This is what we're becoming?

[Skids]

[regan is true fullback]

we have a coach who is praised because he loses by too little...

[courtza]

You wouldn't want kids getting hurt feelings.

We could call it the socialist football league.

[think positive]

we have a coach who is praised because he loses by too little...

[think positive]

That is ridiculous, read the whole thing. Your not allowed to win by more than 60, so why not make the margin 60? No need to call it a forfeit. But that rule is dumb anyway. The junior netball I used to coach had no such silly rules. Up to 9 and under the kids did get a season participation medal, but every game was scored, there was no ladder and they just didn't play finals. After that, it's as adults, just separated by grades. I would have thought footy was the same.

The only comment he makes I didn't like

"Clark said a sporting culture of rewarding kids who didn't try and penalising successful kids was holding them back"

That's a little judgmental. Who said they ain't trying? Maybe they just don't have the talent in that particular sport. But that's splitting hairs I know!

[stui magpie]

[Pies4shaw]

And then abusing them roundly when they don't measure up.

[think positive]

And then abusing them roundly when they don't measure up.

thats the sign of a bad coach, plenty of those around sadly.

[stui magpie]

^

Most of my sons junior coaches were pretty good, they usually had shit teams but they focused on getting the best out of the poor players and let the good ones go.

I remember 1 kid who was short and quite overweight. had to wear skins under his shorts so the thighs didn't chafe when he waddled.

Couldn't run, but learned how to use his body after the coach started playing him as a stay at home full forward. Had nice hands and a straight kick, so the coach played to his strengths, encouraged him, and the kid did good.

Play to their strengths, give each kid a role that's within their ability to achieve and it doesn't matter if they aren't superstars, they've been able to play their role in the team and can be praised for that even if they get belted.

[HAL]

Yes I always have to wear skins under his shorts so the thighs didn't chafe when he waddled.

[swoop42]

The thing is in some country leagues you'll have sides who are always the dominant club because of a distinct population advantage and no matter how hard the kids of minnow clubs try they'll never suffer anything other than thrashings and it can't be all that much fun for them.

This happens at senior level to and if you live in a country area you'll sometimes catch an around the leagues program during an ad break and some of the margins are truly astounding and can reach 150 to 200 points.

[think positive]

The thing is in some country leagues you'll have sides who are always the dominant club because of a distinct population advantage and no matter how hard the kids of minnow clubs try they'll never suffer anything other than thrashings and it can't be all that much fun for them.

This happens at senior level to and if you live in a country area you'll sometimes catch an around the leagues program during an ad break and some of the margins are truly astounding and can reach 150 to 200 points.

yeah thats a fair point - but surely there is a better way? Actually i took the reins of my kids teams because our head coach used to even the teams out- so we had five or six middle road to mediocre teams instead of an A, Are, B etc. She needed help, i gave it, and then built the team resisting her input as much as possible. There is nothing wrong with a desire to win. maybe concentrate more on being a good winner, rather than throwing games. ive got stuck into more than 1 kid for show boating. not many people get through their sporting life without getting thrashed a time or two. we all know how that feels.

[David]

[pietillidie]

I demand a parliamentary inquiry into the insidious effects of mercy rules in junior and rural sports leagues. This is exactly the sort of soft-headedness which crept into chess leagues just prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union!

[ronrat]

Whata teenager to do. Not go for marks etc. 3 years later he will be pinged by the AFL id he makes it but doesn't try. Imagine if the likes of Ricky Ponting had of retired at 30 until he turned 18 and never learned how to buils an innings. Or Grant Hackett stopped swimming after 300 metres because he was too far in front. Leave that stuff for the under 10s.