My boys (4 and 6) play flag football, where my husband and a good friend are the coaches. Last night was their first play-off game. For the whole season, our boys only won one game, so we weren't expecting them to take home a win last night - but they did! My brother was there, who has only been able to make one other game, and at one point he yelled out "delay of game" for the refs to call it because the other coach was running down the clock on a game for 4 and 6 year olds...against the rules. The ref told my brother to be quiet and so he argued for literally 10 seconds with the guy. Our boys won the game by 1 point, but then the ref said it was actually a tied game and we had to go to over time. We still won, but then the coach on the other team went to the President of the league and told him my brother was dropping the F bomd (which he was not) and it scared his kids into not wanting to play anymore. Seriously? Our kids won fair and square and he couldn't stand it, so he had to pick on someone. Because my brother argued, it made him a good target I guess. So now my brother is not allowed back this year. I am going to leave it alone for now because my boys play again tonight and I don't want to be kicked out for arguing with the ruling, but what the heck?!? Would you say something when it's all over? I really want to, but I'm not sure what good it will do. Oh, and NO one else heard my brother curse, so it's total fabrication.
Added - the other coach went to my husband afterwards and told him this. I did not hear him say it, but I was standing next to my brother the entire game.
MORE - It is worse. Now they are saying he threatened a ref. I really am so confused. He did nothing wrong aside from the 10 second argument and that was it. Parents do way worse than that every game. I am at a loss here.
Honestly? I would let it go. These are small kids (who in my area wouldn't even be keeping score at that age) who should be playing for fun, sportsmanship, and exercise. Perhaps the ref/president misheard him and thought he heard the word, but who cares? What would it do to make it an issue? Let it go, move on, and try to enjoy tonight's game.
I would write a letter to whoever runs the league just so they have it documented. It won't change anything now, but if there are other complaints about either the coach or the ref in the future, the league will have written documentation of prior problems. Then let it go!
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Have you spoken with the President of the league? If not, you should. Have those that were sitting around him write letters stating they never heard him say any foul language. Other than that you will need to find out if he's allowed after the season is over and into the new season. Sometimes it's permanent!
Did you hear the other coach yourself say the lies or was it like a game of telephone? My daughter played softball for eleven years and there always were pains that did or things just to win or look better (your brother and the coach). I would really just let it go, this isn't a battle to die over. Good luck tonight.
First welcome to the world of craziness. Parents are absolute nuts when it comes to sports nowadays. I have twins who are 10 boy/girl and the things I have seen and heard from parents is absolute craziness. In our area football seems to be the worse of them all too, I don't know what it is about this sport but it brings out the jacka@! in men. They will do anything to win. My husband always coaches just for this reason because we don't want our son getting some crazy coach who will go to such extreme to win. Yes, winning is important and he does what he can, but it is about teaching the kids about the sport as well.
Secondly, let it go. It will "die" off soon and it won't change anything if you say something anyway. I'm sure everyone else feels the same as you, the coach is doing whatever he can to get a win, and he looks like a pathetic fool doing this.
They are sore losers. At least they didn't accuse your team of wearing shirts that were too bright so it caused a distraction for the other team to win (I swear, that happened in one of my games!).
With everyone having cameras there was bound to be someone videoing your brother. Ask for a copy of the video and if your brother is in the clear, present it to the league. If not, he should apologize to those who supported him.
Good luck to you and yours.
Kids' sports can be such a headache and it really shouldn't be that way.
Especially for kids this young.
When my son began baseball very young, they didn't even keep score. Of course many of the parents did. There were some parents who griped about every single thing and it could get quite obnoxious. One little boy was SO little that with his batting helmet on he looked like the guy in the movie "Space Balls". Another kid decided after his first game he didn't want to play anymore so he just sat in the field and wouldn't move even if the ball came 3 inches away from him. He did that for the complete rest of the season. Some parents were able to go and just see the humor in all of it and cheer the kids on. Some parents took it so seriously you'd think there were major league scouts in the stands or something.
Please don't take this the wrong way, I'm sure your brother meant well, but why yell out something for the refs to call? And then argue for even one second?
It sounds like the truth was obviously stretched and it's a bit harsh to eject your brother for the rest of the season. But, I would just let it go. I really would. I wouldn't drag the argument out any further.
I also wouldn't assume that certain coaches or refs have their own agendas or are jealous because one team is winning or whatever.
Take it from me, some coaches are just idiots. My ex husband wanted to coach one year and his heart was in the right place, but boy....did I hear it. He got the kids names mixed up, made goofy calls, gave the girls on all the teams extra chances. But hey....the kids were little. They all had fun. There were no "official" rules other than all the kids getting a chance to play and learn the different positions. Keeping score had nothing to do with it at that age. 4 and 6 year olds just want to play and have fun and I think that parents should have the same attitude.
That's just my opinion.
It sounds like your brother didn't say what he was accused of saying and that really sucks. But, do you want to involve yourself in an argument your brother got involved in or do you just want to let the kids play and finish out the season?
There are bad calls made, even in professional sports, it happens. It might not be fair, but it's not worth fighting about or getting ejected over either.
I'm sorry this happened and it's already been blown out of proportion. I wouldn't make it bigger.
That's just my viewpoint.
FWIW, the other coach is not "getting away" with anything. I'm sure everyone knew exactly what happened (even the kids) and it's just making him look like the dope he is. Does he wear a diaper & make a "whaa, whaa" sound ALL of the time? LOL
