On Saturday, 10/6/12, Anne's and my 7 year old grandson Cameron was playing goalie when the other team scored three goals against him. Each time, the fans of the scoring team cheered loudly as the ball bounced into the net, and their players celebrated the goals.
When the third goal was scored, the referee blew the whistle ending the game and the cheers grew louder as their team beat Cameron's team, 3 - 0. Cameron went into the goal to get the ball but instead, grabbed the white netting with his fingers and pressed his head into the netting and stayed there for a moment.
When he came out, he was crying, and he said to his coach, our son and his dad Clayton, that he "had let everyone down," as he hung his head and his body went limp. Clayton explained to him that they didn't score on him, they scored on the whole team, having driven the ball down against all of the other team members on the field.
He told Cameron, "We win as a team and we lose as a team." Eventually Cameron felt a little better and father and son walked off the field together.
The next Saturday, 10/13/12, Cameron's team won its game 4 - 0 and Cameron, playing forward got an assist in scoring one of the goals. Each time they scored, Cameron's team's fans cheered loudly. As the last goal was scored, I saw the other team's goalie hang his head, crying. Having watched Cameron the prior week, I understood his feelings.
It's funny how easily we cheer that which we like, never weighing the consequences of how others are affected by it, even children. But I now have a greater understanding of these events and will be more sensitive and-consider them more carefully as I respond.
Dick
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