The Sports Grouch

You see and hear them at Little League, T-Ball and other kids games

They are angry, noisy, demanding and bullying parents who live vicariously through their kids.

They scream and holler at coaches, umpires and even kid players over questionable calls and more playing time for their little stars.

Some complain and make nuisances of themselves through all 9 innings.

They embarrass their kids, their spouses, their friends, anger other parents and make miserable what should be fun for the kids.

Dan Wann, a Murray State University psychologist who specializes in the psychology of sports fans, calls them “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Fan.”

The vast majority are men, but a few are women.

Blacklist them?

The situation with these problem parents is growing worse, a National Association of Sports Officials survey found. Parents are the biggest offenders.

They say, “I’m not happy unless my child wins,” “I’m not happy unless my child starts,” “I’m not happy unless my child plays shortstop” or “I’m not happy unless my child makes the all-star team.” Where is the vicarious joy of having your child just be happy?

The survey of 1,700 officials found poor sportsmanship is at its worst in youth sports. Wann told sports writer Clare Ansberry parents can try to avoid outbursts with tactics like finding a “calm-down buddy.”

Wann said contact sports bring out the worst in them, but he has seen outbursts even at chess matches.

“If a child is competing and a parent feels a child’s success is their own, there’s the potential for bad behavior,” he says.

Leagues can enforce a “zero tolerance” policy toward bullying parents by blacklisting them from games or refusing to let their children play in their leagues.

“If a fan goes nuts, you have to get rid of them,” said Wann who has served as a league official.

There’s a difference between “I think he was safe” and “You’re the worst umpire ever and you better watch yourself in the parking lot after the game.”

The second they cross the line between voicing an opinion and being abusive and threatening, the umpire has to take off his mask and say “That’s enough. No more. If you do it again, either you have to leave or your team forfeits. You have 30 seconds to make a decision.”

Your opinion counts

If your children or grandchildren play in leagues, what’s your opinion? Is fan or parent behavior at kids’ games getting worse? How do you think other parents, coaches or officials should respond?

Email your opinion to the address below.

The Sports Grouch welcomes your emails at ChronicleSports@yahoo.com .