How to maintain discipline among the school sportsmen

Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe

It is sad to hear many incidents of indiscipline among the schoolboys who take part in sports. Today various unwanted things happen among the players. Many in authority close their eyes or ignore these unethical behaviour of sportsmen. In this article I would like to highlight some unacceptable behaviour patterns taking place among the players and give some suggestions to prevent them.

How rude some players can get

1. Some players are often not present at practices, especially senior players.

2. Often senior players ill treat the juniors.

3. The language used by some sportsmen is not up to the mark.

4. At times senior players assault the juniors for minor mistakes. But they do worse things.

5. After practices players keep on chatting till about 7.30 p.m.

6. Some players come to school once in a blue moon but they are regular at practices.

7. When teams go outstation, players take liquor. Junior players have to supply either cash or bottles to seniors. Newcomers do it through fear.

8. When they go outstation they keep on chatting, at night, throw water and slippers at each other. This goes on till late at night and on the following day they are not fit to play.

9. Juniors have to carry the bags of seniors. At times freshers have to wash the clothes of their senior players.

10. Some of the young players are abused by the seniors, especially when they go outstations to play matches.

11. Whether good or bad the juniors have to obey their seniors. If not they are harassed.

12. If a junior player is a threat to senior player’s place, he is harassed and discouraged to attend practices.

13. Many players do not care for the common material supplied by the school.

Now I propose the following to avoid the unbecoming behaviour.

1. The MIC should be in the premises 15 minutes before the practices. Also he should be the last man to leave the place.

2. Before and after practices the MIC should give a pep talk to the players. Every day they should be told that they are only students and they cannot take the law into their hands. In his pep talk MIC should speak to them about values and discipline.

3. There should be a register to mark attendance of the players.

4. The MIC and the coach have to see that players come for practices regularly and on time.

5. When a team goes outstations MIC should sleep in the same place where the students sleep. After dinner MIC and players should perform religious observance together. Then by 9.00 p.m. players must sleep. MIC has to make sure that they do not play the fool.

6. When they go outstation it is better that two teachers accompany the team. This will help to maintain discipline and when a player gets sick one can attend on him.

7. If a player is indisciplined he should be given a thorough warning and if he does not correct himself, he should be sacked from the team immediately.

8. When they are on duty the MIC and the coach should abstain from taking liquor or smoking. If teachers misbehave they cannot expect their students to obey them.

9. The MIC should be alert to find out what is happening among the players.

10. Parents should be informed in writing schedule of practices and matches. That will help the parents to monitor the movements of their children.

11. Three players should be appointed to be in charge the material. They have to maintain an inventory. If anything is lost they have to inform the MIC. All the players should be told that if any material is lost that they all are responsible.

12. A secretary should be appointed for every team. It is his duty to maintain all the records of the team and collect all the newspaper articles. At the end of a tournament or a season he can write a report on the teams performance. The MIC can help the secretary in this regard.

13. Every now and then there should be parents meetings. The principal of the school should chair these meetings the MIC and coach have to be present at these meetings.

14. During matches and practices MIC and coach should not have any dealings with parents. They should be kept at their arms length.

I have been a MIC and a coach for many years. What I have mentioned above is what I have learnt through experience. These are not exaggerations. But really true. I always believe prevention is better than cure. It is always good for our school principals MIC’s and parents to take measures to avoid unwanted incidents.

That will help the students to discipline themselves and they will be very grateful to those who have directed them on the correct path. We must teach them not only to play a game but also values through sports.