Really bad incident on the Ramp today

[Champ188]

I'd be in jail within a week if I had kids today. Free rangers, LOL. Well put.

And without getting on my soapbox, you nailed it on every count, Dave. Youth sports are a particular sore spot with me ... not keeping score so little Jimmy or Mary won't have their self esteem squashed by losing a game. So you lost. Here's a novel idea ... PRACTICE HARDER AND PLAY BETTER NEXT TIME.

Or hey, maybe the other team or other player (individual competition) is just BETTER THAN YOU. Might as well get the hell used to it because there will ALWAYS be someone better than you sooner or later. That's one of the most important lessons I learned in sports.

Done.

Sorry for the mini rant.

Onward.

[Champ188]

I guess I grew up as a "free ranger" at times. When not working in the field (Haying Season) or during chore time I was on my own. Quite often out of the house from just after breakfast to suppertime, .22 optional, knife required. Hear the horn honk ad your butt better be headed back on the double.. Want to ride your bike over to the neighbors pond to go fishing, have at it, want to wander the woods, see ya, just don't be stupid and be back in time to do chores. Some free ranging is not the same as "non parenting". Maybe I am just naive but I think that most of the kids I know are pretty good kids, you just only hear about the ones that cause problems. You don't hear about the kids who stopped someone from picking on a smaller kid, or the one who stopped and moved the turtles out of the road etc. You hear about the ones that brought a gun to school, or stabbed someone, or sadly was abducted.

I don't consider that "free ranging" --- I'd call that having privileges and learning not to abuse them. Get your chores done and you can go fishing. Want to go squirrel hunting? Have fun and don't shoot toward any houses. Heck, my dad even gave me a verbal list of birds I could shoot with my BB gun (blackbirds, sparrows and those noisy blue jays). Color within the lines and everything is hunky dory. Get out of line and things aren't so fun anymore.

[GNSfishing]

I'd be in jail within a week if I had kids today. Free rangers, LOL. Well put.

And without getting on my soapbox, you nailed it on every count, Dave. Youth sports are a particular sore spot with me ... not keeping score so little Jimmy or Mary won't have their self esteem squashed by losing a game. So you lost. Here's a novel idea ... PRACTICE HARDER AND PLAY BETTER NEXT TIME.

Or hey, maybe the other team or other player (individual competition) is just BETTER THAN YOU. Might as well get the hell used to it because there will ALWAYS be someone better than you sooner or later. That's one of the most important lessons I learned in sports.

Done.

Sorry for the mini rant.

Onward.

Well said Champ..............

[Flysmallie]

... not keeping score so little Jimmy or Mary won't have their self esteem squashed by losing a game. So you lost. Here's a novel idea ... PRACTICE HARDER AND PLAY BETTER NEXT TIME.

I've coached some youth soccer, t-ball and volleyball where score wasn't kept. I really don't understand this at all. There might not be an actual scoreboard in use but every one of those kids knows if they won or not. So I don't know who we are trying to think we fooled.

[jolicious]

I'd be in jail within a week if I had kids today. Free rangers, LOL. Well put.

And without getting on my soapbox, you nailed it on every count, Dave. Youth sports are a particular sore spot with me ... not keeping score so little Jimmy or Mary won't have their self esteem squashed by losing a game. So you lost. Here's a novel idea ... PRACTICE HARDER AND PLAY BETTER NEXT TIME.

Or hey, maybe the other team or other player (individual competition) is just BETTER THAN YOU. Might as well get the hell used to it because there will ALWAYS be someone better than you sooner or later. That's one of the most important lessons I learned in sports.

Done.

Sorry for the mini rant.

Onward.

I've coached some youth soccer, t-ball and volleyball where score wasn't kept. I really don't understand this at all. There might not be an actual scoreboard in use but every one of those kids knows if they won or not. So I don't know who we are trying to think we fooled.

Y'all may hammer me, but I have a theory on the no-scoring idea....

It's for the parents - not the children. The children want to play and that's about it. The parents don't want to "lose" to the other parents, so we just say "MY Child is a winner no matter what" - so that "WE" save face.

Quick semi-resume (coaching - strictly rec leagues) so at least you'll know from where I draw my opinion:

15 years t-ball through senior Babe Ruth baseball

5 years basketball (1st grade through 6th grade)

2 years football (3rd / 4th graders)

3 years 5th grade through 9th grade small group at church.

I really think it's still all about the parents...

[huntest]

If parents had more legal liability for the actions of their minor children they just might pay a bit more attention....imho

[dtrs5kprs]

I guess I grew up as a "free ranger" at times. When not working in the field (Haying Season) or during chore time I was on my own. Quite often out of the house from just after breakfast to suppertime, .22 optional, knife required. Hear the horn honk ad your butt better be headed back on the double.. Want to ride your bike over to the neighbors pond to go fishing, have at it, want to wander the woods, see ya, just don't be stupid and be back in time to do chores. Some free ranging is not the same as "non parenting". Maybe I am just naive but I think that most of the kids I know are pretty good kids, you just only hear about the ones that cause problems. You don't hear about the kids who stopped someone from picking on a smaller kid, or the one who stopped and moved the turtles out of the road etc. You hear about the ones that brought a gun to school, or stabbed someone, or sadly was abducted.

Not the free range theory I had in mind. That is just old fashioned country parenting. Have fun on your own, but don't screw up or we will find you and follow up promptly.

I was thinking of the hippy dippy types that let them do what they want regardless of the outcome. Rationalized as "exploring their boundaries" and such.

[dtrs5kprs]

Y'all may hammer me, but I have a theory on the no-scoring idea....

It's for the parents - not the children. The children want to play and that's about it. The parents don't want to "lose" to the other parents, so we just say "MY Child is a winner no matter what" - so that "WE" save face.

Quick semi-resume (coaching - strictly rec leagues) so at least you'll know from where I draw my opinion:

15 years t-ball through senior Babe Ruth baseball

5 years basketball (1st grade through 6th grade)

2 years football (3rd / 4th graders)

3 years 5th grade through 9th grade small group at church.

I really think it's still all about the parents...

I've coached a bunch of rec sports too. In our city it is "sold" as creating an all inclusive atmosphere of growth and opportunity. What a joke.

Only place I've seen it halfway work is with 1st/2nd grade flag football. The parents and coaches all know who "won" but a bunch of the kids have no concept, especially the first graders or the kids who are "sampling" the sport. The kids who love to play know down to the last point.

[OldMillRoad]

Coaching wrestling for 10 yrs was enough for me dealing with helicopter parents. But I must say, that it exposes you very fast and weeds out the ones who don't work for success. I had plenty of negative interaction with parents, but it was short lived. Not only do you lose,but it hurts physically when you lose. I could tell right away if a kid was going to succeed in life just by their mental and physical attitude. I guess that is why more schools are doing away with wrestling programs. We can't have that neanderthal sh*t going on here!

[Old plug]

I am way past parenting years. Everyone seems to want to return to the way it was. I feel for you all becuase I have no idea how your going to prepare them for the future world they are about to enter. Lot of people think its fine to carry a gun. Guns all all over the place. It might be your right to carry,but is it fine. I do not think so. You got drugs in every neighborhood. NOW there is a reason to carry a gun. Parents should be allowed to gun them down on site. Some do. Then you have the world rapidly changing financial situation. Uprisings world wide. The ISIS. China and Rissia getting grabby. Not to mention the the greedy, self centered attitude that prevails today. Fouled up leadership worse than a old bird like me thought could ever exist. All this has got to come to a head and it will not be long. So I symathize with you parents today. It seems like a almost unsurmoutable task.