Discipline must be demonstrated

It was just a small message. But it tells a rather fatal story.

BY REINHARD HÜBNER

Landkreis - During an ice hockey match in Berlin, a few fans freaked out, started mobbing and rioting, saying slogans like "break their bones" on the field. The police had to be called to calm the situation down. Nothing too special in itself. If the fans hadn't been parents and the players on the ice had their children. The message ends here.

It would have been exciting to find out what happened next. Perhaps that: the boys were stunned on the ice, with petrified expressions they saw what was happening in the stands. Adult people attacked each other, men and women raising children should be their role models. Adult people who have not understood the meaning of sport, for whom victory will come. And finally, morality.

But the boys on the ice learned it differently. They were told that sport conveys virtues such as team spirit, decency and fairness. Sport teaches them how to deal with successes but also with defeats. Didn't your parents understand that, did they never do sports themselves? Or are they so devoured by ambition that they cannot stand when their child loses a game?

This phenomenon can be discovered everywhere, wherever children play sports, not only in ice hockey, but also in football, handball and even tennis. There, too, fathers are said to be freaking out and mothers freaking out, reports of evil verbal derailments and minor wrangling. Sometimes big ones too.

But what is it that suddenly turns the serious banker upset by the maintenance, the innocent managing director, the friendly insurance agent to the rabbling proletarian and the good housewife to a fury? Is children's play abused as a way to really let off steam and let the sow out? Afterwards, they themselves know that this is definitely not the right place. And they are usually embarrassed.

But why are parents like this? Why can't they just play their children, develop normally, let their way? Perhaps because we project our unfulfilled dreams, desires and hopes into the children, expect them to do what we have not been able to achieve. They should be strong, successful, admired, they should become stars, Germany is looking for superstars. And that's why we have to see them win, over and over again. That's why we send them into battle like little gladiators who are supposed to increase our pride. And we forget that there is more important to the development of children and adolescents than a won or lost ice hockey or soccer game. When the police separated the rioters, the boys turned away, disgusted, disappointed, some with tears of anger in their eyes. They were ashamed of their parents. They only wanted to play, to compete in sports, not to destroy their opponents. Now they shook hands silently, left the ice together. And have sworn never to grow up. At least not like her parents. So the story could have gone on. But it probably isn't.

How should children learn fairness when violence is exemplified? It's a pretty fatal, sad story.

The Merkur CUP

is the world's largest e-youth tournament. It is organized by the Munich Merkur with the BFV and sponsored by the premium sponsors ESB Energie Südbayern, CEWE and the macron supplier with macronstore Munich. FC Bayern, SpVgg Unterhaching and TSV 1860 Munich also support the tournament. As a local sponsor, Raiffeisen-Volksbank Ebersberg is a loyal sponsor of the Merkur CUP. Other sponsors: FC Bayern Erlebniswelt, FC Bayern Frauen, Allianz Arena, Howe, AHD Sitzberger and Busreisen Geldhauser. ESB is also a fair play partner of the Merkur CUP.