[Football] What type of football daddy are you?

[Swansman]

When I was a youth coach I had all types. The angry ones who put a lot of pressure on their kids, the angry ones who moaned at other peoples kids, the ones questioning my decisions, the ones yelling instructions to players, the cheerleader ones, the quiet beard scratching ones, the nervous ones...

Obviously some types are difficult to handle, some Ive straight up had to tell to shut up or **** off, others actually contribute to good atmosphere or are just generally helpful (carrying water bottles or whatnot). In the end however there was always mutual understanding that some emotions are difficult to control but that I was the coach/dictator.

Im guessing a lot of people in here got kids who plays or once played football. What kind of football dad are you and do you have any memorable experiences about other football dads?

 

[Eeyore]

Reminds me of a match I played when I was 17. It was a major semi-final.

Two of the parents on the side line got into a heated argument. I was on the wing and whilst not in the action I turned to both of them and told them to 'grow up'.

The argument stopped there and then, killed off by their embarrassment.

 

[Mackenzie]

Encouraging, supportive, piss taking as necessary.

 

[BNthree]

Hopefully I'm a supportive and helpful one! Watching other teams parents is always fun apart from the parents that were telling their son to take my son out of the game as their kid kept losing possession to my son. Their boy went charging down the pitch to go in for a very hard tackle and my son did a little flick flick sidestep to move out of the way at the last moment which sent the other boy flying head over heels off of the pitch.

Worst sort of parents are those that just constantly berate their kids even if the kid is having an OK match. It's meant to be fun for the kids FFS. Second worst are those that give instructions to their kids that conflict with what the coach has the kid to do. Leaves the poor kids not knowing who to listen to.

 

[Juan Albion]

Sexist thread.

 

[AmexRuislip]

More of a football uncle.
Quite reserved in shouting advice to my nephew from the sidelines

 

[Weststander]

Inwardly willing them to make the right decisions, seeing the errors in real time before it costs their team .... due to too many visits by me to pro football games, making me a backseat driver.

In the normally serene world of kids field hockey, in an away game at Burgess Hill's Triangle my son was using his body in the tackle, which isn't allowed. The referee had it covered, my son got a yellow, no one had gone to ground or been hurt in the slightest. My son was simply unware due to a lack of coaching and him being a footballer.

But a mouthy middle aged Dad started verbals against my son as he walked off, my son answered back and inevitably I backed him. All very embarrassing, whilst the gentle other parents seemed shocked.

 

[zefarelly]

Dipped my toe in, got out quick, nasty business.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Gotta love (hate) the football dads spouting regurgitated nonsense they learnt off MOTD to their uncomprehending kids

 

[neilbard]

 

[Birdie Boy]

My mates kid was playing in a match in Hove, 15 I think the kid was. Two parents arguing got into a punch up and one of the dads bit the others ear off. I know it was all over the news at the time and the dad, one doing the boring was arrested but can't remember what he got.

Here we go. It was a dad and manager.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6761429.jail-for-biting-off-ear/

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I remember watching my son aged about 9 playing football when he lived in Canada with his mum, 25 years ago. Twenty boys in a tight swarm around a ball. I kept schtum.

Later when he was a teenager living with me in England, he played for a Saturday side. I kept well out of it. There were one or two of the types to whom THPP alludes above. I have limited tolerance and decided, after one match, it would be best to keep well away.

When I was a kid my dad took an interest in my (shocking) appearances for 6th Hove cubs and ended up running the team. I absolutely hated that, and vowed never to embarrass a kid of mine by sticking my nose in where it wasn't welcome.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

My mates kid was playing in a match in Hove, 15 I think the kid was. Two parents arguing got into a punch up and one of the dads bit the others ear off. I know it was all over the news at the time and the dad, one doing the boring was arrested but can't remember what he got.

Here we go. It was a dad and manager.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6761429.jail-for-biting-off-ear/

Bloody hell.

I wonder how he fared, peddling his holistic therapy in Lewes nick?

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I used to coach and had a few run ins over the years - with parents and other coaches. Drove me nuts...and that was for U7s through to U10s! Glad I got out of it tbh, as I did find myself getting caught up in the "atmosphere" more and more, which I hated.
I now watch my youngest son from the touchline - letting him get on with his game, keeping quiet (unless we score a goal of course!), and just having a chat with the other parents over a coffee while the lads play.

Whether hes won, lost, or drawn, the first thing I always say to him as we leave is - "Well done, did you enjoy that?" ... and leave it at that. Cricket is his main sport, & football is purely a winter hobby to keep him fit, so I dont worry too much about performances.

The last thing kids need is parents dissecting their performance throughout the game, straight after the whistle, and then all the way home. Takes the fun out of it for them completely & will put them off playing.

 

[BNthree]

Thinking abut it one of the lads in my son's team is always brought by his mum for matches. We were chatting on the sidelines so asked why the dad never came to matches but often does for training. The mum replied the dad "gets a bit shouty during matches so made the decision not to come along". Probably for the best!

 

[blue-shifted]

I'm a clapper

I've got a distinctive clap.

Three very short loud claps in quick succession.

That way when I want to encourage my lad for something, he knows it's by me, for him.

Albion players get the same clap, but I guess they are less conscious that it's me

 

[Eeyore]

...

 

[Marshy]

The parents suck the life out of what is supposed to be an enjoyable thing, I do truly enjoy it win lose or draw.

I took up coaching my sons team from the age of 9 then now 13.

The hassle from parents and lack of assistance on match days is shocking, its still treated as a creche by some parents.
It truly is a thankless task.

Literally the only way to respond is... you are more than welcome to take over if you are willing to give up your Monday nights for training, Saturday mornings for the game and all the organising during the week if you think you can do a better job...

Generally that silences them...

 

[Eeyore]

My mates kid was playing in a match in Hove, 15 I think the kid was. Two parents arguing got into a punch up and one of the dads bit the others ear off. I know it was all over the news at the time and the dad, one doing the boring was arrested but can't remember what he got.

Here we go. It was a dad and manager.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6761429.jail-for-biting-off-ear/

'a holistic therapist who walks with crutches....'

'...The court heard that He was chased to a shop 900 yards away by angry Colts' supporters'

 

[Weststander]

Gotta love (hate) the football dads spouting regurgitated nonsense they learnt off MOTD to their uncomprehending kids

Which you also hear from the stands at the Amex. A mouthy croaky voiced bloke in WSU Block H in the first 5 seasons must've shouted "f*ing play it down the channel" and "man on FFS" hundreds of times.

Our ears got a rest for half a season, after he was escorted by stewards from the stadium one HT, after calling David Lopez "A Spic Cnt".

I pictured him running a Sunday League team.