Mr. Sutton is one to not back down to anyone, and is willing to stand up for what he believes in! Confrontation or no, Mr. Sutton is even willing to challenge Mark Cuban. Since this blog is themed to follow his lead, I think it's a good time to vent about parents and youth sports!!!
As a parent of someone just starting to play competitive sports and also being a coach, I am shocked how some parents act at sporting events! Yes I am very enthusiastic, excited, and involved when it comes to our boy playing t-ball, but cheering and motivating is one thing. What truly bugs me are the parents who treat their little kids like they are professional athletes. Really lady sitting next to me yelling at her son and the others players, THEY ARE FIVE YEARS OLD, give them a break! I know we all want our kids to get better, we all want them to succeed in sports and life, but treating them like professional athletes is only going to drive them away! Two years ago I offered to help ref a 5th and 6th grade basketball tournament. I have never ever seen parents act so immature in my life. I have never seen coaches yell and get after kids as much as some did that day. I won't blast names of the teams and where the tournament was, but I haven't offered to ref since that experience!
As a coach I am also disturbed to hear some of the things that comes from the stands from parents and spectators. Just because some kids are six foot tall doesn't mean they are twenty-five years old. My advice as a coach is watch the teams who are really good. The parents say little to nothing during the games and they let the coaches coach. THOSE types of parents help their kids in the off season, in the drive way, and in the gym. The key word there is help, not yell, not scold, not down grade, they HELP, and usually in a positive character building way. As a coach do I always keep calm, low tone, and stay smooth? No I don't, I know i am not perfect, but that's the role of a coach. We are there to get our players to better themselves, the team, and the game and each player is different. Some thrive on the energy and challenge given to them, and some perform less when they are told what to do and vocal energy is given.
What I am impressed with is how more and more I am hearing stories about other parents, coaches, and viewers stepping up for these kids and voicing their opinions about letting the kids play. On Facebook for example I am continually viewing articles, and pictures shared by friends showing signs found at ball fields that state that the kids are just that, kids. The more we as parents, coaches, and fans stand up to others who think its okay to ruin a kids day playing a GAME, the better chance we have of ridding these types of people from the playing fields all together.
Mr. Sutton doesn't mind expressing his feels, is fine with backing what he believes in, and seems up to any challenge he deems important. I am usually one to not start an argument or vent just to vent but this is a topic which has bugged me for a while. I hope all of us can remember that the games our kids play are exactly that, games.
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