This weekend is pretty busy.
A beginner BMX clinic for my daughter and soccer games for both my kids Saturday and Sunday. Lots of running around to keep me busy.
So far my son's team won and my daughter's team experienced their first loss this season. I actually thought they would go undefeated, but things just weren't clicking for them today. It was a difficult game for the girls today. They played a team that is one of the better teams. They've beat them before, but today just wasn't their day. Whenever that team and my daughter's team gets on the field together things get a little rough. Both of the teams have some aggressive players. There's pushing and shoving, and the ref doesn't catch all of it. As you can probably guess, whatever the ref doesn't catch he's going to get a lot of grief over at the hands of angry soccer moms and dads.
For example, today one of the coaches/dads from the opposing team at my daughter's game became so perturbed that he began yelling, "Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ!" from across the field. I think what bothered him was that the ref didn't call a foul that the guy thought he should have called. This was followed by some confusion about who should be throwing in after the ball had gone out of bounds. Thank goodness he didn't decide to get all violent over it. At one point he did come onto the field and was trying to argue with the ref. It's real easy to sit back and classify that guy as a major prick who is trying to live his life vicariously through his kid and since he never accomplished much he's not going to let his little girl grow up to be like him. But that wouldn't really be very nice to think of someone like that. Would it? Perhaps he doesn't realize that by behaving the way he does he'll probably guarantee that she does grow up to be just like him because he's teaching her exactly how to do it.
So far my son's team won and my daughter's team experienced their first loss this season. I actually thought they would go undefeated, but things just weren't clicking for them today. It was a difficult game for the girls today. They played a team that is one of the better teams. They've beat them before, but today just wasn't their day. Whenever that team and my daughter's team gets on the field together things get a little rough. Both of the teams have some aggressive players. There's pushing and shoving, and the ref doesn't catch all of it. As you can probably guess, whatever the ref doesn't catch he's going to get a lot of grief over at the hands of angry soccer moms and dads.
For example, today one of the coaches/dads from the opposing team at my daughter's game became so perturbed that he began yelling, "Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ!" from across the field. I think what bothered him was that the ref didn't call a foul that the guy thought he should have called. This was followed by some confusion about who should be throwing in after the ball had gone out of bounds. Thank goodness he didn't decide to get all violent over it. At one point he did come onto the field and was trying to argue with the ref. It's real easy to sit back and classify that guy as a major prick who is trying to live his life vicariously through his kid and since he never accomplished much he's not going to let his little girl grow up to be like him. But that wouldn't really be very nice to think of someone like that. Would it? Perhaps he doesn't realize that by behaving the way he does he'll probably guarantee that she does grow up to be just like him because he's teaching her exactly how to do it.
I live in Germany. We are a soccer country. Parents are even more overambitious here than in America. I really loved to accompany my son to his matches. But here we got daddies yelling at their sons and daughters: "Move, you slug! Why can't you be a little faster? Haven't you seen this pass?"
Once I had a very heavy ...dispute?... with the father of a classmate of my son.
Let me shorten this: We were the main attraction this day...
I really LOATHE parents, who don't give their kids the chance to make their own experiences. Even those of loss and vilification.
It's hard to watch - but that's our job.
So very true what you're saying at the end...
All too familiar. My kids have played almost every sport imaginable, and there's a parent like this in every group.
Zep, I see a lot of those flavor of moms and dads as well. I imagine the more 'established' sports like baseball and football here get more of those nutcases.
A well-placed foot to the crotch (on a man or woman) usually gets people like that well in line very quickly. That's the easiest maneuver with the least amount of pain I can think of to share.
I handled people like that, years ago, but I generally was taller than them, was in good shape, muscular, and had thick, solid arms and a big chest, and when I spoke, well, let's just say it was very direct and forthcoming. People tend to listen when I speak at them. Well, most people listen to me when I speak with them, but when I speak AT someone, think of a drill sergeant to a trainee and you get the picture.
Hey Scoop, believe me . . . the thought crossed my mind on more than one occasion.