# Kids Flag Football Coach Behaviour **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083 "2016-09-27T22:08:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/21 "2016-09-28T15:58:40Z")
WTF is Flag football? ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/22 "2016-09-28T16:07:12Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > WTF is Flag football? Instead of tackling each other kids have two small flags hung off their waistbands. Anyone who gets a flag pulled off is “tackled”. It’s considered the safe version for kids so they don’t smash their heads in because they’re not trained well yet or have advanced (expensive) equipment. ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/23 "2016-09-28T18:35:04Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Snip snip… a fat guy in a windbreaker …snip snip That is a PERFECT description of the coach 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/24 "2016-09-28T19:51:52Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > The culture of football is that the coach is like a drill instructor and that being called a pansy by a fat guy in a windbreaker builds character. In reality it is more like an initiation ritual where young men prove their manhood by surviving tough situations. I am only surprised that it is happening to him so young. > [@ashtayk](#): > > That is a PERFECT description of the coach 🙂 I do NOT wear a windbreaker. It’s a vented back, breathable fabric running jacket with a wicking inner layer and reflective stripes. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/25 "2016-09-28T20:00:03Z")
So it’s a fancy windbreaker. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/26 "2016-09-28T20:59:06Z")
I used to coach 7 year olds in YMCA Flag Football and this type of behavior would have been completely out of line in our league. My job as a coach was to instill a love of the game, teach the kids about competition and sportsmanship, and instruct them in the fundamentals of football. I can’t recall a single instance where I raised my voice to one of my players, and was certainly never insulting or demeaning. I did, occasionally, raise my voice when speaking to other coaches and to players’ parents. Other so called “grown-ups” were much harder to deal with than the kids. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/27 "2016-09-28T21:32:58Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I can not believe that no one has advised the OP to talk to the coach face-to-face about his behavior - in private (or with other, like minded parents), away from the kids. If that doesn’t change the behavior, or the coach blows off your concerns, _then_ take it to the organizer. > > Your issue is with the coach, deal with him. The problem here is that 1) the coach is a jerk, and 2) there’s no evidence that other parents have similar concerns (which sounds like deficient parenting to me). Approaching a jerk and asking (however politely) that he cease being a jerk is liable to result in no action other than the coach taking it out on the OP’s son. If concerns are to be expressed, I think it should be to the organizers of the activity, or to other parents who could potentially complain as a group. I got yelled at mildly during team sports starting around age 10 by the coach who also was the principal (_bad_ combination). But 7 is way too young to put up with the crap that was described. ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/28 "2016-09-28T22:10:44Z")
I just left a message with the organizers and will let you all know how it goes. Meanwhile my son emphatically said “you are NOT going to make me quit the team”. (Sigh) I hate, hate confrontations but being an advocate for your child I think is going to make it unavoidable. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/29 "2016-09-29T15:28:43Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The problem here is that 1) the coach is a jerk, and 2) there’s no evidence that other parents have similar concerns (which sounds like deficient parenting to me). Approaching a jerk and asking (however politely) that he cease being a jerk is liable to result in no action other than the coach taking it out on the OP’s son. > > If concerns are to be expressed, I think it should be to the organizers of the activity, or to other parents who could potentially complain as a group. > > I got yelled at mildly during team sports starting around age 10 by the coach who also was the principal (_bad_ combination). But 7 is way too young to put up with the crap that was described. Unless multiple coaches are acting in the same manner the Op’s problem is not with the organization. The problem is with the coach. First address the problem where it lies, not some higher authority. Criminy, if people would just talk to one another Dear Abby and half the government would go out of business… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/30 "2016-09-29T15:52:38Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Unless multiple coaches are acting in the same manner the Op’s problem is not with the organization. The problem is with the coach. Okay, but the feasible solution is almost certainly with the organization. > [@](#): > > First address the problem where it lies, not some higher authority. There are some people who will receive complaints and criticism about what they’re doing with a reasonable attitude, try to improve, and even be grateful for the input. Generally, however, these aren’t the kind of people who sarcastically belittle others, most especially children and those who aren’t really equipped to stand up to them. Given human nature, and in particular the nature of such jerks, it’s not very realistic to expect a parent’s discussion with this coach to make anything better, and it’s not out of the question that it could make it worse. The organization has a responsibility to provide acceptable coaching, and a much better chance of rectifying the problem. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/31 "2016-09-29T17:20:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > WTF is Flag football? I know what flag football is, but what’s “non-competitive” football? Everybody runs in the same direction? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/32 "2016-09-29T17:25:16Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I know what flag football is, but what’s “non-competitive” football? Everybody runs in the same direction? Non/informal score keeping. No records, playoffs, championships. What we played as kids in the street. “Vinyl, run down to 34th St. Catch the “J” bus. Have him open the doors at 38th. I’ll fake it to ya.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/33 "2016-09-29T17:31:52Z")
