Parents and fans are essential to any successful spo1ts program or franchise. Many serve as volunteers and are necessary for the administration and the eventual success of the league. Ethical parents are supportive of coaches, participants, and other parents. They teach young athletes respect for coaches, other participants, and sports officials. Good fans are polite and not abusive: they are, in essence, good sports.
Negative comments or acts of displeasure from parents or fans toward the coach, visiting team, or officials undermine the sporting efforts of all involved. Ethical standards attempt to mold good behavior on the part of parents and fans.
These standards usually come into play as punishment for unacceptable behavior, with the hope that these penalties will act as a deterrent of future acts of bad behavior or poor sportsmanship by both parents and fans. The joy of being a parent of a young athlete comes from watching your child compete in athletic events and, of course, winning. That is a tough task for a 9-year-old but sometimes an even tougher task for the parents of that child.
Young athletes are encouraged and are excited when they look into the stands and see their parents cheering for them. Field of Screams,'' Reader's Digest, October Amateur spo1ts leagues and associations sometimes have a difficult job ensuring that parents set good examples for their children, play within the rules, act ethically, and conduct themselves properly at sporting events. Many parents are enthralled with the idea of their child hitting the winning home run, scoring the winning touchdown, or making the winning goal.
There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but when a parent loses his or her focus or perspective, then trouble looms on the horizon. The standard of appropriate behavior for parents is the reasonably prudent parent. Parents must operate as role models for their children in all areas of life, and that includes sports participation.
