Middle School XC Etiquette

Flagpole wrote:

That doesn't always work. I've seen guys do this and then just follow the runner they are trying to block.

Then you are not truly better then are you? For gods sake, go around, push through, or a combination of both. This is not Nam Donny!

runn wrote:

Although I think you're a 20 something trolling (maybe you're from East Carolina University? They're known for their trolling).

It's not ok and if the coach and/or officials didn't say something they'r all incompetent.

No. A young student in Greenville, NC isn't going to state: MN XC mom. Said person would get stuck knowing nothing about MN if pressed. I have other reasons by said person's writing manner to believe women/mother about age 35 to 40.

woman not women

This is not just bad form OP, but it is definitely illegal. I know that the officials I work with at meets here in Ohio would have DQ'd that kid immediately, no matter that he was toward the back of the pack.

You know we're talking about a middle school race, right?

You also realize that guys routinely pull jerseys in football, basketball and soccer at the pro level when opponents run by. Also against the rules. Spare us the outrage. Not that big of a deal. Let it go.

Hey John Utah, why are your panties so bunched up? Did your boyfriend not peg you hard enough last night? Or is this thread bringing back painful memories of the various and tremendous failures of your life?

Question for John Utah wrote:

Hey John Utah, why are your panties so bunched up? Did your boyfriend not peg you hard enough last night? Or is this thread bringing back painful memories of the various and tremendous failures of your life?

Don’t project on me, bro. Also, you are confused. I’m telling others not to get their panties in a wad over last place in a middle school race. You’re all confused.

Opinionated guy wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

That doesn't always work. I've seen guys do this and then just follow the runner they are trying to block.

Then you are not truly better then are you? For gods sake, go around, push through, or a combination of both. This is not Nam Donny!

Nah. If two guys are getting close to the finish, they are obviously close in ability. You can definitely be better than someone else who blocks you and keeps you from passing...this is why it is illegal.

Flagpole wrote:

Nah. If two guys are getting close to the finish, they are obviously close in ability. You can definitely be better than someone else who blocks you and keeps you from passing...this is why it is illegal.

80 meters from the finish is plenty of time to get around a guy with his arms out like an airplane. If you can't pass him, you weren't going to anyway.

If "you can definitely be better than someone who blocks you," than why not do it and pass him. My god, just compete!

MS coach wrote:

I coach middle schoolers. If this was my team, I would have pulled the offending athlete aside and had a strong talk with him about character and sportsmanship. Only THEN would I explain the rules and tell the athlete that he/she was disqualified.

Don't make it all about "the rules" - because MS kids likely don't know (or shouldn't be expected to know) all the National Federation Rules. I'm not saying don't FOLLOW the rules (in fact, I'm a stickler for them).... I'm saying it's not really about the rules here, is it.

What it SHOULD be all about is sportsmanship and character. If kids learn that lessons early, they are far less likely to have that issue again - regardless of the sport or circumstance.

Just my two cents. Your kid's coach needs to emphasize right and wrong more than finish times and rules.

Love bringing in the character issue!

Opinionated guy wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

Nah. If two guys are getting close to the finish, they are obviously close in ability. You can definitely be better than someone else who blocks you and keeps you from passing...this is why it is illegal.

80 meters from the finish is plenty of time to get around a guy with his arms out like an airplane. If you can't pass him, you weren't going to anyway.

If "you can definitely be better than someone who blocks you," than why not do it and pass him. My god, just compete!

That is ridiculous. Many finishes are decided upon by a hundredth of a second. This has nothing to do with competing. It has to do with the dude trying to block the other dude doing something illegal. It is illegal for a reason...because it gives the blocking dude an unfair advantage. Your view on this is wrong.