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When did this stupid word start to get used in team sports?
I’m at my son’s football match right now, and every time a play doesn’t work, someone says ‘Oh! Unlucky!’
No it bloody wasn’t. It was a poor play.
What’s wrong with ‘Oh! Nice try!’ And then talking about where the play might have gone wrong during the halftime?
I get this at ice hockey too. I’ll make some incredible save (if I do say so myself!) and the guy who took the shot will hear ‘Unlucky!’. Um, no. It was a really good save. By me.
More seriously though, I do think it sends out the wrong message, and means that the kids end missing out on some good learning opportunities.
Having spent a few years coaching a kids football team, I’d rather hear a shout of “Unlucky!” than “That was pure shite, wee man!” or some of the other things I’ve heard parents shout from the sidelines.
Nothing knocks a kids confidence harder than their Grandpa telling them how garbage they are.
Perhaps I should join in and start shouting stuff like....“Bad luck! It’s not your fault that your Dad’s an over competitive tadger!”
No idea about in sports, but in general, it seems to be less common than it was.
I totally agree with you perchy. I would never want a kid to feel deflated.
As I say, I would just advocate a solid ‘nice try’ and then using a failed play as a talking point later.
Seems ok to me. Most plays will have an element of luck. Try them 10 times and you won't get the same result. Right play but it doesn't pan out would be unlucky, wrong play but it somehow works would.be lucky.
Put your phone away and enjoy your son's footy game .
This is kids sport, not international level. For sure, a lot of the time they will attempt to do the right thing and it won't come off because their skill level isn't sufficient to execute the activity consistently. Sometimes it will. It's luck that defines which half of that ratio the result falls, and as the skill level increases the ratio of L/U increases. You praise the choice to do the right thing, of course work on increasing skill level, but also accept the element of chance over whether it comes off. You don't criticise kids for not having the capability yet.
example, as I'm watching cricket now
the bowler bowls a straight ball, the batter misses it and is bowled.
If the batter plays a forward defensive, the right shot for the situation, but because he's 9 years old and lacks the hand eye co-ordination to pick the line every time - he's unlucky, he did what he should as best he can and it didn't come off.
If he has a massive hoick at it and misses it, then you use the opportunity to evaluate and train what he could have done differently.
Can't the OP follow the other normal customs of kid's football and just abuse the ref and opposition team parents?
You're taking it too literally. In the context of playing sport, I've always taken it as short hand for "good effort mate, hope it goes better next time..."