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Brooke Walker reporting Most parents want what is best for their children. Natural parental instincts are to protect, defend and support. But can that support go too far?
Monday night in Cedar City, it certainly did. An angry mom, upset that her son fouled out at a basketball game, attacked a referee. That may seem extreme. But many people involved with youth sports say--they aren't surprised.
The shouting, the clapping, the gestures... Is it excitement or aggression? Things got intense at high school finals tonight, on and off the court.
That intensity can begin at a young age. At Open Court in Lehi, coaches' deal with players as young as four, as well as their parents.
Cedric Williams, Open Court Basketball Director: "Holler at the refs, yell at the refs. Even at a few hard nose games they go after the refs."
Cedric Williams has coached basketball all over the country. He moved to Utah six months ago and says parents here are particularly aggressive.
Cedric Williams, Open Court Basketball Director: "Sometimes their emotions just take over and they don't think before they act."
Players told us, while they like involvement, "parent pride" can get embarrassing and, at times, out of control.
Andrew Ploeger, Player: "We had to stop the game for five minutes and they had to move the parents away from each other so it could go on without any more violent breakouts."
Because of this behavior, Open Court assigns managers to operate as -parent referees. If mom or dad acts out, they can receive a foul too.
At the Pleasant Grove Rec. Center, another attempt to calm the crowd. The city hosted a Silent Saturday game, where parents were forced to be quiet. Tape and suckers require spectators to show support in different ways.
Back at Open Court, we found one parent who knows how support can fuel success.
Andy Toolson, Former NBA player/Parent: "The bottom line is you have to keep it in perspective this is to help these youth grow and learn. We all have to remind ourselves it's just a game."
In June, Open Court will hold a clinic to teach referees how to deal with parents and teach parents how to deal with referees.
