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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Prude or safeguarding?

29 replies

Kittykate15 · 02/05/2024 07:55

My son and I recently went on an organised 5 day football trip, two days of travel, three days of matches. Kids aged between 8-13yrs and one or more parent per child. I knew there'd be a social element, late nights etc but was really shocked by the behaviour of some of the parents, one showed up to the coach with 48cans of lager and three bottles of spirits, drinking started at 8am and continued for the whole trip. The parents of the younger children were a lot more sensible but those with 12/13yr olds were fall over drunk half the weekend, letting their children drink alcohol, being very loud (music blasting in early hours etc) at our accommodation and the kids just running riot. One child was lost for 1.5hrs before anyone realised was missing, found asleep outside their accommodation as they couldn't get in, one child fractured ankle jumping over a fence running around the site and it wasn't realised until back home following day and taken to a&e. If we were talking 16+ year olds I'd probably be more relaxed but these were max 13year olds. I work in safeguarding in my day job and just felt very uncomfortable with it all, but not sure whether I can/should do anything, my child loves the sport and his coaches are very responsible (not part of the drinking group) but I hate the normalisation of these behaviours at such a young age. But then the sports club can hardly control the parents. Am I massively overthinking all this? I never did the organised sports thing so maybe this is standard practice.

OP posts:
turkeymuffin · 05/05/2024 22:02

Shit parenting. Shit "lads lads lads" culture. I'd put money on it being rugby tour, possibly football. Usually full of Middle aged overweight blokes reliving their youth whilst shouting at their kids from the sidelines.

Momstermunch · 05/05/2024 22:03

Sounds like the rugby tours we used to go on with my son - only the parents with younger kids also joined in. It was a ball ache really because all the kids would be going feral til the small hours of the morning while their parents got pissed. Not my scene at all so we'd be in bed by 11ish. My kids would then be up way before their friends were ready to surface!

In terms of safeguarding, I don't know where you stand. If you were on a caravan site it seems to be the done thing and I'm always surprised that the owners of these sites don't deal with it somehow.

parietal · 05/05/2024 22:08

The club should have a code of conduct for parents on the trip and should send home any families who don't stick to it.

TiredMummma · 06/05/2024 19:51

Did you report these behaviours to the coaches? Did you put in a complaint to the club?

I would say none of these behaviours are normal or appropriate, they put other kids at risk with their behaviours. Personally I would complain to the club. If they don't take notice or take action I would find a different club or sport personally.

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