Blind Squirrel wrote:My opinion:
1. There are reasons why this behavior is unusual and noteworthy. The parents of this team don't love their kids any more than the parents on other teams. They don't want their team to win any more than other team's parents. The fact is, contrary to the rationalizations, none of the reasons for behaving like that are positive. Words like classless, pathetic, embarrassing, trailer, etc. spring to mind. Do some of these folks go to animal noise training to prepare for the season?
2. Non-coach parents are not part of the game. Period. They support the team. They have no business impacting the game beyond getting their kid there on time and cheering when someone on their team does something good. I'm wrong? Then where does it end? I can think of many ways I could impact the game, things that EVERYONE would frown upon. But why? I just want to feel like I'm part of the game, so anything goes. Right?
3. The fact that adults playing college ball is used to justify behavior towards 11 and 12 year olds speaks volumes.
John
I'm inclined to agree with John (and others) on this one. There is cheering for your team, and cheering against the other team. If the behavior of the parents has demonstrably had a negative affect on the performance of the opposing players, then it should be curtailed.
While I agree the kids need to be mentally tough, that will come as they mature. But to a 12yo pitcher who just gave up a big hit, it's pretty intimidating to then suddenly exposed to a PHALANX OF CHANTING PARENTS IN THE BLEACHERS!
I saw a 12u game last spring where, after their team got a big hit, the parents launched into the Seminole War Chant (think FSU football), and it definitely rattled the other team.
So it really becomes a question of what is acceptable and what isn't? Chanting is okay, but not climbing on the fence? Or shaking bottles full of rocks? Who draws that line?
There are solutions, here are three:
Retire the side, or get a lot of hits, whatever it takes to shut up the parents.
Start your own War Chant, and see how their kids appreciate the same medicine.
Bring in your hardest thrower and put her on a steady diet of (wayward?) screwballs.
(okay, unless your DB, forget this one!)
If the first fails, then move on to the second, which I personally prefer, but you have to plan ahead. It can be a fun (softball) family activity.
Say you're registered in a tournament the Rebels are in, simply organize your own fan base well ahead of time (like when the kids are practicing softball, the parents could practice raising the decibel level of their chant), come up with a strong cheer that supports your team, and use it at every opportunity. Swing the momentum back to your side. If it works for them, it should work for you. Otherwise, you are simply being out (fan)parented!
If nothing else, your kids will become accustomed to all the constant chanting and it won't faze them next time they are forced to compete in that environment. It will make them mentally tougher! And even better than they already are at ignoring adults.
So taht by by the time the CA teams get to Nats, the rest of the country won't know what hit 'em!
