Singled Out

Remember the over-zealous coach I mentioned several weeks ago? More specifically, remember his threat of making the children run laps if they show up late to practice?

Well, we have been on time for practices and games. In fact, the youngest son (YS) has been the first child to show up for practice on several occassions this spring. Until tonight that is.

I was scheduled to leave the office on time when a major system my group is primarily responsible for went down. Of course this occurred five minutes before quitting time. And, of course, I was the only team member still there, so I had to handle it.

I resolved the problem and left the office twenty minutes later than I had planned. I raced out to my car and pulled onto the street only to get stuck in a traffic jam less than an eighth of a mile from the office. I called home to report that I was running late and to ensure that the YS was dressed in the proper attire and ready to go. I learned that the YS, ever eager to participate in sports, had been ready to go for hours. In fact, when I arrived home to pick him up I found him waiting for me on the front steps.

We arrived at soccer practice ten minutes late. I dropped him off and found a parking spot. As I settled into my normal practice-watching mode (half reading/half watching the practice), I noticed an odd occurrence.

While the rest of team was running their typical drill, the YS was running behind them on the opposite side of the field. I watched him run one lap before I decided to investigate. I walked out onto the field and as I drew closer I could tell that he was not happy. As he ran past me I asked him what was going on. He replied that he had to run laps to catch up with the team because we were late to the practice.

Now, being that we have always been on time or early for past practices, I have had the opportunity to observe many practices and many late arrivals. However, I have yet to see another child singled out during practice. And my son would not be the first.

Without hesitation, I marched out onto the field to discuss the situation with the coach, YS in tow. I asked the coach what was going on. He informed me that the children had to run six laps total and that YS had to catch up with the rest of the team. I informed him that YS would not be singled out and punished because I had to work late and fight through traffic to get him there as soon as I possibly could. As the YS ran to grab his belongings so we could leave, I informed the coach that YS would either join his team’s regularly scheduled practice already in progress or we would leave and return for the next practice. The coach agreed that YS should join his team members on the field and the practice resumed as normally scheduled.

I later mentioned the incident to my husband and he thinks I over-reacted. He cautioned me that YS will have to run laps and other drudgery when he gets older. I probably won’t be able to watch those future practices, but will accept them. But he’s only ten now. He can’t drive himself to practice. I’m his only mode of transportation because my husband has to work late and other family members live on the opposite side of the city. I make it my priority to get him to practice as soon as I can.

My husband fears that my over-protective nature will make the boys weak. Apparently, tough kids are singled out from the pack and forced to run alone. My issue was never about running or being tough. My issue was with the fact that he was singled out. I won’t stand for that. Not on my watch.

Call me over protective if you must.

UPDATE: Is it wrong that the longer I think about the incident the more pissed off I get?

Comments

[jr]

Next time this happens go to the coach and volunteer to run the laps because you may YS late. Not wishing to start a domestic argument I wont get into the whys and wherefores of the male logic. I do think you're right.

[Kathy Howe]

grrr...i'd be pissed too.

and i think the more i thought about it, the more pissed off i would get.

grrrrrrr....

you are totally right on this one!!

[daisy]

I can see the coach's logic in running the laps when late to practice as some would be late just because they don't get in gear to get there on time. However if you've seen others arrive late and not get the same treatment then I'd be pissed too.