opportunity to teach your kids about good sportsmanship

and how to not be an ass.

[PRETZEL]

22. If it was intentional then I'd say bad sportsmanship

an on side kick at that stage of the game serves no other purpose than chest pumping.

If they had practiced it during the week and wanted to try it out they could have done it either at the beginning of the game or at the start of the second half. They have to kick off at the start of either half. Let it be done when there is something to gain from it. Not with 2 minutes left. (btw, ref's will generally let the clock run if a game is out of hand for sportsmanship's sake).

But on the other hand, kids that age generally aren't the best of kickers. I've seen alot of kids accidentally kick a ball that rolls a couple of yards. It's the unintentional on sides kick.

[AngryAmish]

23. If they pulled that, crackback blocks

5th graders never see them coming.

[Beausoir]

28. Bahaaa! You should see the viciousness of the unintentional facemasks.

Somebody is going to lose a head.

[NoGOPZone]

24. Barry Switzer coaches 5th graders now? nt

[KitchenWitch]

25. Yes, the onside kick was poor form.

[sasquatch]

26. How the hell does a kid get named "Big Train"?

:D

[Beausoir]

27. He's built like a locomotive and can not be derailed.

His team mate and brother in arms is Big Ben. Huge 5th grade kid. Gynormous. And the nicest kid around. Fast off the line, too.

[Oeditpus Rex]

29. Is it certain that the point was to run up the score?

I wasn't there and I don't know anyone involved, but I do like to consider all possibilities before passing judgement.

It's feasible that the opposing coach was handing your son's team good field position without making it obvious. Or, as others have pointed out, it was also just a good opportunity to practice a strategy against a real opponent in a game situation — not necessarily with malice aforethought.

Then, too, there are other ways to look at something like this. Would it not appear just as unsportsmanlike if the kick had gone deep, further preventing a runback? If they'd recovered the kick and then thrown long, I'd say that wasn't very sportsmanlike. If they'd recovered and then taken a knee, that would appear sportsmanlike, but it'd really be just protecting their lead.

There's sportsmanship, and there's not quitting.

[trof]

30. Ass. Hole. Repug?

It just figures.
:-(