I’m usually not one to complain – or even talk – about Sprit of the Game. The spirit award has throughout frisbee history been kind of a consolation prize for less qualified teams.
You’ve come to know these teams from the much appreciated – but now long gone – weed-tournament in Rotterdam where they hand out gifts after the match and play “funny” games with the team that just kicked their ass – for realz! It’s not that I don’t find this kind of behavior cute in a amateur-sport-that-will-never-make-it-to-the-olympics kind of way. I just grew tired of it when I got skills.
But I would like to say a few words about Spirit anyway. Because it’s important that players respect each other.
At this years EUCF in Paris I saw Skogshyddan and Chevron call their show game to pieces. Nearly every single successful long huck had a travel call, and every block came with a foul call. Contest for sure and the disc goes back. I’ve seen it a million times – most of them in that specific match. Somebody needs to practice how to use foul calls. It’s as if players use the lack of referees to misuse the rules to fit them best depending on the situation. Foul calls is called out automatically – just in case.
Later that week Ragnarok played Fire of London in semi. Fire of London did what Skogshyddan and Chevron did just days before, but they spiced it up with an enormous amount of intentional fouls on the marker. They did exactly the same in the final against Skogshyddan, but the pissed off shouting crowd at the stadium apparently made them stop around half time – that’s when Skogshyddan got their lead and put out the fire.
Don’t get me wrong – I love hard defense. I think it’s okay to bend the rules and put pressure on the marker. You just have to be prepared that the opponent will do the same. You got to find a line you can both agree on.
There’s often a few calls in the beginning of a match, because teams have to find out how hard the opponent is ready to play. And that’s perfectly alright. But what I simply can’t take is when people play extremely hard, make intensional fouls AND shout out shitloads of pussy calls. It’s ruining the game, and it WILL make it harder for the opponent to win the match.
So dear players out there. Get a grip. Play fair. Respect your opponent and trust that he will respect you too.
