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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Son injured at football

45 replies

ohnoyou · 16/03/2014 23:35

My DS (12) injured his hand/arm during a football match on Saturday. He was crying in pain. Before he went to hospital the football manager and others took his goalie gloves and long sleeved shirt off him and put a different long sleeved shirt on him, he was in so much pain it took 5 of them to do this. Anyway it turns out he's broke his wrist.
I know it was an accident, but I feel so angry they faffed about changing his shirt etc. when he was in so much pain. He told them it was broke(he heard it snap) and was (very unlike him) crying. But they didn't believe him and kept saying he'd just bruised it.
I also feel angry that no one from the club has contacted him/us to ask after him, they do know the injury. AIBU in feeling so cross?

OP posts:

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 16/03/2014 23:37

I'd be cross too. Does nobody there know basic first aid?

Original poster

ohnoyou · 16/03/2014 23:46

Well I'm wondering if they're allowed to play without a 1st aider there? I know these clubs are run by volunteers and I'm not in any way having a go at them, they do a great job, but surely there should be a procedure?

OP posts:

5madthings · 16/03/2014 23:50

Why on earth did they change his top?! What we're they thinking?!!

Yanbu!

Thisvehicleisreversing · 16/03/2014 23:51

My DH has been doing weeks of courses covering first aid, child welfare, and sports injuries because he's a goalkeeping coach.

Your DS's coaches should definitely have done some sort of first aid training. You need to get on to the organisers and ask to see their certificates.

I hope your DS feels better soon.

Original poster

ohnoyou · 16/03/2014 23:53

They changed his top so someone else could take his place in gaol. Then they put a borrowed one on him, which the hospital insisted was cut off, as it would be too painful to get it off. They're long sleeved and quite tight fitting.

OP posts:

SummerRain · 16/03/2014 23:58

That's shocking. All the coaches I've encounters, both gaa and rugby are always so kind and considerate when a child is injured, even if they can see it's minor. Every injury is checked out and they are if anything too cautious in case it's more serious than it looks.

The other night at rugby ds1s coach carried one of the lads off the pitch as he'd hurt his leg and was upset.

I'd be fuming if they fussed over a bloody shirt rather than treating the injury.

Ffs, even if it had to be cut off at hospital that's preferable to an injured child being put through that rigmarole

I'd be seriously questioning the suitability of that coach to work with children tbh.

Original poster

ohnoyou · 17/03/2014 00:02

My DS loves playing, and seems well respected in the team, so I don't want to cause trouble. But I feel there should be something, somewhere in place, in case of accidents like this.
I don't know if it makes a difference but my DH was at the game, as he always is. And yes, I'm furious with him for allowing it to happen.

OP posts:

5madthings · 17/03/2014 00:04

Omg! I can't believe they took it off for the substitute goalie to then wear! Ffs.

I know the shirts you mean, they are quite tight. Your poor boy must have been in so much pain :(

I would be having strong words and tbh would be questioning if my child should play under that coach again.

ComposHat · 17/03/2014 00:05

Bit thoughtless but I can see wby they'd need the shirt if it was the only goalie top and gloves the club has. Otherwise the match may have been abandoned due to a run of the mill injury. If he wants to keep playing in goal broken wrists, fingers andhands are on ooccupation hazard. Perhaps buy him his own goalie jersey so he doesn't have to go through the painful process of removing the club's jersey in the case of future injury.

caruthers · 17/03/2014 00:12

They absolutely did the wrong thing and they should have left the jersey on him.

I hope the lad is OK now OP.

Original poster

ohnoyou · 17/03/2014 00:13

Well I know what your saying but it was his shirt they took off. They then put a borrowed shirt for him to wear to the hospital on him.
Also he came out of goal to play out field a few months ago, and was subbing as the new goalie was ill that day.

OP posts:

Original poster

ohnoyou · 17/03/2014 00:17

Thank you all, he is ok, it's been swelling under the cast today so a bit uncomfortable for him, but hopefully it will stop soon.
Yes I can see why they'd need the shirt, but they could have damaged his hand even more by doing what they did.

OP posts:

ComposHat · 17/03/2014 00:20

Well the club should bring their own goal keeper's jersey and gloves to cover for such eventualities.

BrianTheMole · 17/03/2014 00:22

They did the wrong thing. And the fact it was his shirt makes it even worse. I would have strong words with them.

imonlydancing · 17/03/2014 00:24

I actually cannot see why they'd need the shirt. They could have left him in his, and given the borrowed one that they put him in to, on to the lad taking his place.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 17/03/2014 00:28

OP - what do you mean it is swelling under the cast?
do his fingers look puffy? Are they normal colour? Has he complained of any tinging or numbness?

