If you're going to be like that, stay home. Parents spoil it Nationally, more than 20 million children under the age of 16 participate in non-school sports leagues, Mr. Pfahl said. But 70 percent quit by the age of 13. Among the reasons, Mr. Pfahl said, are parents who suck the fun out of the game. The stories unfold on fields all over the country.
Parents come after coaches with baseball bats.
They yell at their children for making a simple mistake. It has to stop. It's terrible we have to educate adults about being civilized, logical, practical, human beings when it comes to kids sports, but we do. The National Alliance for Youth Sports began in 1981 as a training organization for coaches. It soon added sessions for game officials, and now is focusing efforts on league administrators and parents.