There is a MASSIVE difference between two players having continued verbals during a game and bullying.� In fact, it is f**king stupid to even put the two in the same sentance.[/QUOTE]
The whole point is that what this girl was doing (ie sustained over the game) may constitute bullying. There's a difference between "continued verbals" and bullying, I agree - but I can almost guarantee, like in the other issues I've had with this girl, the "verbals" during the game wasn't limited to the game. The last person who hit her was provoked outside of games for A YEAR (ie when this girl saw her in the street) - then finally snapped in a game, but not before being called a 4 letter word that starts with S and has an L in it.
Also, to be clear, I'm the organiser of a sport, so I don't have a personal vendetta against this kid - I just happen to know her not because of her amazing sporting prowess, but the fact that she managed to piss off over 20 girls and a few boys who flatly refused to play with or against her (and various other issues since then). - I posted the link to the stuff article on FB, and this message says it all: "haha sorry dont wanna say this publicly "yeah but thats rona""
I find it very hard to believe that 1 comment during the second half would cause a keeper to, some 20-40 minutes later, decide to sucker punch a girl to the back of the head. Something MUST have been said after the game to provoke it - in which case, it wasn't really verbals during a game, was it? At that point it becomes bullying, which I argue should be nipped in the bud early.
[QUOTE=lmsmith] The whole point is that if you provoke someone, you have to expect retaliation.
Violence in sport is not okay - but neither is provocation. If you're playing at club level, you have to understand that you're expected to act like an adult. That means not making sexist comments or punching people.
I agree with your zero tolerance towards violence and bullying and your general sentiment.
However sledging/verbal sparring is part of a lot of sports these days - perhaps in part to out-psyche the opposition, maybe in part to get under the skin and provoke a reaction and subsequent punishment (e.g. zizou at the world cup).
In this case IMHO the keeper has got off very lightly - this is a serious assault - regardless of the level of provocation (but I agree if the sledging was very abusive then some warning and perhaps cautioning would be in order).
You say you have felt like decking the other player at times - why didn't you? The keeper needs to learn some self-restraint or take up another sport where that isn't so important.
I agree that it was serious assault - and I'm not saying it should be tolerated at all. I am saying that there had to be some serious provocation to get someone to the level where they would punch someone in the back of the head. It's not a one comment thing, then you punch her - something went on, and Rona needs to take some of the blame.
The reason I didn't hit her is because I'm an adult, and she's a child. And giving her formal warnings and banning her from an entire tournament for her behaviour was a much nicer victory for me than a broken hand and a girl with a bruised face and ego.
In this situation, there's a hell of a lot to the story that the club/media either don't know or aren't telling us. This girl is not a blameless victim in all of this, and absolutely should be held accountable for her behaviour.
Also, sidenote, I don't agree that all verbal sparring is okay - maybe because I come from a sport where you can't talk and play at the same time, but I really think there's a difference between competitive banter and threatening language. Referees need to ensure that they're keeping that sort of thing under control.
It's also about having pride in the uniform you're wearing. If Rona's team (the punchee) do nothing about the 'verbal sparring' or whatever you want to call it, they're condoning unsportsmanlike behaviour. They're effectively saying 'in our club, that's how things roll'. Do you want to play a club who thinks that's okay? I don't. I wouldn't want my children playing in that, or against them, either. Sport is about winning (and participation, if you want to buy into all that), but not winning at any cost.
Just imagine it was a mixed team, and a guy said that to a girl. The same standards MUST apply to women.
agree
I was at the game as well. In my 14 years of watching womens football I have never seen such disgusting behaviour on the pitch. The goalie (who is a potty mouth with her foul language) should have gone the first time. All credit to Leo from Lower Hutt for speaking to UH after game about the situation. Maybe a club 1 game stand down is in order for the goalie to show that the club doesn't condone such behaviour.
"Phoenix till they lose"
