Parents, don’t coach from the stands

Ever since the Prebis Memorial Classic softball tournament, something has been bothering me.

Parents.

Specifically, those who can’t just go to their child’s game and enjoy what is happening in front of them.

Instead, these parents take it upon themselves to yell instructions to the players. They undermine what the coaches have been instilling in the players all season. They, simply put, overstep their bounds.

And, before I start getting the hate mail, please let me be clear. Not all parents are like this. It’s a minority of parents who do this.

Unfortunately, as is the case these days, it’s the vocal minority that gets all of the attention

for simply being the loudest.

Sometimes this type of parent can be harmless. The players ignore them and listen to their coach.

There are a few instances from the Prebis, though, where the parents were listened to and the team was hurt as a result.

The most obvious one that I saw was when a coach shifted the outfield left, but a parent decided to yell — and this is the exact quote, not a paraphrase — “Don’t listen. This girl can only hit to right. Move that way.”

Anyone care to guess what happened next?

The outfield shifted, the third base coach smiled and signaled to the batter, who promptly hit the first pitch she saw to left for a two-RBI double.

When that hit occurred, it had been a tie game. And that the ball was hit directly where the left fielder had been before the meddling parent decided to overstep.

But that is just one example.

Another one is when a parent was vocally insulting their team’s pitcher. I’m sure the parent assumed they were being quiet enough that no one heard them. Wrong. Because I heard.

Now, it’s not my place to say something to the parent in the moment, but I really hope that they are reading this right now. That they know they had been heard. Because if I heard, I can only imagine how many other people heard — and potentially how many players heard — too.

So, I would like to implore parents: Just enjoy the game.

For a lot of you, the four high school years will be the last time you will get to watch your child play competitively.

For a few of you, the opportunity to watch your child play in college is going to happen. But, these four high school years might be the last time that your child actually enjoys playing the game.

Enjoy this time. Cherish this time. Make memories.

Twenty years from now, you don’t want your only memories of watching your child play to be ones where you can’t remember what happened because you were too busy coaching. Or, even worse, memories where your child is embarrassed because they had “that parent” who no one wanted at the games.

Let the coaches coach. Let the players play.

And parents, be the fans. Be the support system that the players need to make it through a long season. Be the encouragement that they need when in a slump. Be the first one to high-five them after a good game, and hug them when the season comes to an end.

After all, you’ve been their support their entire lives. Sports should be no different.