Crazy Parents Are Driving Referees Out of Sports
By Ken Reed
I’ve often said there’s too much adult in youth sports.
Screaming, swearing, abusive, over-demanding, win-at-all-costs (WAAC) youth sports parents and coaches lead to high rates of emotional burnout among young athletes (70%-80% quit team sports by age 13).
We now know that the same group of over-the-top “adults” is driving referees from the game as well. According to the National Association of Sports Officials, more than 70 percent of new referees will have quit within three years. The number one reason they leave is “pervasive abuse from parents and coaches.”
Of course, there has long been crazy coaches and parents involved in little league and high school sports. But as the country as a whole has witnessed the decline of civil behavior, the same is true in youth sports world. The concept of teaching and demonstrating sportsmanship seems to be lost on a growing number of youth sports coaches and parents.
Another factor in the increase of dysfunctional behavior by adults in youth sports is the proliferation of youth club teams. Some parents spend between $2,000 and $20,000 a year for club dues, trainers and travel expenses. The investment of time and money increases both parental expectations and bad behavior.
One thing’s for sure, if the ultimate goal of youth sports is to develop character and teach lifelong skills like teamwork, leadership and perseverance, we’re failing way too often these days.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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Media
"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- League of Fans Sports Policy Director Ken Reed quoted in Washington Post column titled "What happened to P.E.? It’s losing ground in our push for academic improvement," by Jay Mathews
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
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