Hmmm… Is there non-competitive boxing? To me, it makes just about as much sense. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/34 "2016-09-29T17:46:06Z")
Nobody loses, everybody wins. Except James Harrison’s sons. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/35 "2016-09-29T18:12:36Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > Instead of tackling each other kids have two small flags hung off their waistbands. Anyone who gets a flag pulled off is “tackled”. It’s considered the safe version for kids so they don’t smash their heads in because they’re not trained well yet or have advanced (expensive) equipment. It’s not a matter of them not being “trained well yet”-it’s more because of the fact that their bones are still soft and growing, and concussion damage is cumulative. ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/36 "2016-09-29T18:25:45Z")
I am glad my wife was not there when the incident I described occurred. She would have gone mama bear on him in a flash. On a different note, son has been clearly told that there is no tackle football in his future until at least he completes high school. Hopefully, by then he would no longer be as focused on it. Concussions scare the heck out of me. I don’t mind regular injuries, I have broken a bunch of bones playing basketball and cricket while growing up. But no concussions. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/37 "2016-09-29T18:38:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What we played as kids in the street. > > “Vinyl, run down to 34th St. Catch the “J” bus. Have him open the doors at 38th. I’ll fake it to ya.” > > 😃 I’m pretty sure that’s from Bill Cosby. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > It’s not a matter of them not being “trained well yet”-it’s more because of the fact that their bones are still soft and growing, and concussion damage is cumulative. I would have thought that soft bones are better for falls than harder bones. And in general, little kids tolerate falls better than older people. I don’t know about concussions specifically. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/38 "2016-09-29T19:05:24Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I’m pretty sure that’s from Bill Cosby. > > I would have thought that soft bones are better for falls than harder bones. And in general, little kids tolerate falls better than older people. > > I don’t know about concussions specifically. Kid’s do NOT tolerate falls better than adults, and having soft bones is nothing like having some sort of padding-it doesn’t work like memory foam. They may seem to heal faster, but deformities set in easier during the healing because the bones haven’t got their “final form” so to speak. As far as concussions are concerned, you should check out [this link](http://www.protectthebrain.org/Brain-Injury-Research/What-is-CTE-.aspx), which explains how easily concussive damage can accumulate and lead to CTE(Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). BTW, a kid(or an adult) doesn’t even have to get hit in the head to get a concussion-a sudden hit to the body which causes to head to jerk suddenly can cause one too. It’s just much easier to get one when you’re a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/39 "2016-09-29T19:09:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Kid’s do NOT tolerate falls better than adults, and having soft bones is nothing like having some sort of padding-it doesn’t work like memory foam. They may seem to heal faster, but deformities set in easier during the healing because the bones haven’t got their “final form” so to speak. You seem to be conflating two different things. Your second sentence is about whether a kid who breaks a bone is more versus less impacted than an adult who breaks a bone. But what I’m talking about is whether a kid who falls down is as likely to break a bone to begin with as an adult. It seems fairly obvious that toddlers fall down all the time with no ill effects at all and generally just get up and keep going without a second thought (especially if their mother is not around). That same type of fall would be much more painful for an adult. I don’t think the toddler\>adult changes in one snap, but it’s probably a more gradual process. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083/40 "2016-09-29T19:19:24Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > You seem to be conflating two different things. > > Your second sentence is about whether a kid who breaks a bone is more versus less impacted than an adult who breaks a bone. But what I’m talking about is whether a kid who falls down is as likely to break a bone to begin with as an adult. > > It seems fairly obvious that toddlers fall down all the time with no ill effects at all and generally just get up and keep going without a second thought (especially if their mother is not around). That same type of fall would be much more painful for an adult. I don’t think the toddler\>adult changes in one snap, but it’s probably a more gradual process. A toddler’s(and a child’s) fall is from a much lesser height than the fall of an adult. If you dropped a toddler from the same distance you would fall from, the damage would be greater. Do that at the same rate the average toddler usually stumbles and falls over, and I can pretty much guarantee the folks at the hospital examining the toddler would be calling the police, stat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-flag-football-coach-behaviour/767083.md?page=3)