I coached women's soccer for almost two decades at the club level, I've been on both sides of games like that. When you are on the wrong side of it, it's your job as a coach to teach your kids about not giving up, and about how to lose gracefully. It's also an opportunity for your team to learn. You want them to think; "Someday, with practice and effort, I can play like that." I have told my teams when we were on either side of it that it isn't the winning teams job to stop scoring. Lol, try to get a young kid to pass up a chance to score a goal.
I agree with you in so much as you never quit, you never expect the other team to show mercy.
That said, if you are the team on top, you take the high road. My daughter's coaches at the club level and high school level often put a govern on her. It was the right thing to do.
But those weren't World Cup.
I find it interesting that the posters who are against "participation trophies for all" are now upset about the U.S. kicking some ass. Probably because it was women. Some guys can't stand that.
Quick question, how do you know who is against participation trophies?
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I reached out to my daughter who plays at this level and has competed in World Cup and Olympic qualifying rounds, her opinion of the score and celebrations, "awful, disrespectful and unnecessary."
I raised her right. This is the correct takeaway from that spectacle.