to think the coach should have stepped in?

[CocktailQueen]

DS has football training every Thurs eve. Last night one of the other players fouled him three times then kicked him in the genitals.

The coach did nothing. Didn't send off other boy, didn't reprimand him, didn't check that ds was ok.

DS was in tears after each foul - and he normally gets up and runs off, he's quite tough. He is upset because this boy is one of his friends - though you wouldn't think it.

Other boy has form for this sort of thing, has no impulse control and is about twice ds's size. DS doesn't want to go to football any more. WWYD? Speak to coach? Speak to other boy's parent (we know them quite well.) Help!

Don't want to seem precious about ds but surely you should be able to send a child to a club and feel sure that he's being looked after?? He's 6.

I would speak to the coach.
Team sports just like any other are about sportsmanship. Being fair. Being good winners as well as good losers.

It is not about kicking someone when they are down. It is not about aggression. The coach should have stepped in immediately.
Both by sons play rugby (proper rugby not tag) which is a very physical & aggressive game. However they are penalised for bad sportsmanship and the coach instils this in them, they are expected to be gentlemen on the field and off.

The coach sounds crap. Definitely have a (stern) word.

Yes, speak to the coach. The odd foul might be missed by the coaches if their attention is elsewhere, but they really shouldn't be missing this number or ignoring deliberate kicking.

If the coach doesn't take this seriously, I'd start looking for a club with a better coach.

Thanks guys. Problem is, we have two coaches. One is good, the other is very quiet and a bit shy. The kids don't listen much to him. Guess who we had last night...

DH always stays with ds, as the dads all chat, but they play on a 3G pitch behind a big fence so dh can't go on to chat to coach.

DH took ds home early last night and told the coach exactly why, but didn't stop to say any more as he was so angry he'd have said something he regretted later.