Red Cards and Whatnot
So - we're at Kidlet's game on Saturday. This is probably the only one hubby will be able to go to, since he works Saturdays. But, he left work early to come see her play. We're sitting there, having a good time, yelling encouragement, and generally embarassing the crap out of her. It's the second half of the game, and the ball's just been kicked out of bounds. All the players on the field are huddling around the sidelines, waiting for the ball to be kicked back into play. Kidlet is slightly in front of a boy from the opposing team. From where we sat at the other end of the field, we could tell they were talking back and forth. Suddenly, we see his arm dart out and smack her on the ribs.
WTF?
Hubby and I saw her say something back to the kid, and I guess she didn't like his response, because she then turned around and PUNCHED the kid in the shoulder. Actually, it wasn't so much of a punch as she brought her fist down on his shoulder.
Whistles blew and out came the red card.
My daughter. Red carded.
I was so proud.
I know it sounds strange, but Kidlet is about the meekest, mildest, most unassuming child on the face of the planet. She won't say 'shit' if she's stepping in it. She's very emotional, and is more likely to go cry in a corner than fight back.
But not Saturday. Nope. She defended herself. The boy, it turns out, actually punched her in the ribs. Of course HE didn't get red carded. Nope. Just my kid. Stupid refs. So, she's suspended for one game. We lodged a complaint, stating that they should both be suspended, since they both struck each other. However, the refs seem to be blind when it comes to things like that, especially since our team has made alot of noise as to the unfairness of who plays whom. There wasn't enough girls for an all-girl team in our town, so we had to go co-ed. As it turns out, there are only two boys on our team. The rest are girls. We thought we would be playing only other co-ed teams.
Nope.
It seems our league consideres boy/girl teams co-ed. Logical. However, they also consider ALL BOY teams co-ed. And guess what the majority of teams we've played are? You guessed it - all boy. The team we played Saturday had the most girls on it that we've played so far. Three girls. That's it. The rest were boys.
So, the coach, the assistant coach, and some of the parents have been lodging complaints with the league. And it was evident Saturday that the league is fed up with us. Most of the fouls were called on our team, and the fouls that should have been called on the opposing team "weren't seen" by any of the refs. SO FUCKING CONVENIENT.
We've given Kidlet permission to quit the team. I hate that it's come to that, and we're actually hoping she'll stick it out, since there'll only be about 6 games left for her to play (after her one game suspension). But I wouldn't blame her if she does quit.
How can we teach these kids good sportsmanship with rules like that?
WTF?
Hubby and I saw her say something back to the kid, and I guess she didn't like his response, because she then turned around and PUNCHED the kid in the shoulder. Actually, it wasn't so much of a punch as she brought her fist down on his shoulder.
Whistles blew and out came the red card.
My daughter. Red carded.
I was so proud.
I know it sounds strange, but Kidlet is about the meekest, mildest, most unassuming child on the face of the planet. She won't say 'shit' if she's stepping in it. She's very emotional, and is more likely to go cry in a corner than fight back.
But not Saturday. Nope. She defended herself. The boy, it turns out, actually punched her in the ribs. Of course HE didn't get red carded. Nope. Just my kid. Stupid refs. So, she's suspended for one game. We lodged a complaint, stating that they should both be suspended, since they both struck each other. However, the refs seem to be blind when it comes to things like that, especially since our team has made alot of noise as to the unfairness of who plays whom. There wasn't enough girls for an all-girl team in our town, so we had to go co-ed. As it turns out, there are only two boys on our team. The rest are girls. We thought we would be playing only other co-ed teams.
Nope.
It seems our league consideres boy/girl teams co-ed. Logical. However, they also consider ALL BOY teams co-ed. And guess what the majority of teams we've played are? You guessed it - all boy. The team we played Saturday had the most girls on it that we've played so far. Three girls. That's it. The rest were boys.
So, the coach, the assistant coach, and some of the parents have been lodging complaints with the league. And it was evident Saturday that the league is fed up with us. Most of the fouls were called on our team, and the fouls that should have been called on the opposing team "weren't seen" by any of the refs. SO FUCKING CONVENIENT.
We've given Kidlet permission to quit the team. I hate that it's come to that, and we're actually hoping she'll stick it out, since there'll only be about 6 games left for her to play (after her one game suspension). But I wouldn't blame her if she does quit.
How can we teach these kids good sportsmanship with rules like that?
posted by Callie | 9/27/2006 07:51:00 AM
8 Comments:
The referees seem to always see only the second hitter—well, most of the time. Red card? She shouldn’t have received more than a warning: a yellow card.
I hope she doesn’t stop playing. I believe that, in this world in which we live, we can learn more about life when dealing with injustice, which seems to be the norm, than just situations.
I am sorry that it came to physical contact but good for her for defending herself...A red card to be proud of...It is always the one who retaliates that gets caught...teach her to use her elbows to the solar plexis, and knee to the groin...It will slow them down awhile...Teach your children well....You like Wrestling don't you Callie?
I still say let me stick their nuts in a vise. !^^%&& assholes.
Spoken like a proud papa, but you are behind the times, don't they use veggie choppers now? Please do not stand until the blades have come to a complete stop. It slices, it dices its made by RONCO $9.95, or You could get a GINZU Knife..cuts through electric wire and bone.
Go gettum munchkin....
I really do not understand this all boys teams playing COED Teams..that from the git go is unbalanced. Sounds like someone is trying to make it fail.
That's so unfair. How are kids suppose to learn fairness and good sportmanship when things like that are allowed to occur.
Your daughter sounds alot like my son. He's also extremely meek and cries at the drop of a hat. Just recently he's started sticking up for himself with this douchebag kid from the neighborhood who constantly torments him.
For now, it seems like she'll be staying on the team (thanks to Daddy). She gets to sit out this Saturday's game, but she'll be back next week.
Nick - I totally agree with you - it should have been a yellow card. In the two years she's played on the team, this is the first red card I've seen.
Mystic - I like REAL wrestling, not that fake crap they put on TV. I also like a good boxing match (though I'll admit, sometimes I have to watch them through my fingers). And while I think the co-ed teams was a noble idea on the part of the league, it's not going to work if it's so unfairly balanced.
Nonny - Good for your kid! I'll bet you're as proud of him as I am of Kidlet.
i'm glad kidlet is sticking it out instead of quiting. she's dealing with the unfairness of life early...and she's gonna out win all those bigger boys. she's meek but sounds like she's a tough kid and don't take shit from others. don't you worry...she's your child, she won't be a pushover. ;)
trix.
Good for kidlet!!! So happy she defended herself! Sucks that it's unfair. You're right... how do you teach sportsmanship when treated like that. *shakes head*
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