Do I tell this Dad to shut up (boys football club scenario)?

[NorbertDentressangle]

First of all I will lay all my cards on the table and confess that I do find the Dad I'm about to talk about a bit of a knob anyway so this may be clouding my judgement.

6 yo DS (along with most of his class it seems) has just joined a local boys football club -very popular and well run from what I can gather. On joining up the boys and parents are given the Codes of Conduct about the team spirit/support each other/do your best/behaviour expected/etc of all involved.

Anyway, last week during the course of the session a few of the boys made some bad moves (own goals, missing kicks, falling over type of things) which is perfectly normal for boys of this age surely but this Dad was of making a big thing pointing, laughing really loudly and making derogatory comments along the lines of "did you see that? He had no one near him and still missed it. Ha ha". The comments were about various boys but not his son . They weren't just said within earshot of the parents but the boys on the pitch too

Should I tell him to STFU keep his comments to himself or wait for a coach to tell him or do something else? Its only the third week that DS has been (and my first week accompanying him) so I'm not sure how to tackle it really. What also complicates matters is DS is really good friends with this Dads son.

What would you do?

I'd have a word with the coach. So long as he's not also the ref, he can hang around next to this knobhead and if he hears anything directly, he should address it.

Thanks mumblechum -I've just realised that DP will be going this week so I'll suggest he mention it quietly to the coach if this Dad is still being a twat.

It really riled me but I felt a bit out of my depth and wasn't sure of touchline 'etiquette' so just quietly seethed.

Some people seem to morph when they get on the touchline!

My DD (12) plays football, has done for 5 years. Perfectly polite, nice, sane women say the most awful things.

They save their most vile comments for when players who are usually excellent make a mistake!

I think I'll be trying to avoid going wherever possible then.

I don't like football at the best of times so when DP suggested DS join this club I did stipulate that its his responsibility to take him.

Hacking - Does anyone challenge them?

No! Those of us with decent player DDs just ignore and then bask in their (the DDs)glory!!!!

It is all sour grapes. The thing I try to keep in mind most of all is to be dignified. I don't talk about how well my DD has/hasn't played, I don't shove it in other people's faces when she scores or plays well. There are plenty of excellent players on the team. I have also taught my DCs not to be arrogant if they are good at something. This gets right up the women's noses as DD is very self effacing about it all!

Luckily, they don't say these things in earshot of the team.

Sounds like you have the right approach there.

TBH all the parents were just standing around chatting about things in general whilst watching/half-watching the children. Occasionally someone might make a vague, but positive, comment about the football in general but no boasting that I heard of.

It was only the Dad in question that felt it necessary to try and humiliate some of the boys.

It is a horrible side effect that sort of prattishness sideline 'coaching' isn't it.

Ask the coaches to draw his attention to the codes of conduct.
TBH although it's of no comfort now when they are older he will be known for this and his boy pitied.