Somewhere, on RSD is a link to Billy Berrou's latest rant against refs...
I would like to see well officiated timed games that move w/ flow... but as to the idea that we need refs everywhere all at once...
From about.com... regarding golf and sportsmanship.
The Rules of Golf do address this indirectly in its preamble on etiquette, under the headline, "The Spirit of the Game": Unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they maybe. This is the spirit of the game of golf.
Sound familiar?
Likewise, in tennis, refs are the exception, not the rule, except at the very highest level. And given the number of tennis players, and leagues, high level is HIGH level. It is in fact codified... there is a code of tennis for unofficiated games -- Which is most.
I'll let you find the link.
So, there is CLEARLY a precedent for 'spirit of the game,' aka sportsmanship.
And i think it is is pretty clear where it came from. That being, other sports.
And yes, i do like zebras to run the highest level games.
Which is, basically, northwest regionals and nationals.
But do a little research... http://tinyurl.com/cmt82
Here's a good article explaining the difference between baseball and tennis (which has sportsmanship in the rules)... Do you really WANT to be like pro football? I saw an interview w/ a excon pro football player... he doesn't deserve his face on TV, yet if you accept that any press is good press, he is being glorified.
So here's my primer on clean play. Read the rules before you play. When you play, don't be an ass. Play within yourself at all time (i.e., know when to go 'all out'). And if you are lucky/good enough to play in a situation where refs are needed because the pace, intensity and consequence of the game are high, remember that it is just a game, and that since our sport, like tennis or golf, codifies sportsmanship, it's ok to overrule the ref to the detriment of your own position...
In otherwords, your lunch time game is not the big leagues, and doesn't warrant refs. Nationals does, but you are not required to be a jerk.
Although, it's kind of liberating sometimes...
2 comments:
right on.
i feel that "by any means necessary" type of competition takes that comment in the wrong direction. i hate it when players flagrantly foul because they are too out of shape or outskilled to play good d. but without any method of enforcement (and by this i mean penalizing the player who committed the foul) ulti is stuck in a very odd spot. i feel that sportsmanship has seemed to have gone to hell (from what I have read on the blogs) in upper level ultimate, and that is trickling down to lower levels.
the other problem i see is the "escalation effect" that this causes. for example, I was playing in a tournament, getting run over by a bigger, and slower player after catches. so, after about ten points of getting clobbered by this ogre, i see him about to do the same thing, and put an elbow into his stomach. is this wrong?
well you are escalating, but i'm not sure of your other options... you could flop and writhe... not much better though
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