At what point did it become ok ....

for teenagers for say the "F" word in front of two teams of soccer parents? At what point did it become ok to make our kids cry because they didnt win a soccer game. I spent the weekend watching the best midfielder in Springfield play soccer in St Louis. I am sure that Amanda gets all of her sports skills from her Aunt. She played three games. They tied two and won one. She played great. We sat on the bleachers and watched. We cheered. We encouraged. We supported. Even when the shot was a little high, went out of bounds or was stolen by the other team, we supported. On one side of the field sat the teams and the coaches. On the other side of the field sat the parents and the "coaches". When did it become OK to yell at your kids and tell them in front of a hundred other people everything they are doing wrong. When did we teach our kids that it is OK to be disrespectful to not only an adult but the referee of a game? This was a college showcase tournament and we came in third out of eight and we were excited about that. Our girls played well. They played three games. Two forty minute halves on each. It was warm. Instead of cheering them on, there were parents there, telling them how to play, where to run, when to shoot and yelled at them when they didn't. They were probably following the instructions of their real coaches. It is a game. I saw at least three different girls that after speaking with their mom or dad after the game, walked away in tears. It is a serious game. A competitive sport that could send our kids to college. But they are our children. Amanda, you played great this weekend and I was proud to support you in all three games and will see you again next time on the field. GO MAMBAS! GO NUMBER ONE!