There are certain things that you just don’t do is you are an athlete.

In baseball, you don’t step on the first or third base line when you run onto the field. If you are trailing late in a game, you must turn your hat around backwards if you are going to stand any chance of coming back for victory.

If facing an 0-3 count, do not swing at the next pitch, and if the two previous batters hit home runs, the third guy up is going to get plunked with the ball. If a pitcher has a no-hitter going into the late innings, it is forbidden to mention anything about it.

Those are the rules — the unwritten rules that is.

Every sport has the unwritten rule aspect. While not official in any form, they are more common courtesy.

Some rules carry more weight than others, and some are based entirely on common sense.

For instance, if a game is a blowout, high school coaches will often play the junior varsity players or run basic plays that challenge their weaknesses and will not likely result in running up the score.

Sometimes, the unwritten rules dictate that a message be sent, like a pitcher throwing inside at a batter in an attempt to keep them from crowding the plate.

The thing about unwritten rules is that the casual fan may not understand them or realize what is happening.

Earlier this season, the Monett football team hung 70 points on the board in a victory and refused to let the visiting team score.

Some questioned why the Cubs scored so many points, and even the Strafford coaching staff challenged the decision. But, they were quickly reminded of what happened the year before.

In 2024, Monett traveled to Strafford and watched as the Indians scored 69 points on the Cubs.

Losing is one thing. Most teams can handle losing and players are taught to deal with defeat.

However, the Indians kept their starters in the game into the fourth quarter, with their final touchdown coming on a trick play flee flicker.

Monett simply kept most of their starters in the game this year, and the shutout was the team’s way of saying “We Remember.”

Frankly, I did not have an issue with it either.

Monett Football Coach Ben Mauk and his staff use the term “family” frequently with the Cubs. It’s not just a word — they mean it.

Last season, the Cubs family was attacked, and that memory was still fresh on the their minds this year.

Against Aurora, some of the Houn’ Dawg players made a mistake of posting some bulletin board material on social media. Those messages were shared with the Cubs team.

This doesn’t mean that Monett is revenge-minded. It just means that Monett wants to ensure mutual respect and let the play on the field do all the talking for them.

Mauk is instilling a new culture within the program, and that takes time.

For the Cubs, the future is bright, and they have kept the receipts along the way.

Jared Lankford is the sports reporter for Monett Monthly and has 15 years experience covering Monett-area athletics. He may be reached at monettsports@gmail.com