All,
Let me provide an example of two things:
1) too many cooks spoil the broth
2) STICK TO YOUR RULES ONCE PUBLISHED
DISCLAIMER - this depiction is compiled from the statements of two people who witnessed this series of events.
Last Saturday was my son's old pack's pinewood derby; during the awards ceremony, one of the Tiger Dads (Adult A) went back to where the pack leaders were running things, and he started pacing and talking to himself - as the Cubmaster started announcing awards, Adult A began to start saying things out loud - like "Cheaters" and "Liars" - so the assistant Cubmaster went over to talk to him to see what was wrong. Adult A started accusing the pack leaders of being cheaters and liars - when the asst. CM would ask him why he would say this he would just respond - "YOU KNOW WHY". So the asst CM told Adult A that if he was unhappy at the way the PWD was run, he was more than welcome to join the pack committee in running it next year - a ploy I find usually shuts people up very quickly - but in this case it had the opposite effect - he became louder and more belligerent - finally the asst CM told him that if he was really that upset about things he could address the entire pack (please don't ask me why the asst CM offered to let him do this - it's beyond me).
So Adult A gets up and starts addressing the pack (kids included) and starts ranting about how they're all a bunch of cheaters and liars and then he singled out one guy (Adult B) and started to get in his face - personally accusing him of being a cheater - so the asst CM steps in between the two (Adult B is a big man and would have wiped the floor with Adult A).
Adult A then starts poking the asst CM in the chest trying to bait him into a physical altercation apparently - at this point the CM and a couple dads escort this guy out of the building.
Just as they're finished cleaning up - the cops come in saying that someone here assaulted this Adult A - so they took everyone's statement and then said they weren't going to arrest anyone based on the statements - but that Adult A could go down to the county courthouse and file charges.
OK so here's what happened that made this guy so mad - the pack rule is - NO GRAPHITE AFTER IMPOUND
Well the CM decided to let everyone graphite their car before each round - well as some kids didn't have the graphite with them (they figured they wouldn't need it due to the rule) some kids asked the guy inspecting cars (Adult B) to put graphite on their car for them - but some kids didn't ask or didn't know to ask - so some kids didn't get graphite - you know how kids are - they were told 'you can put more graphite on your car' and some didn't think to ask - and they were not told - that graphite was available in the pits.
Additionally - Adult A told the CM at some time during the racing that additional graphite was being applied - and the CM when to Adult B and told him no more graphite - well Adult B was kind of in the middle of re-lubing a group - and didn't think it was fair that some would have gotten more and some not - so he continued to apply graphite - in an effort to make sure everyone got the same opportunity - Adult A - seeing that Adult B apparently disregarded the CM's direction got irate.
So there's the lesson - don't let the CM change the rules after they've been published - now don't get me wrong the CM is a really nice guy and he was just trying to make sure the boys had the best chance possible to be fast - he just didn't think about the possible negative impacts of his decision.
Last Minute Rule Changes
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RandyUnderwood
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Last Minute Rule Changes
Randy Underwood
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gpraceman
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Re: Last Minute Rule Changes
That is too bad that the pack didn't follow their own rules or if they were going to deviate from them that everyone at the race understood (parents included) what was going on (and that graphite was available in the pit area if anyone needed in this particular case).
It is also too bad that this all played out in front of the scouts and siblings. I can see how someone could get upset if they felt that the pack was giving an advantage to some racers and not others, but this dad's reaction and behavior was certainly uncalled for. Certainly not a good example to the kids on how to solve problems.
Too bad also that that dad didn't understand that relubing is more than likely going to slow the cars down unless it can be broken in before racing.
It is also too bad that this all played out in front of the scouts and siblings. I can see how someone could get upset if they felt that the pack was giving an advantage to some racers and not others, but this dad's reaction and behavior was certainly uncalled for. Certainly not a good example to the kids on how to solve problems.
Too bad also that that dad didn't understand that relubing is more than likely going to slow the cars down unless it can be broken in before racing.
Randy Lisano
Romans 5:8
Awana Grand Prix and Pinewood Derby racing - Where a child, an adult and a small block of wood combine for a lot of fun and memories.
Romans 5:8
Awana Grand Prix and Pinewood Derby racing - Where a child, an adult and a small block of wood combine for a lot of fun and memories.
Re: Last Minute Rule Changes
This is where someone takes the time to make an announcement to ALL about allowing relube and that it would be provided (lube) to any who wished to relube their cars as well as assistance with doing it.
Would have solved the problem. At least cut it off as with an announcement, everyone knows. Make the announcement a couple times if you think anyone might have missed it - out of the room getting water or restroom.
Still an over reaction by the adult, but you never know how bad the scout took his losing or what he was saying. Not saying that is what happened, not there, but if the scout said something to dad, it's not hard to get riled up.
Been there, done that with soccer many years ago. Parent who upset my son gave the whole shutup I don't care about you or your son thing and set my wife off, who set me off. Not saying it's what happened in your case - just an example and personal experience, but once emotion get involved, cooler heads take a lot more to prevail.
Would have solved the problem. At least cut it off as with an announcement, everyone knows. Make the announcement a couple times if you think anyone might have missed it - out of the room getting water or restroom.
Still an over reaction by the adult, but you never know how bad the scout took his losing or what he was saying. Not saying that is what happened, not there, but if the scout said something to dad, it's not hard to get riled up.
Been there, done that with soccer many years ago. Parent who upset my son gave the whole shutup I don't care about you or your son thing and set my wife off, who set me off. Not saying it's what happened in your case - just an example and personal experience, but once emotion get involved, cooler heads take a lot more to prevail.
