You were more judicious than I would have been.

Wow. That's just wrong. I'd have wanted to go get the kid off the field and tell them where to put their "sportsmanship".

Want to tell us about the coach?

flashguy

It’s great to say but...


Is that fair to my kid? He loves playing the sport and playing it with his team. Should he pay the price for some asshole ref’s political grandstanding?

Is it fair to the team or club? As I said, we played another game yesterday, at a different field, where this didn’t happen. Before I salt the earth and string corpses I think I need to have a little bit more information.


I suspect at least one or two of the people that received the email are “liberal”. Not because of anything they’ve said. They, demographically, fit into a category that makes that their most likely political affiliation. Suspect. Don’t know. Just like they probably suspect given my demographics what my political affiliation is. But I’d prefer to return the mystery to that in this aspect of my life. I absolutely think there are good people on both sides of the aisle. I also believe that most of the world happens outside of politics. We go to work, play, eat with, etc people every day happily and have no idea what their political ideology and affiliation is. And I’m happy with that.

Now, that being said, if they make this about politics then you will force me to make the decision involving politics. So, yes, if the club comes out and tries to make my kid part of this political theater, we have an issue. And one that will require hard decisions

If this was just one asshole ref then it is possible to continue life without politics in youth soccer

quote:

Originally posted by EUROFAN:
Wow. That's just wrong. I'd have wanted to go get the kid off the field and tell them where to put their "sportsmanship".

Someone needs to give the agitator ‘coach’ an attitude adjustment that he won’t forget

quote:

Originally posted by Kevbo:

... Even now I debated sending this email for fear that my protest of what happened would be viewed in some way as support for the negative, racist crap ....

That is a very well-written email, Kevbo.

It's a shame that you felt the need to include the above statement while stating your position on turning sports into political statements for minors. But this shows how much the DNC and its media outlets have hijacked the truth, putting mainstream America on the defensive mentally.



.

The coach at that game was a substitute coach, but someone the kids know. He is basically one of the trainers at the club that floats with teams of both genders and all age and ability levels. This club employs paid coaches at this level, not parent volunteers, and all the coaches have more than 1 team assignment at more than one age level. A lot of the coaches coach girls and boys.

When there is a conflict the coach always goes with the oldest group, and the younger group has someone from the club coach the team. All the kids know these guys and have worked with them before but they aren’t at all their practices etc

My son says, and it’s been backed up by other kids and their accounts to their parents, that they had no idea it was going to happen until they went out on the field. That the “sub” coach didn’t say anything about it before or after it happened. Which doesn’t surprise me. I know the guy that was the sub yesterday and he is a good soccer coach but is a complete goofball. He absolutely is coaching soccer for a living and playing video games. He’s a nice enough guy. And he knows the sport. But he’s kind of like if The Dude was a soccer coach

My kid’s actual primary coach is a young black man that I’ve known since we came to the club almost 6 years ago now. I like him. He works only primarily with older kids and this is the first year he is the head coach of this team (as the boys get older they move into different coaching spheres). My kid played for him when we first got here in the last year he coached “little kids”. He is more intense and demands more, and I like that. He’s also a really nice guy away from the field I’ve spent some time with when we traveled to places requiring an overnight stay. As I said above he is black. I suspect when he learns about this he will be pissed because he doesn’t want anything on the field that doesn’t involve playing soccer and playing it well. He coached on the field next to ours when this happened and from what I’ve been able to gather this did not happen on that field. And as I said, at the game earlier in the day where he coached us it did not happen

The ref, on the other hand, is who I suspect is behind this. Never seen him before that I remember

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
Want to tell us about the coach?

flashguy

“Black Lies Matter“, the slogan is relatively inert unless you look at it that all of these “...lives matter“ signs or movements should end with “too.” The major problem is that BLM isn’t meant to be inert, but in-your-face polarizing. The powers that be know full well that adding “too” defeats their movement, and that it isn’t the message they are sending. BLM is a full-fledged leftist revolutionary movement which ultimately seeks to destroy EVERYTHING and then rebuild it in their image from the ashes. Society, government, culture, etc are their targets, and they will not stop until their goal is realized.

“We the people” need to wake up to the FACT that BLM and MANY other forces are at war with us, and just as the earlier terrorist acts and chants of “death to America” weren’t fully realized until it was too late, we are destined to follow the same path. Just like the Islamist terrorists, BLM and these other forces won’t stop until they can rebuild their Utopia from the ashes of what we once held so dear and would give our lives for.

So, if I was the parent in this story, unless the kid was onboard with leaving the team Outright, I’d confront the coaches with reason and with ultimatum - if they pull that kind of a stunt again, the kid is out of there. We currently enjoy freedom of association so if I believed there was no hope with this team, my kid, my money and support would be out of there in a heartbeat!

I would be pretty fucking livid myself. I don't give a shit if the coach is a good coach, he won't use my child to express his sense of "social justice" because those fucking idiots don't even know what justice is.

I'd pulled my kid out of the middle of the game, cursed the ref's bitch ass out and walked off in front of the entire crowd.

I'll care about black lies mattering when blacks care about black lives.

