We've all witnessed it and somehow, it just will not go away. I'm talking about the behavior of some "adults" in the stands and along the sidelines at youth sporting events who just seem to take it too far. As a player, coach and official I've seen it far too many times. They seem to know more than the coach and boast to others how they would coach the game, they bark commands to the players and of course, they see the game and know the rules better than the game officials. As I stand along the playing field or court in my own little world of taking photographs, I can't help but hear them and wonder why they aren't out there coaching or officiating. It also makes me wonder what kind of discussions they have with their son or daughter following a game. Has the game become more important to them than to their child?
Developing players take their cues from someone. Usually, if the coach and parents are in sync for proper behavior and conduct, it is reflected on the playing field. Granted, there will always be the occasional reaction of frustration, but repetitive poor behavior is the result of a coach or parent who has failed the player. It has been my experience that in a majority of cases, you only need to look as far as the parent. Show me a group of well behaved parents at a youth sporting event and you can bet on the same behavior from their children. Likewise, disruptive and unruly parents spills over to the actions of their children on the field. Sadly, they don't see the big picture and understand that life is more than just about the game.
Recently, I had the unfortunate opportunity of listening to a group of parents yell and taunt at players from another team. Their behavior was something you might have expected at a professional sporting event or wrestling event, but certainly not an event played by teenagers. Their repeated taunting finally caused one of their own players to show his own frustration of losing by striking a player. Players were ejected, the game ended early and the unruly parents destroyed a perfectly good game. Sadly, that is probably not the last time that will occur with that group of parents and team.
For an interesting read on parental behavior at youth sporting events, read the following from the Rutgers University Youth Sports Research Council. You may also want to read, "It's not just a game anymore".
Developing players take their cues from someone. Usually, if the coach and parents are in sync for proper behavior and conduct, it is reflected on the playing field. Granted, there will always be the occasional reaction of frustration, but repetitive poor behavior is the result of a coach or parent who has failed the player. It has been my experience that in a majority of cases, you only need to look as far as the parent. Show me a group of well behaved parents at a youth sporting event and you can bet on the same behavior from their children. Likewise, disruptive and unruly parents spills over to the actions of their children on the field. Sadly, they don't see the big picture and understand that life is more than just about the game.
Recently, I had the unfortunate opportunity of listening to a group of parents yell and taunt at players from another team. Their behavior was something you might have expected at a professional sporting event or wrestling event, but certainly not an event played by teenagers. Their repeated taunting finally caused one of their own players to show his own frustration of losing by striking a player. Players were ejected, the game ended early and the unruly parents destroyed a perfectly good game. Sadly, that is probably not the last time that will occur with that group of parents and team.
For an interesting read on parental behavior at youth sporting events, read the following from the Rutgers University Youth Sports Research Council. You may also want to read, "It's not just a game anymore".
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