Parents Do not have to attend soccer games!!! UPDATE

[kt_mom]

I'm chiming in a little late here but I'm glad it got worked out. DD did dance for several years and I rarely ever stayed the whole time if at all. I could run a few errands in the time she was in class and then when she was done we could get home and get homework and all the other stuff done.

 

[Allison]

well said. People use coach as babysitters end of story,

End of your story? Cause I don't think you get to declare that for anyone else.

 

[FireDancer]

Is a DISer out of a job?

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Nice.

Excellent, well thought out post.

Very helpful to everyone.

Keep it up.

 

[5lilfish]

well said. People use coach as babysitters end of story,

The end of my story goes like this:

My almost 12 yr old does not need a babysitter.

Jess

 

[sam_gordon]

well said. People use coach as babysitters end of story,

Let's see... sport teams...
Coaches teach kids skills/strategy about the sport. They keep kids engaged and educate them.

School...
Teachers teach kids skills/knowledge about whatever subject. They keep kids engaged and educate them

Babysitters...
Babysitters supervise whatever the kids are doing to make sure they don't hurt themselves, others, or damage something (basically making sure they behave). Teaching ANYTHING doesn't generally factor into babysitting.

So why do "dropoffs" = the coach being a babysitter, but sending kids to school doesn't make teachers babysitters?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Let's see... sport teams...
Coaches teach kids skills/strategy about the sport. They keep kids engaged and educate them.

School...
Teachers teach kids skills/knowledge about whatever subject. They keep kids engaged and educate them

Babysitters...
Babysitters supervise whatever the kids are doing to make sure they don't hurt themselves, others, or damage something (basically making sure they behave). Teaching ANYTHING doesn't generally factor into babysitting.

So why do "dropoffs" = the coach being a babysitter, but sending kids to school doesn't make teachers babysitters?

I've kind of just been reading through this thread. My kids aren't in sports yet, so I really have no first hand experience with this....

But...I was all about having to be there with your kids so that the coaches wouldn't be "babysitters"...

You've brought up a very good point though....Now I'll have to actually THINK today

 

[declansdad]

Let's see... sport teams...
Coaches teach kids skills/strategy about the sport. They keep kids engaged and educate them.

School...
Teachers teach kids skills/knowledge about whatever subject. They keep kids engaged and educate them

Babysitters...
Babysitters supervise whatever the kids are doing to make sure they don't hurt themselves, others, or damage something (basically making sure they behave). Teaching ANYTHING doesn't generally factor into babysitting.

So why do "dropoffs" = the coach being a babysitter, but sending kids to school doesn't make teachers babysitters?

Bolding mine.

On many of the teacher threads this idea, teachers being thought of as babysitters, is often dicussed.

 

[SingleFather]

On many of the teacher threads this idea, teachers being thought of as babysitters, is often dicussed.

And there are many teachers who will tell you there are many parents who do hang around and are a hindrance to their teaching.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've kind of just been reading through this thread. My kids aren't in sports yet, so I really have no first hand experience with this....

But...I was all about having to be there with your kids so that the coaches wouldn't be "babysitters"...

You've brought up a very good point though....Now I'll have to actually THINK today

Sorry.

Don't think too hard about it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with parents watching practice. Some coaches once you get to a certain age won't let you, but even in that case, there's generally nothing to keep you from sitting in your car in the parking lot.

I personally like being able to watch practice because I can see what the coaches are teaching and reinforce that in between practices. BUT, I disagree with FORCING parents to watch practice.

 

[Jennasis]

There is a definite distinction between coaches and babysitters. HOWEVER, many many parents use coaches AS babysitters. How about the parent who is always late to pick Johnny up, so the coach has to stay late and babysit while waiting for mom? There are many many instances I have experienced first hand of parents using me for "sitting".

 

[sam_gordon]

There is a definite distinction between coaches and babysitters. HOWEVER, many many parents use coaches AS babysitters. How about the parent who is always late to pick Johnny up, so the coach has to stay late and babysit while waiting for mom? There are many many instances I have experienced first hand of parents using me for "sitting".

To me the two situations are different. Dropping Johnny off for practice and being there to pick him up when practice is over is NOT babysitting... anymore than dropping Johnny off for school and being there to pick him up at dismissal is NOT babysitting.

Picking Johnny up more than 5 minutes late after practice IS babysitting. But there are lots of other ways to prevent/end that tactic. My suggestion... let it be known at the start of the season that any child who doesn't have a ride when practice is over will run laps until their ride shows up. After all, the parents must think their child needs more work, right?

 

[Jennasis]

To me the two situations are different. Dropping Johnny off for practice and being there to pick him up when practice is over is NOT babysitting... anymore than dropping Johnny off for school and being there to pick him up at dismissal is NOT babysitting.

Picking Johnny up more than 5 minutes late after practice IS babysitting. But there are lots of other ways to prevent/end that tactic. My suggestion... let it be known at the start of the season that any child who doesn't have a ride when practice is over will run laps until their ride shows up. After all, the parents must think their child needs more work, right?

Cute idea, but wouldn't work in my particular sport, though I have much MUCH more unpleasant things I could make the kid do (like muck stalls). I don't believe in punishing the kid for the parents failings. Would be better to CHARGE parents for stuff like that.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

To me the two situations are different. Dropping Johnny off for practice and being there to pick him up when practice is over is NOT babysitting... anymore than dropping Johnny off for school and being there to pick him up at dismissal is NOT babysitting.

Picking Johnny up more than 5 minutes late after practice IS babysitting. But there are lots of other ways to prevent/end that tactic. My suggestion... let it be known at the start of the season that any child who doesn't have a ride when practice is over will run laps until their ride shows up. After all, the parents must think their child needs more work, right?

Evil and genius.

I actually have nothing against people who need/want to drop off their kids and go. It's just funny to me how big a deal it was that someone acutally had the nerve to say you need to stay and watch your kid practice. Some parents love to do that, some may not have time or not want to. Whatever. It's still funny that people were so up in arms about having to be at their child's practice.

My dad used to stay to watch practice all the time, I was 12, he enjoyed watching us scrimmage and drill. Granted that was back in the old days when you just played soccer or something, not soccer + karate + guitar + SAT prep courses + hindu dance +polish school + whatever else kids fill their days up with these days (or adults fill up for them).

 

[Mkrop]

well said. People use coach as babysitters end of story,

are you kidding me....never once have I looked at a coach as a babysitter, they are there to teach my child the skills of the sport. And I have never been later for a pickup EVER! or I had carpools arranged.

Even my DH who coaches baseball will say that he isnt being used as a babysitter and would prefer the parents dont stay, but he never tells them they cant be there, and if a child's parent is late, than the kid gets to help rake the field and pack up all the stuff.