30 Aug 2023 06:50:33
Just read a post saying that you can't get away with the language VVD used at grass roots level so VVD should be punished.
I've been coaching kid's footy for 12 years now and as the kids get older unfortunately they do get away with that language at grass roots level every single week.
I don't condone it by the way and the lads I coach don't use it.
If your point was an example should be set by pros I agree but it wasn't and unfortunately the language is used over and over every week by players in all professional teams.
Whilst I'm ranting about grassroots, coach and parent behaviour is important in helping the kids conduct themselves properly, whether it's with regards to not using bad language, or being taught a knee high 2 footed challenge isn't ok. Unfortunately in some cases I fear it's actually applauded and even encouraged.
Rant over!

{Ed025's Note - some very good points there mate..

1.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 07:13:10
I don't know what vVD said but I would be happy for them to throw the book at him IF it is done for every player.

I quite like the idea of cutting out time wasting play acting asking for cards and aggression towards the refs. If it means matches are finishing 8 v 8 for a while so be it. Unfortunately I feel like with most things we will gradually see less of this being enforced up until Christmas where it won't be discussed at all and then some time in April it will get brought up again and be the centre of attention for a couple of weeks only to disappear again.

2.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 07:07:13
The language is used by professionals because they are hyper-competitive athletes. Enough of this cotton wool nonsense about “set an example”. I want a team of aggressive winners that both try to influence the referee and complain when the latter’s performance is poor. The stakes have never been as high, and the refereeing never as bad.
Kids do not use foul language just because Virgil Van Dijk used it, 90% of the time people can’t hear it whatsoever anyway. If they use foul language, it’s due to regular reinforcement at school and at home.

{Ed025's Note - its not often we disagree Lowel but we do on this one mate, the way youngsters behave is by copying their peers and like it or not footballers are role models, not just VVD of course because there are loads of players who do the same, its seems to metat respect and sportsmanship has gone from the game..

3.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 07:41:36
Whilst I agree that getting in the refs faces and abuse is wrong, the players and managers should be able to vent a bit, it's like they are trying to turn them into robots. It's a highly competitive sport with adrenaline running very high, players are bound to get angered at times. Hopefully the over the top stuff does calm down but I don't want it to be at a point where players and staff can't show some emotion.

4.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 07:42:06
If referees want respect, how about they do their jobs properly in the first place. Im not condoning Virgil’s behaviour but it is frustrating enough as a spectator to see the referee make poor decisions (which then get compounded by gutless video refs who are too scared to disagree with the clown on-field) . If your match bonuses, title chances and reputation are being skewed because the officials are so abysmal it must be very hard to contain the rage towards them.
VVD will rightly get fined/ suspended for not doing his job correctly. Meanwhile, the ref will collect his wages and be on the field next Saturday.

5.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 07:47:50
Agree completely, you can be hyper competitive and not be a horrible c*nt.
There's absolutely no need to abuse someone in their day job under any circumstances especially when you're on TV being watched by millions of kids around the world.
Learn to channel your aggression/ competitiveness on the pitch not boil over at an official.

6.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 07:58:43
I think you’re referring to my post? Just like to add I’m a fa approved coach at under 16 level (did it at college) I’ve also done the referee courses that my lads league have offered and have refereed his games since he was 7. I can honestly say bad language is definitively a no no from parent and child. Whilst it’s encouraged not to card younger players ( they’d rather you tell the coach to take them off and give them time out unless it’s something serious or fighting)

7.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 09:04:25
Kids first and foremost learn from their parents. Do we think if players were calmer in their response fans would suddenly stop abusing players and officials? I doubt it. This is a much wider problem in society. Yes, VVD shouldn't react like that but everyone needs to take responsibility for this, not just high profile footballers. Let's be honest most fans from other teams want him banned longer for football reasons and not because of his behaviour.

8.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 08:15:47
Ed0025 I got to disagree mate.

Suarez has bitten other players and used racial language on the pitch
Zidane stuck the head on someone in the most watched game in world sports
Nunez and numerous other players have used their heads
Keane has admitted to ending someone’s career with what what an assault of a tackle
Adam Johnson went to prison.

This list could go on and on.

Kids who are terrors are usually because the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and they have no role model or discipline in the house and then they turn into worse teenagers and adults and the cycle starts again.

Referees have been sworn at by pro footballers for years and years and are assaulted regularly at Grass roots levels. All of this is 100% wrong.

But it’s not because Vvd did it on Sunday though unfortunately it’s society and the world we live currently live in.

{Ed025's Note - I get what you’re saying JK and as I said it’s not just VVD mate. But even though I get that it’s a society problem players misbehaving does impact youngsters as well. Like it or not they are role models and kids learn by copying..

9.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 09:36:40
I think what Ed025 is saying (and correct me if I'm wrong Ed) is that professional footballers are certainly role models for kids and are a contributing factor in the negative actions of young players at grass roots. Of course there are many variables and as some say, the behaviour starts at home etc but just to further ed's point, you only need to look at kids hairstyles or celebrations when they score on the playground to see them mimicking their footballing heroes.

{Ed025's Note - you are spot on for me stuie..

10.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 10:01:58
Language like that shouldn’t be used.
However, I can understand why players are wanting to swear so much at the reds these days, they are an effing joke.
Refs should get respect and dignity, but they are making it very, very hard for themselves lately it has to be said.

11.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 10:11:23
Van Dijk behaved like a Dick.
He should have walked tout suite.

12.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 12:00:33
OP anyone saying that clearly, never either played nor watched any type of grassroots football and sometimes, the parents can be the absolute worst.

As for VVD, he is the capt. of LFC and should not be using that type of language and if he gets done then, he brought that onto himself. Hopefully, he will learn from this and do better. We shall see if this standard is applied fairly across the board moving forward.

13.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 16:11:03
a lot of the officiating wouldn't be good enough for grassroots level, im all for respect for officials but also think refs should show both the clubs and players enough respect to actually KNOW their jobs, and also officiating in a manner fair to BOTH teams would be nice t.

14.) 30 Aug 2023
30 Aug 2023 10:25:23
The point regarding kids is that it sets an example.

If it’s acceptable at the elite tier it’s acceptable everywhere. It doesn’t matter what happens in school or at home - the point is it shouldn’t be acceptable on the pitch. Don’t like it then don’t play it.

I also completely disagree with this Lowe:

“I want a team of aggressive winners that both try to influence the referee and complain when the latter’s performance is poor. ”

Elite rugby is full of aggressive winners who are quite happy to beat the ever loving life out of one another. That doesn’t stop them respecting the officials. Football histrionics simply wouldn’t be tolerated.

Yes we have a significant problem with the standard of our referees and that has to be addressed. They may start to get more respect when they show that respect for the job in hand. However maybe they would be less bothered about protecting one another if they weren’t being abused in the first place. That’s the thing that should stand out from that Mike Dean piece - he did what he did (or what he didn’t do as the case may be) because he didn’t want his mate to cop anymore flak. That’s telling.