EDITOR: During my athletic career, I have seen many examples of
poor sportsmanship between fellow players, coaches and fans during
competition. While this has become a
“given” part of professional sports, sadly, it is also becoming
increasingly common to see violent behavior from parents at youth
sporting events.
EDITOR:
During my athletic career, I have seen many examples of poor sportsmanship between fellow players, coaches and fans during competition. While this has become a “given” part of professional sports, sadly, it is also becoming increasingly common to see violent behavior from parents at youth sporting events.
We have all read the headlines about escalating violence by parents in the stands or on the sidelines. In California, a parent attacked a coach after a game because she felt her daughter had not played enough during the contest.
Even worse, she continued screaming after being arrested that she was “coming back for more.” At a Pop Warner football game last year, more than 100 parents, coaches and players were involved in a brawl (Pop Warner’s football and cheer programs include children as young as 5 years old). In another instance, a father was jailed for threatening to kill a coach because his son only played three innings of a six-inning baseball game. There were countless other incidents across the country.
The violent acts above are only the worst examples. But there are many smaller transgressions that do not receive media attention. Stories of parents displaying such deplorable behavior as berating players for losing games or harassing opposing teams are far more common, but can be damaging to the growing number of youth athletes.
The Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association (SGMA) estimates that more than half of all kids in America play at least one sport in an organized setting, with about 26 million kids actively involved in youth sports. There is tremendous concern about these children, and many youth leagues are struggling with ways to stop this epidemic of poor sportsmanship and violence, especially when it stems from parents of children on the field.
Although there is no single, all-encompassing answer to the problem, steps are being taken by many organizations to improve the environment in which our children compete. For example, the National Alliance for Youth Sports has developed a Code of Ethics, providing a set of guidelines designed to improve the culture of youth sports. Key points include a pledge by parents to provide positive support, care and encouragement through the following steps:
• Encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, and officials at every game, practice or other sporting event
• Place the emotional and physical well being of children ahead of a desire to win
• Insist that children play in a safe and healthy environment
• Demand a sports environment for children that is free from drugs, tobacco and alcohol
• Remember that the game is for youth – not adults
• Ask players to treat other players, coaches, fans and officials with respect regardless of race, sex, nationality or ability
• Help children enjoy the sports experience by being a respectful fan
• Make youth sports fun
In order to get the most out of youth sports – improved health, positive peer interaction and a feeling of personal accomplishment – parents must support their children while not becoming too emotionally involved. The physical health aspects are often apparent, but can be detrimental to a child’s self-esteem and mental health. By following these rules of good sportsmanship, everyone wins at youth sports.
I would like to add my own suggestions to this list by encouraging parents to control their anger and disappointment, to respect officials by avoiding confronting them at the game, and never to ridicule or yell at children or other participants for making a mistake or losing a competition. Children should have the luxury of playing sports out of sheer enjoyment of the activity. Violent behavior from the sidelines doesn’t just hurt the victims, it hurts all the players, on and off the field.
Pat McInally, Director
PacifiCare’s GoodSports Program
