Postgame Handshake: More trouble than it's worth?

[mjr_2013]

My local league is considering adopting a new policy:

 

"A post-game handshake/high-five line is mandatory in all divisions of play. At the conclusion of the game, umpires or on-site league officials may choose to suspend this line if they feel it would be detrimental to the players, coaches, or league in general."

 

"detrimental to the players, coaches, or league in general" is a nice way of putting that the league doesn't want to all but endorse a bench clearing brawl after a very tense game.

 

We've probably all seen (or known was happening as our back was turned and we were in the parking lot) an altercation occurring after a tense game because the players are required (by written or unwritten rule) to line up after the game and shake hands.

 

This comes to mind as one of the worst cases:

 

 

 

Thoughts?

[alex7]

Hockey players doing the post-game hand-shake is one of the cooler sports moments for me.  And I'm not even much of a hockey fan.  I don't think random acts of immaturity are a good reason to not do something that almost itself signifies the awesomeness of sport - "I can compete my butt off to beat you for 2 hours, but afterwards, I'll honor you being there to give me the opportunity."

[mjr_2013]

Hockey players doing the post-game hand-shake is one of the cooler sports moments for me.  And I'm not even much of a hockey fan.  I don't think random acts of immaturity are a good reason to not do something that almost itself signifies the awesomeness of sport - "I can compete my butt off to beat you for 2 hours, but afterwards, I'll honor you being there to give me the opportunity."

 

I think the rule would be more for the third-world games. If you've had to issue warnings, tensions are high, blood is boiling, the littlest thing could set someone off, don't encourage that littlest thing to happen.

 

OTOH, if it's been just a hard fought game between two intense teams, let it happen. That's (as you said) a great part of the game.

 

I'm not at all familiar with hockey, but is it also possible there are less altercations during the handshakes because the opportunity is aplenty on the ice during the game? If you don't like a slash you got to your shin, you can go check him into the boards or smack him back and you're "even"… In baseball, if you think you got hit on purpose in the fifth, you have no say in "getting even" (whatever that means). 

[BRUMP]

 

Hockey players doing the post-game hand-shake is one of the cooler sports moments for me.  And I'm not even much of a hockey fan.  I don't think random acts of immaturity are a good reason to not do something that almost itself signifies the awesomeness of sport - "I can compete my butt off to beat you for 2 hours, but afterwards, I'll honor you being there to give me the opportunity."

 

I think the rule would be more for the third-world games. If you've had to issue warnings, tensions are high, blood is boiling, the littlest thing could set someone off, don't encourage that littlest thing to happen.

 

OTOH, if it's been just a hard fought game between two intense teams, let it happen. That's (as you said) a great part of the game.

 

I'm not at all familiar with hockey, but is it also possible there are less altercations during the handshakes because the opportunity is aplenty on the ice during the game? If you don't like a slash you got to your shin, you can go check him into the boards or smack him back and you're "even"… In baseball, if you think you got hit on purpose in the fifth, you have no say in "getting even" (whatever that means). 

 

 

also the handshake in hockey only happens at the conclusion of a playoff series or after one of the leagues showcase outdoor games (which are all nationally televised and carry pretty big audiences) and its one of the most sacred traditions of the sport so even if the players wanted to do something ill bet that knowing there are a lot of eyes on them is a strong enough deterrent  

[bleacher_bum]

It's supposed to be an opportunity to show good sportsmanship.  At the younger levels it's supposed to be an opportunity to TEACH good sportsmanship as well.  Individuals should be held accountable for their actions.  In the OP video, easy...that kid NEVER plays in that league, organization or division again.  Then he has an opportunity to LEARN that his actions have consequences, and he will have to learn to accept those consequences. 

[UmpJM]

They can do whatever they want.

 

I'm not sticking around for it.

 

JM

[blue23ll]

After the game they can shake hands, have ice cream, or a brawl, it doesn't matter to me. I will be on the way to the parking lot as soon as I round up my partner and find a gate.

[mjr_2013]

I agree; my umpires will be instructed as such.

 

From a league standpoint, however, what is your opinion on this? Necessary? Acceptable? They're asking me and it's making me think.

[umpstu]

They can do whatever they want.

 

I'm not sticking around for it.

 

JM

I said the same thing. It is not my job to supervise a handshake line. I don't think, (smelling smoke yet), anything good can come of an umpire watching handshakes. Unless he sees some really cool handshake he wants to make his own.

[Jocko]

@mjr_2013 - the handshake line is commonplace here. At most levels/sports. Consider it an opportunity to practice the sportsmanship we encourage. Simple.

[maineump]

The handshake is at all levels of hockey, just not playoffs in the NHL.

 

Goes smooth, but it is watched by the officials in HS and below.

 

I think it is a good idea, but the umpires need the 'out option' if things went bad during the game - it shows sportsmanship IMO. No need for the umpires to stick around for it - should be the coaches responsibility to keep things under control.

I worked a tournament that the Asian teams actually lined up and bowed to the opposing crowd after the handshake.

