This week there has been a lot of discussion about some big issues in Australia … racism, identity, fairness and more.
Adam Goodes is a household name now if he wasn’t before and I don’t want to weigh in on that issue here very much specifically. In case you missed it, crowds have been booing this amazing football player for weeks every time he touches the ball.
Kids Sport
As a parent, i have many goals for my children. I want them to be active and I’m happy for them to play and watch sport of all kinds because I think it has a part to play in keeping them healthy and it can be the medium through which we learn much about life.
My kids play sport every weekend and I have never yet heard anyone boo an opposing team or player. Just as I would not like them to play the man in any game, I do not want them to personally attack players when watching sport. So when does it become OK to boo players … at what age?
I say its never OK 😉
Why do people boo players? Its a more fundamental question that isn’t being raised anywhere that I have read. I can get a bit excited cheering for my team but its always felt weird to me when the crowd boos the opposing team or even more so an individual player. I understand yelling out to the teams or even trying to bring something to the attention of the referees/umpires but I don’t see why we should think that ‘negative cheering’ or booing someone is OK.
Its just a person playing a game!
Its my opinion that as my grandmother once said, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. We should encourage our kids to cheer all they like for their team and even congratulate individual efforts but don’t abuse or discourage the opposition.
I’m all for open discussion about racism, inequality and correcting injustice which all do exist and should be confronted … but this should not be an issue for Adam Goodes because Aussies should not boo anyone on the sporting field or anywhere else.
Do you encourage booing or ‘negative cheering’? What example do you set? At what age is it OK and WHY?
