c'mon "The Drake" you can't be serious, trash talking is all part of the sport and you need to learn to brush it off. Sure it shouldnt happen with young kids. Trash talk on the field and shake hands and possible beer after the game, thats what sportsmanship is all about.

Panther, was the comment about centrals tongue in cheek or are the good with sportsmanship?

Or...our kids could learn that it helps to have parents on the committee to have them in teams where they dont belong and to sack anyone who challenges it.

centrals men from the coach down are renown for not shaking hands after the game or some games.

drake children learn by example, they see it on the NBA, the see it in the NBL or the ABA. The watch the seniors train and see the trash talking that goes on in fun.

Everyone should remember we are all role models for the younger generation even if we are young ourselves.

but above all we are all responsible for our own behaviour and we are the products of our upbringing.

be prepared to shake hands, and the other person or teams chose not to you have done the right thing.

72675, that is all warm and fuzzy. U ever played at a descent level? sooo much crap gets talked at ABL/Div 2 level and so many cheap shots that dont get noticed from the seats. U might find you wouldnt be shaking many hands.

Trash talking is all part of the game. Get inside your oppositions head and put them off their game. Some choose to do it physically and play hard, some choose to do it with some joking around, talking and making comments about the other persons game.

But some people gotta learn, you get what you give. If you are going to trash be prepared to get trashed back, if you play hard be prepared to get a bump here and there.

It's all part of the game and if you don't understand that while you're on court you are going to keep getting hit and trashed. If you watch higher level games you'll see some trash talking and rough play going on but when you see the opposition hit a nice shot or do something nice, the person guarding the man will usually be one of the first to say "nice shot" but then add there little bit of trash. All part of the game.

What happens on court stays on court. Once the game is over shake hands, have a chat to the other team and have a drink and joke with the opposition.

Difficulty is, with ABL etc, they are adults and most players know each other and are mates anyway. Where is gets ugly is in juniors and Div 3 and lower and social when players don't know each other, it becomes personal.

Personally, I think the best way to get into players head is kick their ass and not say a thing, trash talkers hate that.

Also, if people bring out their family, friends, kids, they don't want someone yelling "Shit shot dickhead" or "You got no game" at them while they're playing, that's just ugly.

Comments like that are innappropriate at any level. Trash talking isn't about harrassing players, it's about joking around about one's game saying things like "comeon I'll let you have this shot you haven't hit it all night" or just the subtle "lets see what you've got". If the player knocks the shot or burns you they're gonna trash back, be prepared to take it on the chin and have a joke about it.

In juniors trash talking shouldn't be done and you'll find although you don't think they can, most refs can hear every word that's said on the court. In juniors it can be cut out by a simple warning/or tech. In seniors it's part of the game and a some trash talking here and there is all fun and games.

Agree'd though in seniors lower level there is still trash talking going on, yet some player's don't understand it's part of the game and if they get trashed they take it too seriously and end up doing something stupid. But should not be pulled out of the game altogether else some players will be out of their spot if they're not allowed to trash talk anymore :P

re: sportsmanship (#72745)

You know what anon I agree some people seem to like to get a dig in where they can about Centrals!
I play for them in the mens comp (no not aba or a high div) and our team always shakes hands with the opposition no matter what has gone down during the game. The unfortunate part is that there is always someone out there that will try and run the club down for no real reason.

Yeah J bags, and its a great example to the kids that watch the ABL games and then take back what they see to their local games.