Bad teammates

Yesterday at DD's game, one teammate yelled at another teammate a derogatory comment about the girl's inability to score on a play. It was not a comment to encourage or motivate a teammate. It was an insulting comment that was heard by players from both teams and most parents on the sideline. Girls from both teams commented during the game on the nastiness of the comment. Anyone see any other examples of bad teammate behavior this year?

now that you bring this up, is there much drama with girls as they get older?

No, there's generally less drama as they get older. I guess that's why this was so striking. Girls that age usually have some idea of how to conduct themselves around their teammates...at least most do.

soccerslave wrote:No, there's generally less drama as they get older. I guess that's why this was so striking. Girls that age usually have some idea of how to conduct themselves around their teammates...at least most do.

Not really. It just usually isn't loud enough for those not on the field to hear.

There's always a horses butt just waiting to mouth off, especially if the coach allows it, and thats the key factor. If unaddressed it can become a cancer on the team.

If you were a coach, would you address your concerns to the one kid who was the "perp," or to the entire team as a general admonishment? I'd do the latter. I think everyone can learn how to be a good teammate. Even for those who have not crossed that line, it never hurts to reinforce the expectations.

soccerslave wrote:Yesterday at DD's game, one teammate yelled at another teammate a derogatory comment about the girl's inability to score on a play. It was not a comment to encourage or motivate a teammate. It was an insulting comment that was heard by players from both teams and most parents on the sideline. Girls from both teams commented during the game on the nastiness of the comment. Anyone see any other examples of bad teammate behavior this year?

This can be a huge problem among girls and is one that should be dealt with regularly by the coach so it never gets out of hand. Personally, I've seen it much more among ECNL/LH D1 players than those at the lower levels, but it's certainly not a top-team only issue. The fact is there are many girls out there who act out on what they hear from their parents and/or think themselves to be God's gift to soccer.

It can be a tough balance. A coach needs a leader or two on the field. But more often than not, kids have no idea how to lead. A coach names a few captains based on talent or popularity, and their leadership is only good for the coin flip.