Parents of High School Athletes Need to Get a Grip!
By: Rick Worthington
1/9/18
I’ve spent a pretty considerable amount of my career involved in high sports sports in some way, shape or form. I’ve done play by play, and I’ve even coached a little myself.
I’ve gotten to know coaches and players as well as officials around high school football, basketball and both baseball and softball.
You want to know who has the toughest job? It’s not even close. The officials have the hardest job, and it’s hard because parents make it that way. Listen to the negativity some parents will throw at officials the next time you go to a High School Basketball game.
It’s sadly not just aimed at officials…When I’ve gotten to know coaches, and been a coach, you know what they say would make their lives much easier? Almost EVERY coach I’ve ever talked to say, they wish they did not have to deal with parents so much.
This week, I read in the Idaho Statesman about a Mountain View girls basketball parent that has been banned from all High School activities for a year. The punishment was handed down after the player’s father came onto the court and threw a coat at a referee.
Get this… The Mother of the player was also suspended from games for a month and barred from all road games the rest of the season. She has been ejected from games on two separate occasions!
Unreal. Shame on you for acting like that.
I’m sure the other Mountain View parents are not acting the same, so I’m not painting the whole crowd or school here. I’ve personally never heard a Mountain View parent acting poorly in baseball games I’ve attended there. My point is this: Don’t allow it to continue. Don’t stand by and watch something like that happen and fail to report it to the school.
And to the parents in question, here is a tip. If you were hoping your daughter would get a scholarship for playing ball… Well, coaches usually scout games, and they pay attention to parents who act like idiots.
Here are a couple of facts. Most coaches are unpaid volunteers. Officials make next to nothing. Just relax and watch your kid play, ok?
