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Official’s report shows Tiger Cubs more than just good players
As part of their jobs, high school athletic directors receive conduct reports from the Indiana High School Athletic Association about their coaches or student-athletes.
Frequently, the topic is punitive in nature and deals with red cards, technical fouls or ejections.
Sort of the same feeling parents sometimes get when they see an incoming phone call is from their child’s school, and they expect the worst.
Then there is the report that Greencastle’s Greg Hill received last week following his school’s boys’ soccer match against West Vigo.
In that “exemplary behavior” report, official Bart Fisher commended Greencastle junior goalie Brody Watson.
“Brody is just a great young man,” Fisher wrote. “His demeanor on and off the field is great to witness. Last night was no exception.”
Normally, such correspondence would not be publicized for student privacy concerns.
Because of the nature of the report, however, Hill published it on his school’s athletic website.
“I frequently see our student-athletes do something to make us proud,” Hill said. “I feel the most proud when it is based on great sportsmanship.
“On rare occasions, an opposing school or game official files a report about ‘Exemplary Behavior’ by one of our student-athletes to the IHSAA,” Hill continued. “When they do, the IHSAA sends me the report.”
Hill was happy for his own student-athlete, and also that he wasn’t the only person mentioned.
“The report also mentioned great sportsmanship by the West Vigo team and coach,” Hill said. “It’s a win-win for high school sports. Way to go Brody Watson … we are proud of you!”
Watson appreciated the gesture by Fisher.
“It was very cool to have that happen,” Watson said. “Apparently I was a very good sport for my team throughout the match.”
Apparently?
“I always try to do that,” he said. “One of my goals is to always have good sportsmanship.
“I had teachers come up to me and say something about it at school, and I really appreciated that.”
Greencastle coach J.D. Sims wasn’t surprised that Watson was the subject of the report, and he is glad it reflects well upon his program.
“Brody has a great attitude all the time,” Sims said. “I made him captain because he’s really good with all the guys and he’s really respectful.”
The Tiger Cubs are 9-1-1 this season with Watson as the goalie, but Sims knows that’s not the only benefit from this season.
“It’s good to know that we’re not only playing good soccer, but we’re also being respectful,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of compliments from other referees that our kids are really good.”
Fisher has been officiating Greencastle soccer games for several years, and has frequently observed Watson in that capacity as well as in club tournaments in the off-season.
“I’ve been officiating his games for several years, and he’s just a great kid,” Fisher said. “Even in the background, you can always hear him directing his players in a positive way. Most of the kids at Greencastle are great kids.”
Fisher admits he doesn’t send the exemplary reports very often.
“For every card we give, we have to do an ‘unsportsmanlike report’,” said Fisher, who had given out a card earlier in the Greencastle-West Vigo match. “I try to balance out my week by giving one exemplary report every time that happens so I feel better about what’s going on.
“I do it to remind myself that there are good things going on, and to look for it and recognize it,” he added. “Hopefully they will keep doing it.”