Professional sports are an important part of our culture.  Fans spend a considerable amount of money to attend games and feel that they are entitled to yell at the umpire or referee.  For many fans, this is part of the professional sports experience.  Since the fans at professional matches typically sit so far from the action, there is no impact on the game and it’s “all in good fun.”  In youth sports, where the fans are a few feet from the match verbally engaging the referee, other parents, players and the coaches is simply inappropriate.

When involved in youth sports, parents, coaches and officials have a responsibility to act as role models. As adults what we say and do on the field sends a message about appropriate behaviors to the children. When working with children the five bullets below can be used as a checklist to monitor what we say and do.