Sport’s mercy rules
Is there any benefit in a sporting team being heavily beaten by a rival?
IN primary school my football team once lost 4-2. The celebrations that afternoon were off the charts.
That was as close as we got to a win that season – by some margin – and it’s fair to say the career of some on our roster had reached its zenith.
Yet amid those 14-0 drubbings and 12-0 “tight games” which surrounded our 4-2 “miracle” came a hardened mental fortitude.
Sure, it took a few years to bear fruit but by high school we had a competitive side which would produce a few handy footballers.
There’s a fine line between building spirit and crushing it but there is no doubt from pain can come persistence.
I’m not just talking about the Johnathan Thurstons of the world – you know, those small blokes who wouldn’t say no.
I mean those kids who get knocked down but keep coming back for more. Much to my chagrin, those of the PC-brigade have made a beeline towards watering down competitiveness at junior levels. Then there are the seniors.
My own experiences tell me that many who would have lined up in a weekend drubbing in any code wouldn’t have been doing so simply because of the chase of a win.
It’s about much more than that, whether it’s fitness or friendship, and no humbling by a rival is likely to drive them away from the game.
No, they are more likely to start scouring for new talent to help insure it doesn’t happen next time.
That can’t be a bad thing.