How to avoid being an ‘ugly’ parent on the sidelines of junior sport

MUMS and dads have been urged to be “supportive and not psycho” as junior sport finals heat up, with experts saying abusive parents are stressing out volunteer coaches and managers.

MUMS and dads should take steps to avoid becoming “ugly parents” on the sidelines of their kids’ sporting matches, experts advise.

Ali Linz, mother and co-founder of GroupTogether sports funding website, said she wanted parents to be “supportive and not psycho”.

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She said the culprits were a “small, but insanely and ­embarrassingly loud percentage” who “find themselves hurling abuse on their kids, their team, the opposing team, the refs and the other parents”.

“Some even go so far as to get into physical fights with other parents on the sidelines,” she said.

How not to be a bad sport.

“It’s no wonder that our volunteer coaches and managers feel that the task of working with kids really has a separate but equally stressful component — managing the parents on the sidelines.”

Ms Linz’s comments follow a vicious brawl between parents at a junior football match last weekend in Hoppers Crossing, during which an umpire had to run for his life.

Psychiatrist Philip Salonikis, founder of sporting equality website ludoaequitas.org, said such parents were exercising a primitive need to “control through intimidation, bullying and humiliation”.

“All is fair so long as they win,” he said.

“A volatile situation can quickly escalate into violence and must be avoided for the safety of all concerned, no matter what the justification. A better and more civilised approach is to complain to the appropriate authorities.”

The only thing a parent should yell from the sidelines is encouragement. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Salonikis said parents should be notified about what ­behaviour was appropriate when they ­enrolled their kids.

“At least this would serve to educate and serve notice as to who the controlling body is in the sport,” he said.

Warrandyte mother Jeanette Ahale, who has watched daughter Amy play basketball for more than a decade, said she’d seen her fair share of embarrassing moments.

“A parent was ejected from the stadium just last week,” she said. “If they’re being forced to leave sporting venues for yelling and screaming, what does that say to a child?

“It’s easy to let your excitement get a hold of you, but there’s no excuse for abusing players or referees.” Ms Ahale said she believed a parent’s attitude at sports matches should be supportive and positive.

“The only things parent should be yelling is encouragement,” she said.

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