Minor sports, parents rarely mix

If there’s been a major controversy in minor sports, chances are you can trace that back to an overbearing parent looking to ensure a victory for a kid’s team.

The case of a seven-year-old being stripped of a bowling medal because of faded dark pants in Conception Bay South is just another of in a long line of parents meddling in something they really shouldn’t.

Here’s how it started: Young Grayson Powell had only a pair of faded black jeans to wear when black pants were required for the event. His team was doing reasonably well and it looked like a gold medal was well within reach.

That was the case until an overzealous parent, or “spectator,” from the Corner Brook side decided they might have been bowling too well and something had to be done to tip the scales.

That’s when a bug was planted suggesting the C.B.S. squad was in violation of dress code. That bug made its way to YBC provincial president Gord Davis.

From there Davis was put in an incredibly tough position — disqualify the young boy from C.B.S. or ignore the complaint.

He chose the former and opened up a can of worms that has drawn opinions, good and bad, from all corners of the province.

He was just following the rules and can’t really be solely to blame.

However, that’s only part of the issue here.

The other part includes parents who feel compelled to make things hard on everyone else when they’re in search of the greater good.

Minor sports aren’t there for the parents. They’re for kids to get active, learn a sport and have some fun.

Parents are just there to cheer and console when things don’t go their kids’ way. Minor sports aren’t about parents reliving their glory days. That’s saved for a barstool where they can impress their buddies, not at the hockey rink or a bowling alley.

Kids don’t care if their opponents are wearing different types of pants. They’re there to throw a couple of balls and have a laugh.

That is, you know, that thing “sports” is supposed to be about.

If they win, they win. If they lose, oh well, try again next year.

For some, that’s not good enough. Their kids — or the kids from their club — have to win and they’ll make sure of it by any means necessary. Even if it’s something as mundane as what colour pants can be overlooked.

Yes, that’s the rule, but some rules are not made to secure a backdoor win involving a game played by seven-year-olds.

The fact is, some parents and minor sports just don’t mix. They’re the ones who give the rest of them a bad name.

If there’s been a major controversy in minor sports, chances are you can trace that back to an overbearing parent looking to ensure a victory for a kid’s team.

The case of a seven-year-old being stripped of a bowling medal because of faded dark pants in Conception Bay South is just another of in a long line of parents meddling in something they really shouldn’t.

Here’s how it started: Young Grayson Powell had only a pair of faded black jeans to wear when black pants were required for the event. His team was doing reasonably well and it looked like a gold medal was well within reach.

That was the case until an overzealous parent, or “spectator,” from the Corner Brook side decided they might have been bowling too well and something had to be done to tip the scales.

That’s when a bug was planted suggesting the C.B.S. squad was in violation of dress code. That bug made its way to YBC provincial president Gord Davis.

From there Davis was put in an incredibly tough position — disqualify the young boy from C.B.S. or ignore the complaint.

He chose the former and opened up a can of worms that has drawn opinions, good and bad, from all corners of the province.

He was just following the rules and can’t really be solely to blame.

However, that’s only part of the issue here.

The other part includes parents who feel compelled to make things hard on everyone else when they’re in search of the greater good.

Minor sports aren’t there for the parents. They’re for kids to get active, learn a sport and have some fun.

Parents are just there to cheer and console when things don’t go their kids’ way. Minor sports aren’t about parents reliving their glory days. That’s saved for a barstool where they can impress their buddies, not at the hockey rink or a bowling alley.

Kids don’t care if their opponents are wearing different types of pants. They’re there to throw a couple of balls and have a laugh.

That is, you know, that thing “sports” is supposed to be about.

If they win, they win. If they lose, oh well, try again next year.

For some, that’s not good enough. Their kids — or the kids from their club — have to win and they’ll make sure of it by any means necessary. Even if it’s something as mundane as what colour pants can be overlooked.

Yes, that’s the rule, but some rules are not made to secure a backdoor win involving a game played by seven-year-olds.

The fact is, some parents and minor sports just don’t mix. They’re the ones who give the rest of them a bad name.