My daughter is in her 3rd season of soccer. She is in 3rd grade. This past Fall, the team Mom made a wise decision and offered the idea of an end-of-season party in lieu of snacks at each game. I couldn't have been happier. Then Spring soccer arrived and snack time rolled right back in.
"Snack duty" has become a mainstay for youth soccer leagues. As soon as we have the game schedule, we also have the scheduling of the "snack schedule". While this might have been exciting for the younger set (as well as necessary), it seems a little stale for 3rd graders. How did this tradition start? Why?
I'm trying to pinpoint why I am so bothered by this. First of all, the snack expectation is way beyond orange slices. There is usually a juice box of some sort or Gatorade (which I despise and really is not as healthy as it seems). Then there might be a fake fruit roll up, cookies, Goldfish crackers.....bad, bad, bad. Why, why, why? So, if the team is 10+ players, you are in for $10-$15 worth of snacks.
Secondly, my older children gave up a mid-morning snack after pre-school. So, when a soccer game starts at 9am and is over at 10:30am, why do we need a snack? My daughter would be much happier with One Direction stickers, an iTunes download, or a snap bracelet (although she does look pretty excited about that donut!) I just find the snacks utterly unnecessary.
Instead of the game ending, win or lose, and the girls rushing to the sidelines for snacks, let's focus on what is important.....the game, team spirit....and fun.
I am all for it! We don't do surgery juices/snacks or Gatorade in our house.. .and it seems like a punishment that my daughter doesn't get to partake in those types of snacks because I am making a healthy choice for her. Isn't the point of being involved in sports to be healthier?
ReplyDeleteYes! No offense to parents who choose sugary snacks or juices for their children. But in this day and age with children and allergies and the focus that many parents have on healthy choices, it's seems like a logical choice to forgo the snack time.
DeleteI know what you mean and it's sad. Our kids expect snacks at a soccer game. We don't even have a schedule for it, every mom that remembers brings something and the kids get what they want. Since here is so much junk, the kids don't even look at the fruits. I like the idea of an end-of-season party and am going to being it up next season, might work out better!
ReplyDeleteThe party was great. There were small "prizes" for each player, showcasing their best skill as a player. We did have pizza, but there were also apples slices and carrots. The coach even did a slide show of the season! To me, this is a much more beneficial reward that just using food as a reward.
DeleteThe party sounded like a far better idea- celebrating the end of a season being a team. Snacks just seem like a hassle and a waste.
ReplyDeleteCan I get a woot woot! We also did tabled the soccer snacks and did an end of year party. Best idea ever!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear!
DeleteTotally reminds me of that episode of Everyone Loves Raymond where they are told what kind of snack was appropriate. We were thinking of soccer for our girls but the though of snack like this doesn't make me want to even think further about it!!
ReplyDeleteYou can volunteer to be the "team Mom" and suggest other ideas besides snacks! ;)
DeleteVery good point and well made.
ReplyDeleteKate x
Kate at Home
Thanks, Kate. The issue has been gnawing at me for a few weeks now since the Spring season started; had to get out there!
DeleteI love it! I am so sick of children having to have snacks for everything they do. Not to mention they are usually unhealthy snacks. I sign my kids up so they can get exercise and not so they become a childhood obesity stat. My 5 year old played flag football last fall and the coach thought it was a great idea to sugar them up with donuts before they played. I commented that with their metabolism they would crash by half-time hoping he would quit the practice. Nope! He wanted to give them another donut at half-time. Uggghhh! I would allow my son to participate in the ritual and of course, he wasn't happy. I don't blame him........all the rest of the team was eating the donuts. I heard lots of grumbling about it, but until we all stand together for the health of our children, it will continue to happen. I love the end of the season party idea. Might have to pass that one by baseball coach Dad.
ReplyDeleteI read something about this topic somewhere...a mom wanted to go healthy with snacks so she emailed the coach and together they emailed the team requesting only healthy sideline snacks (and they gave reasons) and it turned out everyone agreed. maybe your team would want to cut back on snacks too!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! If a kid needs a snack, the parent can throw it in the duffel bag, or save it for the car ride. When I played soccer in high school, some moms insisted on bringing snacks for the whole team, every game. It wasn't a requirement, but come on, high school??
ReplyDeleteI am years away from all this, since my daughter is now in high school, but I agree that this is overkill. One more thought I throw in from my own experience: What if one or more of the kids on the team has a food allergy? My daughter does and I can tell you that while food is a great way to celebrate and share, it can also be a great divider for a kid who can't have what everyone else is having. Not sure I think stickers or snap bracelets are necessary either. Can't the kids just play for the fun of it? Visiting from the blog hop; stop by and see me at www.pushingonarope.com
ReplyDeleteWait - kids don't just get orange slices and juice anymore!???? It was good enough enough for us! :)
ReplyDeleteXO
Pearls & Paws
I'm bothered when i feel others' expectations closing in on me. Almost regardless of what those expectations are...Honestly, when I think it through, that resentment probably originates in my feeling threatened, fearing a loss of freedom to choose for myself. I suppose if I reminded myself that I'm still free to choose, no matter what the expectation and whatever the outcome, I might not feel so much angst about societal expectations. Because there are always, always expectations.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I'd still feel a bit growly too about the soccer snack expectation. And I'd feel a little stuck...hard to refuse to pitch in, but who wants to feel forced? Lynaea @ EveryDayBloom.com