Where is the line for acknowledging error in HS sports?

One social-media pratfall — and perhaps in its own way, serves as a form of checks and balances — is once something is stated, it can’t really be taken back.

Regardless of its tone and intent, if there is misinterpretation, danger awaits.

A recent Twitter interaction raised an intriguing broader question in high school sports that likely would be best served being discussed in the open as a community, attempting to find the “right” answer, even if there isn’t one.

Last week — and obviously, identities will not be invoked, nor would they ever be in such an instance — an area softball team reported it committed a double-digit amount of errors in a game.

It’s a no-win situation. Everyone feels badly for the student-athletes involved. No one ever wants to see something along those lines transpire. At the same time, however, it’s a statement of fact.

As has been the case for 150 years in baseball and then later in softball, the “error” line is standard part of a box score format, with scoring by innings, then totals for runs, hits and errors.

Using the phrasing with the widest umbrella meaning possible, error is a part of high school sports. During the quest for competitive perfection, it is an unavoidable facet of the journey, one that is a lesson onto itself and fosters perseverance.

On Twitter, I expressed a general point — again, to be clear, with no identities invoked — that disseminating the fact a high school baseball or softball team committed a doubledigit amount of errors was counterproductive and a bridge too far. And in this case, I believed the best way to handle this unique and isolated situation was to leave a dash where the number of errors would typically be entered.

Reaction to making that general point had a fascinating variance.

One follower lightly criticized my remorse, essentially arguing that given it’s the reality, then it needs to be reported.

Another follower, an adult affiliated with this team, had a strong negative response. She contended making the point at all was “demeaning” to the student-athletes by “announcing” it occurred on social media. Due to the affiliation, to an extent that visceral reaction was understandable.

The flaw with that premise was the team was not remotely identified. In fact, the only way anyone would have known specifically which team was involved was due to this interaction. As a result, I deleted the original tweet so that inference could not be made.

In fairness, it should also be noted, after a later conversation with the team’s head coach, that it was not the coach’s intention to report this information. The reason the information was received was due to an automation component of the GameChanger app commonly used today by baseball and softball teams for statistics.

Emerging from this social-media exchange and example, though, it does raise a complicated broader question:

Is there a point at which high school student-athletes can and should be protected when it comes to publicly noting “errors” or “mistakes”?

Pro and college sports are undoubtedly fair game.

But the high school level is a much different debate because, of course, we’re talking about teenagers.

On one hand, it happened. It is what it is. Error is not a personal indictment. Again, it is an unavoidable part of the journey and, in and of itself, is a lesson.

Furthermore, there is something to be said about the honesty involved that is laudable and can be valuable later in life.

The concern is, however, there is a fine line between accountability and ridicule.

If you drop the gamewinning touchdown pass.

If you have a service error that closes out a volleyball match.

If you miss four free throws in the final minute to lose in basketball.

If you accidentally have a puck go five-hole trying to make a save as a goaltender in hockey.

If you’re disqualified in swimming or track and field.

And, yes, if you commit an error in baseball or softball. There should not be singular identification. It should be lightly and respectfully broached, and it should be generalized.

One notable exception to that rule is if it’s part of a redemptive narrative, in which a student-athlete rebounds from error to achieve success. In that case, both ends do merit being noted.

That said, feeling that sense of protection is not absolute, either. Constructive criticism and acknowledgment of struggle is a necessary aspect of high school sports.

Not everything comes up roses, after all, and facing adversity with dignity and class as a student-athlete is a mantra that can carry well into adulthood.

Interceptions, drops, falls, service errors, tee shots out of bounds, turnovers, deductions and errors happen.

Putting a number of those instances out there or discussing general struggle is not out of line, provided it is handled delicately and with respect.

It tends to go beyond treading lightly, though, when an extreme is reached.

Putting it out there that a baseball or softball team made a doubledigit amount of errors in one game — albeit even unknowingly or accidentally — is seemingly an extreme.

Those selective and rare instances across all sports merit protection for student-athletes’ sake.

It may have been one Twitter interaction.

But it can serve as a conversation starter that we all should face head-on — even if there may not be a “right” answer.

RIP Gary Salzinger

Before closing out in this space this week, on an unrelated note, permit me a moment to acknowledge this past weekend’s incredibly sad news regarding the untimely and unexpected death of Gary Salzinger.

Salzinger was an integral part of the fabric of our area high school sports community with his many years of dedicated service as a statistician.

He and I didn’t know one another especially well, but it can be traced back more than 20 years. On a light note, I remember he used to enjoy getting me on the phone in my days as a News-Herald sports clerk because I could keep up with the speed of his reporting Mayfield football box scores on Friday nights.

Beyond high school sports, Salzinger was a genuinely kind man.

We were friends on Facebook. It’s no secret the last year of my personal life has been difficult, and Salzinger on occasion offered support and encouragement on my Facebook posts updating that dynamic. That kindness was appreciated and will be treasured even more now.

My deepest condolences are extended to Salzinger’s family and friends amid this unimaginable time. May he rest in peace.

PAUL DICICCO — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD Runners await a baton exchange May 1 during the Mentor Cardinal Relays.