Picket Fence Post

Some people think I exaggerate when I complain about a youth sports world gone bananas, and lament that some folks take grade school-aged children’s games waaaayy too seriously.

Then I read stories from the Boston Herald and Patriot Ledger about a Massachusetts youth soccer coach for a team of 6-7 year-olds who quit coaching following an uproar over his preseason letter to parents and the kids assigned to his team, named “Green Death.”

Some have defended this guy by saying that his letter was intended to be tongue-in-cheek and that those who got upset about it didn’t get his sarcasm. In his resignation letter, the coach said people “failed to see the humor” in his letter, adding, “It was meant as a satire of those who take youth sports too seriously for the wrong reasons.”

Below I’ve excerpted some portions of the coach’s original letter (original letter is on the Patriot Ledger  web site). Judge for yourselves what you think of this whole hub-bub, keeping in mind that the players about whom he’s discussing are SIX and SEVEN, and the refs he mentions that he heckles are around 12 years old:

“Green Death has had a long and colorful history and I fully expect every player and parent to be on board with the team. This is not a team, but a family (some say cult), that you belong to forever. We play fair at all times, but we play tough and physical soccer . . . We . . . prefer the gritty determination of journeymen who bring their lunch pail to work every week, chase every ball and dig in corners like a Michael Vick pit bull.

. . . Some say soccer at this age is about fun and I completely agree. However, I believe winning is fun and losing is for losers . . . While I spent a good Saturday morning listening to the [soccer league's] legal liability BS which included a 30 minute dissertation on how we need to baby the kids and especially the refs, I was disgusted. The kids will run, they will fall, get bumps, bruises and even bleed a little (but I do hope the other team is the one bleeding). If the refs can’t handle a little criticism, then they should turn in their whistle . . . My heckling of the refs is actually helping them develop as people . . . Second place trophies are nothing to be proud of as they serve only as a reminder that you missed your goal . . .

. . . [I]t is imperative that we all fight the good fight, get involved now and resist the urge to become sweat-xedo-wearing yuppies who sit on the sidelines in their LL Bean chairs sipping mocha-latte-half-caf-chinos while discussing reality TV and home decorating with other feeble-minded folks. I want to hear cheering . . .

Lastly, we are all cognizant of the soft bigotry that expects women and especially little girls to be dainty and submissive; I wholeheartedly reject such drivel. My overarching goal is [to] develop ladies who are confident and fearless, who will stand up for their beliefs and challenge the status quo. Girls who will kick ass and take names on the field, off the field and throughout their lives. I want these girls to be winners in the game of life. Who’s with me?”

It should be noted that a league official told the Boston Herald, “He chewed out a 12-year-old [ref] so bad last year she said she won’t referee anymore.”

When contacted by the Herald, the coach said, “I stand by my comments. This isn’t two hours of free babysitting.”

All I can say is that if my SIX or SEVEN-year-old girl was assigned to this “Green DEATH” team, and I had received this letter, I’d insist she be assigned to another team or else she’d sit out the season.

What say you guys? If you’re not sure, read his whole letter in context. I’d love to read your comments.