You see it everywhere.
Parents yelling, charging at referees who make calls they don't like.
Parents forcing coaches out of their jobs because their child didn't play as much as they thought they should or the team didn't win enough games.
Parents getting into fights with parents on the other team because of a disagreement.
Parents making racist and homophobic comments directly to players on the opposing team (I was a witness to this one).
Parents pushing their child to be the best at a sport because, as we all know, success at sports means success at life (Yeah, right).
Parents complaining about a loss on the scoreboard for whatever reason.
Why is it that parents' short-term actions don't match up with their long-term goals for their children? What harm are parents doing to our future leaders by this behavior and what can be done about it?
Numerous studies have shown that participation in youth sports has a wide variety of physical, emotional, social and life skills benefits associated with it. I'd imagine that is one of the primary reasons why parents place their kids into sports in the first place.
What are the potential consequences of parental behavior on how our future leaders will behave? Our values and beliefs are formed during our childhood. Children mirror adult behavior.
Instead of reinforcing and encouraging development of key life skills like communication, goal setting, process development, conflict resolution, etc., we are teaching our kids how to manipulate, whine and complain. We are teaching them that there are only a few that can really be successful and that any means necessary is justifiable to get there. What will those 'successful' people look like?