Sad display of poor sportsmanship

[Unregistered]

Regardless of school policies, NHIAA guidelines, parent political positions, whatever - every player on both of these teams could have made the decision to wear a mask so that the other team could play. Disappointing lack of leadership in order to secure an easy path to the next round of the playoffs.

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/10/28/newmarket-forfeits-nh-soccer-playoffs-opponents-wont-wear-masks/6052961002/

[Unregistered]

Gotta be something more to this than just wearing masks. Doesn't make sense - schools would never agree to this happening without a better reason. Why wouldn't they just get the league to rework the schedule? Seems like this should have easily been avoided.

[Unregistered]

Newmarket could have easily played the game. They decided not to.

[Unregistered]

It's actually the opposite of that.

Both the Epping and Portsmouth Academy teams could have played the games - by simply putting on masks. Their school policy did not prevent them from doing this. In fact, they had already done so during the regular season. They just decided not to for a playoff game rather than risk getting beaten.

The Newmarket teams couldn't have played the game because their school policy didn't allow them to play a team that was not wearing masks.

[Unregistered]

Looks like PCA boys just lost their next game so they are also now out of the tournament - irony or karma?

[Unregistered]

If you like ironies, how about this one - wearing a mask actually does more to protect the other person than yourself. How very selfless and giving. Maybe Newmarket should be renamed Newmarket Christian Academy.

[Unregistered]

Has anyone actually read this whole thing? Copy below.
This is horrible sportsmanship.
Comments like "it wouldn't be fair to make us wear a mask for the tournament" and "we lost out on a game"??? Seriously?? You could have had a game, just by putting on masks.

[Unregistered]

Nope, it is not poor sportsmanship. One team can not compel another team to wear an item they deem important, but the league does not. They needed to ask their school to change theIt own policy. It is actually not medically suggested that kids should run in masks. It is not good for them. Don’t blame the opposing team for your schools rules.

[Unregistered]

Wearing a mask while playing made sense when they made the rule. Now that we have studies that show the risk of transmission during soccer is incredibly low, those policies should be revisited. I just hate to see kids getting caught up in this. It seems like the adults should have been able to get together and work it out.

[Unregistered]

Speaking of sportsmanship. Have there been any examples of fans not allowing away fans at playoff games?

Allow all fans with social distancing? Or allow no fans at all? NHIAA defers to home team that was randomly picked.

How about "In the event that the team that hosts a round of the playoffs has a more restrictive policy the the opposing team, the opposing team has the option of hosting the game"

[Unregistered]

Speaking of sportsmanship. Have there been any examples of fans not allowing away fans at playoff games?

Allow all fans with social distancing? Or allow no fans at all? NHIAA defers to home team that was randomly picked.

How about "In the event that the team that hosts a round of the playoffs has a more restrictive policy the the opposing team, the opposing team has the option of hosting the game"

How about it’s outside, everyone wear masks and social distance and fans are fine.

[Unregistered]

If a team had been wearing masks all season, they would be used to it by now and would not have been an issue. However, if a team has not worn masks all season and was now asked to do so, then they would be at a huge disadvantage. It takes time to get used to the masks.

[Unregistered]

It's not a huge disadvantage. Case in point... Portsmouth and Winnacunnet boys played last night. Portsmouth has a mask mandate (teams play with them on during the game) and Winnacunnet does not. Winnacunnet boys wore their masks, no problem, and ended up winning 2-0. Both schools did what was right to ensure that both teams could play the game.

[Unregistered]

It's not a huge disadvantage. Case in point... Portsmouth and Winnacunnet boys played last night. Portsmouth has a mask mandate (teams play with them on during the game) and Winnacunnet does not. Winnacunnet boys wore their masks, no problem, and ended up winning 2-0. Both schools did what was right to ensure that both teams could play the game.

So, because they scored two goals and gave up none, that is your evidence it didn't affect them?

[Unregistered]

The Bedford Girls (wearing Masks) lost to Hanover Girls (Not wearing Masks) 1-0. Hanover looked to have more energy into second half when they scored. Not sure that means anything but it was visible. Notable that Bedford, being the host team, did not require Hanover to wear masks.