Incident With Fan

[Kingsman1288]

After taking a night and sleeping on this, I realized all this could have been avoided had I not deferred to my partner so much. I should have gone with my first instinct and either whacked her with a T or had her removed. A day removed from this, I'm amazed I didn't do that in the first place.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Kingsman1288

After taking a night and sleeping on this, I realized all this could have been avoided had I not deferred to my partner so much. I should have gone with my first instinct and either whacked her with a T or had her removed. A day removed from this, I'm amazed I didn't do that in the first place.

Lesson learned. I wouldn't give her a T, though. Just have her removed.

[BayStateRef]

A large youth league (4th-8th grade travel teams) this year put in place a very strict policy regarding sportsmanship. It makes the head coach responsible for the conduct of spectators. Officials can have the coach remove the parents. If they don't, game is over. Additionally, there are provisions for further sanctions upon review by league officials and the referee coordinator.

It is too bad that this is necessary, but the clear language gives officials an unambiguous road map to deal with parents and other spectators in gyms where "game management" may be the biggest offender.

[Ignats75]

Fan on the court? Fan leaves. Game doesn't start until fan leaves. If fan doesn't leave and team identity is clear: forfeit.

I had a Dad in the top row during a CYO tournament championship get very abusive at my partner. I just walked to the bottom of the stands and pointed to the door. He refused. I walked to the table and in a loud voice said, "Put :30 seconds on the clock and if he is still here when the horn sounds the game is over!" and then walked away. The other parents almost bodily threw him out since their team was winning at the time.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

A large youth league (4th-8th grade travel teams) this year put in place a very strict policy regarding sportsmanship. It makes the head coach responsible for the conduct of spectators. Officials can have the coach remove the parents. If they don't, game is over. Additionally, there are provisions for further sanctions upon review by league officials and the referee coordinator.

We've had this rule in our local kids rec league pretty much ever since it started over 30 years ago. We have the coach tell the parent that not only is the game over if they don't leave, but each player's parent will be told that it is their fault the kids can't play any more basketball today. That's a pretty effective last resort. In my 20+ years with this league, I've never had a parent refuse to leave when asked. All things considered, we don't have too much of a parent problem overall.

[Ignats75]

I have found that the parents are getting more and more out of hand each year. Maybe its because my eyesight is getting worse as I get older. But seriously, sportsmanship is becoming a lost aspect of sports. From the players to the coaches to the fans. Its all a trickle down from the NBA posturing too.

[jeffpea]

Originally Posted by Ignats75

I have found that the parents are getting more and more out of hand each year......But seriously, sportsmanship is becoming a lost aspect of sports. From the players to the coaches to the fans. Its all a trickle down from the NBA posturing too.

Whatever the root cause, game officials have too often abdicated responsibility from holding people accountable for their actions. How can we expect people to exhibit sportsmanship when we don't call them on their unaccaptable behavior?

It sounds like the Original Poster wishes he could have handled his situation differently....I would encourage everyone to consider what they would do, so that when it happens you won't have second thoughts later.

Ultimately, if we don't enforce standards of sportsmanship (when neccessary), who will?

[Kingsman1288]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

It sounds like the Original Poster wishes he could have handled his situation differently....I would encourage everyone to consider what they would do, so that when it happens you won't have second thoughts later.

I do wish I had handled it much differently. At the very least I wanted a T, but my partner did not want any trouble at all. In that respect, I was not doing my job by letting my partner decide for me.