How to Deal With Parents With Bad Sportsmanship

In recent years the media has reported distressing stories of parents who verbally and physically harass coaches, referees and umpires at their kids' team games. Some parents even verbally abuse the other children on the playing field. The people who promote and manage kids' sports teams must find ways to deal with these parents effectively to safeguard the children's welfare and allow young players to develop a healthy attitude toward playing sports.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make time as a coach to talk with parents whose views of their child's abilities differ from your own. Explain your strategy regarding the child's athletic development and why you've chosen to play her in specific positions or for particular time allotments. Keep the lines of communication open with parents and remind them that you are always available to discuss their concerns.

    • 2

      Request that the kids and parents attend a joint discussion before the season starts. Set out expectations and plans for the season in a way that indicates that you expect the game to be about the kids. Talk about the players' responsibilities to the team, to the schedule and to the games.

    • 3

      Encourage parents to get involved, either as helpers, assistant coaches or in some other capacity. Bring them into the activity as an active participant and demonstrate your respect for their opinions while retaining the right and responsibility to make the final decisions.

    • 4

      Instruct the kids to accept coaching from the team coaches and not from the stands. Don't react to parents in the stands who are behaving badly and teach the kids to ignore such behavior as well.

    • 5

      Prepare a sports code of conduct and require all parents to sign this code. This code should indicate, clearly, which types of behavior your youth athletic organization will not tolerate and the consequences. Parents and kids should sign the code of conduct and agree to abide by the decisions of the league or team officials.