I guess this is a quasi rant as it has been on my mind for a while. Is anyone else concerned about the amount of negativity in soccer? I see much of this bleeding into the younger game from the pros so some of this is predictable. Diving, time wasting, insults, fights, crazy players, fans and coaches.
But is this a good thing for our kids? For example, coaches that are rarely positive and single out players with insults. I've seen some stuff this past year that should result in coaches being fired. Coaches cursing at kids. Parents seem afraid to rock the boat to this kind of behavior thinking it may hurt their child chances. Some coaches seem to have a policy of picking on one different player each week with insults. These are kids and they are not in basic training. No wonder kids leave the sport.
Also many parents and players seem to freak out at every call or non-call. (yes many times there are very bad calls) This promotes endless whining. The whining really feels like nails on the chalkboard as it feels like the default position. I have been in situations where the parents took the game so seriously that we were afraid to go to our cars at the end of the game. This is silly. This is kid's sports.
On the girls side I see so few coaches that use any form of positive encouragement, particularly at the higher level. I always hear about toxic positivity and I agree that is not a good thing either. But why do we put up with this? If anyone can give me any clubs that are known for frowning on endless negativity, I would like to know.
I went to a high school game last week and it was absolutely embarrassing. Non stop whining and borderline violence. All over some third rate game where none of the players will play in college or go pro. The coaches, parents and players all seemed like they were taking meth or something. Granted the refs were pretty terrible but how can it be this bad? Again the word is EMBARRASSING.
End of rant. Now I will go to my child's less embarrassing sport.
But is this a good thing for our kids? For example, coaches that are rarely positive and single out players with insults. I've seen some stuff this past year that should result in coaches being fired. Coaches cursing at kids. Parents seem afraid to rock the boat to this kind of behavior thinking it may hurt their child chances. Some coaches seem to have a policy of picking on one different player each week with insults. These are kids and they are not in basic training. No wonder kids leave the sport.
Also many parents and players seem to freak out at every call or non-call. (yes many times there are very bad calls) This promotes endless whining. The whining really feels like nails on the chalkboard as it feels like the default position. I have been in situations where the parents took the game so seriously that we were afraid to go to our cars at the end of the game. This is silly. This is kid's sports.
On the girls side I see so few coaches that use any form of positive encouragement, particularly at the higher level. I always hear about toxic positivity and I agree that is not a good thing either. But why do we put up with this? If anyone can give me any clubs that are known for frowning on endless negativity, I would like to know.
I went to a high school game last week and it was absolutely embarrassing. Non stop whining and borderline violence. All over some third rate game where none of the players will play in college or go pro. The coaches, parents and players all seemed like they were taking meth or something. Granted the refs were pretty terrible but how can it be this bad? Again the word is EMBARRASSING.
End of rant. Now I will go to my child's less embarrassing sport.
