We have all heard the horror stories about overzealous parents who sits in the stands watching their child’s soccer game only to lash out a coach, referee, or other parent when they get upset by a particular call. If you watch the news you know that in a few cases an irate parent’s poor sideline behavior has lead to injury and in one documented case—death. As a result, officials of a Pennsylvania youth soccer league are becoming proactive. According to local newspapers, this season the soccer league is issuing a warning to parents: “Be quiet or get out.”
The president of Central Pennsylvania’s Youth Soccer League told reporters that parents are being asked to be quiet when they watch their kids play in hopes that it will prevent the bad-mouthing and shouting, which have been present at recent match-ups. Soccer league officials say parents should keep in mind that the games are about the kids. Subsequently, officials are asking parents and coaches to forget about yelling, cheering and dissing the refs. They also don’t want disgruntled parents to take their aggressions out on players, other parents, or coaches.
Youth soccer league officials told reporters that the league had 80 reports of parents behaving badly during a single weekend. They noted that referees had been “shoved, yelled at, forced off the road after games and even threatened with lawsuits.” If I didn’t know of other incidents invloving parents behaving recklessly at their child’s ball games I would say that this move by the Pennsylvania youth soccer league was shocking, but sadly, it isn’t. The reason: some parents simply can’t keep it together, and in losing it on the field or in the stands, they not only set a terrible example for their children, but they also embarrass themselves and their families. I hope the warning to Pennsylvania soccer parents works, but I question how they will enforce it.