Most parents live through their children to some extent while the child is on the athletic field. Unfortunately, parents do not have the same outlet for the release of building intensity that players do during a game. Parents can't block the opponent. They can't dribble the basketball and focus their anxiety on that activity. They literally lose sight of what is important in youth sports.
Tunnel vision is often the reason parents act out at the game.
You probably believe that a healthy youth sports environment is very important. You probably believe that positive parental support will help your child reach his or her athletic goals. But once you get caught in the intensity web and move into tunnel vision, all of those goals are forgotten and you feel justified acting out on the sidelines or powerless to stop from losing control. In most youth sport leagues the officials live in the local community. Yet, as long as they are wearing striped shirts and a whistle around their necks, too many parents feel that officials are fair game for verbal abuse.