Aggression- Okay on the Football Field, Not So Good in the Kitchen

We, like many of you out there, enjoy watching our kids participate in extra curricular activities. Football is our family's sport of choice. The thing about football is that it's rough. It's tough. It's sometimes a sport that is prone to injuries, and most certainly prone to aggression. After all, that's sort of the point. The player must be aggressive and assert himself on the field. He must beat his opponent to the ball, attempt to gain control of the ball, stop his opponent from advancing by hurling the physical force of his body against the other player. He takes pride in hitting his opponent, forcing the ball from his grip, taking the legs out from under the opposition. The rougher and more bone crunching the tackles, the louder the roar of the crowd. Football is a sport in which aggression is rewarded,a coveted trait among coaches. And yet, at the same time we strive to instill the value of good sportsmanship in our young athletes as well. This can be a trickier concept that it appears. Teaching young men to turn their aggression on and off like a light switch doesn't always pan out the way we'd hope. Sometimes aggression can spill over, from on the field, where it is encouraged, even demanded, to off the field where is it usually inappropriate and ill fitting.
Such was the case for Emanuel following his football game last Sunday (in which he displayed awesome sportsmanship ON the field and OFF..er...until we got home). Manny had saved his Gatorade, what was left of it from his game. He placed it in the refrigerator with plans to use it again on Tuesday for practice (he's really practical and frugal that way). Brandon came along at some point and essentially drank up the rest of his brothers Gatorade. Emanuel happened by the refrigerator again, and noticed it gone and asked who had taken it. Brandon responded with his usual cackle and devilish smile. As Emanuel launched his complaints, Brandon laughed more and more. Finally, out of the blue, Emanuel grabbed his Gatorade by the the top and smacked Brandon upside his head with said bottle. Brandon was shocked for a moment, then began crying. As he noticed a bit of blood dripping from his lip, he began shrieking that his lip was busted.
Of course, I had to send Emanuel up to his room to chill out for a bit. It is with out a doubt absolutely inappropriate to smack your little brother with your Gatorade bottle, regardless of how much he may have been asking for it.
The lesson of the day at our house: Aggression- Okay on the football field, not so good in the kitchen.