We should feel comfortable at sporting events

[Jason_V]

At club netball we should feel safe to be there and not be worried that somebody is going to abuse you

Well today I was abused by a father. He tried to intimidate me and got up in my face. All because his daughters team was losing. Sport is about having fun and a score shouldn't matter. You should still enjoy yourself and have fun with your friends.

People need to learn to let kids be kids and respect the calls of all officials. Nobody is perfect and everybody is doing the best job they possibly can.

I hope that this father learns that abusing kids is not ok!!. I'm 15 years old and should be comfortable while umpiring the sport I love.

I wonder how he would feel if that happened to his child.

So we need to let kids be kids and enjoy the game for what it is.

Final scores don't matter it's all about having fun.

They are just kids not professional athletes

[White_Rose]

Dear Jason

Hello and welcome. I most definitely agree with you about some parental behaviours at children's sports. My children played netball, hockey, soccer, cricket and enjoyed them all. I found that umpires or referees were usually fair and did a great job. Are you always right? Probably not but then no one is always right and at the end of the day the ref's decision is final.

I have a number of stories about incidents on the sports fields and can only shake my head over them. I remember one dad walking up and down the sideline of a hockey game urging his son to " get in and kill the others". He probably didn't mean literally but what dreadful language for children to hear on a sports field.

I also remember commenting to one dad how the team our respective sons were playing against had improved as the season wore on. He was quite offended stating our team was the best and walking away. He was right, our team was far better, but that did not preclude an acknowledgement that the other team was going to give them a run for their money.

I have always been pleased that when my children were in primary school they were coached by excellent people and shown real sportsmanship, not win at all costs. Congratulations on your stance against bullying. Can you complain to your governing to your sports body?

Mary

[Croix]

Dear Jason~

Mary is quite right in what she said and if there is any way to complain I'd do it.

I sympathize with you and agree anyone who goes crook at the umpire should be banned. You are entitled to operate in a comfortable atmosphere where you can concentrate on doing your best without having to worry about loud mouthed idiots

Actually it is his daughter I'd be most concerned about. This sort of behavior indicated he sees her as an extension of himself - not a developing human being in her own right. When you think about it her performance is only indirectly related to him and he should be able to step back and see that, not take it personally.

Unfortunately all too many parents regard themselves as needing to govern and control their children, some out of sheer ego, and others because they genuinely feel they 'know best'. Well with little children they probably do, but as time goes on this is simply stifling the character of the young developing adult.

Support and commiserations and a cheerful attitude when things go wrong is needed, not a bullying example.

I hope this sort of bad conduct does not happen to you too often, it can ruin your enthusiasm for the productive and exacting contribution you make to the sport.

Croix

[demonblaster]

Hi Jason

Good on you for speaking up and you're so right, that's not on.

You're doing a hard job cause there'll clearly always be some that aren't happy with decisions, and they forget you're human with feelings and as everyone wants to be treated with respect.

He's wrong, his attitude is wrong and agree with above, poor daughter, what pressure she must be under, if he's like that with sport he's probs like that full stop.

Some people, fortunately the minority I think just don't get it, it is about having fun, learning good sportsmanship which is about decency and honor.

Agree wholeheartedly, report him Jason

Hope you don't have furthur grief but knowing some human nature sadly there's often over zealous clueless bods out there.

You don't have to take that rot sorry you copped it.

Best of luck and good on you for what you're doing 🙂