Coach Quits in Support of Teenaged Hockey Fights
Here’s a good one from my neck of the woods:
The story explains that Barry Saunders quit because he wasn’t consulted on the issue. So “if there's no value in your opinion, well, obviously there's no value in the time that you're willing to put into the sport.” Saunders says the fighting ban will only lead to more cross-checking, slashing and other dirty play.The head coach of a high school hockey team in central Newfoundland has resigned over a new anti-fighting policy brought in by the regional school board.
The Nova Central School District says its new code of conduct means players who fight on the ice will be suspended from hockey games for 30 school days, and second violations will mean suspensions from all high school sports for a year.
You always hate to say anything against minor sports coaches. They’re volunteers, we need them, the majority are good folks and the rest of us aren’t getting up to go to the rink at 6:00 on Saturday morning.
But the most dedicated are not always the most qualified . Along with many, many smart and sensible volunteers, every minor hockey association has its share of overbearing power brokers, rigid traditionalists and questionable leaders of youth. Suffice to say that the Nova Central School District is probably better off for this resignation.
Comments
He’s right. The coach that is. Ban’s on fighting only lead to dirty play. As a long time hockey player, if you have a problem with another player, you fight him then it’s over. With over-bearing linesmen and officials, players are never in more than slight pain from fights occuring during the game. However, dirty play from players who have no other means of letting out aggression can lead to serious injury. Dirtier teams, such as some of the Northern Saskatchewan teams I’ve played against have broken other players arms with slashes due to the heavy penalties that can ensue from fighting, including suspensions. The more restrictions placed on hockey fights, the more players will have to use other ways to exact revenge on other players. It’s an incredibly idiotic way to solve what isn’t even a problem.