Kids football team - next season's squad changes - we've lost some great kids and families and it feels like a bereavement

[DialDot]

Until the DC got massively into football a couple of years ago we were not a football family at all.
Since they both joined teams last year we've been thrust into a new world of weekly training and two matches every weekend - and we absolutely love it!

Both DC have great coaches and play with a great set of kids. We've also got to know all the parents really well and even organised social afternoons and evenings together. It's felt like a couple of really tight groups and we feel like we "belong".

But the younger DC club do a yearly squad reorganisation, and we've just found out that we will be losing 2 families from our little group, and gaining 3 new ones.

I honestly feel bereft. We've all had such fun this past year and it feels like part of our footballing family is being snatched away. I'm so surprised I'm feeling like this, but it's made me realise how much I value the friendship and camaraderie we've built up.

Speaking to other people I also realise how lucky we have been. I know some people have crap coaches who do nothing but shout and take things too seriously, or the kids and parents don't ever really click. Which is why it all seems so unfair that our amazing group is being broken up!

Has anyone else felt like this, I feel a bit silly but it has really affected me!

You are being a bit ridiculous to be honest. If there is true friendship then it will continue whether your kids play football together or not.

I have people on Facebook who are obsessed with the ‘football family’

Friendships will continue surely?

Bereft? Seriously? No one has died. You can still socialise with these people.

Try and reframe it....you will get to know some new families and can keep in touch with the old friends that you made.

At the end of the day, your kid could have chosen to leave the hobby at any time and then you wouldn't be a part of the team and the associated socialising.

Things change, like in a job where you get close to people and then they leave. Sometimes people are only in your life due to current circumstances and shared situations, other times you all keep in touch when circumstances change so if you really like these families, try and keep in touch

I totally get it. DD used to do a class and several of the mums and dads would have coffee while it was going on and even those who didn’t come for coffee were all lovely and chatty and friendly and it was restructured last year due to their age and it’s not the same. Now yes of course I have friends in my normal life but this was just a lovely group of people. I have three DC so lots of activities going on but I’ve never come across this where parents were so warm and friendly to each other.

It's really crass to compare this to a bereavement