During our last game this season we had a player seriously injured on a play that happened right in front of our bench. This play was a deliberate attempt by an opposing player to hurt our player which unfortunately succeeded. The hit was to the neck and head area with her elbow resulting in the player not getting up with pain and numbness to the right arm. Two doctors on the field examined her and EMS was called. The end result was the player being taken off the field in traction and taken to emergency at the hospital.
Thankfully there was no broken bones in her neck however this player now has possible nerve damage which time will determine and a very sore neck. Thank God nothing worse happened. These kind of hits in soccer are unwarranted and unnecessary.
VIOLENT PLAY IN SOCCER NEEDS TO STOP!
We have noticed a MARKED increase in unnecessary roughness in the game over the years and we believe its time to put this trend in check and make an effort to stop it. Coaches start teaching your kids to play fair, play smart, use their skill and have fun. These are kids! Let them be kids and enjoy playing a game they love.
IT'S UP TO US COACHES TO SET THE EXAMPLE AND TEACH SPORTSMANSHIP!
Do a Google search on "stop the violence in sport" and start reading everyone. It is becoming an epidemic in all sports all over North America. This is not sport, this is not skill, it is hooliganism. Winning at all costs is NOT what youth sport is about! We are developing not only athletes but young and impressionable people. These young minds look up to their coaches as mentors and guides not only in sport but in life lessons through competition. For this to be a healthy experience for our kids the competition needs to be a clean and positive experience. Teams and coaches that "GET IT" are the ones that time and again will beat the over aggressive team in the long run. Why? Because they are taught skill WITH fortitude.
Fortitude is a much different thing than aggressive dirty play. It is a strength of mind that enables a person to encounter adversity with courage.
Dirty play shows up even more in desparation when a team is behind. We have seen it in youth sport time and again and we all see countless examples of it in professional sports on TV all the time. Our kids see this and think its alright. IT'S NOT! It is our responsibility as youth mentors to tell them its wrong and show them what's right.
When we as a coaching collective have the TRUE COURAGE to teach our kids what's right then we can make a positive difference not only in their individual lives but to the sport overall that we love so dearly.
I challenge all my fellow coaches to find your courage.
You will find the rewards to be much greater than whether or not you win or lose a game at all costs.
