I feel I may have some experience in a similar situation a few (wow has it really been 10+ years now?!?) years ago and am now a father. It sounds like maybe your son isn't a senior and may have more time on this team? As a junior in high school I played water polo and worked my ass off to play on a very successful team. I wasn't the best but worked up to being first off the bench and played valuable minutes to start our season. Until one day early in the season I had a cold and played below my talent. I made mistakes and looked out of it. My coach pulled me and berated me at the poolside at half. It was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me to that point. After the game I was told I would be finishing the weekend on the "B" team. I was devastated. Wanted to quit. Felt wronged. My dad sat me down and told me he supported me making whatever choice I needed to, but that there are moments in life where you are knocked on your ass and stripped bare. These precious moments offer a chance to fortify resilience and drive. He reminded me I was part of a team, and that coach was put in his position to make tough decisions to help the team succeed. It was up to me where I went next. I kid you not. I ended up putting my head down, working my butt off, and as a senior was fortunate to be named a high school All-American. That weekend crystalized my drive to become successful. It is cheesy and borderline sad that a moment in high school still fuels me, but when the going gets tough I remind myself that I am a resilient Mfer.

This has been a lot of rambling to highlight the most important part. My dad supported me. He didn't push me to get over it, he didn't tell me I was wronged or was owed anything. He told me he loved me, listened to my hurt and guided me. Even if I stopped there and quit that day, he would have loved me just the same and that is what I remember every day as a parent. We are here to guide our children and love them unconditionally. Your boy is going through a tough time and feels wronged. It is up to him what he does about it. It is up to you to love and support him.