As mothers of son's who are involved in youth football, often time’s females become sidelined emotionally by male coaches. Mother's can become penalized for their natural nurturing spirit. A woman’s nurturing spirit can then be interpreted as being "overprotective" or "overbearing". Moreover, when a women intervenes on the child’s behalf, the child is then stigmatized as being a "momma's boy".
This is evident on any given day of any youth football league in the United States. You more than likely have been witnessed to the following scenario of tragic proportions many times. Have you ever noticed a young boy playing football and for whatever the reason he suddenly falls down in pain, or is slow to get up off the turf. The concerned mother then runs over to see what is going on with her child, only to be stopped by the coaches who then states unapologetically, “Leave him alone. He has to learn to be a man. He’ll be okay”.
The first problem with the coaches statement is the child is on the turf in some kind of agony, so the last thing he needs to be is left alone. The next thing that is terribly wrong with the coaches assessment of the situation is he is all of 6-years-old therefore he does not have to learn to be a man for at least another twelve years thereafter.
As women we regularly wonder if a small percentage of youth football coaches are often living vicariously through our 6-18-year-old children. Are they perpetuating their dreams on them and if so, how can our God-given right as caring women be implemented in our children’s sports without the blemish of being an “overbearing” mother. The answer is very simple: Coaches keep coaching and Mothers keep mothering!
