Fight Between Parents Highlights Youth Sports Stupidity In Texas

Youth sports have become so prevalent here in Amarillo over the last few years. More and more sports are seeing leagues created or just more kids participating in them. With that though comes more parents, more coaches.

Now, this isn't a bad thing...until it is. This weekend in Amarillo wasn't exactly a banner weekend when it comes to youth sports, and honestly, it's disturbing.

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Both of my boys had a baseball tournament this weekend, and the display put on by some of the parents was truly appalling. There were a couple of tense moments in the game, and parents would start chirping about every little thing as the game was getting close to being over.

It ultimately ended with both sides being issued a warning by the umpires, and that was for everyone. Coaches, parents, etc. Not something you want to ever have happen, but sadly it happens more often than not.

Another issue that popped up at the ballfields involved a friend of mine. He received a lineup card that had quite the message written on it. I don't want to repeat what was written on the card for a couple of different reasons, the main one being that I know both people involved and I'm not here to get in the middle of it.

However, what was written on the lineup card was pretty inappropriate from a sportsmanship standpoint and should've been handled a completely different way. Coaches should be acting a certain way with the kids, the parents, and other coaches no matter their differences.

The third and final thing that happened in Amarillo this weekend was hands down the most deplorable of them all. It happened at a Kids Inc. of all games, and I say that with all the love for Kids Inc. My boys play basketball through the program.

It's your penultimate community/recreational program where everyone can play, and play a fair amount thanks to the rules they set. The perfect setting for kids that just want to play, or families that can't afford travel ball. Yes, it's sports. Yes, it's competitive. However, what happened shouldn't happen on the travel side of things where emotions run much higher, let alone this level.

A full-on brawl broke out at a game between parents, with coaches and referees getting involved. Punches being thrown, slurs being levied, something you'd expect to see happen at a place like Sixth Street in Amarillo after everyone has been out drinking.

The worst part? The kids were there. Watching every last thing that happened. They will forever remember what they saw, especially if their parent was one of the ones participating. Aside from the fact that it will be a core memory now for the rest of their lives, it's very possible you have just ruined the sport they loved, and for what? You didn't like something that happened? A parent made a comment you didn't agree with?

I love being a part of youth sports, it's literally a huge piece of the fabric of me. My wife even tells me she sees a completely different person when I'm working with the kids and on the field with them. She's not wrong. Why?

Because I had a good experience playing youth sports as a kid. I grew a love for baseball when I was a kid, and it was because it was fun, without the drama we have today, and the coaches I had loved teaching us the game.

It's sad we're now in a world where none of that seems to matter to people anymore.