Parents at Kids Football

[DancingBeans]

1st game of the new season and I’ve already had enough! One of the other parents on DS U13 football team is always very negative. He calls the boys out by name and criticises things they’ve done on the pitch whilst they’re playing.

I’ve responded to him before and said things like they’re doing their best etc but he still carries on. His DS is our keeper, and not a a particularly good one, but all the other parents clap and say well done and good try, even when he’s dropped the ball or done something not very good.

Has anyone got any one liners or things I can say to shut him up when he’s having a go at the boys next week?

Ask him who died and made him Lionel Messi? Or 'STFU arsehole'.

Very tempting! I was hoping for something a little more subtle for now. I’ll try and save telling him to fuck off until later on in the season...

It’s down to the manager to deal with parents. Ours send detailed emails to parents about behaviour at games and they do enforce it.

The coaches stand on the other side of the pitch so they never hear him. Parents have to stand behind a respect barrier on the opposite side to the coaches and subs.

I hate football parents! Our club is actually really good and calls out bad behaviour. Most others we play against don't, though. It's a huge contrast with the cricket games DS plays. Just lovely polite and encouraging. Delightful.

@DancingBeans

The coaches stand on the other side of the pitch so they never hear him. Parents have to stand behind a respect barrier on the opposite side to the coaches and subs.

They don't have to hear him. It's down to you to tell them, if this is causing a problem.

Let them sort it.

I've been involved with youth football for 15 years and I have yet to find a way to shut up these kind of parents. Stand away from them and if they are being really bad or its upsetting the players then report them to the club welfare officer. Funnily enough they are never up for getting involved and helping properly.

I’ll mention it to the coach next week but I don’t think he’ll do anything. Was hoping someone could come up with something witty that might put him in his place.

How about "this is a respect barrier. Why don't you try showing some?"

I'd ask him if he'd like to wear the respect barrier home as a scarf. Might be alittle too aggressive though .

@IamaBluebird love that!

You should have a respect steward too for each team. My husband used to struggle a bit with not shouting stuff so he actually volunteered to be the respect steward. The high viz tabard helped him to remember!

We’ve never had a respect steward. Never seen one on any team we’ve played against either. The other team this morning has a Covid officer, but we didn’t. Not sure we’re the most professional outfit!