LETTER – Some tips for adults who behave badly at kids’ sports events

My wife and I stopped to watch a kids’ ( boys age 8 ) soccer game this evening. We couldn’t help but notice one woman watching from the sidelines become increasingly agitated.

At one point she raced out onto the field yelling at kids, coaches and parents on one team. We did not see what happened to precipitate her behavior but from her yelling and threats it appeared that she perceived one of the young players on the other team as having hurt her son – in her mind intentionally.

Roughly 40 years ago, I volunteered to coach kids soccer and I experienced a similar situation. At one point during a game, a grandfather whose son was on the other team stormed across the field because his grandson got kicked. He accused me of sending my little hooligans out onto the field to purposely hurt his grandson.
He then threatened me with physical violence.

I would really appreciate it if you would use your show to communicate the following to parents:

1) Kids sports are supposed to be for the kids; not to satisfy the competitive needs of some adults;

2) It has been my experience that 8 year old children do not set out purposely hurt an opponent. Yes accidents happen and kids do get bumped or knocked down or kicked or stepped on. But it is almost always unintentionally and not done as an intended attempt to injure.

3) If something should happen on the playing field, parents need to stay out of it and leave it up to the referees and the coaches to resolve the issue – hopefully in a constructive way that does not frighten any on the children.

4) If parents are unable to contain and control their emotions, they should not attend events where their child is competing with other children.

5) If parents interfere with a children’s sporting event, the coaches and referee should immediately call the game to an end AND award the win to the team opposite the team their child is on. This will discourage future bad behavior from adults at kids sporting events.

Participation in team sports should be a positive learning and social experience for children. Badly behaving adults can have the opposite effect.

Thank you for any assistance you might be able to provide in reminding parents and grandparents that kids sports are for the kids. And, that they as adults, need to behave in positive manner while attending kids sporting events. For example — cheer and applaud good plays by kids on the opposing team as well as the play of the team their child is on.

JOHN ENGLISH
Kamloops