POOR SPORTS.

Is "sideline rage" wrecking youth sports? Find out how some leagues calm spectators down and bring back the fun.

Soccer center Stephanie Habner, 14, had a simple answer for trash talkers--a deep breath and a burst of speed. "What they say goes in one ear and out the other," she told JS. "After a while they kind of snap when they realize they can't get inside your head."

The coolheaded approach served Stephanie and her teammates well. Year in and year out, the Strongsville Shooting Stars were tops in their league. They also were two-time Ohio state champs in their age group.

Across the U.S., youth sports could use a dose of the Shooting Stars' composure (self-control). Anger, insults, and violence at kids' sporting events have become all too common, according to the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). What seems most bizarre (strange) is that adults are often the biggest offenders. Incidents of "sideline rage" have increased both in number and seriousness, says Dr. Jack Llewellyn, a sports psychologist with the Atlanta Braves and author of Let 'em Play. "And to me the saddest thing is that adults' bad behavior takes the fun out of the games and causes a lot of kids to quit sports all together." NAYS agrees, reporting that 70 percent of kids drop out of organized leagues by age 13.

Winning Isn't Everything

For all the poor sportsmanship he sees, Dr. Jack still believes sports remain an important part of growing up. "There are some things you learn from competition that you can't pick up in a classroom," he says. "How to win, how to lose, and how to deal with adversity [bad luck]." Sports also teach life skills like teamwork and leadership, he says. But what is Dr. Jack's best reason for playing sports, whatever the sport may be? "Fun is the name of the game," he says.

In the heat of competition, though, some players, parents, and coaches lose this healthy view of sports. After a youth soccer match in Los Angeles last June, 30 adults started a brawl that led to three arrests. In Florida, a father who disagreed with a call broke the jaw of a 13-year-old umpire. And last year, a Massachusetts father beat another father to death after an argument about rough play at hockey practice. These are just three of the worst examples of sideline rage.

What causes some adults to go ballistic over kids' games? Experts suggest several reasons:

1. Some parents put a lot of pressure on their kids to perform well, and get upset if they struggle. "Some parents are so into the games, it's like they're on the field playing beside their kids," says Stephanie Habner.

2. Many adults don't understand the rules, or don't respect the referee or umpire's job. They lose control if they think an official makes a bad call.

3. And the root of all evil in youth sports? People place too much importance on winning, and not enough on fun and learning the game.

"I never played on a team where the primary emphasis was on winning," writes Atlanta Braves all-star pitcher Tom Glavine in Let 'em Play "My coaches believed that we were there to 1. have fun and 2. learn how to play the game.... A very important by-product of this attitude is that I was never afraid to make mistakes. We always understood that that's how you get better."

Finding the Fun

Some communities and leagues are working to return fun and good sportsmanship to youth sports. Florida's Jupiter-Tequesta Athletic Association now requires all parents to take a one-hour course on how to behave at games.

In addition to the course, parents must sign a code of ethics (proper behavior) before their kids are allowed to play.

"Silent Sunday" is the Northern Ohio Girls Soccer League's attempt to reclaim the game for players. For one game a season, fans and coaches must keep quiet, except for applause after a goal is scored. "I'd definitely recommend it to other leagues," says Shooting Star Mandy Kulchar, 14. "From a player's point of view, we had a lot more communication on the field, and it was easier to play."

Mandy and Stephanie credit their coach, Mike Cahill, with helping their team set good priorities (ranking of important issues). He makes sure everyone plays and has them try different positions. He compliments good plays by opponents and respects the refs. Fun, teamwork, effort, and sportsmanship come before winning.

"Kids learn what they see," Coach Cahill says. "If parents or coaches are acting like maniacs, then how can you teach kids to control themselves? We have to lead by example."

In this case, perhaps young athletes need to lead the way.

USA: Poor Sports

OBJECTIVES

Students should understand

* the meaning of good sportsmanship;

* why "sideline rage" takes the fun out of youth sports;

* how kids can promote good sportsmanship.

TEACHING STRATEGY

Ask: Have you been to a kids' sports game where parents got into abusive arguments with other parents, referees, or coaches? How did you feel?

SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS

Grades 5-8: * physical education * good sportsmanship * teamwork and respect

THINKING SKILLS

EXPLORING REASONS: Why are team sports a valuable part of growing up? (They foster leadership, teamwork, good sportsmanship, and how to deal with victory, defeat, and disappointment. These can be lifelong skills.)

CAUSE AND EFFECT: How can "sideline rage" disrupt the goals of youth sports? (When the emphasis is on winning, parents put great pressure on the players. They may abuse referees or umpires, other parents, and their own kids.)

EXPLORING EFFECTS: How does parents' behavior affect kid players? (Kids may feel embarrassed and humiliated when parents or coaches yell at them. When parents become nasty, much of the pleasure in the game is lost.)

MAKING CONNECTIONS: Why does sideline anger sometimes turn to violence? (Some people have trouble controlling their tempers and behavior. Parents may lack respect for a coach, umpire, or referee. Frustrations and disappointments in life may fuel the anger and lead to tragedy.)

ACTIVITY

Research what communities are doing to prevent "sideline rage." In some places, parents must promise to obey codes of ethics and take a course on how to behave at games. Coaches are asked to set priorities for their teams and to promote good sportsmanship.

RESOURCES

Print

* Brooks, Polly S.,

Issues in Sports

(Lucent Books, 1997).

Grades 4-8.

Videos

* Sports for Life

Barr Media Group

100 Wiltshire Blvd., Floor 3 Santa Monica, CA 90401

626-338-7878

* Young People in Sports

Walter J. Klein Company

P.O. Box 472087 Charlotte, NC 28247-2087

E-mail: [e-mail]

Web Site

* Kids in Sports Home Page

www.kidsinsports.com