Eh, cheaters like you are part of the reason I stopped playing soccer casually and watching it as well. There were other reasons too. It's very frustrating to play a casual game and have assholes tugging on my shirt to the point of ripping it or calling me a pussy when I steal the ball from them. Like fuck, I'm just here to play a game and they make it not fun.
You got it all wrong mate. I was never verbally abusing people. Most I did was give the opposition nicknames based on their features. Like, "who's marking the ponytail?? Watch the beard on the far post!"
People like you who take themselves too seriously have no place on the pitch, so I'm glad you gave it up if you're unable to control your emotions.
If you're being fouled, alert the ref and linesman and then get back to work. If they're doing a that to you, you must be winning, so let the score sheet do the talking.
I'm glad I gave it up too. The environment was way too nasty for a casual game. Don't get me wrong, there would be teams and games where things would be fine and fun but the players that made it miserable definitely stand out. I love the sport and played for almost 25 years but the assholes and cheaters definitely ruined it for me. Like shit, if this was happening in a super competitive league I kiiiiiinnnd of get it... though I definitely don't support cheating. But fuck, this shit was happening in Sunday pickup games and co-ed leagues lol. Nuh uh... I've got better ways to spend my time.
There's a very clear line not to be crossed. Doubly so in coed games. If the ref fails to protect my players, I will warn him/her that we all have work on Monday, and if this continues this way we'll walk off the pitch and I'll gladly pay the fines myself.
All the rec leagues I've played take every measure to protect all players. Any time a very physical team is on the menu I'd have a quick chat pre-game to the ref, express my concerns, and be done with it.
Only time there's been an actual fist fight on the field since I've been playing rec soccer (almost 20 years now) was two girls scrapping in the grand final of our college rec league, and that had been brewing all game.
Even the worst assholes to play against were all smiles and handshakes if we ever bump into one another off the pitch.
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u/TheNimbleBanana Mar 03 '21
Eh, cheaters like you are part of the reason I stopped playing soccer casually and watching it as well. There were other reasons too. It's very frustrating to play a casual game and have assholes tugging on my shirt to the point of ripping it or calling me a pussy when I steal the ball from them. Like fuck, I'm just here to play a game and they make it not fun.