Verbal abuse in children's football

Haven't seen this type of behaviour myself but can only summise that poor examples are set everywhere. If the pros can get away with calling refs whatever they want, stands to reason every Tom, Dick & Harry feels they can do the same. The pure joy of taking part in team sports is undone by the "must win at any cost" mentality and seeing their beloved Tyler on the receiving end of a bad decision or defeat is unimaginable to many parents. It's a real shame but not a surprise unfortunately. Good on you for standing up to the cretins

Yes seen it from parents and team coaches at under 9 level and below as well as at u18 level and lower. I run the line regularly for my 2 Son's teams and also receive plenty of abuse from players,parents and coaches. I am doing it to help out and don't get any financial reward for it. The worst is when you see coaches and parents giving the young kids of 7,8 and 9 verbal abuse. I am 56 and can take it all with a pinch of salt if they have a go at me but young kids don't deserved to be treated like that.If parents and managers/coaches behave like this it's no wonder the players do the same on the pitch as they get older.

I really do think that it's the younger aged team's parents that misbehave so badly because they can't believe that their little Jimmy or the local team he plays for, isn't really up to much and believe goal number seven that the opponents have just scored was all down to that f***ing linesman or that stupid t*** of a ref and if it wasn't for those f***ing stupid officials then little Jimmy would now be playing in the Southampton academy. I went through all those early years and always kept my mouth firmly shut, moving away from these parents to a quiet part of the touchline and you could see them all leaping about screaming like some freak show. I have found over the last couple of years or so that now my son Johnny plays for Winchester City 18's, the parents are fine because at this level parents seem to have accepted and are happy, at the standard their boy is playing at, so not so much aggro from them. Also I wouldn't imagine that these clubs wouldn't take parent thuggery lightly. It's the boys themselves that come out with the colourful stuff! Generally I'm happy to say, it's a far more peaceful Sunday these days.

It was about 20 years ago now, but a mate and I took to managing a team of lads in a difficult area; high school boys with little opportunity and less hope, most of 'em from single parent families and a few already with problems. We were going to do a mighty ducks things and make it all worthwile and valuable. It was just about the first match when one of the boys was tripped and a parent ran onto the pitch, a mum in fact, picked up the ball, and did her best Brett Lee fastball right into the face of the opponents' keeper. Laid him flat out. All hell broke loose. The referee got punched. The match was abandoned and I spent all afternoon at the Nick trying to sort it. Thing is, eventually it really was like a mighty ducks season. We got to know the kids pretty well and, although one did later go to prison, most of em turned out pretty well. One of em writes for an edgy Australian comedy show called "The Chaser". I still see one or two occasionally.

Often on Sunday morning to see match of kids and see unacceptable behavior from parents. Sometimes I see them they incite their children to inveigh against referees or players. They are children and the only thing they must do is teach them to have fun and to have respect for their opponents and people.