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Parent Rage in Youth Sports

Giving the Game Back to
Our Children

By Gwen Morrison

In Rolling Meadows Park District, a suburb of Chicago, Ill., the rule for behavior at sporting events is very clear. "We told the parents the goal for running the PAYS program was that we want to keep out of the police blotter," says Brian Meyer, the facilities division manager for the Rolling Meadows Park District. "We want everyone to have a positive experience and not open the newspaper and see their name in it ... because that is ridiculous."

Meyer explains that the main goal of the PAYS program is to prevent incidents from happening. Including parents in this voluntary program offers a very proactive approach, making it easier on the coaches and encouraging a setting that is harmonious for all involved in the game.

Currently, more than 450 communities across the nation have implemented the PAYS program, including more than 30,000 parents who have been through the training. The program helps to educate parents in the rules of the game, which has proven to be a great help in Rolling Meadows.

"I've been a referee, and there are always parents yelling 'That's a travel!' and those types of things, and that kind of drives you nuts," Meyer says. "So we educated the parents with a little clinic on commonly-misunderstood basketball calls."

As long as the expectations for behavior in the stands is understood from the start, the experience can prove to be a very rich and positive one for everyone involved, especially for the children. After all, isn't that what it's all about?

Set an example for your child: Be a good sport.