Do we need to do more? · Ethos FC: Character Comes 1st

Do we need to do more?

I’m an under 8s coach, but also and more importantly a dad to an under 8 player. I’ve been shocked this season moving into u8s at the increased physicality (all part of the game I know). My question is, as coaches do we need to do more to protect players?

Two weeks in a row opposition players have lost it with my son, last week he was kicked to the floor off the ball, today he was grabbed by the neck and thrown the the floor. On both occasions the offending player was subbed off (although today he was brought straight back on after 2 minutes) but can/should we do more? How do we teach kids to handle emotions better to avoid this happening? Should we have better methods of handling this?

I get that physicality is part of the game, my son gets kicked a lot as he is a player who likes to run with the ball and take players on, it’s this next level of aggression off the ball that worries me! 🤷‍♂️

Questions….

What would you do if your player lashed out off the ball?

What would you do if you were the ref?

What would you say to my son if you were his coach?

What would you say to my son as his parent in this situation?

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Do we need to do more?