Let the kids play

[fun_basketball]

I was a fan at the Riverdale Tourney this week and although I love watching young kids compete, I was surprised at some of the comments that i heard from other fans and parents about kids on the court. There were some comments made by parents and fans that i thought was absurd. What I saw happening was some of the kids begin to feed into what the parents and fans were saying and it led to some unsportsman like conduct. I thought we were supposed to support the kids and encourage them to be good sportsmen. The intensity in the stands was just as intense as the action on the court. Is it always like this or do i just not get out enough ? Let the kids play. We try to tell kids to do the right thing and to respect others but it's hard for them to do that when they see mom and dad being disrespectful in the stands. Lead by example. Not trying to step on anyone toes and I'm just letting you know what it looks like on the outside looking in.

[alwaysballin1]

I was a fan at the Riverdale Tourney this week and although I love watching young kids compete, I was surprised at some of the comments that i heard from other fans and parents about kids on the court. There were some comments made by parents and fans that i thought was absurd. What I saw happening was some of the kids begin to feed into what the parents and fans were saying and it led to some unsportsman like conduct. I thought we were supposed to support the kids and encourage them to be good sportsmen. The intensity in the stands was just as intense as the action on the court. Is it always like this or do i just not get out enough ? Let the kids play. We try to tell kids to do the right thing and to respect others but it's hard for them to do that when they see mom and dad being disrespectful in the stands. Lead by example. Not trying to step on anyone toes and I'm just letting you know what it looks like on the outside looking in.

Yea although it isn't right for parents to be crossing the line with the stuff they say, it'll probably never change. Most of it comes from parents wanting their children to win and be competitive but they do cross the line sometimes. But not all the yelling always gets out of hand.

[tigerhoops]

I was a coach on the bench at the tournament and was extremely dissapointed with the behavior of some of the parents. In one game we had a parent from the opposing team sit behind our bench and degrade our players throughout the game. About as classless as it gets.

[THE_GAME]

Yes. This is a serious problem. The parents do the exact same things that we ask the kids not to do. I heard some very cruel comments from parents on opposing teams. Also, parents need to stop questioning the age of all of the big or muscular kids on the other team. Can you imagine what it would be like if someone was yelling that your child was too old from the stands? I have to sit away from my team's fans because of this. It is out of control.

[THE_GAME]

Yes. This is a serious problem. The parents do the exact same things that we ask the kids not to do. I heard some very cruel comments from parents on opposing teams. Also, parents need to stop questioning the age of all of the big or muscular kids on the other team. Can you imagine what it would be like if someone was yelling that your child was too old from the stands? I have to sit away from my team's fans because of this. It is out of control.

[fun_basketball]

what worries me is that the kids hear this stuff and it puts the kids against each other. Now it's not just friendly competition but it's personal. What happens when these kids run in to each other at the mall and the talking continues and somone gets hurt. All because a parent ran their mouth at a game and for what. Maybe because a kid switched teams or because a parent has a personal issue with another parent. Why take it out on a child. We let our children play sports to keep them out of trouble and to give them an opportunity to get their education paid for if they are good enough. The very thing that we are trying to keep them away from,Fans and parents are bringing to the tournaments. One last thing when you as a parent run your mouth about other kids and tell everyone how much better your kid is than the next, you are putting added pressure on your kid to perform. It's enough pressure on these young kids out here in the streets. the last thing they need is mom or dad or whoever making it worst for them over a basketball game. It didn't want to say it but some of these parents seem to be living through their kids. At least that's what it sounded like this weekend. I'm not telling folks what to do but they need to take the advice my grandmother gave to me.'If you can't say anything nice, Don't say anything at all."

[coachbkp]

Yes. This is a serious problem. The parents do the exact same things that we ask the kids not to do. I heard some very cruel comments from parents on opposing teams. Also, parents need to stop questioning the age of all of the big or muscular kids on the other team. Can you imagine what it would be like if someone was yelling that your child was too old from the stands? I have to sit away from my team's fans because of this. It is out of control.

I think it is a big problem. i heard alot of things said by parents that was just way out of line. personal things that had nothing to do with basketball and to me it is always 1 or 2 organizations in Nashville Tenn that has this negative stuff coming from parents.

[SpartanFan]

I think it is a big problem. i heard alot of things said by parents that was just way out of line. personal things that had nothing to do with basketball and to me it is always 1 or 2 organizations in Nashville Tenn that has this negative stuff coming from parents.

I really think the coaches could do more. If one of our parents got that out of control, our coach would fix it. We had a Murfreesboro coach / assistant sit at the scoretable and racially taunt my wife while she was doing the book, and the young scorekeeper just giggled. It starts with the leaders.

[fun_basketball]

I agree that it starts with the leadership but some of them are the ring leaders. Don't get me wrong it's not every coach and I think coaches are competitve just like the players and they get caught up but I think we need to get a handle on it,that's all. The worst thing that can happen is that we have a big brawl between two teams and someone gets hurt. Now no one will want to invite these teams to the tournaments and we will be defeating the purpose of having the tournaments in the first place. I understand that there is going to be a little jaw jacking. I've played ball my whole life and I know how it is to compete at a high level, we just need to make sure that we don't let it get out of control.