Soccer Hate

Bad sportsmanship happens at every age level and in every division. Yes, the coach should do something, but I rarely see them do anything. The Refs should do something, but I see a lot of things done behind the ref's back or where he can't see it. Bottom line is that you have a lot of teams who don't really know how to play soccer so they resort to taking out as many of the opponents as they can.

These teams have a focus on winnng the game at any cost. Is it wrong, absolutely. Is it dangerous to other players - YES. Can anything be done? Yes, but it will take a harder stance from the league. You can't excuse away bad behavior by saying "they were just being physical."

You can't have a better team unless the coach knows how to coach soccer and not just depend on physicality.

You can't have a better game unless Refs start carding for bad behavior as well as outlaw plays like hitting a player after ball release, hard elbows to the back, collar pulldowns, sweeping feet from behind, intentional injuries such as stepping on ankles, cleating legs, elbows to back, head, etc., etc.

If some of these teams were actually taught soccer instead of rock em, sock em robot, we could all enjoy the games.

The most important element to putting an end to it is not even being addressed here. Parents. Where are the parents that hold thier kids accountable for their behavior ? It is one thing when a game gets out of control and players start retaliating. Parents that sit there and watch intentionally dirty play from their kid and approve are a minority . Physical is one thing, dirty is another and parents should not tolerate it on any team they play on. Demand the coach not allow it or find a coach that teaches values that will carry off the field. Do not wait for someone to do something. You are someone, do something.

Amen from the choir two!

my2cents wrote:The most important element to putting an end to it is not even being addressed here. Parents. Where are the parents that hold thier kids accountable for their behavior ? It is one thing when a game gets out of control and players start retaliating. Parents that sit there and watch intentionally dirty play from their kid and approve are a minority . Physical is one thing, dirty is another and parents should not tolerate it on any team they play on. Demand the coach not allow it or find a coach that teaches values that will carry off the field. Do not wait for someone to do something. You are someone, do something.

I doubt anybody thinks their own kid plays dirty.

I remember a dad on my older dd's team who told his dd "Bring what you got", which meant "Your fire hydrant body only helps your team when it collides with other players." He/she never figured out it wasn't helping the team to injure teammates in every practice.

I've been hearing that those fire hydrant bruisers will not last and be able to play on top teams in the coming years. But it sounds like you are all saying it goes way beyond U9. So do they ever gain the skill they lack at the U9 level that makes them have to play rough at this age or does it just continue with teams and coaches wanting a bruiser or two on their roster?

Shotshagger wrote:

my2cents wrote:The most important element to putting an end to it is not even being addressed here. Parents. Where are the parents that hold thier kids accountable for their behavior ? It is one thing when a game gets out of control and players start retaliating. Parents that sit there and watch intentionally dirty play from their kid and approve are a minority . Physical is one thing, dirty is another and parents should not tolerate it on any team they play on. Demand the coach not allow it or find a coach that teaches values that will carry off the field. Do not wait for someone to do something. You are someone, do something.

I doubt anybody thinks their own kid plays dirty.

I remember a dad on my older dd's team who told his dd "Bring what you got", which meant "Your fire hydrant body only helps your team when it collides with other players." He/she never figured out it wasn't helping the team to injure teammates in every practice.

It's even worse when the parent of the DD involved is also the team's coach - ran into that recently and can almost guarantee the player's behavior will never change. Unfortunate part is she's a fantastic athlete and shouldn't need to rely on it - just teaches her to bully her way around on the field. In another instance a few weeks ago I overheard a coach discussing with is player ramifications of her "dirty play", but was doing it half-assed with a smile on his face, and only addressing a small aspect of the problems she & her team will face (she was by far their only offensive weapon) if it continues. Think she or anyone else listening took the coach's comments seriously? Doubt it. I won't even get in to the disgustingly poor sportsmanship she showed towards both her opponents AND her own team. After hearing the coach's "scolding", I wouldn't expect him to teach sportsmanship either.

It's unfortunate that it happens, but reality is that it's unavoidable - there's always going to be something of this nature going on. Just hope the trend of coaches & parents tolerating it& allowing it to happen starts declining.

TatonkaBurger wrote:I've been hearing that those fire hydrant bruisers will not last and be able to play on top teams in the coming years. But it sounds like you are all saying it goes way beyond U9. So do they ever gain the skill they lack at the U9 level that makes them have to play rough at this age or does it just continue with teams and coaches wanting a bruiser or two on their roster?

Hard to make a blanket statement regarding this, some do and some don't. I can think of one area top team that won multiple Regional and a National championship. They had some fabulously skilled players that went on to big time college programs. They also kept an "enforcer" or two that did not fare so well in the college recruiting process. So, did the enforcers help them win? Your guess is as good as mine.

TatonkaBurger wrote:I've been hearing that those fire hydrant bruisers will not last and be able to play on top teams in the coming years. But it sounds like you are all saying it goes way beyond U9. So do they ever gain the skill they lack at the U9 level that makes them have to play rough at this age or does it just continue with teams and coaches wanting a bruiser or two on their roster?

One thing that gets more important as the fields get bigger, obviously, is speed. If a bruiser can't turn around and get her big butt in high gear, then it's true she will not last into the upper age brackets/divisions.

But the older, faster, more skilled kids know how to bruise, too.

It is tough to play solid soccer with that knife in your back from your own team mates.

HS soccer should be a great time of these girls life to enjoy playing the game they love with friends yet it turns friends into visous enemies and often burns them out to end their careers when most had visions of a college career.

Much worse (if its possible) than lhgcl

and to make things worse, HS refs are governed by TASO with an executive director who is the largest jerk off in Texas; Michael Fitch.

The UIL currently has TASO in litigation as a result of Fitch