Congratulations to the staff and volunteers of Barrhead Composite High School who made this weekend’s Senior Jaguars Basketball Tournament such a success.
As a community reporter, over the years, I have seen a number of high school tournaments and this one was as good as I have ever seen.
Yes, there were some hiccups, but for the most part it was a very well run tournament.
For instance once a game is finished, please post the results on the large tournament schedule, every host school has on a wall somewhere, so that people not only know the scores, but who plays who next. But I digress, it’s just a suggestion that would make the lives of newspaper reporters a little bit easier.
However, despite the fact the tournament went off so well there is one thing I would like to talk about.
Sportsmanship. As a small town reporter, I often write stories about high school sports or minor hockey and most of the time I am torn.
Yes, the young athletes certainly deserve to be in the newspaper, but I often think writing about minor league sports sends the wrong message.
High school, peewee, atom hockey, and the like should be about developing skills, learning to work as a team, building character and above all else, having fun.
Reporters, when covering a high school or minor hockey game, have no choice but to tell the readers what happened. Did they play well, make mistakes, cough up the puck, etc.
I try my best, not to emphasize these things, after all the athletes are not playing in the professional leagues.
That’s why I was so pleased to see the wonderful example of sportsmanship the players, coaches, officials and even the fans, displayed at this weekend’s tournament.
It’s also why I was so surprised when one of the coaches (not Barrhead) continually questioned the calls of one of the young, volunteer officials, going as far as taking one of the referees aside during half time to teach him the rules of the game.
I say aside, but in reality it was at centre court, where everyone could watch.
This definitely sends the wrong message.
Throughout BCHS during the tournament, there were posters telling spectators not to question the officials. Reminding people that officials are human and despite their best efforts, mistakes would be made and there would be no instant replay.
It’s a reminder everyone attending any sporting event should take to heart. Good sportsmanship is something everyone should aspire to, coaches, athletes and especially the fans.
