It wasn’t like that when I was a young teen. The city had a summer baseball league. If you wanted to play, get a team together and join. The city scheduled the games and location. Supplied two balls and an umpire. The rest was up to us.
I umped a couple of seasons for Little League as a HS kid. Never had any problem with parents or coaches. But also gained a much better appreciation of how hard umpiring really is. Even at that level, plays can be very close and tough to call.
Happened in greater Denver back in mid-June. 13 year old ump was calling a game and parents decided to brawl over the game; like 12 were prosecuted. MLB umps did a good one for the kid and invited him to a Rockies game as their guest of honor.
A doctor once told me that he thought that youth sports were basically organized child abuse and that if sports were a healthy form of physical fitness there would be no discipline called “sports medicine”. My own experience in high school in the 60’s was a trip through a sewer of organized abuse, violence and terrible values.
Didn’t happen at my games I umpired this year.But I am 65 years young, and I informed the parents, I was old enough to be their Dad, and I wouldnt tolerate it. I had a great spring and summer umpiring about every weeknight. It also kick started my weight drop.The kids were great. The parents behaved, and I only came close to tossing a coach once.
Immediately after the fight, police issued four citations for disorderly conduct. That number has tripled to 12, which includes 11 adults and one 16-year-old teenager, according to the Associated Press.
Additionally, the Bear Creek Junior Sports Association canceled the remaining games for both teams. So now a group of 7-year-olds can’t play baseball because their parents got into a stupid fight. What a time to be alive, huh?
Many years ago I had a boyfriend who coached Little League. I thought all that stuff about nasty parents was a joke until I saw it for myself. What a terrible example to set for your children
We spent summers with a group of 10-20 kids playing “sides” or “roundsies” for hours. No audience, no parents. (They had jobs) no brawls. Rec ball the same way, 4-5 teams, never saw a parent. Never had a chance to go on TV and be spoiled like ESPN does. Sad.
I did the same and everyone seemed to learn all the basics of the game as well as enjoying the game.Later as a high school student I coached the 6th grade team and while I am sure that I learned more the those kids everyone again seemed to learn and enjoy. No parents were ever there and NONE were missed!!
I became a baseball fan late (between 4th and 5th grade in 1969), but the game really hooked me so I thought playing Little League might be fun. Went to a game at my grade school to check it out, caught some parents and coaches yapping at my peers and thought “Who needs THIS?” I ended up being a relatively decent player but playing with my buddies on a vacant lot was far preferable. No regrets.
30 years ago I quit officiating high school football because I got tired of dealing with coaches. They lied, they were insulting, and worst of all, they were ignorant of the rules. But what I went through pales in comparison to what officials have to deal with today from parents. It has gotten so bad that some high school districts in my state have to schedule games across the days of the week, because there aren’t enough officials to go around, and the ones who remain have to travel the state. (You really have to love the game because the pay isn’t that great.) And now the parents attack anyone who dares criticize their little Johnny or Suzy – the officials, each other, even the players are sometimes set upon by angry, screaming parents. Sad but true, (some) adults in America today behave in ways that would have got me a whuppin (as we used to say in the South) had I acted that way as a child. I have more faith in today’s young people than in their parents. And I miss officiating, but it isn’t worth the hassle – or the risk.
CrgBeauregard over 4 years ago
The biggest problem with kid’s sports is the parent’s. My father told me that almost 50 years ago and even more true today
Darsan54 Premium Member over 4 years ago
The first question out of your mouth should be, “What happened?” before the lecture.
jagedlo over 4 years ago
“Cage Fight”…as in MMA?
Bob Blumenfeld over 4 years ago
Wow. Dead serious for once. I wonder what triggered this.
ima resident over 4 years ago
it sad when you watch parents screaming at ’ t-ball ’ players and the players start to cry…. it’s a game people…………….
