Parents and Kids' Sports

Thomas Junta has just been convicted of involuntary manslaughter of Michael Costin. The two brawled twice after a pick-up hockey practice between their kids. The second brawl resulted in Costin's death.

This is another example (albeit extreme) of why parents in general are out of control when it comes to kids' baseball, football, hockey, soccer, etc. games. What is supposed to be a fun and learning experience for kids, is everything but for their parents. They're there to make sure a ball count isn't called a strike or a foul against their child isn't missed. They act as if their kids are playing in game 7 of the World Series or the Super Bowl with fame and fortune on the line. What they are actually doing is detracting from their kids experience at best, and endangering the lives of other parents or referees at worst.

I suggest that all parents be banned from all kids sporting activities (both practices and games). No parent, unless they are acting in their capacity of a team or game official, should be allowed to stay and watch practices or games. The kids would be much better off not having to deal with the antics of their or another kid's, parents. So would the parents be prevented from taking out their hostility, for what is usually a meaningless event, on another parent or game official.

01/12/02 ( 413 )
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