Comments on: Mental Tragedy On The Soccer Field

By: Donovan Owens

Donovan Owens — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:49:07 +0000

Thank you for all of the great comments. I hope you all will join me in my mission to change the way kids receive direction, not only from trainers and coaches but from us as parents also. Let’s teach, inspire and empower the future leaders of this world.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:48:51 +0000

I agree totally with you. That is so sad about the coach and that the parents just sit there and let their kids take it. I’m glad you have the right idea and values. I bet all your Fire Ants had a blast.

By: Gwen Owens

Gwen Owens — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:12:13 +0000

Dearest Donovan,

Have I told you enough lately that I love you, that I’m proud of you and that you are a very special human being. I’m crying right now because I think the answer is no. Thank you for all of the character you are instilling in the children. I fell like our children are pressured so much and that parents want to live their lives through their children and so then we get situations like this. It’s very sad. Well, thank God for coaches and mamas and daddys like you who know how to nurture a child properly and bring about excellent performance. Now you will ‘nurture’ this coach. And, by doing so you, you will make it possible for so many more children to enjoy the game. It’s the circle of life. Each one help one to make the world a better place. Love Mom

By: smikeska

smikeska — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:47:40 +0000

Donovan, I couldn’t agree with you more. I have coached for over 20 years at the youth, high school, and college level. I have referreed at the youth level for the last 4 years. While select and competitive sports have done their part to increase the level of play, they, and television, have also bred the disastrous “ESPN coaching guru’s.” They know everything, their team is coached perfectly, and therefore, should play perfectly. It is surely not THEIR fault when the 9 year olds play like 9 year olds and not the professial athletes they really are! I had this conversation with another parent, and both of us would love to see some of these over-bearing parents put themselves on the playing field and see how perfectly they play the game. I won’t even go into how much the money laid out for these teams adds to the pressure placed on these young children by some over expecting parents.

My daughter had a great time playing this weekend with the Fire Ants and your coaching style was a direct part of that experience. Thank You.