Are you one of those parents?

I have never seen anything like this first hand. I guess im lucky. But than again it seems to be football and hockey that have the issues and mine place baseball. I may sound mean but my son sucks lol so I just watch as he has fun it dont matter if hes any good as long as hes having fun.

I have seen my fair share of this and it just makes no sense. How in the world are you supposed to teach the kids good sportsmanship when the parents act like lunatics! I have even seen two parents (their kids were on opposite teams) actually get into a fist fight. and to think the parents are the example for these poor innocent children. It is actually quite scary. That is why society gets worse with every generation. Thats why I am glad when I was child my parents weren't like that. It was good job even If I had stunk.

I coach U12 girls soccer and I know what you mean about the psycho parents. I tell them all the time that if they had an issue with the way I coach, the way the other coach coaches, the way the ref calls the game, etc...that we are always looking for people to volunteer. That usually shuts them up. There have been a couple times that I've had parents removed. I think that until these kids get to high school it should be about learning the fundamentals of whatever sport they are playing and learning sportsmanship. My 12 year old sister in law plays baseball, and that is a strange animal. The league is nuts, they have drafts already at this age group, and most of these teams have been together since the kids were 6 or 7 years old. My middle daughter is playing T-ball for this league starting this year and I already told my husband that if she wants to continue past this I'm not sure how I'll feel because this particular league is pretty intense and the parents are "ate up with the crazies" when it comes to their kids and ball.

I know exactly what you are talking about. Last summer at my daugthers baseball games there were parents on this other team that were so awful to their own children and team members that I could not hardly stand it. I felt so sorry for the little girl that was the pitcher I am guessing she was 11 years old and the things the parents were saying yelling at her was making me sick. The poor thing was so close to tears. I finally said you are doing a good job just relax and pitch to the catcher. It wasn't even my team!! The parents ended up feeling like jerks by the end of the game because when my daughter came up to bat they said oh look the coach must be putting in his little girl since they are beating us so bad. How awful for him to do that. With that I could no longer turn away. I turned back to all of them and said that is not his little girl that is my daughter who by the way is 12 years old and has dwarfism. Now my eyes get a look in them when I am mad that tells people not to even think about messing with me and I am pretty sure I had that look. You could have heard a pin drop in the stands when I turned back around to cheer my daughter on. After that they didn't yell at their team anymore either. It drives me nuts how parents behave at games.

I used to be one of those parents until I saw myself. I was so ashamed, my son is a Wrestler, wow those parents get out of hand. I got into an argument with someone who did an illegal move their kid did and hurt mine. I support my son, however now I sit up at the top in the stands so I can make sure I do not embarrass him, except for when his friends comment on me about how I look compared to their moms. Ainge

I know what you're talking about. I use to ref 4 & 5 year olds soccer matches. The parents were horrible even at that age. I got yelled at, even had a water bottle thrown at me once. It was crazy! My dad is one of those parents. He was always yelling at my brothers when they played football. It didn't matter how good they played he would always find something wrong. The other parents couldn't stand to listen to him so they gave him a job announcing the games. I guess they thought that would keep him busy. Well he would just put his hand over the microphone and yell out of the press box. You could still hear him. And at my brothers' basketball games he was just as bad. We would start out sitting next to him, but by the end of the game we had slid all the way down to the other end of the bleachers. It was soo embarrassing.

Oh boy, could I tell you horror stories on this topic. After raising 3 boys and 1 girl (who was a tomboy!) there isn't a sport that I haven't sat through, helped coach, or run the concession stand for the games! Most parents, to put it quite simply, act like a$$es at their children's games! Instead of the children learning good sportsmanship, the value of teamwork, playing the game for the benefit of being in shape and other things, they instead learn that if they aren't 'perfect' then their parents are bitterly disappointed, that winning is the only reason to play, and that one should win at all cost...even if it means cheating or being mean/rude to your friends on the other team! There are so many 'sideline coaches' that the children can hardly hear the real coach's words! Also, I get miffed when the coaches begin to act like winning is everything! I actually took my son off a team once because the coach had a bad habit of walking onto the field, pulling off my son's hat and throwing it in my son's face to make a point. When that wasn't making an impact, he began picking him up by his shirt!! Geeze....this isn't Major League play and thousands of dollars aren't at stake! (and even if it were...I still don't think these actions are right!)

