Soccer Scandals!

stevenator65 · 09-30-07, 12:39 AM

Soccer has become mega-popular among all the kids in our country for some reason. Everyone plays it. Fine with me. Good excersize, great way to meet the other kids and parents. And I'm a big proponent of sports over video games and crap like that. Plus, athletics teaches kids sportsmanship and other lessons in life you will need to succeed. Or does it?

If you are a fan of Mia Hamm and the FIFA Women's World Cup, you might have heard about this huge scandal that just erupted when the coach, Greg Ryan, decided to bench the goalie, Hope Solo, who has led her team successfully to the semifinals of the World Cup. In her place he started former star, 36 year old Briana Scurry, who hasn't played one minute in the World Cup. Subsequently, Brazil handed the US it's first loss in the tourney, 4-0; and here is where it gets fun. The best the US can do now is play for 3rd place. A frustrated Hope Solo was interviewed after the game. Most players say the typical stuff, like, "we did our best but it wasn't our day" or "we win as a team and lose as a team" or any number of inane meaningless athlete-speak. Yet she had plenty of time to stew on the bench. Ms. Solo chose a different path:

Quote:

"It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. ... You have to live in the present. And you can't live by big names. You can't live in the past."

In reaction to Hope Solo's comment, Coach Ryan dropped her from the final game of the World Cup.

Quote:

"We have moved forward with 20 players who have stood by each other, who have battled for each other," Ryan said. "And when the hard times came -- and the Brazil game was a hard time -- they stood strong."

Is that sour grapes or a legitamate concern for the rest of the team? If you want to win your last game, don't you want your best players in the game?

Espn has two outstanding articles on their website, one that lambasts Hope Solo for speaking out against the team, and another that applaudes her for having the courage to speak her mind in an era of politically correct bs. Here are the links:

In Favor of Hope Solo

Against Hope Solo

So what made me think of this and write about it? I coach my 4 year old's soccer team. We play 3 on 3 with no goalie, on a mini field. It is such a pleasure to coach these children. They are truly wonderful kids. All the parents show up to root their kids on. The kids play hard and have a great time. It is very rewarding. Technically we do not keep score, but everyone knows what is going on. The coaches actually are on the field with the kids at this age, directing them, b/c they are so young.

Today we had a scandal. Our team was getting their butts wooped. We scored zero goals to approximately 15 for the other team. They were scoring at will. We were short handed and there was nothing we could do except try our best. That is part of learning. When the second half started, the other team was preparing to kick off. We were not ready. I was getting my 3 boys up to the line, ready to defend. The ref must have blown the whistle, and I heard the other coach yell to his kids, "Go! Go! Go!" The blew past us and scored in 2 seconds. I said, "come on coach, give us a chance to get ready."

He said, "the ref blew the whistle. We were ready. You have to be ready when he blows the whistle." At that point I just decided to bring my kids up to the center line and get them ready to kick off. I then said to my kids, in a gentle voice, "Are you boys ready? Make sure the other team is ready, and wait for the ref to blow the whistle." We then kicked off, promptly lost the ball, and were scored upon again.

As we approached the line to take the ball out, the other coach said, in a loud, clear voice, "Hey, are you going to be a prick? These are 4 year olds! Stop being a prick and play the game."

Now, I'm no fan of being called a prick in front of my 4 year old child, but I decided at the spur of the moment to let those words just flow right by me. After some more ass-kicking, my kids were down in the dumps. I just stopped right in the middle of the game and had a pow-wow with them. I said, "we are losing. It hurts to lose. I see in your faces that you are upset and you are disrespecting the other team by not trying. Now, we can lose as losers or we can lose as winners. I want you boys to have fun and try your hardest. I want you to hustle and run. Make them work. Don't give up, it's not fair to the other team, your parents that are watching you, and it's not fair to you."

They went on to actually score our one and only goal! I don't know what the final score was, since we don't actually keep score, but it was probably 25-1.

After the game the kids shake hands. I went right up to the other coach and stuck my hand out. I said, "nice game."
He said, "no hard feelings?" Personally, I felt he was smug.
I responded, "I have no hard feelings because I didn't call you a prick."
Other coach, "Well you were being a prick, so I called you one. But no hard feelings?"
"I have no hard feelings because I didn't call you a prick."
Other coach "that's what you were acting like."

My co-coach then pulled me away so we could line up all the kids for the hand-shaking. He had no idea there was an issue. Afterward, I told him about it, and he wrote the prick up to the local soccer club that runs the leagues.

Soccer. It brings out passion in people. I might have to teach my kids baseball.

spud42 · 09-30-07, 05:46 AM

i applaud you restraint and your sense of sportsmanship. it is a thing that is sadly lacking in a lot of sports. your kids learnt a very good lesson today and the others coaches kids missed out even though they technically won the game. his kill or be killed attitude got him what he deserved. its a bit of fun for young kids for gods sake.i am a football fan (soccer to everyone else) for years ,yes you have to play to the whistle and yes you need to do your best to win BUT 4year olds?? come on ....

Tankman · 09-30-07, 11:00 AM

I second spud42's post.

The old adage, "Doesn't matter if you win or lose the game, it's how you played the game."

Nice game! Handled the situation well. Very nice!

09-30-07, 11:32 AM

If the kids have fun it's a good day!

09-30-07, 05:15 PM

I agree with not doing anything when there are 4 year olds involved. pretty tasteless of that coach. But in the cup, I can certainly understand her point. I have read a few of the articles and saw some of it on TV and it just doesn't make sense what the coach did. But also as an adult when you speak out against the person in charge you have to take the consequences of your actions as well. I think she stepped over the line a little when she criticized the goalie that they put in. stick with criticizing the coach, it was his decision. probably not much there to teach to a 4 year old though. My kids had good as well as poor coaches during their sports years and it doesn't matter the sport, they are everywhere.

RobMan · 09-30-07, 06:56 PM

Stevenator - well done.

I coached my son for seven years. Always tried to emphasis -- Win with grace; Lose with Dignity.

there are pricks in every sport, at every age. I would try to use these events as teaching opportunities. After something like this happens, when you huddle the team after the game, instead of yelling "Go Hawks".. or whatever team naem -- we used to yell "Sportsmanship!"

09-30-07, 08:45 PM

Stevenator - you set a great example for the kids and showed much more restraint than most people would have. Kudos to you and your team!

**breley** · 09-30-07, 09:50 PM

Good example of sportsmanship on your part, Steve. The same apparently can't be said about the fool living vicariously through the kids hoping to bask in the reflected glory.

stevenator65 · 09-30-07, 10:00 PM

His voice was a rush of wind that just went past my ears. Hey everyone, what about the Women's US Soccer team? Hope Solo? Any opinions? Did the soccer coach kick her off the team out of spite or was he justified in saying that she had become a distraction?

10-01-07, 08:56 PM

Personally, I thought it was a poor example of sportsmanship and being a being a team player. I think she has a valid point but the media was not the place to air her discontent.