Is Your Kid a Bully on the Court

You know, we homeschool and I never really thought we would have to deal with a bullying situation. At least I hoped we wouldn’t. BUT, IT HAPPENED. There was a bully on the basketball court.

 

A Bully on the Basketball Court

The 1st time it happened I pretty much shrugged it off. The boy wasn’t really talking smak to my son, but he was doing a lot of pushing and elbowing. Since they were playing basketball, I told my son “maybe that’s just how he plays.” “Maybe he’s just a little too aggressive on the court?” I asked if there were fouls called (figuring if the refs thought it was rough they would call a foul) Right?!

 

At the time my son was pretty sure this kid was doing it on purpose. I told him we would keep a close eye on it (him) and if anything else happened tell us right away. Meanwhile my husband is the coach and I’m sitting in the stands watching the games. The thing is you can’t really hear what is being said on the court.

 

Two weeks later it happened… The bully was back. Now honestly I hate to call this kid a name (bully) because that’s just not the type of people that we are. BUT did he really just walk over with a friend, stand in front of MY son and start pointing and whispering. Yes, he did and that was before the game even started.

 

During the game he proceeded to make rude remarks… When my son was at the free throw line “Hey, where’d you get your shoes… WALMART?” snicker snicker snicker ( laughing in his hands). My son just gave him a weird look and banked both shots 😉

Later it was “Are those shorts or a skirt you’re wearing?” More grabbing and pulling on his (my sons) shirt and tripping him during the game. Not in the normal basketball hand holding shirt way. In the end it was a lot of constant harassment from this kid on the court and my son was the one being bullied.

 

Unfortunately, we didn’t hear the actual verbal details until we got into the car heading home. My first reaction…

This kid doesn’t want to mess with MY KID.

Does HE know who he’s messing with?

What is wrong with some kids? Who are his Parents?

Now there is One Game Left in the season. What do you do?

Contact the head of the Basketball Dept. for this league? Let it go and hope (although you know he will continue to do it to someone else) we don’t see him again? Tell the kids coach what he’s doing (doubt that will do anything since it’s going to be the last game)? I know I plan on saying something. I have to guess that my son isn’t his only victim and hopefully by stepping up and saying something it helps him to change and realize what he is doing is very wrong.

It’s sad to think that this is already happening with 10 and 11 year olds.

What would you do if your child was bullied on the basketball court?

 

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