Smith's Crew in SA

[LP]

You're on the money there mate....I played the majority of my career from early 80s through to late 90s........there was sledging of course, but it was usually funny, usually left to the senior members of the sides & virtually never abusive personal attacks.  Younger members of a side would never have dared open their mouths until they had at least established themselves as decent players in any grade side.

I had a few years off & then decided to play one more year in 2nd grade to assist the club with mentoring a few of the younger blokes in around 2003 (as a mid 30 year old !)..........the amount of sledging had increased 10 fold since I last played, it was mostly abusive, banal & unintelligent & it was mostly trotted out by snotty nosed little teenage brats,  in their first season having done absolutely nothing, & senior players (ie me & a couple of others) were not immune in the slightest from this abuse.  I walked away after one year, didn't need to put up with that cr@p.  For someone who loves the game as I do....to me, that is extremely sad.

cheers

I had a similar experience coming back to play for much the same reasons as yourself when in my 40s. Invited to captain a team made up of "youthful potential" that seemed to be mostly misdirected talent.

But had the sledging increased or was it just because on return we were at the weekend warrior level? A level that is often proliferated with teams full of young footballers bridging the off-season with a bit of cricket?

I also found interfering parents an issue with young teenagers, a lot of why isn't my kid opening sort of discussions went on! Kids playing the sport a parent had chosen for them maybe?