ME-HOCKEY,
 
I found this on HOCKEY-L and thought others might find it interesting.
 
-Deron
 
 
>Approved-By: [log in to unmask]
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300
>Date:         Sun, 13 Feb 2000 12:54:48 -0500
>Reply-To:     Susan Shepherd <[log in to unmask]>
>Sender:       The College Hockey Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
>From:         Susan Shepherd <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject:      Re: Boston Globe article - UVM and hazing
>To:           [log in to unmask]
>
>The young hockey player I have at home (age 20) seems just as mixed about
>these situations as the article contends. He says you never have to
>participate. And yet, people do. These young men are doing just what the
>article says, they believe that they are bonding together. There is no
>penalty for not participating. They want to because they want to be part of
>the team and believe that this is how you do it. It is very confusing for
>them because they do not have other models.
>
>I was very impressed with Jack Parker in this article. He is trying to
>create another model. Athletes exist in their own subculture. This is no
>different than many of the subcultures we all create, examples: church-based
>bowling teams, campers, feminists, hikers and bikers, to name a few. None of
>these groups are special, they just naturally create their own cultural
>rules, which are not spelled out in writing. You can certainly hike even if
>you don't understand the subculture, you will just be slightly on the
>outside of the family.
>
>Team-building at work can be just as intense as in sports, but different. I
>believe that until new models for team-building in sports are created by the
>players (and former players, now coaches) in a very active way, hazing, in
>some form, will continue in this role. Jack Parker and his players should
>speak out a little more on the topic, since obviously they are winners as
>well.
>
>I think the Globe article was actually very good at helping the rest of us
>understand what these young men were thinking. They are truly surprised that
>people think this was bad or extraordinary. They feel like jerks because it
>is all over town now. It is going to take a much more positive intervention
>by role models within the sport for young hockey players to truly understand
>what the fuss is about.
>
>Sorry for the long message, but as a hockey parent, this is a constant
>struggle - the line between life and sport.
>
>Susan S.
>
>HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
>[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.