This may seem like the most idiotic and selfish question ever seen on this page but here goes.
My husband and I have 1 child and do not plan to have anymore. She is 3 years old and has started watching my football team play on the weekends (AFL).
Now my husband supports a different team, the arch rival of my team, don't ask me how our marriage survives when they play each other.
Anyway he is adamant our daughter will NOT be supporting my team, and gets quite cross when I encourage her to clap when they get a goal.
I on the other hand would be devastated if she were to support his team as I believe their supporter base is quite feral and I'd hate for her to be subjected to that type of behaviour. I'm also probably bias I admit.
How do we solve this?
I know most we'll say let her choose but I worry over what will happen if she does choose my team and how her Dad will take it. I'd get over it eventually but I think he'll keep trying to get her to change teams as she gets older.
Ladies who follow AFL (or any sport really) know you can't change teams once you've chosen...
Any help would be appreciated.
8 Replies
You teach her to support BOTH teams. She can want both teams to do well and even support and cheer for the opposition because that's what good sportsmanship is about. That you can cheer and encourage and appreciate good players and teams and even the losers.
its a great time to look at both your sportsmanship values and what you want to project to your daughter. Even the players congratulate the opposition when they play well. Cheering both teams doesn't decrease the value of following your own team, it's just good sportsmanship.
Is he a Collingwood supporter? I wouldn't let my kids go for the black and whites either 😂😂 my 3 kids follow my team I am pregnant with my 4th his first and he's adamant our newest addition will support his team. I always tell him that I'll allow him to try and get him to follow his team but his brother and cousins may try to corrupt him. Let your little girl decide it will be her choice in the end!! Who she supports now may not be her choice when she's older.
In the grand scheme of things, is her choice of football team really something worth stressing over? She may grow up and have zero interest in football/sports at all!
So what if hubby tries to persuade her to change teams? You say you can't change teams once you've chosen, kids don't see it that way. My girls choose new teams every week according to what their favorite colours are at the time or they jump on the top of the ladder bandwagon lol. My partner and I are both Bombers supporters, I honestly couldn't give a hoot what teams my kids choose (though my daughter does enjoy stirring up her dad by saying she's a collingwood supporter lol).
You can passionately support your team, hubby can support his. Just let her do her thing.
One thing I would ask hubby to not encourage is poor sportsmanship, that's not what sport should be about!
You'll just have to have another kid and have one for each team 😊
My parents are massive rugby league supporters, they were heavily involved in the local club, my brother played from under 6's to 16's.
I worked for a former rugby league player.
Guess what...I hate football...
How about teach them not winning is not the end of the world..
Probably a good idea to stop stereotyping and name calling other teams.
If you'd be devastated over a sports te choice it's time to get perspective!
Even professional players, who's job it is to earn money playing the game, switch teams!!!! They are glad to get a game. a chance to compete, where ever they play.
So if your daughter decides to play sport are you going to be devastated if she plays for a team you don't support? Are you going to be able to watch her play, and cheer her on?
We have 1 son at the moment and I was adamant that no support gear was purchased or memberships (one family member) until they were old enough to choose for themselves.
Well, some people can't be told and bought him Dad's teams stuff. So I went and bought him the exact same thing in my teams colours.
Rules are he wears whichever teams colours that are playing that day, or if they play eachother, it's the home teams gear.
He really couldn't give too hoots at 3 so no big deal and when he decides it will probably be another team entirely (but not the crows, if I can help it!! A certain family member would be just too annoying if that happens!).
Tell dad to grow a set, grow up and get over it. She's a kid. Encourage a love of the sport and good sportsmanship until she is old enough to have a strong opinion.
I find it ridiculous the way people carry on over sporting teams. It's the main reason my children do not participate in it as so much of the behaviour is disgusting from supporters. There is a massive expectation that players are the best role models but it's the parents who really teach them the values and that's what I am seeing less of from when I was a child.