To think it's mad standing at the side of football training in the cold, wet and dark?

I think she meant overseeing their practice at home.

You watch them having their music lessons?!

My 11yo plays contact rugby too so I’m still expected to be on site in case of injuries, which are more likely when older.

I think if theyre little its a bit different. But I don't think my 14yo DS needs me at training in case he needs a cuddle or a wee

I coach rugby u6. I’ll help them up if they hurt themselves but I’m not there for cuddles, trips to the loo, or to manage bad behaviour. I don’t have phone numbers for parents either - it’s not a babysitting service!

My DS gets dropped off and picked up or, during the winter he walks to and gets picked up afterwards. Pointless standing around watching them train! We go all his matches and tournaments though

YANBU to go to the cafe.

YABU to care whether anyone else does, though. What does it matter to you whether the other parents want to stand outside or not?

I sit in my car and do all my emails, shopping order and general admin stuff. It’s the golden hour!

It’s club policy for the younger age groups (under 11/ 12s) where we are too. Parents stay. It’s not childcare.

@RessicaJabbit Yanbu. I wish more mums dared to think about their own comfort (me included). Luckily my sons don't like football. I played since I was 5 and my mum never went to a game or training because my dad actually enjoyed watching the team (not just me) and chat with the other parents. He didn't have a lot of friends so I think it was an important social thing for him as well (even though he did and do love football).

Its the club's policy. That someone stays during training and matches (safeguarding). They had a problem in the past with a coach 20 + years ago, so although they are all DBS checked they dont take any chances.
Also its a large team. Over 15 at a time at training. So the coaches can't leave them in a emergency situation.

Tragic to watch your kid doing something they enjoy?

DH always watches DS rugby training, he wants to see how he's getting on, give him tips, check he's being respectful to the coach etc? It really pays off having parents who support, DH will put the time in to practise skills with DS.

I do the same with the DC music practice. It makes a big difference.

I used to ride when I was a kid; my mum watched every lesson and every competition I was in, no matter the weather. When my dad took me (rarely) he stayed in the car. My mum enjoyed watching, my dad didn’t. It’s really as simple as that.

Maybe they enjoy watching the training? This has to be the obvious answer doesn’t it? In lieu of any obvious guns to their heads?

I'm with you. Id be in the warm cafe! (Thats probably why football training is one of my husbands jobs)

I used to watch training when they were wee.

Not gonna lie, this kind of shit makes me SO glad I have kids who never wanted to play football, or do ANY outdoor activity (barely any sports actually!) They were more into the arts, theatre, drama, music, art, creative writing, and suchlike. No-one had to be outside, and we didn't have to be at the classes. We dropped them off, went off somewhere for an hour/hour and a half, (or back home if it was close enough) then went back for them!

I know TWO women right now who both have a son (each) who does football, (aged 11 and 12,) and the mums are so miserable moping around in the dark, hanging around damp and soggy football pitches, freezing to fucking death, and hating every minute. (3 evenings a week, and Sunday morning!) And there is no end to it, as both have another son, who is 5-6 years younger, who also wants to play football.

They post photos of their sons, with 'oh Josh got Man Of The Match' today, proud mummy la la la!' Most people know she is dying inside, at having to go to all the bloody football matches. (The dads are rarely on the scene, and they never go.)

Same with bloody ice hockey. I know 2 women - one has 2 sons, one has 3 sons, and they were ALL into ice hockey. The poor women lived and breathed ice hockey for about 15 years. (The dads were about in these cases, but the mums were dragged along all the time too. Not much choice, unless she wanted to spend 3 evenings a week, and every weekend alone...)

.

I used to stand on the sidelines and watch too, my son and then daughter liked seeing me there and appreciated knowing I was watching or there if they needed me.

When it was really cold, I used to tuck a small hot water bottle into my coat! It was wonderful.

Our two have 3 hours of training a week, plus a weekend match. No cosy cafes here sadly. I'm not gonna lie, I'm looking forward to them being old/sensible enough to get to and from training themselves.

I’d do it for a match and have stood and shivered in some truly awful weather over the years. From 33 degree heat to blizzards! But I’m quite happy to sit in the car with a Costa for training, although I do like to pop out for the last ten minutes to see the in squad game and pretend I was all the whole time.

YANBU. My son is 7, and completely comfortable with being dropped off then collected again an hour later. Zero need for me to hang about in the dark and cold.