A New Perspective September 2006
The Dalai Lama says to use the people who work against you and do evil things against you as a positive force for change. I have found that I have the most difficult time forgiving people who do harmful things to Pierson and Peter, and my dogs. If someone does something harmful to my son, I would never consider that person to be a real human unless they apologized or even recognized harming a child. But the Universe is just and things tend to work out for the better. In fact, things tend to work out for the best.
Bill F, his wife Pam and Betty K all actively worked to harm my son and yet I have forgiven them for that in spite of the fact that they have never even apologized to Pierson at the very least and continue to spread vicious lies and rumors. I think 'adults' who attack children instead of addressing the adults who opposed them are cowards. But I forgive them anyway. Bill, Pam and Betty did the wrong thing but I am extremely glad that Pierson is no longer on that team. Pierson is so much better off being away from those toxic people.
So, thank you Betty K and Bill and Pam F for acting as horribly as you did. Pierson is now on a team that appreciates him and we are spared from wasting more seasons, perhaps years on a team that values no one and would treat children the way that you did. I hope you do not do what you did to us to any other families! It was extremely painful for Pierson and he did not deserve that treatment from either of you, especially Betty for whom he played during his Kings SAY Soccer seasons.
I think that for the high fees that most select soccer clubs charge, a professional coach is not only deserved by the players, it is an imperative. While parent volunteer coaches are fine for recreational soccer, highly competitive select soccer is often a precursor to high school or college soccer. I would not hire a parent volunteer teacher if Pierson was interested in learning the saxophone. What is the difference between learning a highly technical musical skill and learning a highly technical and difficult athletic skill?
There is an abundance of highly qualified, affordable, willing and able professional coaches in the Cincinnati area so it makes no logical sense to stick with parent volunteers in select soccer. Too often not only are they completely unqualified, they are unable to separate their bias for their own children while acting as a coach. Even if the parent volunteer coach has some experience, they cannot be relied upon to truly help develop every child on the team equally. There is a greater chance of fair training and play time when a professional coach is in charge.
The entire youth soccer experience has been a big lesson in the true nature of people, even people who claim to work for and care about children. I will not be so naive about people in the future. This experience has also caused me to reflect upon the qualifications of a person that I would choose to train, coach or teach Pierson in any field.
For an explanation of what they did: Soccer, Just My Take
Comments and Criticism: CourtBlueDiamond@aol.com