Football coaches vaping on pitch

[Raisinsandweetabix]

My son is in a team, and both the coaches vape constantly on the pitch in the training ground and at matches. Is it just me who finds this incredibly bad form?

Agreed. I do lots of voluntary work, doesn't give me the right to ignore sensible rules about behaviour and safeguarding.

The "volunteers are sacred" attitude is really dangerous.

That would not be tolerated in my kids club either, volunteer or not volunteer.

Smoking or vaping is not appropriate in that setting, even parents watching around the fields have been told to go elsewhere if they had to vape.

I really struggled with myself about it. I'm so grateful for their time and efforts, but surely SURELY they just know it's wrong??

I wouldn’t be happy. It’s just not role model behaviour.
I think we must be very lucky because none of the coaches or parents at the football we go to smoke/vape.
well not in view of the kids- fairly sure some is them do generally.

Its not on OP and I know a lot of football coaches.

Raise it with the clubs safeguarding officer. They will have a word and they'll have to stop.

What a mean-spirited post.

DS’s under-12 coach chainsmokes during games — actual cigarettes. The kids think it’s a weird, disgusting retro habit.

I suppose either they know it's wrong and don't care, in which case they're unsuitable people to be coaching children, or they don't know in which case being told will resolve it.

I would report it, it's clearly bad role modelling.

Moat coaches are parents too. Vaping is legal so although I personally wouldn't do it theh they've every right to do so. Maybe they're getting stressed by your ds letting in all the goals?

It’s not illegal but most clubs would have rules about it not happening on club grounds!

A lot of football is played in parks etc though. Hard to police I'd have thought.

I think at the end of the day it depends if you feel strongly enough to risk the coaches leaving and the team folding.

I run an u16s team and it's a big commitment which includes much more than just the training and match days. In my club we don't have any teams below u10s at the moment as although there are plenty of kids in that age group we can't find any parents who want the responsibility of managing a team.

The coaches are likely to be upset if you criticise them vaping (even though I agree it isn't a good example) and are likely to be pissed off considering all the time and effort they put in.

Unpaid volunteers giving up hours on end for the benefit of your child wont always be perfect. If you know a better candidate, or prefer your child not to go, go for it.

I hate the idea that volunteers are above reproach... it's not true and it's a dangerous mindset to get into. Its how youth organisations end up with huge safeguarding scandals.

I do heaps of volunteering , youth work and other sorts. I absolutely think that the FA volunteers should be following the FAs own rules. I'd take the risk the coaches walked. If they can't respect a very clear rule from the FA then they shouldn't be volunteering.

Op I think I'd have a quiet word with the coaches themselves as a first port.

Ask politely if they have thought about the mixed messages they are sending the kids?
Keep fit, play sport, have fun, look after your body and vaping sort of undermines that message.

Nobody likes people jumping over their heads so I'd speak with the coaches first. Doesn't matter if they are volunteers or paid they are still setting examples to the kids.

I agree with this.