He needs to keep his arm propped up so his fingers are above his elbow to help ease any swelling. This can be done by putting a pillow under his wrist so the fingers are above his elbow whilst he is asleep, or sat down. Or whilst up and about in a sling make sure his fingers are above his elbow.
Any tingling, numbness or discolouration of the fingers needs to be seen by a DR. If the cast feels too tight get it seen too.

YANBU, they should not have swapped his shirt, they risked displacing the fracture, not to mention causing him extra pain.

Original poster

ohnoyou · 17/03/2014 00:35

I know I'monlydancing, sigh, I suppose it was team image they wanted to keep up?
Little princess, I assumed it was normal to swell a bit? It seems a normal colour etc. He's fast asleep now and resting it on a pillow, I shall keep a close eye on it, thanks for the advice.

OP posts:

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 17/03/2014 00:40

It can be normal to have some swelling, but the aim is to keep it to a minimum. If it swells and the cast becomes too tight it can lead to complications.
Just keep a close eye on it, and any concerns at all get a DR to check it over.
Hope he is on the mend soon x

zipzap · 17/03/2014 00:45

I'd be furious if this was ds - would definitely kick up a fuss and ak to see what their procedures are in circumstances where there is even a hint of a broken bone (and I think that ds saying that he'd heard his wrist snap is significantly more than a hint of broken bone for these procedures to kick in).

If they have to cancel a match or cause significant pain (and potentially make a bad injury much worse) to a child who has broken their wrist, then they're not fit to be coaches if they think that inflicting pain and potential damage is the answer and the match should be stopped because of that.

If it is so important that a substitute goalie wears a different top for part of a match then they should have a bib that could be used. These are 9 year olds, how in any way can this be something they do?

I would be complaining very strongly - and also reporting them to whatever parent organisation they play under. I would also be talking to your ds's doctor and see what his view on this is, hopefully to back up your complaints. What if he had hurt his neck and they ignored his complaints - taking his shirt off could cause serious longterm damage. Likewise I would want to know what their justification was for ignoring your son saying he was in pain and screaming from pain - 9 yr olds who like football don't scream in pain unless there is a good reason, they like to get back on the pitch if at all possible and can usually ignore less severe injuries, even if they're rubbing the tears out of their eyes.

You say your dh was there - was he there when they were doing all this faffing around or was he waiting outside for news?

Original poster

ohnoyou · 17/03/2014 00:45

Thank you. I'm sure he'll be fine, I stupidly worry over him he really is my gangly giraffe DS, so probably fret too much.
It helps to talk.

OP posts:

ComposHat · 17/03/2014 00:45

Because the goalkeeper's jersey needs to be a different colour from the outfield players on both teams. Also dome competitions make teams declare the colour of yhe keeper's kit ahead of the match.

Also goall keeper's jerseys have padding on the forearm and elbow to protect against injury.

I'm not saying the manager did the right thing, but there was a legitimate need for the substitute keeper to wear a specific jersey.

Original poster

ohnoyou · 17/03/2014 00:53

Zipzap he's 12, almost 13 and a tall gangly boy so looks older. But, this is the 1st time he's come off for an injury, he doesn't make a fuss.
And yes my DH was there, and probably part of it, so maybe he takes the responsibility? My DH is lovely though, and very caring, but maybe him being there means it was his shout? Not sure what the procedures are when the boys are this age and a parent is present.

OP posts:

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 17/03/2014 00:56

Here is the NHS guide to how to care for your plaster cast. It's not very detailed though, our booklet was better (written by a nurse with a lot of experience!). Anyway it gives you the gist of what to watch out for.
We used to check that they could cross their fingers, and touch their thumb to their index finger (pincer grip) without too much discomfort, and also that they were able to wriggle their fingers.
I am sure he will be fine, but it is important that he knows to tell you if he is in pain or if his fingers are numb / tingling / cool to the touch.
HTH x

Original poster

ohnoyou · 17/03/2014 01:02

Yeah I know composhat, I can understand that, and I think theirs might be 1 of those teams, it all seems quite serious. And my DH was there and part of it.
I suppose I just wonder if there should be a 1st aider there? or if there's any regulation around this?

OP posts:

ComposHat · 17/03/2014 01:10

It has been some years since I've been involved with kids football but there wasn't a requirement for a first aider then. Twas very much cold bucket and a sponge and you'll run that off son.

Given that your son's team tends to take things so seriously it is a bot of an oversight thst they are relying on whoever plays in goal to own and bring their own kit.

I was a referee and found kids' football absolutely horrendous to referee as managers took the whole thing so absurdly seriously. Adult football paid better and was generally far less hassle.

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