Responsibility

From the BCCT

Team comes first

“Once in a lifetime” is one description we heard for the Phillies World Series parade. And, indeed, thousands upon thousands of people used that as justification to attend the festivities, blowing off work, school or who knows what other commitments so they could be there in person.

For some high school athletes scheduled to play that Friday night, going to the parade or not going may have been a difficult decision. The PIAA has a rule that an athlete who misses school the day of a game can't play that night.

We don't think the choice should really be too hard for an athlete truly dedicated to his or her team. The team comes first, and if that means missing a so-called “once-in-a-lifetime” event, well, that's part of the sacrifice of being a team member.

Ten Hatboro-Horsham football players picked the parade over school that day, knowing that, under state rules, they would be ineligible for that night's game against Central Bucks West. But in their case, there was more than just the one game involved. Head coach Tom Butts had told all of his players that if they went to the parade, they would be kicked off the team. The 10 went anyway, and Butts followed through with his directive.

North Penn head coach Dick Beck told his players the same thing.

Good for them and every other coach who taught a valuable lesson that goes way beyond Xs and Os. This was a lesson about responsibility.

Any player or parent who thinks dismissal was too harsh a punishment simply doesn't get it. Respect for team rules is part of what makes a team a team. What Butts, Beck and other coaches decided about school attendance was hardly unreasonable.

Butts is allowing all 10 players who were cut to try out for the team next year, giving them a chance to demonstrate that they've learned their lesson.

As for right now, none of the coaches who demanded a little more from his players should have any second thoughts about his decision. They all did the right thing.