Honest to god, any tiny problem I'd have with what you said has more to do with the competetiveness than the swearing. I think, if it were my kids, I'd rather you emphasize how well they played than that they demolished some other team. Still, that's the squooshy liberal in me talking....I get that when trying to build up the egos of 12 year old boys, you gotta speak their language .

Any child of mine is gonna learn curse etiquette quick, when to do it and when not....it's not just me, it's my family....so it's gotta be done. That said, I understand that not all families are like mine, and kids from some of those families (ones that may not let 12 year olds watch the Simpsons etc.....it happens) may be on your team. Because you're in loco parentis, the standard is higher....you can't just make the choice you'd make for your own kids. You're the coach, they look up to you, they are likely to try to emulate you. ESPECIALLY if the word (and the intense emotion that went with it) is novel.

I guess I'm trying to say that you wouldn't have a problem with me, and I don't think you'd have damaged the boys in any way. But I can see why some parents are getting on your case.