GILROY
– Stories of
”
sports rage
”
among parents who attend their children’s sporting events have
become infamous
– most notably the one from two years ago when a hockey father
killed another dad at their sons’ game.
By Lori Stuenkel
GILROY – Stories of “sports rage” among parents who attend their children’s sporting events have become infamous – most notably the one from two years ago when a hockey father killed another dad at their sons’ game. Parents of Gilroy High School athletes learned Tuesday how to avoid the sports rage trend to prevent the same thing from happening here.
Gilroy High School Athletic Director Jack Daley said the meeting Tuesday was important for stopping sports rage before it begins.
“I think our parents do a pretty good job,” he said. “This will give parents a better feel and understanding for what high school athletics are all about.”
The athletics department at GHS hosted the meeting for parents of athletes and a representative of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the governing body of high school athletics, presented at the meeting.
Parents said they were not worried about sports rage in Gilroy, but saw the potential for parents losing control.
“I don’t see much violence,” said Kelley Wendlandt, whose son will play on the freshman football team. “But it’s scary that parents can act that way.”
More than 300 parents listened as Roger Blake, CIF assistant executive director, identified the sources of sports rage.
“As adults, we forget why kids are out there,” said Blake, a former varsity basketball coach.
Parents often have the wrong goals for their athletes, Blake said, in particular the goal of obtaining a college scholarship.
At a show of hands, fewer than 25 percent of those at the meeting said they wanted their child to earn an athletic scholarship.
Among high school senior boys playing high school sports nationwide, 1.02 percent will earn an athletic scholarship. For girls, the number is slightly higher: 1.39 percent of high school senior athletes earn scholarships.
When student athletes themselves were surveyed in 1996 about their reasons for participating in sports, scholarships ranked at the bottom of the list.
“Our kids are out there to have fun,” Blake said. “Any scholarships they get will come from inside the classroom.”
Above all, parents need to set a good example for their children and attend sporting events to support their child rather than criticize the coach, referees, or other players, Blake said.
“Would you act (violently toward the teacher) if you were in your kids’ math class? I don’t think so,” Blake said.
Blake gave credit to the parents at the meeting for being good examples.
“I’m preaching to the choir tonight,” he said. “The parents here aren’t the problem. They’re giving up their night when they could be home watching TV. But if we can get good parents being better, we can make a big difference.”
