Let's not shield them

SHOULD we try going on the American Way? That is the daring question Colin Smith placed in front of our youth football when he described how the Texan system promoted the game as a fun thing instead of a pressurised pot-hunting ground for pushy, egotistic adults and RTPs (in case you didn't know: Raving Touchline Parents). Players are allocated teams and there are no league tables.Our first response comes from Littlehampton soccer mum, Rebecca Rudman:
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Nov 2006, 17:24 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:10 BST

"I WRITE to you as a mother and as a parent representative for a youth football team in response to the article, "Are we choking kids?"

But while I agree that football should be fun for our youngsters, we should not take it upon ourselves to try to change what is a natural instinct in all of us to succeed in all we do.

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I have noticed in recent years how schools are no longer rewarding children for their efforts in sports days with first, second and third places, or have, in fact, done away with this customary event altogether.

If they are brought up to believe there are no winners or losers, how can we expect them to deal with the successes and failures, hard knocks and harsh lessons to come in everyday life?

By not shielding them, we are teaching and preparing them how to deal with life's losses and achievements.

To suggest, on the other hand, that we are rewarding our children too easily is absurd. Team pictures with cups clearly show the pride and team spirit involved in youth football. I have seen events in which, I can assure you, everyone, from child to manager to parent, worked extremely hard to achieve the success. It was definitely not handed out on a plate.

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During youth tournaments, all competitors up to the Under-8 age group receive a medal or a reward for competing. No placing is done in these age groups, therefore there are no winners and no losers announced, and no results published.

However, once they reach Under-9, they have to work extremely hard to achieve their awards, as quarter-finals and semis are played to achieve a final, to produce an overall winner. This also applies to league football where, for the same age groups, no results are published before they reach Under-9 status.

In response to the American system, surely every child has the right to choose which team they play for, and be far happier than if selected for one they didn't want.

Why would any of us go that extra mile if the reward was the same as not bothering? Life is tough enough and the sooner we can teach an understanding of this, and how to deal with life's successes and defeats, the better it will make all of us as individuals.

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Anybody involved in youth football will know that the most important rule taught, whether a referee, coach, manager, player, chairman or parent, is that football should be fun and that there is no "I" in TEAM.

Please, let's not make life any tougher than it already will be for our children and just enjoy the fact that they are out there in the fresh air, getting exercise, making new friends and having fun."