Dark Arts and Grey Areas
I have to admit my gut instinct is that cheating stinks and belittles the player & team doing it, I also know human nature and I know that it pushes and crosses boundaries by instinct.
For example, I know that when I was tackled, to prevent the opposition getting the ball, I used to hold the ball with my knees or elbows, if the referee blew for a penalty I cursed my self for being so stupid, if the referee didn't spot it I felt a weird smugness. I also know that every player does some similar illegality, somewhere, sometime.
The Deacon "knock-on", and the "hand of Back" were unpunished by the referee and the opposition claim that these incidents cost them the game, they didn't, or no more than the other 79 minutes 59 seconds.
If I was coaching I would demand my charges won within the laws, but I would also not allow them to complain if they lost to a side that cheated more than them. You've got to win in the conditions, whether it be wind, rain or an overworked referee.
My definitive example of how to deal with cheating is Jesse Owens account of his long jump qualification at the Berlin Olympics (aspects of the story are considered to be an urban legend, but the bulk of the story is true and demonstrates my point)
Jesse Owens had his first two qualifying jumps ruled foul, the first being a warm up run by Owens in his tracksuit, which the officials decided was a real attempt. The second looked perfect to many observers but the officials claimed he overstepped the board. As Owens was wondering how he was going to qualify in the face of the dodgy officiating he was approached by his main rival Luz Long, a German who had already set an Olympic record in qualifying, Long pointed out that Owens would easily make the qualification distance if he jumped from behind board and no one could call a foul, some accounts state that Long placed a towel on the track a few inches from the board to assist Owens. Owens cleared the qualifying distance with ease and went on to win the gold in the final, with Long taking silver.
For example, I know that when I was tackled, to prevent the opposition getting the ball, I used to hold the ball with my knees or elbows, if the referee blew for a penalty I cursed my self for being so stupid, if the referee didn't spot it I felt a weird smugness. I also know that every player does some similar illegality, somewhere, sometime.
The Deacon "knock-on", and the "hand of Back" were unpunished by the referee and the opposition claim that these incidents cost them the game, they didn't, or no more than the other 79 minutes 59 seconds.
If I was coaching I would demand my charges won within the laws, but I would also not allow them to complain if they lost to a side that cheated more than them. You've got to win in the conditions, whether it be wind, rain or an overworked referee.
My definitive example of how to deal with cheating is Jesse Owens account of his long jump qualification at the Berlin Olympics (aspects of the story are considered to be an urban legend, but the bulk of the story is true and demonstrates my point)
Jesse Owens had his first two qualifying jumps ruled foul, the first being a warm up run by Owens in his tracksuit, which the officials decided was a real attempt. The second looked perfect to many observers but the officials claimed he overstepped the board. As Owens was wondering how he was going to qualify in the face of the dodgy officiating he was approached by his main rival Luz Long, a German who had already set an Olympic record in qualifying, Long pointed out that Owens would easily make the qualification distance if he jumped from behind board and no one could call a foul, some accounts state that Long placed a towel on the track a few inches from the board to assist Owens. Owens cleared the qualifying distance with ease and went on to win the gold in the final, with Long taking silver.
posted by AJ Thomas at
11:13 am
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