…and so it begins

by Richard Reeve on August 19, 2009

in Sand Box

Youth Soccer
Image by heraldpost via Flickr

Today was our son’s first organized sports practice. He’s joined a American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) team. It struck me as wonderful progress that a parent pledge was passed out by the coach at the first practice.

While I was signing the form, memories from many years ago of certain abrasive parents from when I played youth sports came back to me. Regardless of the sport, their presence was always a toxic cloud emanating from the stands. I can remember being taunted while on the pitcher’s mound by a man once and with each pitch thinking I can’t wait till this game is over.

Now I look back at those situations and recognize how warped individuals are that cannot contain themselves in these situations. Yet for each screwball in the stands, there were a ninety-nine other adults that were both appropriate and supportive (including my folks). I’m glad to see that organizations like the AYSO are putting parent’s on notice. It’s amazing how one bad apple can spoil everything…

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  • ted
    By silly i meant do something illegal or dangerous or outside of the rules of the game that teach bad sportsmanship or harm the child or another child -- poor word choice on my part.

    There is great fun in watching the little ones as they learn to play these games. my kids played t-ball this spring and it was so fun & funny to watch 3-5 year olds in tshirts to their knees, with little gloves on either watch balls dribble past or all run to the ball at the same time, regardless of position. good times
  • Oh yes...we are expecting quite a bit of bee hive soccer this fall...
  • Jeb
    I've heard often the stories you're referring to, but thankfully our boys' experiences in youth sports have been pretty uneventful. I understand being passionate and excited and being a bit animated and vocal in support of your children. But yeah, there's a very clear line one doesn't cross...no exceptions. To do so would affect nobody so much as your own child.
  • I think its great when parents cheer like there's no tomorrow,
    especially when the team is getting run over by a steamroller of

    talent from the opposition.

    So often, it the second guessing of the coaches or the referees that

    seems to lead to problems.
  • ted
    Agreed. Cheering effort, perseverance, courage, hard work, nice plays, sportsmanship all good. Getting on coaches and refs.... if you want to coach, coach! As long as a coach isn't doing anything to endanger your child by asking them to do something silly or dangerous and the refs are maintaining control of the game I think parents should have very little to say to either.
  • At some age groups, especially the wee ones, the silly factor might
    have a place, but intentional embarrassing or humiliation is way out

    of bounds...
  • ted
    My father always said "there's nothing wrong with kids' sports that taking the parents out of them wouldn't solve." It's a game for goodness sake. I hope for much fun, exertion and learning for your son as he embarks on his athletic career, where ever it may lead
  • Wise man your father. If tonight is any indication, the overall
    attitude is spot on.
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