HAVE CHILDREN'S SPORTS BECOME TOO VIOLENT?
Peter Andrew Sacco, Ph.D.
February 21, 2007
Has violence in children’s sports finally gone too far? I am not actually talking about kids being violent towards others, well at least not yet. What I am talking about is parents attacking other parents and even other’s children in the name of amateur sports. It’s that time of the year when hockey playoffs are going to be starting for many children as well as registration for their summer sports. We hear stories of parents getting into it with another in the stands during the course of a game. We hear of parents verbally abusing other children, as well as their own during the course of a game. And we even hear of some parents physically attacking a child/teen during a game. Wow, how the heck did the sports children play escalate into this phenomenon? Well, for starters, I have my own theories on why violence in children’s sports is on the rise.
1) Violence continues to be tolerated and even encouraged at the professional level. I am not referring to fighting in hockey, as much as I am the cheap shots, low blows and premeditated incidents which occur. Why does it continue in professional sports? Simple. Cash is king! Violence and aggression creates attention and sells tickets. Who one of the largest viewing groups of sports? Children.
2) With children viewing lots of sports either live or on television and witnessing the violence, they develop what is social learning. Social Learning Theory asserts individuals will observe those they have a fascination with and those who they can identify with. Therefore, kids who observe much aggression are more likely to model their own athletic ideals after what they watch over a period of time, especially if they “want to be” like their sport’s hero. If it’s not sports they get it from, they can get it from simulated sports through video games.
3) The third reason violence has escalated is too many parents encourage it and even condone it. Let’s face it. No parent wants to watch their child be made a fool of by another child during the course of a competition. Some parents take their child aside and actually encourage them to “go and get even”. And some parents heckle other children from the stands during the course of a game and this threatens the egos of those parents who child is being made fun of and rather than ignore the problem, they take care of it physically.
4) The fourth reason violence and aggression has escalated in children’s sports is too many parents are vicariously living out their sporting dreams through their children. Some wanted to play professional sports so badly, but they lacked the skills. Guess what? They have a child who plays the same sports they did, or a child they coerced into the sport and now they are going to make that child a superstar! More pressure is placed on the child to succeed and too much pressure leads to stress and frustration which often times spills over into anger management problems.
5) And the fifth reason violence and aggression has evolved in children’s sports is due to amateur officiating. Some young referees are afraid to make calls or eject parents and children from games because they worry they will be harassed further or even attacked. Bottom line… amateur officials don’t get paid enough and some do it voluntarily. Do you really think they want to get in the middle of a physical feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys? I think not!
Well sport’s fans, just some ideas to ponder. Just remember, the reason children were enrolled in sports was to have fun, stay healthy and learn team work and disciplinary skills. The scary thing is that some parents are actually undermining their own best intentions!
1) Violence continues to be tolerated and even encouraged at the professional level. I am not referring to fighting in hockey, as much as I am the cheap shots, low blows and premeditated incidents which occur. Why does it continue in professional sports? Simple. Cash is king! Violence and aggression creates attention and sells tickets. Who one of the largest viewing groups of sports? Children.
2) With children viewing lots of sports either live or on television and witnessing the violence, they develop what is social learning. Social Learning Theory asserts individuals will observe those they have a fascination with and those who they can identify with. Therefore, kids who observe much aggression are more likely to model their own athletic ideals after what they watch over a period of time, especially if they “want to be” like their sport’s hero. If it’s not sports they get it from, they can get it from simulated sports through video games.
3) The third reason violence has escalated is too many parents encourage it and even condone it. Let’s face it. No parent wants to watch their child be made a fool of by another child during the course of a competition. Some parents take their child aside and actually encourage them to “go and get even”. And some parents heckle other children from the stands during the course of a game and this threatens the egos of those parents who child is being made fun of and rather than ignore the problem, they take care of it physically.
4) The fourth reason violence and aggression has escalated in children’s sports is too many parents are vicariously living out their sporting dreams through their children. Some wanted to play professional sports so badly, but they lacked the skills. Guess what? They have a child who plays the same sports they did, or a child they coerced into the sport and now they are going to make that child a superstar! More pressure is placed on the child to succeed and too much pressure leads to stress and frustration which often times spills over into anger management problems.
5) And the fifth reason violence and aggression has evolved in children’s sports is due to amateur officiating. Some young referees are afraid to make calls or eject parents and children from games because they worry they will be harassed further or even attacked. Bottom line… amateur officials don’t get paid enough and some do it voluntarily. Do you really think they want to get in the middle of a physical feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys? I think not!
Well sport’s fans, just some ideas to ponder. Just remember, the reason children were enrolled in sports was to have fun, stay healthy and learn team work and disciplinary skills. The scary thing is that some parents are actually undermining their own best intentions!
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