The “Green Death” Debacle

Check out any or all of:

Scituate “Green Death” soccer coach resigns – Quincy, MA – The Patriot Ledger.

Coach Learns That Youth Sports and Satire Don’t Mix

Poor Communication…

…Possibly Insane Email…

Scituate ‘Green Death’ coach’s satirical e-mail causes national furor

Maybe there’s something to be said for quickly becoming the most famous coach of 7 year-old girls soccer in the nation. As a couple of the above articles suggest, while I can’t tell whether he’s a good coach, I’m sure of a few things:

1. He’s not a very good writer
2. Electronic communication, particularly email and social networking, are poorly understood and often poorly used media
3. Bad writing can create problems

I’m not re-posting the original email (it’s linked above), but I can definitely see in it parts that are meant to be funny and parts that clearly are not. Smack in the middle, however, are comments whose intent are unclear. Many may have been clear if they’d been spoken (at a parents’ meeting, let’s say), but Coach Kinahan isn’t able to make his intent consistently clear in his writing.

I blogged earlier about social networking in youth athletics – my staff just lost a good young coach because he didn’t fully understand the implications of that communication.

Looking back over youth soccer

MWC News – A Site Without Borders – - Reflections of a Soccer Dad

The article is an interesting perspective from a physician/soccer dad in which he comments on the way the game has changed and affected his family. He has some interesting insights on Some of the medical aspects of youth soccer as well as on different coaching styles.

Okla. soccer star accused of slaying bullying father

Okla. soccer star accused of slaying bullying father – The Boston Globe

I just think Emmanuel had unreal expectations of Andrew and put too much pressure on him and would not accept Andrew not living up to his expectations. I think Andrew felt like he could never please his dad.

Very scary and very sad story.

Some days, the treats are my favorite thing, too!

Who is that kid?
I love the statement from the player who says:

“No coach I want to play, but I really like the treats, the treats are my favorite thing”

I have this great imagined vision of this coach getting prepared to deal with the psyche of the frustrated athlete in the losing effort and finding out that she was more concerned with the postgame treat. I enjoy getting these true glimpses into the mindset of youth athletes at various levels. Great story!

“The Best Kick”

NFL.com – Indianapolis Colts Team News:

Nice story about youth soccer with a great quote at the end:

In the purity of youngsters’ minds, they can do anything. But parents, coaches and friends keep hitting them with ‘reality’ — that they’re not big enough, fast enough or smart enough — creating doubt in their minds. They need support, belief in them, not negative reinforcement or ‘protection’ from failure

When are tough coaches too tough?

Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/31/2006 | When are tough coaches too tough?
An article from the Philadelphia Inquirer about a coach who was fired for being “too tough.”