Seminar addresses increased violence in youth sports
Published on August 2nd, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - The message last week at the Town Hall was something that most kids already know - youth sports should be about kids having fun.
Yet since poor sportsmanship on the part of spectators appears prevalent in our nation's ball fields and arenas, one local group vowed to do something about it last week.
Stoneham Against Racism and Hate, the brainchild of Stoneham resident Cheryl Motley-Sanders, was formed in February of this year with a mission to address hatred and violence in Stoneham.
The organization's goal, according to Motley-Sanders, is "to make the community a nice place, a safe place."
To this end, the group sponsored "Violence in Children's Sports," a community forum on Wednesday, July 26, in response to the increasingly competitive environment of youth sports.
In addition, the tragic altercation last month in Reading's Burbank Arena, which resulted in the death of one of the participants, prompted the group to initiate action in the hope of preventing a similar event in Stoneham.
The seminar's goal, according to Motley-Sanders, was to "make sure Stoneham sports are safe for our kids and to develop measures to deal with people who are out of control."
Approximately 20 residents attended the meeting and gave input on the issues plaguing youth sports.
"Everyone was involved in the discussion. It was just wonderful," said Motley-Sanders.
The forum was led by Stoneham resident Steven White, a collegiate level sports official whose message opened discussion on the topic of violence in children's sports which stems largely from overzealous parents and spectators whose intense focus on the game causes them to lose sight of the purpose of children's sports.
That was precisely the message reiterated by Stoneham's Safety Officer Lawrence Rotondi, who told the audience that parents sometimes push their kids too hard in sports.
"The parents sometimes want to win more than the kids," he said.
Rotondi pointed out that only a very small percentage of kids involved in youth sports go on to win scholarships or pursue athletic careers. Despite this, he said, "Parents want their kids to be Johnny Superstars."
Rotondi also stated that parents need to remember that the majority of coaches in youth sports are not professional coaches. Rather, they are working men and women who volunteer their time to teach kids the fundamentals of a sport, how to play and how to have fun.
"I thought the meeting went very well...A lot of good ideas came out of it," he told the Independent.
"It's a start," said Boys and Girls Club Director Rick Flynn, adding that in order to provide a safe environment for youth sports, "you need parents who are willing to cooperate."
In addition, input from the town's various youth sports groups, is needed, said Flynn.
"You can't do it half-heartedly...You need to really gather the forces."
Other forum participants included Stoneham Police DARE Officer Tom Cullen, Stoneham High School Athletic Director Mike Lahiff, North Suburban Family Link Director Randi Freundlich and Steve Cotter from Stoneham Youth Hockey.
"It was good to have everyone in one room," Freundlich said.
Some potential solutions voiced included requiring coaches to meet with parents at the start of the season to provide guidelines on acceptable behavior on the sidelines, hiring consultants to work with coaches, and teaching parents and officials how to handle situations of violence.
"Everyone felt really good (about the forum). They wanted to go on," said Motley-Sanders.
A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall to form a sports council in Stoneham. Anyone interested in this very important issue is encouraged to attend.
In the meantime, remember that your kids are already superstars.
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