I have been waiting a long time to post this and many will not like it, however, it is true and there is no better time than football season.
Here in Western PA, football is King. It can become overwhelming and obsessive as people plan their days around it. Church attendance can even be affected by the All-American Sport. It is something that brings people together, creates rivalries and gives a good reason to host a party.
I want to talk about youth football or what some refer to as “daddy ball”. The term itself is completely hilarious but if you have children who have or are participating in youth football then you may be familiar with the term… and you may have actually experienced this phenomenon.
What makes parents (dads in particular) so crazy? For starters, parents who volunteer their time to coach a team sport are very appreciated, as long as they are doing it from the heart, with a loving heart and not with any other intent behind it.
Let’s face it, everyone would like their kid to be the star quarterback, right? Start them out young and who knows they could be the next big thing. Maybe, maybe not.
While coaching youth sports is an admirable thing, it becomes less admirable when dads or parents exhibit unfair tactics. Lets call it politics. Yes, there are politics in youth sports and those are perhaps THE most damaging and cruel kinds of politics.
Daddy ball. The phrase reminds me of a few dads or parents who push their kids to the limits regardless of the child’s interest or abilities. It makes me think of a few parents whom for whatever reason try to recapture their glory days of high school or college at the expense of their and everyone elses’ kids on the team because people with these motives don’t see the whole picture. They see “I” in team and it hurts the kids and the team.
An unfair, biased or jaded coach can kill a child’s spirit. Cutting them off from potential within themselves. A coach should take time to develop and tap in to the potential a child may not even know they possess. Every good coach I’ve had has done this.
Let me put it another way. A good supervisor, boss or manager will equip his team with the tools necessary for the team to become successful. In doing this, some 1 on 1 development is needed and yes, some need pushed more than others but just as adults can recognize a brown-noser or favoritism toward a certain employee due to relation or what have you, so do children. In fact, children recognize it even more so and it encourages many to quit and give up. Favoritism hurts sports. It hurts self esteem, kills dreams and it wastes everyone’s time.
I encourage and applaud every parent who coaches with love and tenacity FAIRLY. Lets give Daddy ball their own league.
