Unfair blame

[columbus_RHstar]

In my house league championship we were leading by 4 goals with a little over 2 minutes left when one of our players takes a major penalty for language (it is strictly enforced). Our coach decides to put our 3 girls out to kill the powerplay, to make a long story short we lost the game by one goal. Nearly everyone blamed the girls. I can't say I didn't blame them too because I did, After they left for home I heard some of the other players talking about how if the coach hadn't put all girls out we would have won the game and the championship and that women should "get their own damn league", however 2 of these girls are better defensivley than the guys who were complaining. And it was a guy who took that stupid penalty.

I support my coach in his decision, but was wondering if had he put out guys and we had lost would there be so much blame placed upon them?

[missionhockey21]

Blame still would had been places on the guys but the fact is that the girls recived much more blame than the guys would had. Its kind of sad, that it is true, but in my opinion you guys lost as a team, not because of the girls, same would be true if guys were placed out on the penalty. Thats just my opinion though.

[columbus_RHstar]

I blamed the goalie..he should have had all but 1, in my opinio. But you are right we did lose as a team. And for all the goalies who are thinking, "typical forward, blame the goalie," I blame myself for not scoring enough too.

[missionhockey21]

The goalie is always the scapegoat, I feel bad for them, thats the reason I never became a goalie. Because as a foward I can just say stuff like, nobody passed it to me, I didnt get enough minutes, the defense was on me etc. The goalie still has a few excuses but not near as many.

[DannyG]

I am saddened by the attitude...

bottom line is that "win it as a team; lose it as a team," concept mentioned above...

I promised my wife I wouldn't get started on all the crap that my daughter has had to put up with, veen from her teammates and parents, and even at Nationals...

[missionhockey21]

If your daughter is good enough to play at nationals, there is no way she should be taking extra blame beacuase of her gender. That is unfair Danny.

[columbus_RHstar]

I know some goalies with many excuses, such as

Being screened
Pads won't slide on sportcourt
Guy all alone in front
Forwards didn't come back.

But there is no excuse for such a sexist view, I am considering switching teams.

[DannyG]

aaah, what the heck...

Here's one...Caitlin sprints to the offensive corner, beating out a guy who is three years older than her, turns the puck against two opponents, sends it backhand to a teammate coming down the slot, who buries it for a relatively easy goal. The (male) teammate literally ignores Caitlin, goes through his showboating routine, then turns back to the red line and high fives his other (male) teammate, who, of course, had nothing to do with the play...

Story two...Nationals, round robin game three...gotta win this one to avoid having to play against the first seed in the playoff round...we're up by two with 6 minutes to go...Caitlin, who is recognized (finally, this season at least) as THE premier defensive player, regardless of gender, in her age group, plays the final six minutes 'cause the coach (me) knows what she can do...with no conference, she proceeds to play the most solid 6 straight minutes of defense I have ever seen, perfectly goalside, eliminating any threat in the slot...the other team actually got 3 shots off in that last six minutes, not a single one of which was on goal...frankly, Caitlin completely shut them down. She did this, making solid, defenisve tactical decisions, even when being screamed at by our own parents in the stands to "chase after the loose pucks..." After the game, I was criticized (in my coaching capacity) for playing her the final six minutes, which excluded other players from playing time, just (one mother actually said this)"because she is your daughter."

Oh, well...you asked...

This season, three co-ed tournament teams have asked Caitlin to play with them, including the two that didn't win a single game in regionals last year...in compiling this season's stats, in all the youth divisions combined, Zack had 32 assists, Caitlin had 29, Alan had 28...nobody else had over 20. Finally, just this very season, everybody is starting to recognize around here that, not only are girls just as good as the guys, but when it comes to tourney teams, you gotta have a couple of these girls, or you ain't got the best team...

that's enough of the soapbox...thanks! for listening...

[DannyG]

Hey, you probably don't want to do that...

The idiots you reported on probably are okay guys, they have reacted to a problem STUPIDLY! Doesn't mean they are stupid, but their behavior sure is. Psychologists tell us to view the behavior as seperate from the person.

Those guys need someone such as yourself to help re-direct their reactive responses...stick around, and next time, be part of the solution...and it sounds like you are already doing that...

[Kdawg68]

I was just wondering if these girls had anything to do with
getting you to the championship game????
Win as a team loose as a team.

[columbus_RHstar]

I just talked to my coach before reading this post and he told me that he would talk with the players.

My first team that I played on that was non house and a different age was a co-ed team in a co-ed beginners league, I was 8 at the time and I learned that we all start out the same, relativley clueless, the ones who acepted me ont eh team the most were the women and I still see some of them frequently playing in mens leagues. Not just playing but playing well.

Thats why it really gets on my nerves when such sexish occurs on teams, plus they are cute. [img]/wtimages/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[columbus_RHstar]

As for your second story when I was younger my dad coached my team,and I've seen it happen to others, when you coach your kid you will always be accused of favoritism. Sometimes it's whats best for the team to put your kid out. Parents just don't understand.

[columbus_RHstar]

People can be so ignorant sometimes.

[columbus_RHstar]

One scored the tying goal in regulation in the semis and set up the winner in overtime of the sme game. Makes it that much more incredible.

[missionhockey21]

I agree with both statements ;-)