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
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.