Parents are Mental

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having worked with a number of clubs (front office and coaching) and watched way too many clubs a couple of things I’ve noticed:

1. Not all parents behave terribly but those that do really can sour an entire season. The tone and behavior goes beyond what should be acceptable in children's sports. Particularly with the racial and sexist abuse towards players and referees.

2. To be fair it isn’t just parents- coaches can also act terrible as can players. On the coaches end the clubs and state associations need to do less protecting of those that behave in this manner. On the players end-if the behavior isn’t accepted in schools why should it be anywhere else?

3. I think why parents get a bad rap is because they are the crowd at a game and there is this perception that because they are a crowd they can do whatever they want.

Parents get a bad wrap because they are acting like fools. If you are throwing a fit on the sidelines of your kids U12 game, then you have no excuse.

A while back I was in between games and sitting on this hill at a tournament. There was a field below me that was ringed with parents..."fans". It looked like a U10 or 11 game. And it was like an out of body experience...watching a bunch of adults just screaming at kids (ref included) on this field. Going crazy and throwing fits. The kids aren't listening or scared. The ref wants to leave. The game was in the 3rd division of the tournament...like what the hell is going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After another weekend of ECNL matches I just can't believe some of yall...calm down. You know who you are. Take this lovely Monday to reflect on how embarrassing you must be for your kids.

Tootles.

When my kids played people wee arrested on the field . Drunk on the sidelines ie lax parents at tournaments as well.

If I had it to do over again nope lesson learned no organized sports.

When my son was young he was a quiet guy. Not shy just quiet his neighborhood t ball and soccer teams all coached by dads were just awful first graders never touching the ball so they could win it was just absurd.

I pulled him out. He’s my youngest so we had a lot of experience with crazy parents already I was done and so was he. . In 8 th grade he decided he wanted to play on a rec lax indoor team. Picked out by his HS coach who happened to have a B team playing in same league, ended up playing varsity four years and division one college every year we said he could quit. He’s now got a BS in. Computer science and a masters in electrical engineering ( in my house school comes first) and still loves to kick or toss around a ball. The boys whose dads were jerks didn’t make it onto varsity and some not on JV .

Luckily my son and his neighborhoid friends are better than the parents they are all still best buddies. I love those boys dearly like my own.

My daughters played soccer and horseback riding parents are insane and honestly for what injury?

Let your kids have fun sports are about being active and fun nothing more.
If you have an exceptional kid and sports make them happy go for it the rest of you please shut the hell up and sit down.

[Anonymous]

The clubs are at fault as well. I have an ECNL and pre-ECNL player. The directors frequently put out info on how parents should conduct themselves on the sidelines and do not tolerate bad behavior. They will shun you and your kid will suffer with playing time. Our matches generally are civil because of this...the threat is real and we know it. We are also told (repeatedly) that working the ref is not the job of the parents and it will only negatively impact our chances of winning.

It also highlights the other parents from the opposing team because they are usually going crazy...watching that live is a good reminder of how pathetic adults can be.

[Anonymous]

There are a few times where I have seen parents get loud where it is kind of justified. The most significant is when refs are letting behavior go that could lead to significant injury. There are some refs who just don’t think girls can ever be mean, and treat it all as inadvertent.

For example I am pretty sure that Jeff Cup admins have told refs to keep cards, especially red cards, in their pockets and it can show.

[Anonymous]

Our club sent out an email to all the team managers instructing them the parents needs to sit on the opposite side from opposing team.

[Anonymous]

People post big comparisons to other sports that are far worse with parent behavior: soccer in the U.S. attracts a lot of parents who want something less “aggressive” or “violent” than other sports. I mean, go ahead and laugh, but that’s sort of the point, many of us want to avoid exposing our kids to meatheads. I think this results in a larger number of parents who are surprised when it turns out soccer is not as “mild” as they thought.

It’s all relative anyway, all these hockey and lax parents can stfu when a boxing parent comes on here. 🤣

[Anonymous]

Hate parents with no sideline etiquette. People that don't sit on the right side, that yell at the refs for any call against their team, remote control their kids, too loud for anything. Typically lower team parents or parents from bad top teams. Unbearable. That said it happens in other sports as well. Only thing I have seen to work is clubs emailing parents and coaches enforcing it regularly.

[Anonymous]

Sitting on the wrong side, and/or tracking the ball up and down drives me bonkers. Let each team’s parents sit together and cheer. Its grating to be next to someone cheering against your kid.

[Anonymous]

I didn't know it was such a crime to sit on the other side. I just want to watch my kid that plays a forward position. I'll switch sides during half too. I don't yell or scream, at most I'll clap. Now that I know the etiquette, I STILL DON'T CARE. Cry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know it was such a crime to sit on the other side. I just want to watch my kid that plays a forward position. I'll switch sides during half too. I don't yell or scream, at most I'll clap. Now that I know the etiquette, I STILL DON'T CARE. Cry about it.

I think thats fine. We just don't want to mix up the crazy parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know it was such a crime to sit on the other side. I just want to watch my kid that plays a forward position. I'll switch sides during half too. I don't yell or scream, at most I'll clap. Now that I know the etiquette, I STILL DON'T CARE. Cry about it.

How big is the field that you can't just sit close to the middle?

Why helicopter over your kid?
You think they won't be fine without your amateur overshadowing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know it was such a crime to sit on the other side. I just want to watch my kid that plays a forward position. I'll switch sides during half too. I don't yell or scream, at most I'll clap. Now that I know the etiquette, I STILL DON'T CARE. Cry about it.

How big is the field that you can't just sit close to the middle?

Why helicopter over your kid?
You think they won't be fine without your amateur overshadowing?

Because it's crowded in the middle and I don't want to have to put up with bs small talk. I'd like to watch the game in peace. Why does it even matter to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our club sent out an email to all the team managers instructing them the parents needs to sit on the opposite side from opposing team.

Hello SYC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our club sent out an email to all the team managers instructing them the parents needs to sit on the opposite side from opposing team.

Huh? Rules are you sir across from your own team. You don’t sit on the opponents side.

Fans should not mix

[Anonymous]

^sit