[Sidenote: Play More Fight Less]
Approach the fighting players with a determination to act very slowly.
Take a stand, say, ten feet away from them, and after notifying the
coach to call the teams for more practice, say to Elbert and Reginald,
“Look here, boys, put all this muscle into another scrimmage. Go into it
hard. But do it in the right spirit.”
Let the coach blow his whistle and sweep all the players toward the spot
of taking position. Let one or the other of the fighters come up by you,
but do not act as though you were a policeman or an executioner. Ignore
the fight now that it is over, but see to it that the practice is free
from brutality. Have a word with Elbert and Reginald privately to show
that you expect fair play in the practice and a manly spirit on the
athletic field.
The next day call in each boy separately. Let the boys do nearly all the
talking. In a very brief statement confirm their own assertions of what
constitutes manly conduct in athletics. Put them on their honor and rely
on their self-respect. Inject into your few words a powerful expectation
of fair play that will compel them to act as trained athletes, not as
quarrelsome children. Coöperation, expectation on the teacher’s part and
substitution with a large stock of patience are your best assets in a
case like the above.