More Out of Control Parents

Published on November 15, 2006 By Ionolast In Current Events

In the last couple of days, there's been a news report and video showing fathers fighting at a pee-wee football game. The kids are 5 and 6 years old. The talking heads say things like, "What kind of message does it send to the kids? It tells them that violence is the way to solve problems." Football is a violent sport. WTF do they expect? People get worked up.

It seems kind of hypocritcal to me to criticize violence in a violent sport. I know none of the kids were fighting, but when older players get into fights during the games, what kind of message does THAT send to kids?

Comments

Dr Guy

on Nov 15, 2006

Boxing is a violent sport. But a violent sport with rules does not necessarily beget violence. Sports teaches children how to channel aggression, not let it control them. The parents have not learned that lesson.

Ionolast

on Nov 15, 2006

Sports teaches children how to channel aggression, not let it control them. The parents have not learned that lesson.

Neither have a lot of players.

Dr Guy

on Nov 15, 2006

Neither have a lot of players.

Sadly too true.

chiprj

on Nov 15, 2006

I think that the hopeful goal of youth participation in organized sports, as far as the lesson for violence goes, is the discipline involved in being physical without turning to true violence. There's a difference between laying a hit/tackle on a ball carrier and punching somoene in the face.

Obviously, there is a disconnect between this valuable lesson and some of the adults in charge, and in turn, their children. But I don't see the problem with people asking the question you quoted in the article. The difference between disciplined physicality, or controlled violence if you prefer, within the rules of a competitive sport and using uncontrolled violence as a solution to problems is pretty obvious. The violent nature of football is very different from the violence displayed by the parents.

Ionolast

on Nov 15, 2006

The violent nature of football is very different from the violence displayed by the parents.

True, but when parents and kids see players fighting, maybe they think, "If they can do it, so can we."

Ionolast

on Nov 15, 2006

Sports teaches children how to channel aggression, not let it control them.

I don't think violent sports are necessary for that. People can exercise, hit punching bags, etc. Tennis players don't fight.

Dr Guy

on Nov 15, 2006

don't think violent sports are necessary for that. People can exercise, hit punching bags, etc. Tennis players don't fight.

The former 2 are the same. Tennis, remember John McEnroe?

Sports is competitive. Some take it too far. It detracts from the sport, but should not be an indictment of the sport.

Ionolast

on Nov 15, 2006

Tennis, remember John McEnroe?

He was an abusive asshole, but he didn't fight anyone.

Locamama

on Nov 15, 2006

Yeah football can get rough but they have rules and penalties and ref's. It isn't a free for all brawl. I don't think that because a sport can get physical that who cares about violence. These parents are idiots. They have little kids who are supposed to be playing a game and having fun. The parent's aren't much of an example of good sportsmanship to their young players.

momijiki

on Nov 15, 2006

The parent are not setting good examples of how to be rational human beings either.

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