After listening to a parent swear at me while umpiring because I called a kid “safe” instead of “out” in the first inning of a preseason baseball game for 11-year-olds, I realized that the seriousness that many adults have for local youth athletics is borderline comical.
If you’ve ever played a sport, hearing the phrase “crazy parent” makes somebody in particular immediately come to mind.
To that parent nothing is more important than youth athletics, losing is synonymous with bad officiating and making excuses for his or her own kid is inevitable. That “crazy parent” has probably spent more money on private lessons for his or her child than he or she has saved for college tuition.
Having played, coached and officiated different sports in the community for nearly my whole life, I know just how overly competitive local youth athletic programs can be.
For instance, I know a parent who called a coach to say that a player talked badly about the coach so his own son would get more playing time. I’ve seen a baseball coach yell at his son to the point where the child was hysterically crying on the pitcher’s mound and the game had to be stopped temporarily because he refused to throw another pitch. Coaches have admitted to me that they hope one of their weaker players gets injured. This past summer, my baseball game ended in the second inning because the opposing team’s coach refused to leave the field after being ejected.
When parents can’t even understand that yelling at someone for making an inconsequential call in a youth league game is over-the-top, how do they manage to act civilized when they deal with problems that actually matter in life?
According to the Chicago Tribune, even Danny Crawford, 29-year NBA referee, had to be told to “quit coaching from the stands” at his son’s high school basketball games. Let that sink in. Crawford has likely been heckled for decades and has endured the prevalent hollering from know-it-all sports fans. Yet he can’t even contain himself while watching a high school basketball game. It’s tough for parents not to intervene in their kids’ games, especially for those who had successful athletic careers, themselves. But no athlete wants to hear a loud-mouthed adult shouting nonsensical jargon that is somehow intended to help or motivate him or her.
Believe it or not, kids tend to adopt the behavior of their parents. Whenever there’s a parent that constantly complains or pouts during games, the parent’s kid does the same thing. It’s not a coincidence.
Many kids also despise playing sports because they fear the constant criticism and pressure from their parents or coaches with each game. The parents crave vicarious success through their kids, riding the wake of their accomplishments but blaming others for their struggles. I’ve seen this burden put on children’s shoulders cause them to quit sports which they used to like.
I’m not condemning adults for being competitive. And by no means am I saying that all parents’ attitudes are getting out of hand. I’ve met some incredibly cordial and encouraging adults who are passionate about athletics but also respect youth sports for what it is: a game. Yet to me, the vulgar and disrespectful parents undeservedly overshadow the many mild-mannered parents in the community.
If there’s an adult that is ruining a kid’s passion for sports, the kid needs to confront that adult because these parents fail to realize just how annoying and detrimental their attitude can be to their children.
Adults, don’t ever be the “crazy parent.” Instead of being overly critical, be supportive and constructive.
Even if adults don’t realize it, their complaints and mind-numbing shouting make watching and playing sports significantly less enjoyable. So put it all in perspective and relax. It’s just a game.