DDSL kids league - Sideline behaviour

mirwillbeback

I've posted in here before about the DDSL league and my experiences in following my son's under 10s league.

He plays for Cabinteely and yesterday we had the " pleasure " of playing Cherry Orchard at home.

The game was brilliant, a 1 1 draw and the behaviour of the players was excellent, no diving, no bad fouls and no dissent to the referee, and a great standard of skills from both teams. However................................the behaviour of Cherry Orchard's line and the parents was disgraceful. Constant badgering of the referee, which ended in one of the managers being sent from the park, and the other being sent too but refusing to leave as " he was the physio " - somehow the referee accepted that reason and allowed him stay.

In the first half, my lad was caught in the middle of two ( genuine ) challenges in the box and was taken down, he had a cut on his knee and was crying to which a parent from CO ( on our side of the line which is not normally the done thing and with two accompanying cronies ) shouted " do you think you're playing for Man U with that dive " - I remind you, my boy is 9.

Another 50 / 50 challenge for the ball with the keeper and centre forward ended with the keeper getting a knock and having to get treatment. The same trio of degenerates beside me starting shouting that the tackle was malicious and that the forward was " nasty " - are kids really " nasty " at that age ??

Second half and we got a penalty after a barge in the back on one of our players - their manager called the decision an absolute f*cking joke despite being as far away from the action as could be. A parent from Cabinteely then got involved in a shouting match with them as he was within 10 yards of the action and could see the foul - he was quickly told to shut up by the manager of our side and did so, while the other line continued hurling abuse at the ref.

You have no idea how pathetic it is to see this behaviour going on in front of children giving their all. How can these kids be taught to respect the refs and the game with all this madness going on around them. I had a great respect for CO as a team as they always have good sides, but lost a huge amount for them yesterday.

Is there any point in writing to the club, the DDSL or even the FAI to bring their attention to this or is it just a waste of time.

Cheers,

A p!ssed off parent.

LuckyLloyd

It isn't about the club, rather it is about the coaches in charge of a given age group. My housemate is coaching Cherry Orchard U15's and they have made a point about asking parents to not badger the ref or shout negative things onto the pitch. It has taken a bit of work, but they've developed a fairly well behaved sideline over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, they come up against nasty outfits in this regard from time to time and I totally agree with you - it's awful stuff.

I don't know what effect making a complaint would have, but I can tell you that such immature and harmful behaviour is unfortunately widespread in junior football. The kids just want to play at that age.

CSF

You'll get that, yeah. But it won't happen if the coach doesn't tolerate it. If any of our parents behaved like that, the ref wouldn't even have to send them off, they'd already be gone.

dreamers75

CSF wrote: »

You'll get that, yeah. But it won't happen if the coach doesn't tolerate it. If any of our parents behaved like that, the ref wouldn't even have to send them off, they'd already be gone.

Dont think its the coaches fault if adults cant control themselves. A coach can ask for them to stfu but it rarely works if the parent is a fcukwit.

LuckyLloyd

dreamers75 wrote: »

Dont think its the coaches fault if adults cant control themselves. A coach can ask for them to stfu but it rarely works if the parent is a fcukwit.

If the coach is respectful of the referee and exudes positivity from the sideline it can absolutely make a difference.

Kingdom

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

It isn't about the club, rather it is about the coaches in charge of a given age group.
but I can tell you that such immature and harmful behaviour is unfortunately widespread in junior football.

Without sounding smart, that does not compute!

My housemate is coaching Cherry Orchard U15's and they have made a point about asking parents to not badger the ref or shout negative things onto the pitch. It has taken a bit of work, but they've developed a fairly well behaved sideline over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, they come up against nasty outfits in this regard from time to time and I totally agree with you - it's awful stuff.

Fair play to him, and never stop either. I played at a decent level for a few different teams; I started at a tough team, then went to what probably would have been referred to as a posh team, went to a really dirty crew and then finished with another "nice" team. I remember the difference from one to the other so clearly, and it made a difference when you were playing away from home in tough spots like Cherry Orchard or Cabinteely.:D

LuckyLloyd

Kingdom wrote: »

Without sounding smart, that does not compute!

