Why Youth Sports Drive Me Nuts
My son plays baseball in an 8-10 league. He has really improved this year as he seems to actually understand the game.
The boys on our team range from ages 6-9 and fielding is challenging. I think it's cute and I usually don't care if we lose as long as we try our best.
Some parents do not agree with my sentiment.
Opposing team parents have yelled things like "Drop it" while a 7 year old is trying to make a catch.
Parents on our own team have told their own child, who was proud of his first attempt at catching, that catching one out of 99 throws is a terrible satistic.
Saying one nice thing out of every hundred things you say is also a terrible satistic.
Opposing coaches have taken multiple bases on errors. Really? There's a five-runs-an-inning mercy rule. Do you really need to advance on an error?
Parents have suggested benching 7 year olds who aren't paying attention. Um...you can't be serious.
I don't think my son notices these things and for that I am grateful. He feels bad enough when he strikes out without any added input from us.
He is proud when he gets an out and when he overthrows first base we tell him that was a great try.
Baseball ends this week and I'm sort of glad. Not because I don't enjoy watching him play, but because I just can't bite my tongue any longer.
About Me
- kisatrtle
- I'm a 41 year old (gasp) freelance writer, school cafeteria manager, wife and mother. I have three children and one anxious and overweight beagle. I use my blog to make others laugh, to share some cool crafts, to document my lunchlady adventures and to lament about the challenges faced by us all on the journey called life. Thanks for visiting. Please leave some crack...um...I meant some comments.
3 random thoughts:
Sports parents can be ruthless jerks. I coach soccer and some of them are just awful. Our parks & rec established a "no coaching" rule because of it. Only the actual coaches are allowed to coach, parents have to be encouraging or be quiet and they all have to sign a contract at the beginning of the season that says that much. If they break the rules, the officials tell em to leave.
When my kids were little Jaryd played soccer and he loved playing. We were very fortunate in that there weren't too many "difficult" parents. The league was pretty up front about the fact that this was a teaching league, no scores were kept (although everyone kept score on their own) neither team won or lost and all the kids got treats after the game. It was really a wonderful experience. Luckily neither of the kids wanted to play more than that.
Jaryd did play varsity bowling and tennis for 4 yrs in high school and we loved it as much as he did. We did see some wicked parents, players and coaches there though.
You have the right attitude, encourage them and let them know you are proud of what they do.
That is just appalling. What kind of freaks are these parents????? I haven't run into it myself YET but I know it is coming.