When the drive for success is taken too far.
We all like to win in no matter what we do. We’re competitive, we’re in it to win it and we’ll do as much as we possibly can to achieve our goals.
That’s how it is in the GAA. There’s local rivalries between clubs, between players. There’s boundaries separating clubs, there’s history and there’s pride.
It’s great, too, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a strong will to win. It teaches us things about life, important lessons on discipline and working hard to achieve things.
Sometimes, though we just invest ourselves too much in things that shouldn’t really be that important. When you’re dedicating so much of your time to something, you suddenly become tunnel visioned and think it’s the only thing that matters.
This is crazy stuff https://t.co/YxurkACnhg
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 1, 2017
That’s what happened in an under-12 game in Louth at the weekend.
Liam Harbison was an umpire at the juvenile game, which went down to the wire, and was eventually affected by a refereeing decision.
The losing team felt aggrieved, were disappointed at the decision, and were disgusted to have lost the game. That much is understandable.
At the end of any game, though, be it senior or under-12, we should know and respect that both teams have put in similar levels of effort, and care similarly about the game.
We should know that it is a game at the end of the day, and that life goes on after it. We should know to take the disappointments, beatings or poor decisions, because nobody goes out with the intention to lose or to make a mistake.
We should know to respect our opponents and shake their hands, because the next day, you might be the winners and they might be the losers.
The losing manager on Sunday, according to Harbison, was so distraught at the decision and losing the game that he didn’t allow any of his players to shake the hands of their opponents.
A coach who won't let his team shake hands with the opposition over a poor ref decision has no place on an U12 GAA sideline! #louthgaa
— Liam Harbison (@LiamHarbison) October 15, 2017
One of my sons best friends was on the opposing team – both lads utterly confused as to why they couldn't shake hands.
— Liam Harbison (@LiamHarbison) October 16, 2017
Afraid not Fi. I was umpire for said game and witnessed with my own eyes.
— Liam Harbison (@LiamHarbison) October 15, 2017
It’s a complete lack of sportsmanship. It’s taking the fun out of the game. It’s leading an awful example for these youngsters. It shouldn’t be happening.
How do these youngsters feel now? They probably feel as if the whole world is against them. They’ll develop an attitude against referees and will show them no respect.
It takes away from the winners, too, who must have felt strange with the goings on.
This is when it has gone too far.
Thanks to Liam Harbison for allowing informing us about the situation.
