Question Number: 15223

Character, Attitude and Control 4/19/2007

RE: Select Under 13

Brett P. of Brookfield, Wisconsin United States asks...

Geez, the parents of the other team I faced last week were the worst! It was like a hockey arena! All the parents were so rude! They were chanting stuff like GOOAAAALLLLLLLIEEE! GOOAAAALLLLLIEEE! YOU SUCK! (I am the goal keeper by the way) Even the othe team was annoyed! Two of the parents got in a big agument and they called the game to be rescheduled without any fans! So now a few of my friends parents are angry and won't let my frinds compete. We barely have enough players to play! What should I do about this? Take action or Just play?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Brett,
it is a sorry state of affairs when adults act so bizzare and immature! Embarrassing their own kids, as well as on idiotic display for all in attendance. You are being polite when you refer to them as rude. Bullys an Harassers the same type that drive the weak minded of us to despair and persecution.
Play as often and whenever you can for the fun, enjoy the competition, relish the successes, learn from the defeats an remember that when you mature to adulthood remember this lesson and learn from it as well!

AS a group you young soccer players enmass approach the coach and ask for all parents to let you all play. Keep the petty squabbles inbetween adults, respect your young opponents as they likely bear the curse of having to endure what you did last match, at thier home as well as on the field ALL of the time.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Brett. Learn from this. Specifically, this is what happens when adults act like small children. Who suffers from this? You and the other players. These parents should be ashamed of themselves but given the fact they behaved so horridly in the first place, it doesn't suprise me they are now refusing to let their children compete. It's sad that parents have to ruin games for kids.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Being a role model has never been more important than acting like a fool in the minds of some parents. I'm surprised the referee let it go long enough for a big argument to start. I have called the team captains over and told them the match will not recommence until ALL parents are in their cars. Somehow they actually went and sat in their cars. What a pleasant match that became...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Hmm, if I read your comments correctly, it looks like the idiots got just what they wanted. They were trying to put you off your game. While they didn't succeed at that - all power to you! - they did manage to get the game rescheduled, and now it looks like you'll be playing short-handed. Shame on them.

I'm not sure how incomplete games are handled in all the select leagues, but in our rec league the Officers of the Board are empowered to decide a winner when the game has to be stopped because of outside interference. The other team in your case might be seeing a forfeit loss instead of a rematch.

For games which have to be stopped for natural causes (storms, darkness, etc.) the league rules provide that the game is complete as played if a certain time has passed. Some league rules say if half done, others if the second half has started, and out State Premier League says if 2/3 of the game has been played. I was busy one time huddled under the overhang of a building attempting to compute 2/3's of 35-minute halves to see if we were complete or not.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The better thing for the league to do would be to declare a forfeit against the team whose parents behaved this way. Perhaps if their children had to suffer the consequences of their parents actions, they would think twice before doing this the next time...

I can't believe some people. What a shame. Football is supposed to be a fun game, not a shambles.