Running laps as punishment

[Anonymous]

OP, your kid was disrespectful and you sound clueless.

[Anonymous]

OP, why couldn't your son remember any of the other kids' names? I wonder if he was tuning out from the beginning, because the ice-breaker seemed childish. Sounds like things were brewing from the beginning of the exercise, coach called on him because he recognized it, and then your son chose to mouth off. It was disrespectful to his teammate, and I bet if it happens again your son will be asked to leave the practice.

[Anonymous]

The title of this post is so far away from what actually transpired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The title of this post is so far away from what actually transpired.

I know! After reading he didn't even RUN a lap. He dribbled the soccer ball around the field. Which at 8 is slow enough to barely be a jog. She clearly had an image if RUNNING in her mind.

So comical.

[Anonymous]

Op, curious if you were present to this exchange or heard about it from your kid after practice? If your kid is this disrespectful during practice you might want to stay and walk laps or read a book to help keep your kid in line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, curious if you were present to this exchange or heard about it from your kid after practice? If your kid is this disrespectful during practice you might want to stay and walk laps or read a book to help keep your kid in line.

OP hasn't come back. SHOCKING.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m in the minority. Kids this age say stupid stuff. When my kids make comments like this, I just ignore because I know it’s developmentally appropriate. Plus, my children are allowed to think things are silly, or not fun. I do not expect them to just comply because an adult is telling them to do something.

That’s fine, kids should question authority. But if they can’t suck it up & play along they shouldn’t play team sports.

[Anonymous]

OP: I think the coach handled this well and you should leave it alone. Imagine how humiliated the kid who he said he didn't care about might have been? If the coach had let it go, imagine what the parent of that kid would be posting on MOTH if their kid was upset. The coach has to set the tone and, actually, giving him a soccer-appropriate "punishment" (including the dribbling in the lap) is perfect. If a coach lets something like this go on day 1, the team will fall apart going forward if the kids have the wrong personalities. Seriously.

Also, I would not have imposed additional punishment at home or dragged my kid out of there, because it's important the kid learn to respect the coach and it was only the first practice. However, if your kid keeps this up at the next practice, you need to intervene. It's not fair to the other kids. In my opinion, you are holding your 8 year old to a 5 year old behavioral standard. That response was somewhat rude for a 5 year old; it was VERY rude for an 8 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m in the minority. Kids this age say stupid stuff. When my kids make comments like this, I just ignore because I know it’s developmentally appropriate. Plus, my children are allowed to think things are silly, or not fun. I do not expect them to just comply because an adult is telling them to do something.

That’s fine, kids should question authority. But if they can’t suck it up & play along they shouldn’t play team sports.

Pp, your kid shouldn't play team anything.

Both the drill and the punishment have purpose. Passing the ball back and forth while calling out names = team building and skill development.

Dribbling the ball around the field = skill development.

Kids can think what they think and still be respectful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m in the minority. Kids this age say stupid stuff. When my kids make comments like this, I just ignore because I know it’s developmentally appropriate. Plus, my children are allowed to think things are silly, or not fun. I do not expect them to just comply because an adult is telling them to do something.

That’s fine, kids should question authority. But if they can’t suck it up & play along they shouldn’t play team sports.

This kid didn't "question authority". He said something cruel about another child.

Yes, he can think it's silly and not fun. He can say "I'd rather not play" and sit out. But when you're frustrated you don't get to turn your anger on other children.

This is how bullies are raised.

[Anonymous]

I don't support using physical activity as punishment, but I admit that is in large part because I come from the gymnastics world and we're having to do a lot of critical examination about things that go on in our sport. One lap of dribbling a soccer ball may not seem like much, but that's how abusive culture in sports is normalized--one little step at a time.

HOWEVER

OP, your kid is a real little brat. If I were the coach, I would have asked him to apologize immediately to the kid he insulted and try again. And if he couldn't do that, I would have him leave practice. That behavior is so far beyond unacceptable. That's the much bigger problem here. Your child is a mean-spirited, selfish bully.

[Anonymous]

OP you can disagree with the coach’s method of discipline but please don’t ignore or excuse your son’s rude and mouthy behavior. Surely you realize not all kids act this way? Believe me, his attitude bothers not just the coach, but the team and other parents too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I’m in the minority. Kids this age say stupid stuff. When my kids make comments like this, I just ignore because I know it’s developmentally appropriate. Plus, my children are allowed to think things are silly, or not fun. I do not expect them to just comply because an adult is telling them to do something.

That’s fine, kids should question authority. But if they can’t suck it up & play along they shouldn’t play team sports.

Rudeness may be developmentally appropriate, meaning that it's part of development. That doesn't mean that you don't correct it. Or do you think that because it's developmentally appropriate to dart away from you across the street, you don't correct that either? How does your child learn?