Is college football your Saturday pastime? Pro football on Sundays (Monday and Thursday nights)? Later this afternoon, we’ll go to the park and watch our
grandson’s last flag football game. Considering the weather, we’ll probably
need our winter jackets. Ironic, in that earlier this season, they cancelled a
game because of the heat (90°+).
I’ve never been a football fan.
Never been interested enough to learn the rules or plays. Because of Grandson’s
enthusiasm, I’m learning. This is his second year where play is stopped when
the opponent grabs a “flag” (streamer) from the ball carrier rather than a tackle. Next year, if he continues, the kids will wear pads and helmets and can
tackle. Not sure if I’m ready for that.
The kids seem to have fun. Grandson does. The
coaches make sure each kid plays each position. (I have to keep erasing “boy”
and writing “kid” because a girl plays on one of the teams. Yay, girls!) The coaches
encourage the kids, no yelling, no disparaging. The point is to have fun, as
well as learn the basics of football. They teach the kids the importance of teamwork. The parents are just as encouraging, cheering all the kids. Isn’t that the
way it’s supposed to be?
Unfortunately, it isn’t always. We’ve
seen coaches belittle kids. Parents who scream at their kid and/or the coaches.
My kids were fortunate to have great coaches. Both Daughter and Son played baseball (T-ball and
Little League) and were on swim teams. The enthusiastic parents cheered all the
kids. The coaches taught them teamwork. A lifetime skill.
I hear (and I’m sure you have,
too) grousing about how we’re raising a bunch of kids who never know how to
fail. Everyone gets a trophy/ribbon/prize, no real winners. While that’s true,
when kids are just learning a new sport, what’s important? Winning or having
fun and learning the game? For the flag football teams, there is no scorekeeping. (You can bet,
though, that the kids keep score in their head.) As they get older and,
hopefully, mature, the game will change and scores will be kept. There will be
winners and losers. I hope the coaches will teach them how to be gracious
whether they win or lose. That they will learn from their mistakes.
I also hope those kids, especially
Grandson, will continue to have fun.
Interesting game. After a half hour of play, the officials called the game because of poor sportsmanship of the other team's coaches. What a sad way to end the season for that team.
ReplyDeleteI'm not overly keen on the 'everyone's a winner attitude' but neither do I think it's right that anyone (not just kids) is made to feel like a loser while they're still learning a skill, or when they've mastered it to the best of their ability, but still aren't the best.
ReplyDeleteI'd like people to feel proud of having had a go and done their best.
I agree, Patsy. My grandson's coaches make a point to encourage the kids to do their best.
DeleteI remember going to my nephew's football games when he was a kid and I was stunned at how some of the parents and coaches behaved. I thought the behavior was abusive and not at all conducive to learning or good sportsmanship. Sounds like things haven't changed based on your comment above about the game being called because of the coaches' behavior! Those coaches should be ashamed. Good grief.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad though that your grandson had fun on this team. And that girls are playing too. That's awesome!! :)
It is awesome, Julie. I was pleasantly surprised by the girls playing football. Good for them!
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