Dear Editor:
I was pleased to see the response from Tim McNulty regarding the Fair Play Code and parents in sport.
As a boys youth soccer and volleyball coach, I can testify that the vast majority of parents support their children and demonstrate appropriate, respectful behaviour at sporting events. That being said, there are always children who have difficulties with fair play and more often than not, their behaviour mimics that of their parents. Once in a while, we encounter kids who have problems which we can't resolve no matter which approach we take.
Today, as I drove four children home from school, a car nearly crashed into us whilst making a lane change, driving too fast and without signalling. The car pulled beside us and the driver and passenger started shouting explicit obscenities accompanied by obscene hand gestures. They continued to drive beside us exhibiting the same behaviour until forced to stop at a light. At the light, whilst stopped, I opened my window and shouted "Leo's parents, you should be ashamed of yourselves." Yes, I even knew who they were. The obscenities continued until they turned in a different direction.
To the small minority of parents whose continuous inappropriate behaviour at sporting event is a poor example to our children: Please stay at home, we all know who you are. Our sporting organizations should consider whether it is in the best interest of our communities to allow these frequently offending families to participate in organized sport.
For the vast majority of parents, please stand up to bad behaviour at sporting events especially when directed at the many volunteers who provide these wonderful opportunities for our children.
Nicole Beauregard, North Vancouver
