I was talking to one of my judoplayers about our women’s soccer team win over the Japanese at the London Olympics, and I told her we won, but we didn’t play very well. Her mom was sitting nearby, and said “Who cares? We won!” She was, of course, right…but also very wrong, especially with the message her daughter heard.
From time to time, I have fathers with little or no Judo background who insert themselves into their child’s Judo training. They’re well-meaning, perhaps a bit overly-involved in their child’s sport experience, and usually create problems for the coaching staff and by extension the child they seek to help. This problem is not unique to Judo. It’s pervasive anytime sports and fathers come together.
One of my readers is a father of four young, dynamic Judoplayers, who have great potential as Judo competitors. His kids have been to my practices and have competed in my in-house tournaments. He has participated in a USJA Coach Education Program I’ve run. He hates the new IJF rules. Who can blame him? So now, in addition to Judo, his kids are doing jiujitsu. His latest comments to my posts have encouraged me to address issues he brings up.