Sportsmanship

I guess I’m an idealist when it comes to sportsmanship at the high school level and younger sports and have seen some things over the past year and a half that really bothered me. For example, last spring at a high school game, the PA system was used to broadcast to the home team what the visiting team’s batter had done in their previous at bats as the batter was coming to the plate. No information was given about the home team. Instead the home team players had “walk-up” music played. That same spring, I witnessed a near fight between opposing fans after a Dad said something to one of the opposing player’s Mom and the deputies had to be called before it escalated further. Last fall in a little league football game, a parent brought a bullhorn with pre-programmed sounds to the game and made noise while the opposing team was on offense such that it was practically impossible for the kids to even run a play. The weekend before last, I saw the head coach of a 12U team start arguing with the opposing team’s fans through the fence. It escalated to the point that he challenged one parent to a fight while dropping a few “F-bombs” in front of the kids. He was promptly ejected from the game, but one of his (male) assistant coaches then went around behind the fence and continued jawing at one of the player’s MOM!

On three separate occasions at high school games this spring, I have seen fans heckle opposing players. Perhaps the worse of the three occurred this past week where a man PLENTY old enough to know better, sat right at the backstop and right beside his team’s dugout and heckled opposing players. Another fan used an artificial noise maker. On all three occasions, the coach was fully aware of the behavior of the fans and did not “exert his or her influence to enhance sportsmanship by spectators…” or to ensure “each student (should) be treated with the utmost respect” as is required by the Coaches Code of Ethics listed in the NFHS rulebook. Instead, in a subsequent article on the team’s website it states, “There was a huge, energetic crowd on-hand … which proved to be so beneficial…” I guess there is a difference of opinion on what constitutes “support” for a team.

I too am human and can get caught up in the excitement of the game and say or do something stupid that I may regret (especially when someone goes after one of my players or parents). But, the people I am referring to are the ones that leave their house with the intention of behaving in an unsportsmanlike way. This is not college or professional sports and the participants are not adults (that may come into the stands after you). I believe we owe it to our kids to show them how to compete and give 100%, but still conduct ourselves in a respectful manner towards others. I still pray for the SF Giants fan that was attacked at a recent game and remains in critical condition. It makes one wonder what the attackers “role models” were like.

 

Couldn't agree with you more. It is out of hand and not sure what can be done about it.

Personally when I am at a game, like our old buddy marlinfan, I sit way down the fence line away from everyone so I can run my mouth where nobody can hear me!

Few things I have witnessed...

Saw this just last week...
Parent from an opposing team, at an away game, was standing next to the visitors dugout to the right of the catcher screaming on every pitch. When they were on defense, he would wait until the pitch was on the way and scream "swing batter". When on offense, he would wait until the ball was let go and then scream "she's running" even if there was nobody on base. After a while 1st base coach asked the umpire if he could do anything about it and the umpire said no (which I agree with, not his job). IMO, the opposing coach, who he was standing right next too, should have told him to stop. This went on for the entire game (which they lost...).

Another example was a coach was standing against the fence talking to a parent. A parent from the other team did not hear the entire conversation or even the complete sentence. Instead, this parent heard what they wanted and started yelling at the coach calling them a bad sport. The coach took the high road and just walked away. The other parent then ran around the stands and to the other coaches telling them what "he heard". Needless to say by the end of the game, the entire crowd was all riled up and tried to follow the coach back to their car. The coach again took the high road, didn't say anything and just left the field.

And the best one...

Let me state up front that I don't know all of the details here. A very tight game between two good teams. A parent for the team that didn't win, allegedly (lawyer speak since I didn't see it) tore into his child in front of the rest of the rest of the parents and girls. The coach allegedly (more lawyer speak) got in the middle of it. This did not sit well with the dad so he started (this part I was there for) yelling, screaming, and threatening (among other slurs that I will not say) the coach again in front of rest of the parents and girls. Got so bad that the police were called. He then started yelling at the police who promptly told him if he didn't shut up and leave immediately, he would be arrested. I have to say I was impressed by the coach who never raised her voice or acted inappropriately to this parent even when he was in her face screaming.

 

Great Post

I agree 100 percent,sepped away from coaching for a couple yrs,got tired of the ugly side of the sport,wish we could video some of the parents and show them at a later time,i know they get caught up in the moment but at no time should you make derrogatory comments to or about kids at a game,,,had one player get hit by pitcher twice then 3rd time up a parent was screaming make her earn it this time,,,wow,,,,but then again morals have left all over,just this yr we give the heisman and 1 overall pick to a player kicked out of college for theft and several other reasons...no morals anymore

 

There is absolutely no excuse for heckling a HS-age kid. College either IMO.

When I hear over-the-line negatives from players I remind them that if the other team wasn't there we wouldn't have anyone to play.

I didn't hear it myself by I was told by a very reliable source that one of the area's best pitchers (not our pitcher) was being called names while pitching. That's cheap!

It's sport--not conflict!

 

What a great post PhoenixPhan. I have not witnessed the dark side this year too much. The heckling I have seen has been directed more toward the umpires than the coaches or players. However, what I saw was mostly deserved and they brought it on themselves. I now have a very low tolerence for folks that do things such as the examples mentioned in the post. I will and do confront those who act so rude. I hope that we all will pledge to do the same. I really hate confrontation but sometimes you got to do what is right. What are we teaching our kids if we sit back and do nothing? I have found that if you grab another dad when you go to express your feelings that it has a calming effect on the rude person. Make sure you be polite.

 

I usually just say the word "sportsmanship" rather loudly anytime anyone has to be reminded. That usually works. It also reminds myself.

 

HEY!!!!!

I saw a coach call time and look at some parents, just happened to have his whistle, blew it very loudly and said "HEY... SHUT UP" and gave that look and it was dead quiet the rest of the game from those folks..... So it can be handled

 

Thank you!

 

Evolution theory

There are some out there that make me wonder about the theory of evolution . Maybe they really did come from monkeys! They sure act like monkeys.
(And there are a few that are still monkeys and have a ways to go before they do evolve)
There are some programs, HS and TB, that seem to teach them to be monkeys if they forgot how. LOL