AIBU by not introducing our DSs to football?

[4fingerKitKat]

I have two early primary age DS. Neither DH or I have any interest in football (watching or playing), as a result football has never been any part of their lives. I discovered recently that the oldest (7) doesn’t even know the basic vocabulary of football (to score a goal etc). They are active in other ways but never kick a ball around (and don’t do other team sports other than at school).

I worry a bit that we’re depriving them of something which is almost a basic life skill, especially for boys.

YABU - yes they should at least have basic footballing skills

YANBU - just let them run and climb trees and the things they already enjoy

Hardchoices
My kids have no interest in it which I am fine about. Tbh myself and DH see it as a chavs game. You never see hockey/golf/rugby/tennis houligans do you??

I’m sure chavvy hooligan little Prince George watching Aston Villa was faking his total engagement in the game his mum and dad took him to. He was going so wild with excitement Prince William had to calm him down.

myself and DH see it as a chavs game. You never see hockey/golf/rugby/tennis houligans do you??

I have taken my sons to many football matches from Premier League to Non League and I have never witnessed as much bad behaviour, foul language, racism and sexism as I did from the crowd as I witnessed when we went to see an international rugby match. It was honestly horrific and I am not easily offended.

My kids have no interest in it which I am fine about. Tbh myself and DH see it as a chavs game. You never see hockey/golf/rugby/tennis houligans do you??

@Hardchoices I’ve been a rugby player for over 15 years, some of that professional, some semi-professional. A lot of rugby fans are absolutely vile. I’ve seen golfers assaulting fellow players because they aren’t quick enough, or they play with a rival.

People who say things like “see it as a chavs game” are generally fairly ignorant people who enjoy being closed minded.

@Hellocatshome

myself and DH see it as a chavs game. You never see hockey/golf/rugby/tennis houligans do you??

I have taken my sons to many football matches from Premier League to Non League and I have never witnessed as much bad behaviour, foul language, racism and sexism as I did from the crowd as I witnessed when we went to see an international rugby match. It was honestly horrific and I am not easily offended.

The behaviour of some British fans in Japan was genuinely vile.

I play for an inclusive team, some of the abuse we get from fans (and sometimes even players) is awful, some consider it shameful to lose to us as gays = weak.

The behaviour of cricket fans is becoming increasingly problematic and you wouldn’t call that ‘a chav’s game’.

@coogee

My husband has said that one of his worries about having children was that they would like football.

He has absolutely zero interest in it.

Your husband sounds like a twat. Children are individuals not extensions of their parents and should be allowed to like and enjoy whatever they want without fear of upsetting mum or dad because they have ‘zero interest in it’.

This thread has helped changed my mind.
I used to think I'd try to gently steer my son away from football, to other sports that I'm interested in.
But today I went to get my Covid vaccine, which was in a football stadium (I'm in Ireland). Being there, I could imagine the excitement of taking your child to their first match, and feeling part of a "tribe". So now I'll encourage him to do football as a child, so he at least learns the basics.

Honestly I never really understood the obsession with football but my 7 year old is currently obsessed and it is a great way of easily making friend when out and about. At the park today and he was just able to join in a random game and made some new “park friends”. He’s in a team and trains twice a week and looks loves it, great exercise, team building, learning how to lose gracefully etc.

@mumof2exhausted

Honestly I never really understood the obsession with football but my 7 year old is currently obsessed and it is a great way of easily making friend when out and about. At the park today and he was just able to join in a random game and made some new “park friends”. He’s in a team and trains twice a week and looks loves it, great exercise, team building, learning how to lose gracefully etc.

Any child arriving with a football at the park will immediately be very popular, jumpers for goalposts, children that don't know each other all having a kickabout, and YY to new park friends.

Lol at 'chavs' and 'houligans'. Some of the stuff that went on on the Rubgy tours that DS's mates went on would make your eyes water.

Your husband sounds like a twat. Children are individuals not extensions of their parents and should be allowed to like and enjoy whatever they want without fear of upsetting mum or dad because they have ‘zero interest in it’.

Oh, he would have feigned an interest and encouraged them if they enjoyed it.

Only a right royal twat would have presumed otherwise.

I’m from Merseyside, and pretty much everyone knew how to kick a ball when I was growing up.

I’m raising two boys in the US and football is surprisingly popular in my state. I would say that my 10-year-old finds it easier to maintain friends with other boys because he likes football, even if some of his friends play and prefer baseball, American football, ice hockey etc. He also loves to read, do brain teaser puzzles and watch WWE. My younger son is very sporty, but equally loves to bake and dance. I’ll support whatever the heck makes them happy, but knowing fundamentals of team sports seems to make it easier to form friendships.

I have yet to hear of ‘rugby hooliganism’; there is much drinking but fans do not have to be segregated for their own safety.
I sat next to a very drunken Irishman at an international in Dublin and when England scored points he would say ‘fine play from your team!’
Anecdotal, but typical of behaviour I have experienced.

@Pottedpalm

I have yet to hear of ‘rugby hooliganism’; there is much drinking but fans do not have to be segregated for their own safety. I sat next to a very drunken Irishman at an international in Dublin and when England scored points he would say ‘fine play from your team!’ Anecdotal, but typical of behaviour I have experienced.

Friends who live near a football ground have some horror stories to tell about fans weeing and vomiting into their front gardens etc, to say nothing of loud singing and fighting in the road. OTOH, we live on the direct route to a big rugby stadium and never see anything like that.

I think it’s a bit of a leap to not allow your DC to play football if they wish because you have heard a report of some football fans showing disrespectful behaviour.
Your DC don’t have to be those people.🤷‍♀️

There’s plenty of drunken loud singing at lots of sports events from what I can tell.

YANBU; no need to force it. There’s no law saying boys must do it or be in to it. Or girls for that matter!

I think if they’d shown an interest, and you’d ignored it or not pursued it, that would be wrong, but you haven’t.

As long as they’re doing something active like bike riding and swimming, then that’s fine. Maybe offer them the opportunity to try some team sports though? Lots of clubs have taster days.