Last week, he found himself with a case of the Green Death. Or perhaps Green Death Defenders.
The big news in Scituate was the ill-advised letter written by a youth soccer coach to his players’ parents, a letter that had a tone some found inappropriate.
So Brian got plenty of calls from people defending the coach. And people posting comments on Wicked Local Scituate, mostly favorable towards the coach.
In retrospect, it's pretty obvious that the letter was written, with references to “kicking ass” and eating red meat, tongue firmly in cheek.
It still bothers me though.
You see, this guy was supposed to coach a team of 6 and 7 year old girls.
The letter is full of macho bluster, a strange choice of language given who he was supposed to be teaching.
Yes, I understand the letter was supposed to be satirical, which just proves that sarcasm rarely works in print. But it makes one wonder what exactly he thought his job was in coaching these girls.
This passage especially bothered me: If the refs can’t handle a little criticism, then they should turn in their whistle. The sooner they figure out how to make a decision and live with the consequences the better. My heckling of the refs is actually helping them develop as people.
Reportedly, one 12-year-old referee quit because of him. Real big of him to pick on a 12-year-old. And please, don't tell me the kid should toughen up if she wants to be a referee. She’s 12!
So, the point is to show children that it’s OK to pick on someone younger than you, whose been placed in a position that’s supposed to be treated with respect?
In Plymouth, where I live, the youth soccer league has a simple rule. You don’t talk, and you certainly don’t argue with the officials. That goes for players, coaches and parents. The only time you talk with them is after the game if you have a question about a ruling.
I coached youth soccer for four years, boys roughly the same age as the girls in Scituate.
I won't claim to be a great soccer coach, which is why I stopped when my sons got older. At some point, I knew they needed real coaching if they wanted to excel at the sport, which both do.
What I wanted to do was to instill an appreciation of soccer, have fun and make sure the kids got a little exercise for a few hours a week. Frankly, I don’t think every hour of a child’s life should be centered on preparing them for life’s struggles.
One thing I’m especially proud of, as a soccer coach, is that most of the kids I coached are still playing. I wonder how many parents and kids were turned off from the beautiful game by a man who couldn’t recognize what children really value.
I know, it doesn't sound like much, but it wasn't about me, it was about them. I think when it comes to youth sports we forget that.