The headcases are usually weeded out by U12/U13. It shouldn't be up to the coaches all the time though. The other teammates should call them out first. You get a few players sticking it to the troublemaker in practice first then you will have much less on field issues. The problem is these boys/girls come from families who don't parent or put their kids in their place. They don't mind their child going out and wrecking other kids verbally or otherwise. It makes them feel superior.

Anonymous wrote:Half the time the name calling and bad behavior persists like that in the team environment you can look to the top to see where it starts. Bully coach who is in it for his own glory picks a player or two to vent on and the rest of the team picks up that it's ok to harass and bully those players. Coach doesn't even notice, he's already picked the kid as scapegoat for his own horrendous coaching failure so the abuse doesn't even stand out to the coach.

You have described our DD’s situation. We did not want to call it quits mid seasons; had several discussions with DD and the coach. Unfortunately the season ended with a grand finale where we were afraid at every practice that one kid will deliberately injure our DD during practice. And yes, there was foul play that everyone saw except the coach. Luckily our DD was fine. Really enough is enough. Coaches you should know better.

Anonymous wrote:I agree moving them to another team is not the answer no matter what. Cant run from problems and its never too young to teach them to face adversity head on.

Yeah, that’s why I said move them if it REMAINS a problem after they have addressed it directly. It’s f’n soccer. School, you gotta deal with it. Activities, you must be kidding. You are obtuse if you think addressing adversity head on continues to be necessary as you continue having your head banged against a wall. All you have proven is an astounding lack of judgment and an inability to find better ways to resolve a problem. I come from a military family so I don’t want to hear snowflake nonsense. Improvise. Adapt. Don’t just keep beating your head against the wall.

I agree moving them to another team is not the answer no matter what. Cant run from problems and its never too young to teach them to face adversity head on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Half the time the name calling and bad behavior persists like that in the team environment you can look to the top to see where it starts. Bully coach who is in it for his own glory picks a player or two to vent on and the rest of the team picks up that it's ok to harass and bully those players. Coach doesn't even notice, he's already picked the kid as scapegoat for his own horrendous coaching failure so the abuse doesn't even stand out to the coach.

That can certainly exacerbate problems. But this tends to be what boys do at these ages. There is a hierarchy often based on physicality, especially in some sports. A little more unusual in soccer but present nonetheless. Nobody deserves it. But the kids need to learn to figure out how to deal with this, or the parents need to move them to another team if it remains a problem.

Keep parents out of it stop creating the safe bubble for gods sake. Teach the kids not to take crap from anyone stand up for themselves.

Anonymous wrote:From other thread on 08 team. Going on all year with players calling others names and a few times even hitting them. Morale is bad.

Sorry what is the other thread titled? Thanks

It sometimes takes a kid to say enough is enough. If its affecting the winning and losing The team leader usually one of the best players needs to step up have a "players only meeting" to put people in line. If not that then when one of the kids has had enough he will step up and basically have to fight whoever is the team distraction. Sometimes you need some drama to shake things up.

Anonymous wrote:Half the time the name calling and bad behavior persists like that in the team environment you can look to the top to see where it starts. Bully coach who is in it for his own glory picks a player or two to vent on and the rest of the team picks up that it's ok to harass and bully those players. Coach doesn't even notice, he's already picked the kid as scapegoat for his own horrendous coaching failure so the abuse doesn't even stand out to the coach.

That can certainly exacerbate problems. But this tends to be what boys do at these ages. There is a hierarchy often based on physicality, especially in some sports. A little more unusual in soccer but present nonetheless. Nobody deserves it. But the kids need to learn to figure out how to deal with this, or the parents need to move them to another team if it remains a problem.

Half the time the name calling and bad behavior persists like that in the team environment you can look to the top to see where it starts. Bully coach who is in it for his own glory picks a player or two to vent on and the rest of the team picks up that it's ok to harass and bully those players. Coach doesn't even notice, he's already picked the kid as scapegoat for his own horrendous coaching failure so the abuse doesn't even stand out to the coach.

Anonymous wrote:It's not a one time thing. It's consistent behavior.

Nobody on that roster is playing up unless an 09 is guest playing.

Why don't you ask your coach this?

It's not a one time thing. It's consistent behavior.

From other thread on 08 team. Going on all year with players calling others names and a few times even hitting them. Morale is bad.

Because you seem to want to? Not all coaches are the same—some do and some don’t. Coaches can’t see or hear everything. And just because you didn’t witness it being addressed doesn’t mean it wasn’t or won’t.

So what happened?

I'm talking about name calling, and physical aggression. Not the occasional goofing off.