Editor: Alun/hazard
One of the recent changes we've seen in the UK for announcing spirit is the de-anonymising of spirit scores. While this has been standard in international competitions such as EUCF for a while, it is the first time we've seen it on a local stage.
I am a big fan of this change overall, but it does lead to new ground in spirit that I think it is wise to address. We are going to have a lot more messaging of teams after the game about spirit scores that have been given.
Even before the change in system, I have been on both sides of these exchanges.* I have had some which have been productive, and some... less so. The times when it has works, it has been a super productive thing to do, and I encourage it overall.
Consequently, I wanted to share my experience of navigating what can potentially be some very difficult conversations. As always, these are my personal opinions, and so likely flawed. Hopefully you can find them useful as guidelines, and maybe even let me know some useful thoughts I can implement in future too!
* Yes, even the recent 7 average my team received at UXON has been settled amicably with all involved, and we've received some good feedback too.
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| PC: UCL |
Etiquette for both parties
Be polite. Spirit should not end when you step off the field.
If possible, try to communicate during your game who the spirit representative is.
Give any feedback you can on field, and in the spirit circle. Spirit scores should not be a shock to teams. Ideally, you should let a team know if they've crossed a line at the time, so that they can implement the feedback in real time. It is much easier to communicate in person.
Give good feedback as comments too! I personally like to leave comments for any "1"s, but I'm aware this might be too much for some. Involve your whole team, and have the guidelines at hand to read through if you're unsure a category is between scores. Read through all the "2"s the first time you do scores - it roots scoring in a good framework, and makes newer players more confident about how to score correctly.
Realise it is very easy to miscommunicate online. This isn't a debate you're trying to win - this is an amicable discussion to try to improve the experience we will all have on field. Don't jump on each other - ask for clarification, rather than seeking to point out flaws.
You are representing your team. Even if you didn't agree with a teammate's perspective, you must still present it honestly. You can always message your team if you want to, if you want clarification yourself.
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| PC: Andrew Moss for the ShowGame |
Etiquette for the team wanting more spirit feedback
While spirit is at heart a conversation, this is a situation where you are reliant on someone else's feedback, and for them to go above and beyond what is typical. Be polite, and accept that the thing you benefit most from here is listening.
If a team doesn't want to give extra feedback, accept that and move on.
In terms of whom you should contact, messaging friends on a team can be useful, but a spirit captain/captain/team page is best. In all cases, be polite, and give the player an opportunity to refuse your request without feeling bad. Also, if you were involved in a controversial incident, it might be wise to let someone else message, even if you are spirit captain.
Make it clear in your message that you are seeking feedback on how to improve/identify where you crossed a line, rather than just trying to bring up an old issue.
Listen carefully. It's still a conversation - feel free to ask questions - but keep the topic questions focussed on how to improve in future, rather than on defending specific incidents in the past. Those incidents have happened, and as annoying as it is to think someone's perspective is incorrect, tough. Arguing now wont change anything in the game, and isn't pleasant for the person spending more time to try to help you.
This above is probably the most important point in this article, so I want to emphasise it. We all want to be proven right retrospectively. It's natural. We want to say we were hard done by, and that a spirit call was inaccurate. And yet, I don't think I've ever had a good discussion about a specific incident, unless it was coming from a place of uncertainty (usually for double checking the application of the rules - for which a neutral party is good too). Talk about it on field. Talk about it right after. Then let it go.
Make sure any feedback is given to the rest of the team, even if it's awkward. Relay it honestly, and without bias. If your teammates see you respect* the feedback, then they will feel more satisfied with the outcome and more willing to take it on board.
*Respecting is not always agreeing, but it is always acknowledging it as a valid perspective. Present your own opinion separately if you want to, but don't present it as more valid than the feedback you are given, or teammates will discard it out of hand.
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| PC: Alice Hanton for the ShowGame |
Etiquette for the team giving spirit feedback
Assume the player is talking from a place of good faith. This may be hard - they are messaging you about feedback for bad spirit after all. The player messaging you may even have been involved in incidents themselves. But you have to assume that they want to improve, and will take your advice on board. If they then seem to go against that trust, you can stop the conversation. But you must give them that trust first.
Be clear about what feedback is based on topics you discussed in your spirit circle, and what are extra opinions you are giving on top of that. Don't worry if you can't remember everything - you are human.
Let your team know you've provided feedback - after a less spirited game, it's nice to know the team acknowledged it and wants to improve.
It is still a discussion, and it's possible the other team has feedback for you! Remember that they still have a valid perspective. The best discussions I have had have involved conversations about how to improve, with both sides offering and considering suggestions.
Try to base your feedback in specifics about how to improve (e.g. It'd be nice to see more hand signals so that teams can know what occurred on field), and base spirit score feedback in specifics too (e.g. we gave you a one in fair mindedness because you were inconsistent in your calls between the first and second half). General stuff can still be helpful, but is hard to tangibly convert into solid changes.
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I think that's all I can think of for know, but I'll edit this article and add things if we think of anything in particular, or if there's any comments with points we particularly enjoy! Let us know what you think. This is my perspective, I'd be interested in hearing yours.
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