Comments on: Coach Pays Player to Injure 9 Year Old Autistic Team-mate

By: Inside Fatherhood » Dad Center - A New Online Dad Magazine

Inside Fatherhood » Dad Center - A New Online Dad Magazine — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:24:02 +0000

[...] A group of dads have been preparing for this day to launch this new site. I have been a small part of this and have submitted an article. I plan to be writing more for Dad Center and look forward to it. My first article is called: Getting Your Kids Involved in Sports. My driving force behind this article was initially in response to so many people who have a negative perception regarding school sports. There have been several negative articles that pertain to kid and sports and, in turn, has brought on a fear of allowing kids to participate in sports. [...]

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 12:56:49 +0000

Another symptom of the obsession with sports gripping everyone just a little too hard!

All stories like these make me want to pull back on participation in organized sports and go with general family involvement in the community. Maybe if we get involved more in how people relate rather than compete, we’ll actually solve problems.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 02:52:33 +0000

Having fun, getting along, and learning some discipline should be the focus at this age. Attacking others that can’t perform is definitely not ok. Sometimes people just get so overcome with the competition.

By: Patrickz

Patrickz — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:48:10 +0000

What goes on in a persons mind to where that option of injuring another player (a kid) is even considered to be OK for the sake of winning a stupid game! The coach really needs profsional help.

By: Norm

Norm — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 22:29:59 +0000

Steve I have coached many sports programs in a great variance of ages. Each level of play you as a coach you focus on a different aspect of the game. Your plan changes accordingly. First of all what I get out of the story is these are third? fourth? graders. At this point a coach’s focus needs to be on letting the kids have fun. Building up their foundational skills for playing in later leagues. This coach obviously was not playing with a full team in his head.

Secondly as a dad, I cannot imagine a coach paying someone to intentionally hurt my son. With all these school shootings, coach’s acting like this and parents behaviors these days it almost makes you want to isolate your kids. Then there are certainly the downfalls to that side of the spectrum also.

Let our kids be kids. Let them enjoy the game of sports. Let them learn skills through these organizations that will in return make them a successful businessman, dad, teacher or whatever they set their mind to accomplish. Our kids have enough going against them in today’s society. They should not have to worry about what should be a solid figure in their life doing stupid things.

By: Hsien Lei

Hsien Lei — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 22:11:05 +0000

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:43:38 +0000

I can’t even think of an appropriate penalty. I’m having a mad day at my boss today and then reading this on top of it. I’m sure my sentence would not be fair.

By: steve

steve — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:33:24 +0000

Mike, after I read the sentence I didn’t think it was a harsh enough penalty. Just my opinion.

By: steve

steve — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:32:45 +0000

Hi Kerri, that is a good point. My dad coached me in Little League baseball. He got right into and became the commissioner for a few years.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:32:33 +0000

As the father of an autistic son, I will not state my opinions about what should happen to the coach so that they cannot be used against me in a court of law someday.