Question Number: 3806

RE: f14-3w Under 14

Bernard Loyer of pincourt, QC asks...

Are parents allowed to be sitting right beside the teams bench, because in my last game there was a problem when two girls made contact and one girl fell down and hurt herself. The contact was legal: shoulder to shoulder. This incident happened in front of her bench and her father was sitting beside this bench. This is when he started to scream at my player and myself. The referree then asked him to leave, not once but twice but the father refused and made very abusive threats to me...What is the corrective measure in this instance? ..Thanking you in advance,.. Bernard Loyer-Coach Team B Pincourt U 13/14 girls

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is probably a local matter. I\Here in Georgis,parents on one side,teams and coaches on the other,no one from the 18 down to goal and no one behind the entire goal line. I personally think it borders on the insane to allow parents to sit with team just because of the kind of incident you describe.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

A perfectly natural reaction from a father who just watched his daughter get hurt. What is sad is that his energy seemed not to have been directed to the welfare of his daughter. ..Football is a combative sport, sadly, sometimes players are injured. You and your player are not the cause of the young lady's injury, yet her father did not understand that. Parents, in CalNorth, sit with their kids and sometimes a decision may be influenced by their proximity. ..When a parent has a go at you and the referee is unable to sort out the problem, it then becomes a matter for higher authority, be it the league or higher. If a parent is unable to curtail his emotions and becomes a threat to others, he neads to be dealt with. ..We all must remember that, in the end, football is just a game. We play games to have fun. It is not fun to have one's welfare threatened by someone that can not control himself...Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Stacy Kalstrom

As the official, I would not restart the game until the offending parent had left the area. Peer pressure will get him to leave. If that doesn't work the game is over. ..I make this very clear by picking up the ball and in a loud voice telling the coach that the game will not continue until the offending parent has completely left the area and that unless he does so immediatly, the game will be terminated...I have used this tactic many times over the years and the offending parent has always left. I have never had to terminate a match for this reason...It is indeed unfortunate when adults behave in this manner. Not only are they taking the game away from the players but they are setting a very poor example for their children.