Bonding certainly doesn't have to be degrading to be effective, nor does it
have to single out the newest members of an organization.
 
For example, Coach Schafer's first year at Cornell, he had the entire team
polish the trophies in the trophy case, do a mini-report on the best Cornell
player ever to wear their number, etc.  These certainly qualify as bonding
activities in my book, and the effort was directed toward a positive goal -
reminding the team of the past successes of the program, traditions, etc.
 
Creating bonding activities is a bit like creating chants in the stands,
though - it's almost a reflex action to think of something negative, whereas
a clever positive chant is hard to come by.
 
Robb
 
-----Original Message-----
From:   The College Hockey Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Vicki Price
Sent:   Tuesday, January 18, 2000 12:34 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: HAZING/BONDING RITES
 
[log in to unmask] writes:
 
 
>AD's and coaches everywhere will probably become acutely aware that they
are
>being held accountable for the behavior of the athletes in their charge.
 
This is an important point: accountable behavior both on and off the ice.
Athletes certainly shouldn't be above an ethical, moral code of behavior, or
are they?  Does bonding override civility? Behaviors involving team
orientated activities should be accountable to a code of responsible,
character building guidelines. Hopefully this will spill over into an
athlete's daily behavior. Note: There are more sexual assaults against
females committed by athletes.
 
>They may find it to their own benefit to set strict bounds as to what is
and
what >isn't acceptable behavior on the part of their athletes.
 
Bonding, particularly within the male circle, seems to have a limitless
repertory of demeaning acts. WHY? Stretched beyond the moral limits of
societal norms, male bonding within sport teams and fraternal organizations,
despite school laws, is more prevalent than ever. Athletic departments
should
set the standards for behavior. If team chemistry is a paramount issue, with
bonding the crucial "rite of passage," then team initiations would be better
served by MORE community involvement rather than isolated team functions.
 
 
Note: Don Lucia saw to it this season that no GOPHER had to endure the usual
ritualistic head shaving.
 
Vicki
 
Concussion Free Zone
www.violentcontact.net
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.