WS Chronicle

Several years ago, I wrote an article about unruly parents and how their behavior would be detrimental to their kids.  I saw the writing on the wall with what could happen if parents didn’t calm down and now one Pennsylvania organization has said they have had enough to one of their organizations.

Officials with the Beaver County Youth Football League (BCYFL) said they have banned the Aliquippa Little Quips Youth football team from the league because of parent behavior. This move was made just days away from their league’s semifinal games.

The Beaver County Youth Football League said in a statement, “Their removal is not attributed to this one incident, but it was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. They have had a history of misconduct. Eight people didn’t vote them out. Eight organizations that have over 150 families all voiced their opinion and said enough is enough.”

First, let me say I am sad that the kids in the organization have to suffer for the behavior of their parents. But for the safety of others in the league, I am happy the league decided to take action against a team with unruly parents.

The most recent incident which caused the team to be banned from the league involved parents from the Aliquippa Youth Football Organization and the Central Valley Little Warriors. According to a statement from the BCYFL, there was a pregnant mother assaulted by several Aliquippa spectators.  

The team was removed from the league four days following the fight. The BCYFL said the opposing team was not disciplined after the fight due to the belief the parent involved from their team was the victim and acted in self-defense.

Is this the place we have come to in 2024? So now it is okay to assault pregnant women because we are unhappy with what’s transpiring on the field? This is truly one of the saddest and most juvenile things I have ever heard.

I am a parent of a youth athlete. My oldest daughter played sports in middle school, high school, and now in college.  I could never imagine doing something that would have me banned from an organization, let alone get into a physical altercation with another parent or spectator.

As I wrote before, I truly believe there are too many parents out there living out their failed athletic dreams through their children. My message to them is “get over it or get put out.” I am getting sick and tired of hearing about situations like this.  

As a parent of a youth athlete, I always found it amusing when I overheard a parent going ballistic in the stands. Yelling at opposing players, the referees, or coaches always seemed dumb to me because most of the time, the people in the stands are yelling things that are incorrect or just flat out wrong.  

I am also a basketball official and have seen much more unruly behavior from parents there as well. I have witnessed parents getting into it with parents from the opposing team. I have seen parents get into verbal disputes with opposing players that were as young as 12 years old. Do you realize how dumb you look arguing and heckling a 12-year-old child?

I am so glad there are organizations like this that will step up and get rid of an organization that doesn’t know how to control themselves. I know there are more organizations like that out there across the country and the question is, will more leagues start kicking out teams that have unruly parents?

Sadly enough, I doubt this trend will catch on as it should. The biggest reason why is simple: money talks. Youth sports are big business, and I don’t think organizations have enough integrity to kick an organization out of their respective leagues because of the lost revenue.

Honestly, unruly parents are the main reason why I have never stepped into the coaching realm. I have an extensive background in track and field; however, I don’t see myself ever getting out on the track and coach due to the fear of how I would react when a parent happened to lose control.

I give a lot of credit to the coaches that are doing it the right way and have the patience to deal with parents like that.  I just don’t feel I could deal with a parent coaching their child from the stands and giving them contradictory information to what I have coached them to do. I also couldn’t deal with a parent questioning my coaching when they don’t even have a quarter of my experience or success in the sport. For now, I will stay in my lane and continue officiating.

I feel bad for the parents in the organization that were actually doing the right thing. I imagine they are stuck between a rock and a hard place because they want to support their fellow parents, while also seeing things they don’t agree with. What do you do?

My hope is that more leagues take similar action against teams with unruly parents and maybe then these parents will regulate their behavior better and let the kids play the game they love. Get it together, parents, or unfortunately, your kids will continue to suffer.