I'm going to ask the question no one else has thus far...where's your coach in all of this? I coached youth baseball for almost 10 years. Make no mistake, my team(s) are 'my' team(s), not the umpires team, or the parent's team, or anyone else's. You want my team to participate in something like you noted, you better damn well clear it with me first or I'll make a scene and pull my players back into the dugout while you play your political games. And if the referee in your case came to me with this BS beforehand, I'd have told him unequivocally that my team would not be participating in any such activities. Oh, and it wouldn't matter if I were coaching 10 year olds or 16 year olds. Again, my team, my decision. Either your coach was out to lunch, agrees with the spectacle, or is a pussy. Regardless, I'd have a very blunt conversation face to face with him and make your position crystal clear on this.

A mildly similar incident occurred with me a number of years ago. A local politico running for reelection arranged with the league to interrupt my Saturday morning game in the third inning to campaign to the parents. Really pissed me off. So I took my entire team and coaches out of the dugout and over to the batting cages and threw BP to them while this blowhard bloviated. I'm sure she loved the continual 'ping, 'ping', 'ping' of the aluminum bats in the background. The league later sent me a nasty letter expressing their dissatisfaction with how disrespectful I'd been in doing what I did. I filed it in the round can in my office and went merrily on my way. 'My' team, 'my' responsibility, 'my' call. End of discussion.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I'm going to ask the question no one else has thus far...where's your coach in all of this?

He’s addressed this a couple times. Read his last post. It’s completely dedicated to this topic.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Perhaps I am not qualified as I am not a parent.

But at 14 , Tell him it's his decision ,not the schools,coaches , or yours. He's old enough
to make the decision, he knows what world or community he wants to be an active part in.

He knows deep down inside, how much sports,friends and social messages means to him.

He knows what he can live with going forward.
Pick your battle's , show him you you can trust his judgment.

These next four years are going to fly by like a dog on a donut.

Ask him, what it means to him, even if he gives you the answer you don't agree with,

This is not a challenge or problem circumstance ,this is an
opportunity ,
for the both of you to understand each other just a little bit better.

12 - 15 was a very important time as a very young man in bonding with a father.

Who kidnapped bendable and is posting in his stead?

Seriously, this is clear, cogent, and great advice.

At 18 I’m pretty sure my son would (politely) tell the coach what he could do with his knee. I’m not sure what he’d have done at 14. Having a conversation with your son, getting his thoughts, perhaps sharing yours, but letting him make his own decisions seems like a brilliant idea. If one can get a 14 year old to take in input and make their own decision, one is points ahead. By the time they get to 18, there is no need to listen, and it is unlikely they will if they don’t feel listened to and respected.

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I'm going to ask the question no one else has thus far...where's your coach in all of this?

He’s addressed this a couple times. Read his last post. It’s completely dedicated to this topic.

Not really, though I did miss this reference due to reading quickly.

quote:

My son says, and it’s been backed up by other kids and their accounts to their parents, that they had no idea it was going to happen until they went out on the field. That the “sub” coach didn’t say anything about it before or after it happened. Which doesn’t surprise me. I know the guy that was the sub yesterday and he is a good soccer coach but is a complete goofball.

Regardless, my comments still stand. If there's an individual (another coach, a ref, a parent, or someone else) attempting to dictate behavior for my team, I better know about it beforehand and have input into the decision. It appears my comment was correct, Kevbo's fill in coach is a screw up who has little clue what his real role is as the head coach. Not really surprising as many leagues are plagued with half assed coaches. Again, I lay this whole incident at the feet of the head coach for not knowing what the hell was going on and/or his role in it.

And for those suggesting discussing this with your kid and having him try and make a decision regarding it, I would recommend against it. Not because the kid(s) can't make the decision, but in the long run, speaking as someone who coached for many years and dealt with the controversies that arise, its better for the kids that they be eliminated from the process all together. What if half the team would opt to participate and half would not? That creates a situation where kids might be asked by others why they participated or they didn't. To me as the coach, I want none of that controversy for my kids. If I as the coach make the decision for my team, then everything good or bad flows to me and leaves them out of the discussion/debate. Remember, first and foremost, they're there to play and learn, not become pawns or get mired in BS.

What the ref did sucked. And I suspect by what you've posted he is the sole culprit. You did well showing restraint and not putting your son in a compromised position on his team. Sounds like you are handling this 100% correctly to me.

This indoctrination is pushed farther every day. Your response was cogent, measured, respectful, and very necessary. I'll be interested to hear what follows.

My kid would not attend another game with that organization. I don't give two shits what excuse they offer up. BLM is a terrorist organization, and if your kid can't handle the truth, I feel sorry for the both of you.

And pussy-footing around saying "I believe black lives matter, I believe purple lives matter, I believe all lives matter", is a politically correct cop-out. You either allow the indoctrination to continue, or you don't. Simple as that.

quote:

We believe black lives matter. We are also a family of veterans. If the kneeling dealt specifically with the charity supported that is one thing, and that should have been communicated to the parents in attendance so that we could also take part.

Shake my damn head.

Here's where this nonsense gets you. Piss poor acting job, but maybe you agree though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...0o&feature=emb_title

quote:

Originally posted by SIG228:

quote:

We believe black lives matter. We are also a family of veterans. If the kneeling dealt specifically with the charity supported that is one thing, and that should have been communicated to the parents in attendance so that we could also take part.

Shake my damn head.

Yeah, still shaking mine, too, especially after the explanation. And, who would kneel to support a charity? Makes no damn sense. I only kneel for God and not any bullshit organizations.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG228:
Here's where this nonsense gets you. Piss poor acting job, but maybe you agree though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...0o&feature=emb_title

What an absolute pussy. Zero respect for that whimpering moron.