Semipro Opinion: The Lies You Don't See Will Always Hurt Most -

In Semipro, a code exists. Without respect for rules, what would success actually mean?

As we barrel towards the end of the spring Semipro football season, playoffs take the main stage. With championships and glory at stake, people seem fully aware of the rules and will not hesitate to break them. Granted, football is a violent sport built on aggression. However, sadly, many games are won without a single snap. Yet, when infractions come to light, puzzled looks cloud the air. At what cost does winning a title affect the meaning of the championship itself?

The Illegal Player

For as long as Semipro football exists, using players deemed illegal will be the bane of most leagues. However, what is an illegal player? Depending on leagues, the definition varies from post-roster lock add to failure to plan a certain amount of games. While other variations exist, one thing stands crystal clear. Team owners are not stupid. Roster construction falls within their purview. Feigning ignorance or innocence is tired. If you watch gamefilm closely, in concert with roster checking, you will see teams outright break rules. This is partially the reason why some teams either film games poorly as to obscure numbers or will hide film outright. Opposing teams don’t look for what’s different. Media does.

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The Next Step

If teams in the playoffs are confirmed to have used an illegal player, what recourse is there? Now, here’s the catch: What if the illegal team loses? No harm, no foul, right? Ideally, yes. Meanwhile, how many cases of illegal players are ignored because of the cataclysmic reshuffling needed? Punishment for illegal players hurts more than their own team. Although this may be true, rules are rules. In 2015, a league in the Midwest, possessed clear evidence, including admissions of guilt. Hands slapped while the integrity of the game suffered. The solution? Make the penalties so severe that it affects the financial stability of a franchise. In other words, hit their wallet hard and that would deter them.

Business, Never Personal

Emotions run high in football. Yet, there needs to be a colder approach up the proverbial food chain. The further away from the field, the more diplomacy needs to happen. Granted, people are human, and emotions exist. However, emotion should never cloud the judgment of those in a position of authority. Decisions regarding playing status and team decisions should be made with clarity. From buddyball to lashing out online, anyone not wearing a helmet in this game must exercise the restraint that comes with the loftiness of their position. In Semipro, cooler heads rarely prevail and more than one person has let their emotions get the better of them. Personal beef and animosity are constricting the sport. Look at the landscape of the sport and attempt to do more good than harm.

Stop Lying About Stats

In this space, I’ve lamented the glaring need to educate teams about precise stat-taking. At this point, some teams are just straight-up lying about stats. They bristle about producing the film to back the numbers up.If your player enjoys a monster season, why not show the video? People that willingly deceive via stats will never prosper. No awards of any merit or recognition.