Well, in my family, mom didn't allow sports cause you might get hurt. Well, she had an excuse for anything you wanted to join. In husbands family it's all about BASEBALLl. Nephew is a pitcher for the Citadel Military College in SC (I believe that I am his biggest fan - GO BULLDOGS!!). Anyway, when my son decided that in middle school he wants to play football, they all kind of went "Where did this come from???" Yes, he also plays baseball, pitcher southpaw, 1st and third bases and basketball, has done soccer, but not a favorite and also bowls in two summer and two winter leagues.
This town is very much a football town. The coach is very loud, I don't think he even realizes it. His sister was telling me the other day that all the kids complain to her that he yells alot. Like she can do anything about it! HA! Sometimes at pracitce the team is down on the field and parents are up in the parking lot waiting to pick the kids up from practice, and you can hear him perfectly, even just plain talking, across the football field, across the tennis courts, up the hill and into the parking lot. Not kidding! Son wants to be in track in the spring, but doesn't know if he wants to listen to the yelling. Same coach!
Had to laugh at game last night. Husband, who wasn't in favor of this football thing, was watching one of the bigger boys on our team just tackle the heck out of one of the other towns players during the game. Husband makes the point that he was glad he wasn't the other kid. I quickly point out the kid's name and that it is our elementary school's secretary's son and oh, by the way, at practice, he is the one who is always tackling our son. Only difference, in practice this boy then sticks out his hand and pulls our son up! HA! Of course, he out weighs our son by at least 70 pounds. Husband replies "Well, if he can go to practice and by tackled by him everyday I guess he really does have the heart for it!" I laughed and said "Yeah, now you know why he comes home black and blue from practice every day!"
I grew up in a town across the state line about 20 miles from here. The basketball coach back then was HORRIBLE!! To the kids when they lost, he was an awesome coach and probably the best that school has ever had. I guess that I just expect for them to be mentally tough and guess that I could see if they had been playing for a couple years through school, but I still think they should be able to enjoy their victory! I know that 7th grade hasn't lost a game in three years. But still!
Trust me, I have given coaches in the past an ear full when they are in the wrong. On one summer leagues a couple years ago I got into it during a game cause the assistant coach would scream at the kids if they did something wrong and the coach would just throw things and cuss. Now these were just 8 - 10 year olds. Son actually played on two leages of baseball that year. This team hadn't won any games and the coaches would get worse with every loss. We coached the other team in another league and our team was undefeated. I LOVED it that night, the coach was cussing and I was just sick of it and told them that their behavior in front of the kids was unacceptable. We went around for quite awhile during the game and when the assistance coach asked if I thought I could to better, I proudly replied "Yes, I can, as a matter of fact OUR team is undefeated!" Needless to say he shut up real quick and my son was on first base laughing.