Youth Sports Violence

Brawls at youth soccer games! Attacks on Little League umpires! What's going on? Are school and youth sports leagues becoming too violent? Kidzworld looks at violence in kids sports.

Violence in Sports - Parents Behaving Badly

Much of the violence that takes place at school football games or Little League Baseball games involves parents fighting with coaches, referees or each other. Here's a few examples of parents behaving badly.

Three parents were arrested after a full-scale brawl between parents, coaches and fans at a youth soccer game in San Diego in 2001.

In April 2005, the father of a Texas high school football player shot and wounded his son's football coach because he didn't think his son was getting enough playing time.

In 1999, a parent was convicted of assault after giving $2 to a 10-year-old Little League pitcher to hit a batter with a fastball.

In 2004, two teachers were arrested for fighting at a girls' basketball game in Alabamba, while a parent was arrested for punching the referee.

Violence in Sports - Solutions

Fights, brawls and beatings at youth sporting events can really take the enjoyment out of sports. Sports are supposed to be a healthy way to have fun with friends - not a place to watch parents embarass themselves. Many sports leagues in North America now make parents take courses or sign a "code of conduct" on how to behave properly during their kids' games. Proper behavior includes not yelling at or taunting game officials, coaches, parents or players.

Violence in Sports - What Do You Think?

So, why does there seem to be more violence at your soccer games or school basketball games? Are the games being taken too seriously? Are parents and coaches just having problems staying under control? What do you think? Have you ever seen violence by players, coaches or parents at one of your games? Tell Kidzworld about your stories of violence in sports.

Comments From:
crimsonandgreen
I was at a wrestling tournament. I didn't see the whole thing, but I saw dads and coaches fighting each other during a wrestling match. I thought that was the stupidest thing ever a person could do. Especially coaches and dads who should be setting an example for the kids.

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