In Harundale, a youth basketball referee was attacked earlier this month during one of the season's final games. A coach was charged in connection with the assault and banned for life from coaching a county team. A parent who joined in the scuffle received a two-year ban.
A few days later, a youth baseball parent-coach in Stevensville dropped several choice expletives in front of his 7- and 8-year-old players while arguing a call with an umpire.
The league suspended him and barred his entire team from playing in the tournament's championship game.
Around the nation, parents have brawled on the sidelines at T-ball games and chased referees to their cars after soccer matches. A father even beat another dad to death in 2000 while his children played hockey in Massachusetts.
What is it about youth sports that makes these otherwise normal people snap?
"This stuff doesn't happen in ballet," said Jim Adams, a veteran youth baseball coach who helped start the Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball league on Kent Island. Almost every year, he must deal with an out-of-control parent complaining about an umpire's strike zone or their child's playing time.
"The large percentage of parents know how to handle themselves ... but some just aren't able to control it," said Adams, who coached varsity baseball last season at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis.
"There are times I've even gotten upset and had to turn around and apologize to my parents," said Mark Gibson, the football commissioner for Green Hornets Athletics.
The problem, experts said, is that most parents view their children as an extension of themselves.
More
A few days later, a youth baseball parent-coach in Stevensville dropped several choice expletives in front of his 7- and 8-year-old players while arguing a call with an umpire.
The league suspended him and barred his entire team from playing in the tournament's championship game.
Around the nation, parents have brawled on the sidelines at T-ball games and chased referees to their cars after soccer matches. A father even beat another dad to death in 2000 while his children played hockey in Massachusetts.
What is it about youth sports that makes these otherwise normal people snap?
"This stuff doesn't happen in ballet," said Jim Adams, a veteran youth baseball coach who helped start the Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball league on Kent Island. Almost every year, he must deal with an out-of-control parent complaining about an umpire's strike zone or their child's playing time.
"The large percentage of parents know how to handle themselves ... but some just aren't able to control it," said Adams, who coached varsity baseball last season at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis.
"There are times I've even gotten upset and had to turn around and apologize to my parents," said Mark Gibson, the football commissioner for Green Hornets Athletics.
The problem, experts said, is that most parents view their children as an extension of themselves.
More
I remember vividly playing LL in the West Salisbury league. I also remember our team never getting any calls(many were blatantly wrong, above and beyond anything I've seen before or since), and an umpire BEFORE a game attempting to get into a fistfight with my coach. Another time an opposing coach attempted to egg our coach into a fight. He was a Minister who happened to be one helluva coach. Our team was treated quite differently due to the fact we had African American coaches(at that time, the only team in the league with an all minority coaching staff). We sucked up the bigotry, and won the 1996 League Championship. Shoutout to you Coach Waters, for teaching us boys not just skills for on the diamond, but life lessons.
ReplyDeleteyes, those parents are living vicariously through their child... in almost every case, those parents were probably not very good athletes. and, there is nothing worse than the 'little league parent'.
ReplyDeleteWe are just setting the example that our children should learn. Yell and curse first , if that don't work , then kick the crap out of whoever.
ReplyDeleteThey do it in professional sports as well.
Thank you mr. lawyers and judges for screwing up America.
Encourage your kids, but don't dictate.
ReplyDeleteEveryone wants their child to do well. But don't put unrealistic or unattainable demands on them.
The child should look up to you. Not because you are taller but because they love you and want to please you.
You reject them because of a bad play and you are rejecting their love. Keep it on an even keel folks.