I saw some appalling parent and coach cheering at a youth meet today.
The worst trend were the parents that would point directly at an athlete and say "get this guy in blue" or something similar.
It's a youth meet! Be supportive. Besides, every kid on the track also has a parent in the stands so it's only a matter of time before you're yelling next to the parents of the guy in blue.
Sports are supposed to be competitive. You must be part of the entitlement generation (born 1986-present).
That is cheering for your kid. Cheering against yours would be like saying "you suck blue" which you would have a legitimate case if a parent or coach actually did this. To call this parent appalling is way extreme.
There are parents who can be very poor sports, and I wouldn't be too surprised if some went beyond "get the guy in blue" or some such. I haven't seen it so much at races, but have seen it in other settings where kids are playing sports. This, for example:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/24698394/teen-hockey-player-hit-by-another-players-parent
Emotions can run high, but parents have to be careful not to be ruled by them. Sometimes the line between being competitive and being over-invested is pretty blurred.
Valiant Catholics wrote:
I saw some appalling parent and coach cheering at a youth meet today.
The worst trend were the parents that would point directly at an athlete and say "get this guy in blue" or something similar.
That's not cheering against an opponent.
Try sitting in the stands at a youth football game. How the parents don't kill each other I'm not sure. "RIP THAT GUY'S HEAD OFF!!" always gets a warm and reserved response from the rippee's parents.
Valiant Catholics wrote:
I saw some appalling parent and coach cheering at a youth meet today.
The worst trend were the parents that would point directly at an athlete and say "get this guy in blue" or something similar.
It's a youth meet! Be supportive. Besides, every kid on the track also has a parent in the stands so it's only a matter of time before you're yelling next to the parents of the guy in blue.
What do you think about the kid trying to catch the kid in blue? Was he trying to be mean by beating him?
Lighten up Francis. Your kid is going to grow up to be a wilting flower if that's what offends you.
not surprised wrote:
Sports are supposed to be competitive. You must be part of the entitlement generation (born 1986-present).
To be clear, it wasn't my kid being cheered against. In fact my kid is a multiple time state champ that was working the meet an headed to an Ivy next year. He's as competitive as they come old timer.
Valiant Catholic wrote:
not surprised wrote:Sports are supposed to be competitive. You must be part of the entitlement generation (born 1986-present).
To be clear, it wasn't my kid being cheered against. In fact my kid is a multiple time state champ that was working the meet an headed to an Ivy next year. He's as competitive as they come old timer.
If it's not Harvard or Princeton you have nothing to be proud of.
not surprised wrote:
Sports are supposed to be competitive. You must be part of the entitlement generation (born 1986-present).
nerd alert wrote:
If it's not Harvard or Princeton you have nothing to be proud of.
Says the guy who coudn't get in to Yale.
skull and bones wrote:
nerd alert wrote:If it's not Harvard or Princeton you have nothing to be proud of.
Says the guy who coudn't get in to Yale.
Fair enough. I did not get into Yale.
I want to a tennis tournament once. It was a local low key event but a pro event none the less. The guy who was giving me lessons was playing and I was at his first match. At one point, after a long rally, my instructor hit a great cross court shot his opponent barely got to. The guy hit this ball out of bounds. I clapped after the point. The opponent walked toward me and yelled at me for applauding his mistake. I told him I was cheering his opponents good shot that made him miss. He said I should only clap at winners. I didn't listen to him and continued to applaud when I thought it was appropriate and when yelled encouragement when I thought he needed it.
Point is, people are too sensitive. What some people find motivating, others simply find offensive. At actual meets or games HS or above, you should be able to say what the OP referenced in his post about telling him to get the guy. I think for sure in elementary even that level should be avoided. However, it is never appropriate to disparage a kids or friends competitor or suggest harm.
Valiant Catholics wrote:
Besides, every kid on the track also has a parent in the stands so it's only a matter of time before you're yelling next to the parents of the guy in blue.
Frankly, I would think that you were a bad parent if you didn't want your kid to catch my kid.
Valiant Catholics wrote:
I saw some appalling parent and coach cheering at a youth meet today.
The worst trend were the parents that would point directly at an athlete and say "get this guy in blue" or something similar.
It's a youth meet! Be supportive. Besides, every kid on the track also has a parent in the stands so it's only a matter of time before you're yelling next to the parents of the guy in blue.
totally acceptable behavior.
As an athlete, I used to get a kick out of spectators yelling that kind of thing. Used to really fire me up.
It's not like the parent was rooting for the guy in blue to pull a hamstring.
It's not like the parent was rooting for the guy in blue to pull a hamstring.
Yelling for someone to "go get the guy" in front of you is a common response when you don't know what to really say. In reallity there is little one can say outside of encouragement that really would make any difference.
The offense would be telling the kid he sucks as he ran by. What you describe is being competitive.
I once heard two guys on the same team saying how they were going to win the race. I took offense and won. If you are in the lead people are chasing you and people are cheering them on to beat you. That's sports.
Valiant Catholic wrote:
not surprised wrote:Sports are supposed to be competitive. You must be part of the entitlement generation (born 1986-present).
To be clear, it wasn't my kid being cheered against. In fact my kid is a multiple time state champ that was working the meet an headed to an Ivy next year. He's as competitive as they come old timer.
You raised a runner, or at least an athlete, and you found that statement appalling? That is a pretty standard thing to say to a runner and is no reason for anyone to get offended.
I coached my kids during High School (and was an assistant coach at the team).
Some observations:
1) Of all the sports I have observed, the running sports (Track, cross-country, and road races) are, BY FAR, the least ugly in terms of spectator (especially parental) behavior. Or, conversely, just about the only sport where people cheer on athletes NOT on their own team. I love that good sportsmanship in our sport.
Way back a number of decades ago when I was in High School, I remember this scene (not a-typical at all) at a baseball game. An adult screams in front of 100s, "Kid, you suck, you outta be benched!" The kid turned around and said, "Sorry, dad". YIKES.
2) In running events I'd tell the kids, "If you have no chance to finish in the top spots, don't go out with the leaders." I'd advise them to tend to run conservatively early in races; and to tuck behind the girl/boy in front of them before, if they could, making their move. "Stay right behind that one".
3) So, I don't have any objection to "beat that kid in blue". It seems reasonably, fair and good sportsmanship. In fact, the "kid in blue" will often respond by running harder him/her self.
pablonovi - a voice of reason and balance? What are you doing on Let's Run (I happen to agree with you by the way)?