How to Deal with Obnoxious Parents at a Child's Sports Event
Avoid confronting hotheaded parents., Politely ask an over-excited parent to tone it down., Band together with other team parents., Find an official to deal with out-of-control behavior., Stay positive, even when other parents show poor...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Avoid confronting hotheaded parents.
If an adult can’t manage their own emotions at their child’s game, they’re probably not going to react in a reasonable way if you approach them.
Trying to talk to someone who is worked up or angry could result in an unpleasant scene or a fight.If a parent on the sidelines is making mean-spirited remarks or openly criticizing the kids on the field, it’s natural to feel angry.
Remind yourself that staying cool is the most mature and appropriate way to handle the situation. -
Step 2: Politely ask an over-excited parent to tone it down.
Depending on the situation, it may be okay to ask another parent to calm down a little.
If someone is blocking others’ view of the field or being too loud, but doesn’t seem aggressive or angry, try approaching them and politely asking them to take it down a notch.If someone is getting too worked up over the outcome of the match, put things into perspective by reminding them, “Hey, it’s just a game.” If someone is blocking your view of the field, politely say, “Excuse me, do you mind moving over? I’m trying to watch my son play, too.” , One badly-behaved team parent can ruin things for everybody else.
Talk to other parents and see if they’re also bothered by the overzealous person’s antics.
If you’re in agreement that one parent is taking their enthusiasm too far, the rest of you can counterbalance the team environment by providing more positive and encouraging feedback for the players.As a group, consider bringing up the issue with the coach if the problem parent’s behavior doesn’t improve. , If a parent on the sidelines is swearing, picking fights with other parents or otherwise acting in a very inappropriate way, find an authority figure to deal with them.
They are more likely to listen to an official or police officer than another parent., Sometimes the best way to deal with a bad team parent is to provide a good example yourself.
Cheer on your child’s team, praise the players for doing their best, and emphasize having fun.
Avoid making critical comments or arguing with coaches and referees. -
Step 3: Band together with other team parents.
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Step 4: Find an official to deal with out-of-control behavior.
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Step 5: Stay positive
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Step 6: even when other parents show poor sportsmanship.
Detailed Guide
If an adult can’t manage their own emotions at their child’s game, they’re probably not going to react in a reasonable way if you approach them.
Trying to talk to someone who is worked up or angry could result in an unpleasant scene or a fight.If a parent on the sidelines is making mean-spirited remarks or openly criticizing the kids on the field, it’s natural to feel angry.
Remind yourself that staying cool is the most mature and appropriate way to handle the situation.
Depending on the situation, it may be okay to ask another parent to calm down a little.
If someone is blocking others’ view of the field or being too loud, but doesn’t seem aggressive or angry, try approaching them and politely asking them to take it down a notch.If someone is getting too worked up over the outcome of the match, put things into perspective by reminding them, “Hey, it’s just a game.” If someone is blocking your view of the field, politely say, “Excuse me, do you mind moving over? I’m trying to watch my son play, too.” , One badly-behaved team parent can ruin things for everybody else.
Talk to other parents and see if they’re also bothered by the overzealous person’s antics.
If you’re in agreement that one parent is taking their enthusiasm too far, the rest of you can counterbalance the team environment by providing more positive and encouraging feedback for the players.As a group, consider bringing up the issue with the coach if the problem parent’s behavior doesn’t improve. , If a parent on the sidelines is swearing, picking fights with other parents or otherwise acting in a very inappropriate way, find an authority figure to deal with them.
They are more likely to listen to an official or police officer than another parent., Sometimes the best way to deal with a bad team parent is to provide a good example yourself.
Cheer on your child’s team, praise the players for doing their best, and emphasize having fun.
Avoid making critical comments or arguing with coaches and referees.
About the Author
Marie Sullivan
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow home improvement tutorials.
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