Soccer Team Bullies

[Anonymous]

I think most of these posters are being ridiculous. My 11-year-old son is on a really good club, too, and there is plenty of trash talk, which they all enjoy. This is not trash talk. And this is not "being honest." This is a group picking on one kid and it will not help him become a better player, nor will it help the team chemistry, nor will it help them win. I might let it go the first time, try to find out if your child is being a little over-sensitive, but if it continues to happen OF COURSE you should talk to the coach. No coach wants this crap and they are in a position to immediately end it. And if the coach doesn't address it, you should leave.

[Anonymous]

13:11 here. And by the way, my son has never been bullied or picked on but if I found out he was one of the bullies, he'd be sitting out the next game, writing an apology letter, along with any other appropriate punishment.

[Anonymous]

It’s real common on the top team. Girl are the worst about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid plays on a really competitive boys team at a really good club. The kind of trash-talking among and between players and teammates has always been a little shocking (along with the hierarchies within the team and among the colors within the boys team). Longer term, I think my kid has learned to deal with it, and he dishes some out, but it hurts the team, no question about it, and takes some joy out of the game for sure. They are often nicer to repeat opponents they know from training and other contexts than with each other.

I wish my kid played at a really good club like yours. You're so lucky.

F off. The point is that on better teams I suspect this problem becomes worse. I wish my kid played rec.

No you don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid plays on a really competitive boys team at a really good club. The kind of trash-talking among and between players and teammates has always been a little shocking (along with the hierarchies within the team and among the colors within the boys team). Longer term, I think my kid has learned to deal with it, and he dishes some out, but it hurts the team, no question about it, and takes some joy out of the game for sure. They are often nicer to repeat opponents they know from training and other contexts than with each other.

I wish my kid played at a really good club like yours. You're so lucky.

F off. The point is that on better teams I suspect this problem becomes worse. I wish my kid played rec.

No you don't.

My kid plays on an even better team at an even better club. And there is no such problem.

[Anonymous]

If your DS came home from his travel soccer practice complaining that all his teammates were telling him he sucked, what advice would you give him? He’s 11.

It honestly sounded harmless, and we told him to toughen up. But I’m torn on telling the coach to watch out as my DS said the coach wasn’t around when this was happening. My husband thought I was crazy.

Is this just to be expected as he gets older and things become more compatible? I don’t want to be that mom, but part of me thinks the coach needs to watch out for this.

I think you should talk to the coach but I am not sure that will completely fix the issue, if it wasn't friendly teasing (which is may have been if he just had an off day or practice). It will probably stop the overt issue of the other kids telling him he sucked, but honestly, if he is not on the same level as the rest of the players, it is going to be a situation that isn't much fun. Kids definitely won't tell him he sucks or be overtly man if the coach does not tolerate that (which he absolutely should not), but it is going to be hard to make friends on a competitive team as a weaker player.

[Anonymous]

Just have him watch karate kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just have him watch karate kid.

Just have him wash & wax all of your cars. “Wax on, wax off”. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s real common on the top team. Girl are the worst about it.

disagree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s real common on the top team. Girl are the worst about it.

disagree

disagree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid plays on a really competitive boys team at a really good club. The kind of trash-talking among and between players and teammates has always been a little shocking (along with the hierarchies within the team and among the colors within the boys team). Longer term, I think my kid has learned to deal with it, and he dishes some out, but it hurts the team, no question about it, and takes some joy out of the game for sure. They are often nicer to repeat opponents they know from training and other contexts than with each other.

I wish my kid played at a really good club like yours. You're so lucky.

F off. The point is that on better teams I suspect this problem becomes worse. I wish my kid played rec.

No you don't.

Right. Where on earth do these kinds learn these behaviors, I wonder. Project elsewhere d'bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s real common on the top team. Girl are the worst about it.

disagree

disagree

Totally agree see it all the time. Many parents encourage it.

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of parents won’t agree with what I’m about to say. Mostly because they even though think they played at a competitive level really didn’t . Sometimes without your direction. Your child will figure it out. In competitive sports sometimes you have to fight to not only win respect but also confidence in yourself. If your son has the dog in him he will decide at some point to stand up for himself. He doesn’t need mommy and daddy telling the coach. If he wants to address the coach ok. It has to be the kid who takes charge not the parent. If you ever really played competitive sports you’ve been in a fistfight more than once. It can be a teammate or an opponent. Either way if your son has the dog in him he will take care of it and if not competitive sports aren’t for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of parents won’t agree with what I’m about to say. Mostly because they even though think they played at a competitive level really didn’t . Sometimes without your direction. Your child will figure it out. In competitive sports sometimes you have to fight to not only win respect but also confidence in yourself. If your son has the dog in him he will decide at some point to stand up for himself. He doesn’t need mommy and daddy telling the coach. If he wants to address the coach ok. It has to be the kid who takes charge not the parent. If you ever really played competitive sports you’ve been in a fistfight more than once. It can be a teammate or an opponent. Either way if your son has the dog in him he will take care of it and if not competitive sports aren’t for him.

Can you try again? This time with punctuation. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s real common on the top team. Girl are the worst about it.

disagree

disagree

Totally agree see it all the time. Many parents encourage it.

No they don't