1. D EALING WITH D IFFICULT S PORTS P ARENTS

2. I SSUES  40 million athletes  Over 70% unhappy with adults  Violence  Even once is too much!!!  Sensationalized by the media  Verbal Abuse  Between spectators  From spectators to coaches or officials  From spectators to players (their own child or someone else’s) – 34.5% comments were negative in one study, 47.2% positive, 18.4% neutral

3. W HY T HEM AND W HY U S ?  Why do parents act out?  Lack impulse control  Lose perspective when viewing athlete as an investment  Over-identification  Our role  Legal duty to keep players, coaches, officials and spectators safe when using our facilities  We have the training and expertise that most VSO’s do not have!  Maintain high standards of conduct even though may only be facilitating  Without standards, benefits are lost

4. I MPACT OF V ERBAL ABUSE  Impact of difficult sports parents  Impact on players Takes the fun out of the game! Background anger between adults can be distressing & stressful Demonstrates opposite of good sportsmanship Confusing to players Inhibit players’ performance Players model negative and positive behavior when witness the behavior from parents and/or coaches  Impact on coaches and officials Stress!!!

5. S TRATEGIES F OR P REVENTION  Evaluate the program  http://www.americaspromise.org/~/media/Files/Resources/Quality%20Assessm ent%20Center%20Based.ashx http://www.americaspromise.org/~/media/Files/Resources/Quality%20Assessm ent%20Center%20Based.ashx  What do we require from VSO? Background checks? Coaches’ training? Parent’s training?  Are we supervising the VSO’s?  Pre-season orientation  Athlete & Parent Meet coaches and learn coaching philosophy Understand objectives and goals of program Athlete “Bill of Rights”  Parent Understand obligations and expectations Parent Behavior Checklist (USTA) http://www.educ.msu.edu/ysi/parents/USTA_parent_checklist.pdf http://www.educ.msu.edu/ysi/parents/USTA_parent_checklist.pdf Resources – websites, organizations, etc.

6. M ORE S TRATEGIES  Posting “rules” at fields as reminders  Code of conduct that parents must sign  Thorough – behaviors and penalties  Legal – check with lawyer  Part of a formal hearing  Outline for rehabilitation  Parent training – mandatory or optional  NAYS  Rutgers S.P.O.R.T. Program  MSU Sport Parent Education (free) http://www.educ.msu.edu/ysi/online/sportparent.htm http://www.educ.msu.edu/ysi/online/sportparent.htm  Awards for good behavior  Hire security or volunteer monitors  Self-policing – texting

7. A DMINISTRATIVE S TRATEGIES  Incident occurs – now what?  Follow procedures Formal Hearing Penalties  Loss of spectator privileges for time period  Consistency!

8. R EAL LIFE STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH A DIFFICULT PARENT

9. G REAT R ESOURCES  http://nays.org/parents/ http://nays.org/parents/  http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/p rogram-areas/youth-sport- parents http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/p rogram-areas/youth-sport- parents  www.educ.msu.edu/ysi/online/sp ortparent.htm www.educ.msu.edu/ysi/online/sp ortparent.htm  www.charactercounts.org/sports www.charactercounts.org/sports  www.americaspromise.org www.americaspromise.org