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Score, score, score |
Gomer is on a team where they are coached by volunteers. They are playing with their friends and classmates. Supposedly they don't even keep score yet. Who are they kidding, of course they are keeping score, otherwise why play the game? I am a very competitive person by nature. I hate to lose. I hate to see my son do something that I know he can do better. I hate to see him not listen to directions.
We were at his game, and he was told to play LEFT Defense. So that means, he is supposed to stay on the left side of the field and stay back to help defend his goal. Gomer is so excited about soccer and loves to help and run that he is running all over the field and chasing the ball anywhere and everywhere. This is where I got mad and started screaming at him. "Gomer, Gomer, get back to the left side. You need to help protect your goal." It is a large field and he can barely hear me. I screamed even louder. He looks at me and indicates that he doesn't understand me. I don't know what to do. I go over to him when he is rotated out and try to explain to him what to do. He still does not understand me. I blame the coaches of course for his lack of understanding. After the game, I asked him what happened, and he tells me that he was trying his best and did not understand what I wanted him to do. He looked sad and like he had disappointed me. I asked if he had fun, he told me yes. Even though they lost 8-2, he was still having fun. I asked him one final question, "Do you hate it when I yell at you?" He said, yes. That was enough for me to hear. I felt bad that I had taken his joy for playing soccer and made it a competitive sport where winning was important. Don't get my wrong, I think winning IS important, but at 7 years old, having fun is important too.
For now on, I will not be screaming at Gomer, unless it is to cheer him on. I don't want to be THAT parent. I know I will revisit this when he is older and can take the verbal abuse - I mean support from me.
Awww...I love you Hubs. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThis one is a good one!! Great that you can take a step back and see that right now the game IS all about having fun and getting kids excited to play :)
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to say that when he's 7 - wait until he's playing on the HS team!
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I love cheering my kids on, there are always those moments I lose control (although, not when they were 7!) and have to walk away from the sideline to keep from saying anything. Calm discussions after the game always work better!
My son has a kid on his soccer team whose dad was a football player in high school. He is definitely THAT dad. At a game 2 weeks ago his kid got hurt so, listening to those of us right next to him when t happened, he took a knee to let the ref know he was hurt. His dad starts yelling at him to get up. Turns out they had to take him to the ER and he fractured his elbow.
ReplyDeleteNot to criticize but if your son shows that much passion and natural talent for soccer, you should probably get him on a team that has coaches who know what they are doing. Travel soccer usually starts at U8 and it sounds like he could play at that level. He could be learning the game and having fun, too!
ReplyDeleteI can forgive a clueless parent, but a parent who thinks he knows it all and doesn't care enough to ask his kid what's going on needs a punch in the throat. Good save, Hubs. You're teaching Gomer how to be a good father.
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