My son played travel hockey, we actually played against a team where the parents took bets on which kid would be the first to get kicked out of the game, which kid would be the first to injure a kid on the opposing team, etc. My son was the team enforcer, if a kid on the other team was a bully and playing dirty, he was the one who went out and took care of the bully. He was not a big kid, but he played hard. I was more likely the parent to yell at incompetent refs. We played a team where one of our kids was down, a kid on the other team was stamping on his arm with hockey skates, he cut the kids jersey and elbow protectors but thankfully not the kid. The ref gave him 2 minutes for roughing! Less then 5 minutes later, the coach pulled the team off the ice in the middle of the game. He felt it was not safe for the kids to be out there and we cheered when he did it. Most of my kids coaches taught them to play a clean game and I was grateful for that.

LOL I usually go to a game to watch MY CHILDREN They are the only ones I see. So guess I am a lunatic. its like when they perform at school functions. I only have my eyes on them lol

I have seen those parents you speak of and I have wondered if they realize just how big a fool they are making of themselves. I have attended numerous sports events throughout the years (too many to count) lol and I have yelled and cheered, but not to the point of some of the parents I have seen, I think my kids would have killed me lol. I have never been able to figure out why those parents act as if this is their kids big claim to fame and if they mess up, thats the end of their 'career'. They are kids, let them play.

Hi, Of course we are there to support our child. But then again should know show that the child's game meant everything to us that he should win or else ! But not showing any excitement in the game is no good too as it can demotivate the child. So pick between the two. Thats for me.

I have yet to see that at a match as i regulary watch my 11 year old daughter play her football matches or do her judo or athletics comps. I usually cheer her on and give her some encouragment. So far all the parents have been very friendly. Hopefully it will stay that way.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I just shared a story on minnies response. I coach baseball, flag football and tackle football. What some of our leagues have done is to impose penalties on the team whose parents are out of control. If I as a coach can't settle the parent down, our team gets an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It destroys our teams morale, but it does help control the parent. My theory on this is that most of these parents are former athletes. And if you have worked with athletes for any length of time you will find that some of the best ones are very high strung and emotional. As a coach I have to understand that and help the child harness that energy into productive actions. These parents and former athletes don't have the release of that energy that they once did. They have to learn some of the things that I am teaching their kids. They have to redirect that energy into more productive outlets. Maybe we should make all the problem parents run a few laps before the game! LOL I would love to see that!

I have seen those type of parents who scream at their kids so much that the kid can't even play...I am not that type of parent.I might cheer for my kid but I do not run up and down the side lines yelling and screaming..lol...thats just not me and it takes the fun out of teh game for the kids.It just ruins it for everyone...

At the moment, neither of my kids are in any sports. I don't think I would be one of those parents that are loud, irritating, and gets upset at my child if they lose the game. It's just a game, if they lose or win, it doesn't matter. When my kids do join a sports team, I will be the parent that cheers for the team and not just my child, I won't be loud or act like a fool. I can't say for my husband, he goes nuts when he watches sports on tv.

I was at a match once on a field with several matches all going on at once. Some kids walked over the corner of the pitch we were playing on and the coach shouted 'do you mind going AROUND the pitch please!'. A 'parent' immediately responded with: 'Don't you F*****in' swear at my kid!'. WTF??? The coach didn't swear, was perfectly reasonable and even said please.... The guy was looking for a fight before his son's soccer game had even started!!!

I sit quietly and cheer my daughter on just a little bit. She used to be on a softball team and some of the other parents would hollar all of the time very loudly for their children and other children. It got on my nerves after a while. One of them always made a fool of themselves.

They must be first timers and these parents were overwhelmed by excitement. What is fascinating when they quarrelled with other parents on the opposite team specially the losing ones. My, it looks like you're watching a bullfight .

Hahaha i so could imagine, Me i would definatly be the supportive one. not demanding and cruel.(or amkeing a fool of myself)... wich one are you?.

I know for sure my husband and I will not be sitting down quietly. He will be shouting at the top of his lungs to cheer our kid and me too. Cheer our kid and our kids team. I might even bring a pom pom to cheer !!! LOL