Bob. over 4 years ago
It wasn’t like that when I was a young teen. The city had a summer baseball league. If you wanted to play, get a team together and join. The city scheduled the games and location. Supplied two balls and an umpire. The rest was up to us.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 4 years ago
I umped a couple of seasons for Little League as a HS kid. Never had any problem with parents or coaches. But also gained a much better appreciation of how hard umpiring really is. Even at that level, plays can be very close and tough to call.
Pohka over 4 years ago
Happened in greater Denver back in mid-June. 13 year old ump was calling a game and parents decided to brawl over the game; like 12 were prosecuted. MLB umps did a good one for the kid and invited him to a Rockies game as their guest of honor.
For a Just and Peaceful World over 4 years ago
It happens, Youtube: parents fighting at a little league game
alexius23 over 4 years ago
Veritas
ED CANTWELL over 4 years ago
A doctor once told me that he thought that youth sports were basically organized child abuse and that if sports were a healthy form of physical fitness there would be no discipline called “sports medicine”. My own experience in high school in the 60’s was a trip through a sewer of organized abuse, violence and terrible values.
ThomasTracewell1 over 4 years ago
Didn’t happen at my games I umpired this year.But I am 65 years young, and I informed the parents, I was old enough to be their Dad, and I wouldnt tolerate it. I had a great spring and summer umpiring about every weeknight. It also kick started my weight drop.The kids were great. The parents behaved, and I only came close to tossing a coach once.
YatInExile over 4 years ago
Immediately after the fight, police issued four citations for disorderly conduct. That number has tripled to 12, which includes 11 adults and one 16-year-old teenager, according to the Associated Press.
Additionally, the Bear Creek Junior Sports Association canceled the remaining games for both teams. So now a group of 7-year-olds can’t play baseball because their parents got into a stupid fight. What a time to be alive, huh?
https://fanbuzz.com/fights/parents-baseball-brawl-colorado/
JoeMartinFan Premium Member over 4 years ago
Sad.
NWdryad over 4 years ago
Many years ago I had a boyfriend who coached Little League. I thought all that stuff about nasty parents was a joke until I saw it for myself. What a terrible example to set for your children
buckman-j over 4 years ago
We spent summers with a group of 10-20 kids playing “sides” or “roundsies” for hours. No audience, no parents. (They had jobs) no brawls. Rec ball the same way, 4-5 teams, never saw a parent. Never had a chance to go on TV and be spoiled like ESPN does. Sad.
jollyjack over 4 years ago
I did the same and everyone seemed to learn all the basics of the game as well as enjoying the game.Later as a high school student I coached the 6th grade team and while I am sure that I learned more the those kids everyone again seemed to learn and enjoy. No parents were ever there and NONE were missed!!
Guilty Bystander over 4 years ago
I became a baseball fan late (between 4th and 5th grade in 1969), but the game really hooked me so I thought playing Little League might be fun. Went to a game at my grade school to check it out, caught some parents and coaches yapping at my peers and thought “Who needs THIS?” I ended up being a relatively decent player but playing with my buddies on a vacant lot was far preferable. No regrets.
RWill over 4 years ago
Last kids’ game I umped was 20 years ago. Never again.
mitchkeos Premium Member over 4 years ago
30 years ago I quit officiating high school football because I got tired of dealing with coaches. They lied, they were insulting, and worst of all, they were ignorant of the rules. But what I went through pales in comparison to what officials have to deal with today from parents. It has gotten so bad that some high school districts in my state have to schedule games across the days of the week, because there aren’t enough officials to go around, and the ones who remain have to travel the state. (You really have to love the game because the pay isn’t that great.) And now the parents attack anyone who dares criticize their little Johnny or Suzy – the officials, each other, even the players are sometimes set upon by angry, screaming parents. Sad but true, (some) adults in America today behave in ways that would have got me a whuppin (as we used to say in the South) had I acted that way as a child. I have more faith in today’s young people than in their parents. And I miss officiating, but it isn’t worth the hassle – or the risk.