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Parenting

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Original poster

Parents of children who play football matches on a Saturday morning

97 replies

gorillalala · 22/10/2022 12:34

Just a quick question to understand what other people do really :

Is it desired/expected/required to watch your child (who is 10) play for the whole match?

Or is it accepted for parents to leave their child there and pick them up afterwards?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

AuntieMarys · 22/10/2022 12:39

I did a carshare with 3 friends whose sons all played football on a Saturday, so only had to go to 1 in 3. 😀

mumof1or2 · 22/10/2022 12:41

Depends on the circumstances. My son is the same age and I think most stay and watch. The ones who don't have other children doing other activities so watch one child one week, one child another week. I don't think it's ok to just drop them off and lace unless you have a good reason too. Plus the kids really appreciate their parents watching.

mumof1or2 · 22/10/2022 12:42

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BooksAndHooks · 22/10/2022 12:44

I’ve never. Known anyone not stay. Even when older, my son is 13 and the parents all stay to watch it’s a big part of it.

occasionally there are weeks they need a lift with another parent or something but in general you stay.

GreenLeavesRustling · 22/10/2022 12:45

Training on Saturdays - I don’t usually watch.
matches on Sunday, either me or DH always stay and watch.

Eupraxia · 22/10/2022 12:45

My husband's Mum (single parent) never watched him play football as a kid.

As a direct consequence of this, he has watched every possible game of our 3 footballing children. Sometimes clashes means he can't watch the whole game, but he will always aim to if possible, and mostly does.

fruitstick · 22/10/2022 12:46

Training you can drop and run. Matches you watch.

Your children want you to watch.

DH takes him most weeks but sometimes we both go. And the dog.

MissSmiley · 22/10/2022 12:47

Of course you watch, even in the outing rain and horizontal snow!

PatriciaHolm · 22/10/2022 12:47

When DS played, each child had to have a designated adult there but they could be shared - so one parent could take 2/3 boys for example and stay. You can't just drop and run.

Annabananna1 · 22/10/2022 12:47

Have to stay. 2.5 hours in the cold every week. I hate it

dilemmasdilemmasdilemmas · 22/10/2022 12:47

DS' team (U11) - yes. And for the opposition. Although, finally, this year, no one seems to stay and watch the twice weekly training sessions. There are some very intense football dad's amongst the parents who are possibly hoping to live out their dreams through their DC.
DD's team (U13) - yes. Again, the opposition always seem well supported. Quite a few parents stay for training too.

queenofthewild · 22/10/2022 12:48

Depends on the club

DS plays for 2 teams. One team all the parents show up.

The other team lots of families car share.

Original poster

gorillalala · 22/10/2022 12:51

Thanks all! Looks like the norm is to stay and watch :)

OP posts:

OldTinHat · 22/10/2022 12:52

Ex youth football coach here. Training was usually drop and go. Matches, the parents stayed and watched.

joan12 · 22/10/2022 12:59

One boy in D's football team had a mum who was socially awkward and struggled to stay. She was going to pull her son out so she didn't have to face it. Boy loved them team though. She has kept him in, but I think the coach had a word and somewhere stays sometimes she doesn't. In a situation like that I'd say it's better for child to be able to carry on even if a parent can't stay. Otherwise, yes it's usual to stay.

LadyHarmby · 22/10/2022 13:04

Stay and watch the matches. I file it under ‘the price you pay for having kids’. It’s big, fat file..

Singleandproud · 22/10/2022 13:07

Rugby on a Sunday in our house with training mid week.

Drop and run for training (actually I sit in the Clubhouse with a flask and do my marking).

Stay and watch for matches. Partly because injuries are more likely to happen during matches but also because its a nice thing to do. I'm under strict instructions that I'm not allowed to cheer for her though 😂

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 22/10/2022 13:10

I stay. I find it quite sad for the kids whose parents never stay. One even said to my child how lucky he is to have a mum that comes to watch him. That made me feel sad

NotPennysBoat · 22/10/2022 13:22

Coach here, parents really need to stay (or have some sort of arrangement with other parents taking turns to stay). If there is any sort of injury requiring medical treatment, there needs to be a parent responsible close by. They can't abandon the rest of the team to take your child to hospital for example. Coaches are not permitted to be alone with any child for safeguarding reasons (to protect the coach as much as the child).

TokyoSushi · 22/10/2022 13:26

DS(11) drop and go for training, stay for the match

DD(9) different club requires you to stay for train and the match 🙄

Fortunately the parents for both are really lovely and it's a big part of it.

Agree with the poster who says the file of the price you pay for having kids is the biggest file known to man!

PuttingDownRoots · 22/10/2022 13:26

Rugby... there's car sharing for Away games (especially for families with kids in different age groups) but most players have a supporter at home.

We have no choice but to stay... there's not always a changing space available for the girls (she is in Minis which is mixed, but its only one or two girls per team usually. Last week in the three matches going on there were only three girls. She sometimes changes in the car, other times its a toilet. They need to change before the post match lunch)

lljkk · 22/10/2022 13:52

Standing on sidelines with freezing feet and an enormous umbrella is part of the ordeal. I can't do it, either !! I end up walking around, failing to stay warm.

Frazzled2207 · 22/10/2022 13:55

It seems to me quite an oddity in that it’s the only extra curricular activity where it’s not the done thing to drop and run.
totally fine to car share and for the taxi parent only to stay though

olympicsrock · 22/10/2022 13:56

I have a 10 year old son ( U11s) . This year most drop and go for training but watch matches. Last year you were expected to stay close for both in case there was an issue/ injury.

Singleandproud · 22/10/2022 13:56

@PuttingDownRoots re getting changed after Rugby, my DD normally wears leggings under her Rugby shorts and a t-shirt under her playing top and the outer layers tend to get most of the mud on them, she strips them off before getting in the car and puts a towelling bathrobe on for the journey home it keeps the mud off the car and her warm.

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