Game Day Obervations:

I was a game this week, actually looking for potential "Sportsman of the Week" candidates for the SportsFive Players of the Week awards and unfortunately, I didn't find any.

The game was close, and perhaps unexpectedly so, and as a result both teams were at working hard to do their best. Players ran hard for ground balls, coaches looked for any small piece of useful information and the fans were cheering every good play. It was just what our game should be.

Then something changed. A couple of goals were scored and one team started to take control. The other team began to panic, just a little, and the action was like a snowball rolling down hill.

As one coach started to yell at his players, the other coach felt he had to yell louder. Many of the comments were directed to the officials, who had, to my eye, called a good and consistent game. Parents and fans started to become more negative, with each side working to be louder than their opponent. The players were the last to fall, as eventually there were a few late hits and a few negative comments that were clearly not there at the beginning of the game. In the end, players on both teams were yell at their own team members.

What a sad thing, when the score is more important than the joy of a well played contest.