Bull

[BOBSSHOES]

what can be done about a manager of an under 15s football team who is what I say is bullying of a 14 year old boy who has played for the team since he finished the under 9s, everything went well until a few months ago, now he goes to every match home & away some times 30 miles away and he will not let him play a full game he goes on for anything from 1 minute to 15 minutes

[roopower]

Is there another local team he could get involved with?

[angie55]

Report him to the County Football Association or the League.

[johnk]

How is that bullying, perhaps the boy is not good enough?

[waterboatman]

Have a word with the manager and ask him why.

[davebro]

Can you not talk to the guy - find out his reasons for apparently picking on the boy? And if he doesn't want him in the team look for somewhere else for him to play. If the team is successful maybe the manager is doing the right thing. Presumably if the boy gets more playing time then others will get less.

[Ken4155]

Sounds like your son probably hasn't improved as a player as some of his age and isn't quite good enough to get in the side. Far from picking on him (or bullying, as you infer), this manager may just be 'rewarding' him for his loyalty by giving him a little playing time. What do his team-mates think?

[10ClarionSt]

It's alright saying that he should just go to another team, but it's what the boy wants in the end. He may have lots of good friends in the team that he doesn't want to lose touch with. I wouldn't report anyone. Besides, he's getting to the age when he will make his own mind up.

[davebro]

We obviously don't know the full details here but if more want to play in a team than the places available then someone is going to miss out and the manager will have to balance picking his best team v giving all the hopefuls a shot. It even happens with star players in the Premiership!

[Ken4155]

I honestly believe that if the manager of this team didn't like the young lad, he would just tell him to find another team to represent. It's sometimes hard to admit that our children aren't quite as 'brilliant' in the eyes of others.

[ToraToraTora]

do you have incidences of "bullying" or is this just about not getting a full game? Used to have similar issues in rugby when I was taking my son from 6 to 17. We had 2 teams A and B and some parents wanted to mix them up so they were both mediocre. Basically some kids are better than others and often the parents, especially in Football, cannot accept this.