[etbaseball]

Spots101 -

I don't believe that any parent will not, at one time or another, relive their own past experiences in the sporting environment through their childrens activities. It's human nature and I wouldn't mess with 'Mother Nature.' The real issue hear, I believe, is not so much the parents living vicariously through their childrens activity, but rather the protective instincts we parents all possess.

The question really is, "what causes parents to behave the way they do?" during these irrationale outbursts. It's the absence of FAIRNESS in the contest when unskilled / neophyte officials try to do the best than can and it's not good enough.

There has been much written in the last number of years regarding the violence in sports, particularly at the lower age levels; under 12 years generally speaking. Most of the articles speak to the legislation being enacted all over the country wherein various states are instituting laws which make it a felony to engage in physical contact with any sports official. While the penalties for engaging in such immature behavior are getting more serious than ever before, experts have also pointed the finger at officials who have little training if any at all. When an unskilled official is in charge you're inviting trouble.

Officiating is not an easy job, at any level. It is the responsibility of all people involved, within the many sports organizations that exist, to insure that 'properly qualified' officials are in charge of these various sporting contests. The simple answer is TRAINING, TRAINING AND MORE TRAINING.

I've discussed this issue with many of my colleagues who deal with league management and / or officials administration. I've spoken to directors of recreation for cities and towns regarding this issue of violence in youth sports. Fortunately there's a price tag attached to the resolution. Organizations must spend the money to send these skill-less officials to clinics for basic training. It's been proven as the best and most effective cure for the problem. Most clinics now are including program development for those who have never officiated a game and need basic skills. Without these skills they cannot survive.

This past February my organization conducted an officials clinic (baseball of course) for about 60 umpires. Only 4 were brand new to the gengre. We are now planning for our 2003 clinic and one of the major changes will be to aggressively sell this clinic to many of the surrounding leagues who, historically speaking, place the 'high schooler' on the field without anything but a hope and a prayer. We've received very positive feedback about reaching out to invite them to attend our clinic with a program specifically designed to provide 'basic skills' to those that need it the most.

I truly believe that TRAINING is the best available method to cure the problem of violence in sports, particularly as it relates to 'out of control' parents who think their children have been cheated/robbed of the fairness which is suppose to be present at every sporting contest.


When 'trained' officials are in charge of the contest, most of the outrageous behavior seems to dissappear. It makes sense to me.