This Saturday I attended the Mini League Grand Finals at Erskineville Park. As I entered the park I was immediately reminded of my own days playing on children’s sports teams; the parents were actively supporting the kids by cheering them on, food was being sold at concession stands, and the referees and coaches were shouting and instructing. Oranges were even brought onto the field as a half time snack, just as they do in the United States. As I paid closer attention, however, I began to notice slight differences between these Australian Mini League games and my own experiences on children’s sports teams in America. Firstly, I was shocked at the amount of tackling that was allowed at such a young age. In the United States, touch football is played until middle school because tackling is viewed as too rough for children. That being said, I was also surprised at the small amount of tears coming from the players; although they were being violently thrown to the ground, I only saw one player cry. Even then he was back on his feet and playing again within five minutes. I can’t help but think that if this game was played in America too many children would be benched with tears to finish a game. I was then surprised that the tackling was not just boy on boy, but girls were thrown into the mix as well. Co-ed teams do exist in the states at a very young age but no hard contact would be allowed on the field. Therefore, the toughness of the game both surprised and impressed me.
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