which meant they were ineligible. According to league rules, all games in which they had played would have to be forfeited. His team would be
disqualified from the finals.
The coach asked me, "What good would it do to report the ineligibility?" The players who committed the act would be devastated, and the ones who didn't would be unfairly denied their shot at the championship. Parents, players, and others would be furious, the English teacher would get in big-time trouble, and he,
the coach, might lose his job. "Wouldn't the greater good be accomplished if I just kept quiet?" he asked.
Of course not. Although it would take great moral courage to do the right thing -- play by the rules and let the chips fall where they may - I told him that's precisely what he should do.
There were many stakeholders involved (people who would be affected
by the decision), and the coach was duty-bound to use his teaching
platform to send an unequivocal message about honor and integrity.
Failing to do so would deprive another team of its right to go to the
finals. Looking the other way would undermine his credibility.
It would be a high price to pay, but as the years go by, deciding to
pursue the path of honor would be an enduring gift to his players and
community.
From: Michael Josephson at Character Counts! A Coach's Dilemma 521.1