[Chip]

Our area also has handshakes after almost all sporting events, and I like it. I suppose the umpires should be able to waive it, but it seems odd for umpires to dictate something that we're not going to stick around for. On the one hand we're saying we have nothing to do with it, but on the other we have some level of control over whether it happens.

 

Interestingly, baseball seems to be the only sport where the officials leave before the handshake around here.

[BigUmpire]

Local rules by local fools

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[Thunderheads]

This has nothing to do with the rules of the game.  I'm done, and gone.  If a brawl breaks out, ...I'm at the car changing and doing a post-game

[johnnyg08]

I agree; my umpires will be instructed as such.

 

From a league standpoint, however, what is your opinion on this? Necessary? Acceptable? They're asking me and it's making me think.

Everybody wants to give the umpires their dirty laundry. Game over, I'm in the parking lot, locker room, whatever.

[Jocko]

Our area also has handshakes after almost all sporting events, and I like it. I suppose the umpires should be able to waive it, but it seems odd for umpires to dictate something that we're not going to stick around for. On the one hand we're saying we have nothing to do with it, but on the other we have some level of control over whether it happens.

 

Interestingly, baseball seems to be the only sport where the officials leave before the handshake around here.

go to a high school football game and watch the refs SPRINT off as a group after the game.

[Mike Prince]

Our area also has handshakes after almost all sporting events, and I like it. I suppose the umpires should be able to waive it, but it seems odd for umpires to dictate something that we're not going to stick around for. On the one hand we're saying we have nothing to do with it, but on the other we have some level of control over whether it happens.

Interestingly, baseball seems to be the only sport where the officials leave before the handshake around here.

go to a high school football game and watch the refs SPRINT off as a group after the game.

HS basketball too. There's always a handshake line but the officials are headed for the locker room as soon as the buzzer sounds.

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[Chip]

 

 

Our area also has handshakes after almost all sporting events, and I like it. I suppose the umpires should be able to waive it, but it seems odd for umpires to dictate something that we're not going to stick around for. On the one hand we're saying we have nothing to do with it, but on the other we have some level of control over whether it happens.

Interestingly, baseball seems to be the only sport where the officials leave before the handshake around here.

go to a high school football game and watch the refs SPRINT off as a group after the game.

 

HS basketball too. There's always a handshake line but the officials are headed for the locker room as soon as the buzzer sounds.

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Since my kids are still 2 years from HS, I can mostly speak to sub-HS games. For those basketball games around here, the officials generally stick around for the handshake unless they took a lot of abuse during the game, in which case they get off more quickly.

[cyclonehokiece]

I am solidly in the camp of "get the hell out of dodge once the last out is made and no one is indicating they are initiating an appeal." They could duel or joust (which is the state sport of Maryland) after the game, I could care less. I won't be around for it.

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[JaxRolo]

 

Our area also has handshakes after almost all sporting events, and I like it. I suppose the umpires should be able to waive it, but it seems odd for umpires to dictate something that we're not going to stick around for. On the one hand we're saying we have nothing to do with it, but on the other we have some level of control over whether it happens.

 

Interestingly, baseball seems to be the only sport where the officials leave before the handshake around here.

go to a high school football game and watch the refs SPRINT off as a group after the game.

 

Go to my games and you will see us sprint off the field immediately.

 

I pre-game with partner - DO NOT STAY AND SHAKE HANDS!!!

[Majordave]

Si, si Pedro! Get on your horse and ride.

I often have catchers chase me down for a handshake after a plate job and the occasional coach and other players . But I do not seek out nor do I stay to supervise or observe the post game festivities of any kind.

[maven]

The post-game handshake in youth sports used to express a sporting attitude and foster the idea that opponents are friendly rivals not mortal enemies. At the end of the game we all went off together for ice cream.

 

It's a shame folks don't treat youth sports that way any more.

 

In any case, I'm with JM: I won't be around to see whatever it is they do after the game.

[BillKen]

Any player that does that should not be provided the privilege of getting to enjoy this game.  Kids who do this end up in jail eventually because they lack the respect needed to live in society.  IT IS A GAME!!!  No league or coach worth being a part of should ever allow a kid like this to finish his season.

[Mike Prince]

Any player that does that should not be provided the privilege of getting to enjoy this game.  Kids who do this end up in jail eventually because they lack the respect needed to live in society.  IT IS A GAME!!!  No league or coach worth being a part of should ever allow a kid like this to finish his season.

 

All true, but the point being made here is that this type of incident is a league issue, not an umpire issue.  No need for any of us to stick around for this as the game is over per the rules and there is nothing any of us could do to prevent or control an incident like this.

[Trakes2]

I haven't seen anyone answer MJR's question...

 

I know that 99% of us won't be there to see what happens...Me included!

 

However to answer the question...No it's not necessary! I don't see any reason why you need to shake hands after a game...Games over. one team won, and one team lost...No biggie everyone pack up the stuff and kick bricks!

 

It's not the same as hockey...in hockey you are checking and hitting and scrumming for an hour...and when the horn sounds you shake hands as a show of respect...That's why you shake hands in hockey.