Well, what I meant is that not every Cherry Orchard team is as described in the OP - as I can confirm from personal experience!

mirwillbeback

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

My housemate is coaching Cherry Orchard U15's

Any chance you could show him this thread and ask him in turn to show the chairman ?

Kingdom

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Well, what I meant is that not every Cherry Orchard team is as described in the OP - as I can confirm from personal experience!

Well it's good that it's not a sheep farm I guess.

LuckyLloyd

mirwillbeback wrote: »

Any chance you could show him this thread and ask him in turn to show the chairman ?

Well, I'll show him the thread and ask him if he knows much about that age group at the club. Himself and the guy he manages the 15's with (a former Liverpool player) tend to avoid the hierarchy of the club as they prefer to be left to run the team as they see fit. From what I understand, each team is kind of an island at the club - but I'll see what he has to say tonight.

mirwillbeback

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

(a former Liverpool player) .

........waits for thread to descend into how [ insert team name here ]'s ex players are better at it

recyclops

or a "are (insert former playername here) and cherry orchard under 15s done" thread

stovelid

Anybody fouls my angel and you know the score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeBnCU_Ktqk

Flancrest

Saw an interesting report done about this on Sky Sports before. A study was done on the change in attitudes shown by parents when a rope was put around the pitch 2 meters from the sideline. Apparently it made a huge difference as parents weren't toeing the touchline and the manager had space to do what was needed. It would also take pressure off the referees.

dreamers75

Flancrest wrote: »

Saw an interesting report done about this on Sky Sports before. A study was done on the change in attitudes shown by parents when a rope was put around the pitch 2 meters from the sideline. Apparently it made a huge difference as parents weren't toeing the touchline and the manager had space to do what was needed. It would also take pressure off the referees.

I reffed my kids team before and sent off one of his team mates, had that rope been there i would have been hanging from a tree by it.

Flancrest

dreamers75 wrote: »

I reffed my kids team before and sent off one of his team mates, had that rope been there i would have been hanging from a tree by it.

At least you'd have a good view for offside decisions

Pro. F

What the OP describes is a disgrace and the DDSL should have procedures in place to stop it happening.

Even the positive shouting can be too much from what I've seen. Some parents and coaches roaring at the kids to run/pass/shoot/whatever, it's all just a distraction from them learning their skills and understanding the game. They make way too much out of the games, like it's essential to win rather than just a kick about on a saturday morning which is what it should be. But it must be said there are also teams who keep a good quiet and sensible sideline, with the coach only giving the odd bit of timely advice and parents acting sensibly. More power to them.

Imo kids under the age of about 13 getting some training each week but then playing free-for-all type games (no need to worry about keeping score) make much more skillful footballers than the ones thrown out onto big pitches in a winning is everything atmosphere. The problem is the only football most kids get nowadays is the organised variety, except for maybe during lunch break in schools.

micks

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Well, what I meant is that not every Cherry Orchard team is as described in the OP - as I can confirm from personal experience!

That 15's team are the exception rather than the rule in that club.

CSF

dreamers75 wrote: »

CSF wrote: »

You'll get that, yeah. But it won't happen if the coach doesn't tolerate it. If any of our parents behaved like that, the ref wouldn't even have to send them off, they'd already be gone.

Dont think its the coaches fault if adults cant control themselves. A coach can ask for them to stfu but it rarely works if the parent is a fcukwit.

I wouldn't go as far as to say its the coaches fault but a good coach should be able to prevent it.

We have every child and parent sign a behaviour agreement, whereby parents aren't allowed to shout instructions at the children, never mind the referee.

Of course, a few reminders had to be dished out along the way, but once you've got the parents getting behind the kids in the right way, they know much better than to be thinking they'll get away with abusing the ref.

Dub XV

Agree with CSF. We have signed this form and the Manager gives out the reminders every now and again.

We played the Sunderland Acadamy and Hartlepool Acadamy last weekend. Not a peep from the parents of those kids. They clap a decent bit of play or good tackle, from either team. And some encouragement but nothing over the top. Totally different than at home!

batistuta9

can't help but think of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAYqdcB08TQ

Zebra3

dreamers75 wrote: »

I reffed my kids team before and sent off one of his team mates, had that rope been there i would have been hanging from a tree by it.

I agree with you, bring in the rope. :pac: