Is parental involvement a liability in youth sports?

Is parental involvement a liability in Youth Sports?

The answer is yes, parental involvement is a liability in youth sports.

The media has shown us what happens when parents become overly involved -- and more specifically, inappropriately involved in youth sports.

From the infamous example of the "hockey dad" who killed another man at his son's youth hockey game, to the oftentimes too common "gym fights" between parents and parents, parents and officials, and parents and spectators.

With many of these fights occurring at the child's youth sport contest, we must think about what kind of example we are setting for our children.

If the pattern continues and parents remain inappropriately involved in their child's youth sports, we will continue to teach our children that violence is an okay way to solve problems, and fair play and sportsmanship will be a thing of the past.

The National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) trains and certifies youth sport coaches. Nationally, this is a great program. The problem lies at the local level, through after school programs and parks and recreation departments.

Committees must be established to monitor coaches' and parents' behaviors at youth sporting events. Specific consequences should be in place at the local level should a violation of conduct occur.

We must work together at the national and local levels to stop this problem before it reaches the media.

This article was originally published in the March 2003 issue of JOPERD (Journal of Physical Education Recreation and Dance, the National Publication for PE teachers.).