Gary Lineker tells pushy parents to shut the **** up

[davieG]

Leicester and England football legend Gary Lineker has condemned pushy parents in an outspoken article.

The former Foxes striker and father-of-four described the behaviour of competitive mothers and fathers as “utterly depressing” and warned it is hindering their children’s development as players.

Writing in a column for this week’s New Statesman magazine, which is guest edited by Russell Brand, the 52-year-old said: “The competitive nature of most mums and dads is astounding.

“The fear they instil in our promising but sensitive Johnny is utterly depressing.

“We need a parental cultural revolution. If we could just get them to shut the f*** up and let their children enjoy themselves, you would be staggered at the difference it would make.”

Lineker, 52, who was never sent off or booked in his playing career, admitted he had felt compelled to speak to fathers on the touchline at matches to try to get them to calm down.

In the past he has told how he witnessed parents swearing at referees and shouting at their own children during games.

Lineker, who now presents Match of the Day on BBC One, has four children from his first marriage to Michelle Cockayne: George, 21, Harry, 19, Tobias, 16, and Angus, 13.

Lineker also criticised the standard of football at youth level.

He said: “It’s obvious why we have a long-ball culture: the big lads who can kick it furthest are the ones that stand out.

“What chance for the diminutive yet gifted midfielder? No chance of him developing his tiki-taka football.

“The only way to get to the other end of the pitch is to belt it and then belt it again.”

 

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/story-19983097-detail/story.html?#ixzz2idFppR5v

[Dan]

Agree with every single word. Win at all costs mentality at that level is absolutely senseless.

[Guest MattP]

Often see a kids football match on the way to the pub on Sundays.

It's hard to tell what's more vile, the parents, the football or the cretin shouting his 1970's tactics across the pitch.

[Stadt]

I've never been the best player but my old manager would rather win 7-0 than 3-0 and get all the subs on. This is what's fundamentally wrong with the grass roots side of the game, the win at all cost attitudes, ego boosting, shit football managers.

[MPH]

Maybe they should just issue a ban on parents watching or parents opening their gobs

instead of him moaning about people moaning.. which I agree is an issue he should offer something constructive in how to deal with it...

[StanSP]

Totally agree.

 

When you're playing at such a young age, as well as learning things in/out of a game, the key thing which kids should be told is just to enjoy themselves.

[Kitchandro]

Was I the only one who thought this was going to be about Gary telling his own parents to shut the **** up?

[ousefox]

Whole article here http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/10/pushy-parents-screaming-abuse-sidelines-are-killing-their-kids-love-football

[_Fatboyslow_]

It's our Gary swearing that I have difficultly with! But do agree with him, but I would say that I have found it best in the past to give out orders from the touch line just to get the kids as quite often they need it .

[Ross-Kemp]

Referees at under 7 & under 8 have a responsibility to stop this happening.

Let kids enjoy football, let kids pass the ball, let them take people on, only then will we start to produce quality players.

Parents shouldn't be allowed to watch (or at a push watch but not open their mouths).

[GingerrrFox]

Before moving up the ladder I used to coach U11's and I always told the boys that I didn't care about the result all I wanted was to see them pass the ball, take chances and try and beat the opposition player with dribbling in the right areas. Anyway it got to November and we had won 4, drawn 2 and lost 7. 2 parents claimed I was shit, was ruining the chances of their lads being scouted and generally just had no clue what I was doing. They were 2 of the better players in the team but they weren't what I would class as "special", to cut a long story short I told them I wouldn't change how I wanted the lads to play and said the fact they enjoyed football was more important. They decided to make their kids change teams to stop playing with their mates, and even though they went to play for a team that won more games than mine that season. 4 of the other lads in my team got scouted to trial with various academies whilst their lads did **** all. Karma.

[StanSP]

It's our Gary swearing that I have difficultly with! But do agree with him, but I would say that I have found it best in the past to give out orders from the touch line just to get the kids as quite often they need it .

 

I wonder how much of it has been a bit exaggerated, given that this publication is 'guest-edited' by Russell Brand (I personally don't mind him either). Whether he edited this article, I don't know.

[_Fatboyslow_]

Before moving up the ladder I used to coach U11's and I always told the boys that I didn't care about the result all I wanted was to see them pass the ball, take chances and try and beat the opposition player with dribbling in the right areas. Anyway it got to November and we had won 4, drawn 2 and lost 7. 2 parents claimed I was shit, was ruining the chances of their lads being scouted and generally just had no clue what I was doing. They were 2 of the better players in the team but they weren't what I would class as "special", to cut a long story short I told them I wouldn't change how I wanted the lads to play and said the fact they enjoyed football was more important. They decided to make their kids change teams to stop playing with their mates, and even though they went to play for a team that won more games than mine that season. 4 of the other lads in my team got scouted to trial with various academies whilst their lads did **** all. Karma.

I think there are a few that on here with a similar story to tell and I do know of one lad who stop playing for a local league academy because of the pressure.

