This is my son's first year of baseball. At his first game, I was wondering if any sign up sheet was going to be going around for snack. Nothing. My son commented on it on the way home. After the next game, he asked his coach why they never have snack that the parents/kids bring. The coach told him "McDonald's has plenty of snacks, maybe you should go there." Then he walked away without another word. This coaches reply to my son brought tears to my eyes with the words and the tone of his voice, so I know how my son felt. There was no email, letter or announcement made at the beginning that there would be no snacks, ever. I feel that this coach #1 could have handled this better, and #2 should have explained before in one way or another about no snacks if that's what he wants. My son's b-day is on the 4th,which is also his next game. In the past, for all his sports he's been in, the kids were allowed to bring cupcakes or cookies the b-day fell on game day. This is the first time his b-day has fallen on a game day. He disapppointed that he can't share his special day with his team mates.
Do any of you have kids in sports that don't allow snacks? What could the reason possibly be? I don't want to ask the guy cuz he seems like the worlds biggest #$%@....Just from speaking to a kid like that. Also the other teams he's played always have them after they played.
Am I being the overly sensitive mom here?
I only have a 3 year old, so I didn't know bringing snacks was a requirement to games (good to know). It sounds like the guy is a jerk too. If he is the coach and doesn't want snacks during the game, that is understandable. You should be able to bring snacks for the kids to have after the game. If the parents don't want their kids to stay, then so be it. But, the coach doesn't have the right to tell you what can be done after the game.
our baseball league doesn't do snacks (I am not sure why), but other sports have.
If your son wants to bring snack to celebrate his birthday than bring them, if parents don't want their kids to have one they should be able to handle that.
i wouldn't stress about it, your coach is just a jerk.
I would have started a snack sign up myself. Really you the parents are paying for your children to be in this sport and I don't see how a snack AFTER the game could interfere with his coaching or the game.
I did have problems with snack when I coached tball the kids didn't want to play and just kept asking when it was snack time and they drove me nuts but they were little tiny kids not school age.
If you want on your son's b-day you could pass out a invitation or loudly announce after the game were meeting at Dairy Queen for icecream to celebrate a good game and "Charlie's" birthday. You could treat the boys on the team to icecream.
From my experience it is usually the parents that set up the snack schedule. However,I agree though, that the coach could have handled the situation a lot better than he did. These kids look up to them at this age as a mentor, that was very rude of him!
First off the coach could have handled the situation better, I would just let him be aware that the way he answered your son's question should have been more respectfully. Sometimes a person does not realize how hurtful what they said is until someone mentions something.
Secondly in my experience it has NEVER been the coaches responsibility to set up a snack schedule. His job is to coach the team. Some coaches do set up a snack schedule but they might have the time to do that or experience with it. I agree with the other mom that a snack should not be needed after ever activity. Also with so many food allergies and sensitivities it is just easier for everyone to bring there own. It might have been nice for the coach to say that nicely in an e-mail, letter or on the first day but not everyone thinks like that. You can also take the initiative and approach the couch saying YOU would like to set up a snack schedule. Also talk to the other parents, maybe they requested that there were no snacks at the end do to allergies/medical reasons.
If you feel that your son needs the nourishment after the game have a healthy snack for him to have in the car. In the case of his birthday bring somethings, it is a special day and you do not need someones permission to do that. If you do bring something let the parents know that you have such and such, does anyone have allergies (milk, nuts and so on), just to give a heads up.
Perhaps the coach could have handled the situation better, but did he need to notify parents that there would not be snacks? Isn't he there to coach the sport? Let your child know that the focus needs to be on the activity, and that he will be able to eat a snack at home after the game (or bring one to him eat on the way home if needed).
***If you have not spoken with the coach, you may wish to do so...perhaps he doesn't want the headache of a schedule for snacks, but he would be okay with your son bringing a birthday treat***
As the mother of two with food sensitivities, and a strong family history of diabetes (and I am diabetic), I have long been a proponent of NO SNACKS at these events. As a parent, it is my responsibility to feed my children; I don't expect everyone to have the same nutrition values & needs we do, but we do need to have space to make our own family decisions regarding nutrition.
The no snack policy allows each family to make their own decisions regarding food choices (healthy or not, peanuts/strawberries or not, trans fat/high fructose corn syrup or not, sugar or not, artificial sweeteners or not, etc.), scheduling (eat dinner before the game or after, etc.), and eliminates one more snack schedule to track.
When did the expectation change that snacks will be eaten at EVERY activity? Should the focus be on the activity, not the food? We live in a nation with exploding obesity , diabetes, eating disorders...and food plays a HUGE role in this!!! Let's focus on healthy & active kids, and let parents feed their children.
Good morning Cheri! Being sensitive comes with the title of "Mom" so, I don't think you are being too sensitive. You are just seeing through your son's eyes and you hurt for him. It's called Mama Bear Syndrome and it's totally okay.
Could you offer to the coach to be the one to start a snack rotation? Even if he doesn't see the value in having a snack (or just doesn't want to or whatever) you and the other moms can certainly provide snacks whether the coach wants them or not. If coach is crabby then he doesn't get a snack :)
Mabey he just doesn't know how to get the ball rolling on the whole snack thing. Regardless....he should not have spoken to your son that way. If another incident occurs then I would just make the coach aware that you expect that the kids be treated with respect.
Oh, and let the coach know that you will be bringing a snack for your son's birthday. You don't need the coaches permission.
