Worst childrens sport experience?

[MeandT]

DS has recently started playing club cricket, and I was quite pleased to see the following high up in the club rules 'Members & guests will not condone, or allow to go unchallenged, any form of discrimination if witnessed.'

The report out this week is pretty clear that this isn't the reality across a lot of UK cricket though, sadly.

Got me wondering what people's worst experience has been in kids sport?

I think for us, it was DS doing a week try diving course & nearly being jumped on top of in the pool on 3 separate occasions because the coaches weren't paying attention to what was going on or giving a clear signal to the children on when it was clear to dive again 😖 Followed by DD (7) having a go off the 5m in her free dive time at the end, getting it wrong & slapping her back hard - and not even getting a pat on the shoulder or a 'you'll be ok, well done for giving it a go' from any of the staff there.

Wasn't sent a feedback form. Wasn't asked how week went. Wasn't asked if they'd be interested in continuing diving. Couldn't find anyone to discuss safety concerns with. Dreadful management. Obviously happy not to have us partaking, but has completely coloured my experience of watching GB divers at olympics etc since. Really feel for all the athletes!

Sports are corrupt. Especially kids sport.

the adults are a nightmare, especially in early start sports like diving and gymnastics where you have 12 and 13 year olds giving up school to train full time.

it’s also if your face fits you get everything. If it doesn’t you might as well pack in because even if you win you’ll be ignored.

which pool was the diving?

DS was invited to join another football team, he left his old team and 3 weeks later was told they weren't going to keep him because he wasn't good enough. I was really annoyed at the way it was done and that they let him leave his old team knowing they weren't going to keep him.

The same team has moved up a division this year and dropped 3 of their longstanding players this year because they are not 'big and physical' enough. Despite these boys being with the team for years, no thanks for their commitment or recognition of how they've helped the team get promoted. They now have an advert out for new players with A-league experience. It's an under 13s team in a local league, not a premier league academy!

School PE is pretty bad. Had so many (written, politely worded) arguments with PE teachers.

Out of school it was a tennis club where they made them do press ups if they missed. They were about eight.

We found a less intense club.

Baseball practice for 7 yr olds. Started at 6.30pm. Told it would finish at 7.30pm (already late for ds, but making an exception). I show up to collect to be told they are only on the 5 th innings and they really want to finish the game, I ask how long they think..oh about another hour! It was a school night, I said sorry and collected ds. They were 7 ffs. No one needs to finish a game at a practice at that age and then be tired for school the next day (besides which I had 2 other dc in jammies in the car that also needed to get to bed). We switched to another sport after the season was over.

Booked my three year old into a little kickers class, he was SO excited. They took my money, sent a confirmation email of time date and place. We turned up- the session didn't exist. I had to carry a sobbing three year old away from a random primary school field because he just wanted to wait another twenty minutes to see if they came.
when I emailed to complain I was informed that the local guy was sorry I felt that way. .

The worst sports thing my boys attended a marketed as a “fun sports clubs” in the school holidays, my boys loved sport, it sounded great on the leaflet, off they went with their pack lunch. They absolutely hated it, the giant inflatable wasn’t there, two instructors constantly shouting like army majors at the group, when it got to 1:30 a little boy in the group said he was hungry and when can they have their lunches, to be told to stand in the corner and think about what he said. When my DH went to collect them, the instructors said don’t get up unless your parent has arrived, DH walked in our boys got up and so did some others, to be told sit down he can’t be all your dads 😂 I think they just wanted to get out of there, needless to say, they didn’t go back for day two. It was genius marketing the glossy leaflet looked good, two days for the price of one! I fell for it, I bet not many turned up for the “free” day!

Two teams located near each other.
Team A: expensive subs and kit, focused on Private schools/richer parts of town
Team B: free subs due to a lot of fundraising, free kit (but passed down), anyone can play.

My child plays for Team B: we didn't know about the subs/kit situation, DH chose by reputation

Beginning of season: Team A was winning games.
As the season got on, Team B started winning more and more of their games throughout age groups. Including, at the end of the season, against Team A. Their biggest loss.

Team A didn't take it well... so reported Team B for cheating. Not in the game, but in everything.
There was then an investigation... which completely exonerated Team B. The only recommendation was they separated out the age groups in training more, so more coaches were needed.

Team B was winning due to ethos really... its the only club that does fitness training as well as skills training. So the children don't tire as easily. A lot of parents are heavily involved.

Other clubs in the area are also wary of Team A now... they don't want to play the sore losers.

mmm... worst I can think of is twin boys (age 9-10?) bullying DS at touch rugby club session when DS was 7 or 8. Other DC haven't had a single bad session that I can recall (I have 4 kids mostly adults now).

My own worst experience was age 5 (?6?) being teased & snubbed at ballet class by some older girls. I loved ballet & so wanted to continue (I have perfect feet for it!) , but I didn't know how to articulate how upset I was by the other girls, so just refused to go. My mother was very cross I had begged & begged to go, then she had paid for the sessions in advance. It turned out my parents would blame me for all the bullying that happened to me over subsequent years, so maybe I called that one right. They would never understand.

Bit of a sweeping statement.

There are plenty of sports clubs, usually completely run by volunteers, that support children and adults at all levels, from bumbling beginners to world class athletes, to enjoy sport.