And just to be clear that my "touch line orders " only backup what we had agreed on team talks and to encourage and praise ..... Ok it didn't always go to plan, but a damn sight better than telling them that such and such are sending scouts today

[Dan]

Before moving up the ladder I used to coach U11's and I always told the boys that I didn't care about the result all I wanted was to see them pass the ball, take chances and try and beat the opposition player with dribbling in the right areas. Anyway it got to November and we had won 4, drawn 2 and lost 7. 2 parents claimed I was shit, was ruining the chances of their lads being scouted and generally just had no clue what I was doing. They were 2 of the better players in the team but they weren't what I would class as "special", to cut a long story short I told them I wouldn't change how I wanted the lads to play and said the fact they enjoyed football was more important. They decided to make their kids change teams to stop playing with their mates, and even though they went to play for a team that won more games than mine that season. 4 of the other lads in my team got scouted to trial with various academies whilst their lads did **** all. Karma.

 

I think this post alone sums up why England are shit. Makes me think that there's absolutely no way of improvement - how the hell do you convince idiots you're doing the right thing?

 

Too many idiots in English grass roots football for it to ever progress.

[davieG]

I think this post alone sums up why England are shit. Makes me think that there's absolutely no way of improvement - how the hell do you convince idiots you're doing the right thing?

 

Too many idiots in English grass roots football for it to ever progress.

Isn't the same at club level when you get many fans saying I don't care how we win as long as we do.

[Corky]

Youth football seems like a really soul-destroying practice, where kids aren't allowed to just play and enjoy themselves because winning at all costs and being scouted is the be all and end all.

 

I've far more time for coaches like Ginger, who want to see players play in a way they can express and enjoy themselves. No wonder kids either get fed up with all the pressure and criticism or are too nervous to show their true ability.

[GingerrrFox]

The problem is that every Dad that loves football has this dream of their son growing up and becoming the next David Beckham or Wayne Rooney when in reality the chances are very slim as it requires genetic ability as well as learned ability. Kids need to just enjoy being kids and enjoy playing football instead of having their dads looming over them. I've only ever come across one lad who was more determined than his Dad about this, he told me at the age of 10 the first time I met him that he wanted to be a professional footballer and his Dad was the one trying to make him calm down and just enjoy his football.

[Dan]

Isn't the same at club level when you get many fans saying I don't care how we win as long as we do.

 

That's a bit different as it's actually competitive with things riding on it. Kids playing football never has been competitive and shouldn't be treated like it is.

 

Any coach who at that age brags about his local U9's win ratio over players he's developed is a moron, and a problem with coaching. Winning is totally secondary at that level for me.

[Guest MattP]

The problem is that every Dad that loves football has this dream of their son growing up and becoming the next David Beckham or Wayne Rooney

 

 

You can see why society is ****ed when that's what parents want their kids to aspire to.

[Corky]

Isn't the same at club level when you get many fans saying I don't care how we win as long as we do.

 

No, those players have made it and know the pressures associated with it. Their results actually mean something.

 

No kid will develop a win at all costs, play any way to win mentality at 8 or 9. They should be allowed to play with freedom and if they make mistakes, learn from them, not be driven to not try that again.

 

I'm sure there are thousands of brilliant coaches and parents who want their kids or players to just enjoy themselves, but the loudest are always the pushy ones and the critics, sadly.

[davieG]

That's a bit different as it's actually competitive with things riding on it. Kids playing football never has been competitive and shouldn't be treated like it is.

 

Any coach who at that age brags about his local U9's win ratio over players he's developed is a moron, and a problem with coaching. Winning is totally secondary at that level for me.

But it encourages clubs to buy players that suit that style and players to play that way thus affecting both theirs and their team mates chances of improving and developing their 'football' game.

 

And isn't this where their Dads get the notion that this is what it's all about and pass that onto their kids.

 

It would seem many Palace fans are keen to have Pulis down there - I think that sums up the problem.

[Dan]

But it encourages clubs to buy players that suit that style and players to play that way thus affecting both theirs and their team mates chances of improving and developing their 'football' game.

 

And isn't this where their Dads get the notion that this is what it's all about and pass that onto their kids.

 

It would seem many Palace fans are keen to have Pulis down there - I think that sums up the problem.

 

I can see what you're getting at, but I think once you hit first team football, there is a far stronger argument for trying to win at all costs.

 

The way I see it - if they've developed their game enough from the younger age, then Pulis style 'football' won't be required to win anyway.

[ScouseFox]

When my sister played for Liverpool and Everton academy parents and spectators weren't allowed to make any noise unless it was a clap or cheer for a goal/great save etc. I don't know if it's the same at all academies but I assume it is. It's just park football that's got a problem, not the academies. 

[Jace]

Article is spot on unfortunately things won't change must have seen more fights and bust ups at kids matches than adult matches

[Dan]

When my sister played for Liverpool and Everton academy parents and spectators weren't allowed to make any noise unless it was a clap or cheer for a goal/great save etc. I don't know if it's the same at all academies but I assume it is. It's just park football that's got a problem, not the academies. 

 

I think we should all take the Lech Poznan approach