The story of this football coach from the dark ages has people facepalming into next week
Journalist and sports broadcaster Jacqui Oatley shared this story of what happened to her daughter at a football class when the boys would only pass to each other and, well, have a read for yourself.
My 7-year-old daughter was looking forward to her football class this morning. When I picked her up she said the boys would only pass to each other, so the coach told the girls to go and play with hula-hoops instead. Ridiculous.
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) April 8, 2019
And it went wildly viral for all the reasons you’d expect. Here are some of our favourite replies.
I applaud you restraint, its a lot more than ridiculous.
— michael robson (@michaelrobson2) April 8, 2019
I complained straight away and the head of kids' clubs apologised profusely, saying it won’t happen again.
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) April 8, 2019
This makes me terribly fucking cross. The boys are just children who feel it’s ok to conform to the worst aspects of what they’ve picked up. The coach, on the other hand, is a weak leader and an idiot. https://t.co/3EVrRwCEsF
— Robert Webb (@arobertwebb) April 11, 2019
Oh lord. Please send coaches @ so we can send him some different coaching options. It’s not too hard to figure out how to solve that… if they wanted to solve it.
— Kate Markgraf (@katemarkgraf) April 8, 2019
Surely it’s part of their training as sports coaches of kids, that you ensure inclusivity and everyone feels involved? She signed up to a class called “football” not “hula-hoops for the girls”.
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) April 8, 2019
The problem is not only the demotivating message to the girls but also the reinforcement to the boys of their behaviour 🙁
— Martin Kirby (@nescot97) April 8, 2019
Shocking the coach should know how to develop a game by setting conditions that stops that happening.
— fleethockey (@fleethockey) April 8, 2019
Exactly. Surely that’s their job!
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) April 8, 2019
The coach should be sending the boys to play hula hoops and let the girls play football. That’s the only way things will change!
— Susie Hancox (@SusieHancox) April 8, 2019
Despair at this Jacqui. Still so much to be done. A real priority in and out of school
— Tim Hollingsworth (@tphollingsworth) April 8, 2019
My 11yr old daughter on cricket camp was finally “allowed” to bowl at a yr5 boy who said “I bet you don’t even know how to bowl”. She does. Him – Out, bowled, first ball, middle stump – and “I didn’t even bowl fast at him”.
— Mr Bliss (@antbliss) April 11, 2019
I am very angry for your daughter and the other girls. But even more so, I am sad for the boys missing a crucial oppprtunity to have a decent example be set to them by their coach. See you next time on, Coaches Stuck in the 1950s.
— Alanna Locast (@LANZie_) April 8, 2019
In an ideal world, this thread would continue: 'So she & her friends imprisoned the boys & coach using hula hoops & pink scrunchies, then enjoyed a full 11 a side game. Afterwards they set the boys & coach free because they're not animals.' /Kelly. https://t.co/GJSlVvgtCL
— Guilty Feminist (@GuiltFemPod) April 8, 2019
And there was a PS …
To clarify, I complained straight away to the boss who apologised profusely and assured us it won’t happen again. https://t.co/r7ZlLNcKu4
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) April 8, 2019
