Discussion 4

Overconformity is a serious issue and with the coach telling my son and his teammates to take risks, play while being in pain, and putting your body through this pressure is putting the team through danger. I understand that the coach is trying to get the boys to be better and become successful in football since athletes are expected to play through pain and is one of the reasons why coaches pick certain players. With the coach setting all these requirements towards the children will put the children to think that it is normal to play with injuries, not being exposed to anything but football, could do serious damage to their bodies especially when the children are still young, etc. Not recovering 100% could lead my child to double his chances on not being able to play and not giving his best. The teammates and my son would be expected or possibly think about using painkilling drugs to get out in the games more quickly. I wouldn't want my young son to start depending on drugs at an early age and that could possibly end up using other drugs early into his life. Children will get scared to not tell their coaches or anyone that their seriously hurt and then the injury will eventually get worse and worse. My advice to my son would be to listen to your body, do the best you can, have fun, and improve your skills on the field. I would tell the coach to give the children a break, their only kids playing a youth sport. I agree with Taylor's comment about how the coach's style will transfer into the children's everyday lives. The violence on the field could eventually go off the field as well and can influence the kids that there isn't more than just football. The coach doesn't show that he cares about safety at all and that should be the first priority. Health comes first. Once your recovered from an injury than you can go back on the field and improve. I would tell my son to balance his life with sports/ school/ work/ friends, show that you care and be at all the