Soccer Tradition-Players Walking Onto Pitch With Children

[Buzz Rules]

 

[ford family]

I don't know how things operate in North America but in the Premier League in England the cost to have your child walk out with the players can be quite high. It varies not just on the club but also on the status of the opposition.

ford family

 

[Jangles]

I don't know how things operate in North America but in the Premier League in England the cost to have your child walk out with the players can be quite high. It varies not just on the club but also on the status of the opposition.

ford family

Quite often the child has a terminal illness, has done something particularly heroic, or suffered a great loss or trauma, I think. Well at least when the trend started.

 

[sam_gordon]

Quite often the child has a terminal illness, has done something particularly heroic, or suffered a great loss or trauma, I think. Well at least when the trend started.

I don't think so for soccer. All the "escorts" I've seen have been for every (starting) member of the home team at minimum and, for professional matches, both teams. I don't think they're finding 22 kids with terminal illnesses, or who have done something heroic, or suffered a loss/trauma.

DS, when he was about 8 or 9 was a ballboy for our local college women's team. He got to every game we could get him to, and at the last game, they announced him with the starting line up and gave him a jersey signed by all the players.

We've had teams be escort for college teams. It's not just professional teams who do this. If your young child (I think they need to be <12yo) is on a soccer team, reach out to a nearby college (or professional team if you happen to have one around) and see what it would take. Usually the kids get free admittance, possibly the parents. Our teams have done escort duty then serve as ball kids for the match.

 

[Jangles]

I don't think so for soccer. All the "escorts" I've seen have been for every (starting) member of the home team at minimum and, for professional matches, both teams. I don't think they're finding 22 kids with terminal illnesses, or who have done something heroic, or suffered a loss/trauma.

DS, when he was about 8 or 9 was a ballboy for our local college women's team. He got to every game we could get him to, and at the last game, they announced him with the starting line up and gave him a jersey signed by all the players.

We've had teams be escort for college teams. It's not just professional teams who do this. If your young child (I think they need to be <12yo) is on a soccer team, reach out to a nearby college (or professional team if you happen to have one around) and see what it would take. Usually the kids get free admittance, possibly the parents. Our teams have done escort duty then serve as ball kids for the match.

I was thinking of the U.K.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've been watching Ted Lasso, and I'm thinking some of the corniest stuff is both teams walking out at the same time in the same tunnel. I don't get it.

That's done at the professional leagues all the way down to youth. HS teams here will line up in front of their respective benches, then follow the refs to midfield where they line up and starting line ups are announced. During Covid, they didn't do the walkout, but that's come back. I've also seen it happen for state semi finals and finals at younger ages. It's a "ceremonial walkout".

When DS was in a tournament in Spain, both teams walked out of the tunnel together following the refs.

Personally, I like it.

 

[sam_gordon]

I was thinking of the U.K.

Again, for professional matches, aren't there 22 kids "escorting" the starting players?

 

[Jangles]

Again, for professional matches, aren't there 22 kids "escorting" the starting players?

It seems so. https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/articles/football-child-mascots/

Some club websites say they will only consider or prioritise terminally ill children etc., but it seems others pay for the privilege.

 

[sam_gordon]

It seems so. https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/articles/football-child-mascots/

Some club websites say they will only consider or prioritise terminally ill children etc., but it seems others pay for the privilege.

Your article mentions a single instance of a "disadvantaged" child being chosen to be an escort. Do you have links from clubs saying they will "only consider terminally ill children"? Again, the number of kids needed for each match makes that hard to believe for me. The fact some clubs charge for privilege goes against your statement "Quite often the child has a terminal illness, has done something particularly heroic, or suffered a great loss or trauma, I think."

 

[bcla]

That's done at the professional leagues all the way down to youth. HS teams here will line up in front of their respective benches, then follow the refs to midfield where they line up and starting line ups are announced. During Covid, they didn't do the walkout, but that's come back. I've also seen it happen for state semi finals and finals at younger ages. It's a "ceremonial walkout".

When DS was in a tournament in Spain, both teams walked out of the tunnel together following the refs.

Personally, I like it.

I’ve seen enough that sometimes the players glare at each other. I would think there’s ample opportunity for something awkward if there’s bad blood between teams.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’ve seen enough that sometimes the players glare at each other. I would think there’s ample opportunity for something awkward if there’s bad blood between teams.

Oh no, they're GLARING at each other? We need to nip it in the bud!

Wouldn't the fact that it's been done for years and nothing awkward has happened give a hint that there's nothing to worry about?

 

[Jangles]

Your article mentions a single instance of a "disadvantaged" child being chosen to be an escort. Do you have links from clubs saying they will "only consider terminally ill children"? Again, the number of kids needed for each match makes that hard to believe for me. The fact some clubs charge for privilege goes against your statement "Quite often the child has a terminal illness, has done something particularly heroic, or suffered a great loss or trauma, I think."

We quite often see articles about terminally ill or disadvantaged or brave children being given the opportunity to be a mascot for their favourite sports team. I think that this is how the child mascot idea began.
Here are some examples. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/jermain-defoe-bradley-lowery-sunderland-wembley-england-b2043146.html?

amphttps://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/...isbury-fc-mascot-fundraises-children-hospice/

https://www.thecomet.net/news/22353...-onto-pitch-luton-town-football-clubs-mascot/
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/pjs-mascot-dream-come-true-2119255.amp

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...news/rule-change-ends-mascot-dream-946888.amp