People Misbehaving Off the Field
New York Soccer News: What people are writing off the field is impacting what’s happening on the field. We can all do better. Kids can be deeply affected by their digital worlds and adults should always set a good example.
By Randy Vogt, Public Relations Director, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
Is this the best we can do?
A very small portion of the youth soccer games that I officiate unfortunately have teams deliberately fouling one another from the opening whistle.
It used to be that these were either rivalry games or there had been a problem when the teams previously played one another.
Add another issue in the mix as people are trash-talking and trying to intimidate opposing teams on social media.
And it’s not just confined to kids as their parents are getting involved too, often much more than their children.
Could you imagine what that game will look like when the teams meet after jawing at one another on social media?
Note: According to Smart Social, American teens, ages 13 to 18, used entertainment screen media (not at school or for homework) for an average of seven hours and 22 minutes each day in 2019.
- YouTube was the most used social media app among teens in 2019, followed by Instagram and Snapchat, according to Statista
- TikTok became the fastest-growing new app for Americans with 60% of TikTok users between the ages of 16 to 24.
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: With 100,000 youth soccer players–both boys and girls–and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) reaches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees, and administrators.
