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It’s finally happened.
Recently a high school fan was punched by a game official. Let me repeat that and let it sink in – a high school referee punched a fan after the game.
For the record, it happened on Feb. 2, following the junior varsity boys’ basketball game between Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley.
Initially my thoughts were that it was hard to believe. But the longer I dwelled on it, I thought it was probably long overdue.
By all accounts the fan/parent was chirping at the ref throughout the game, and occasionally the ref would say something back.
Watching the video from social media, after the game ended, the ref walked over and was face-to-face with the fan. Suddenly the ref delivered an overhead right square to the face of the parent.
There is no acceptable reason for the referee to throw the punch. It’s unacceptable, and there is currently an investigation going on by the Danville P.D.
There will be consequences for his actions, as there should be, but the one thought that keeps running through my mind is, what the heck did the fan/parent say throughout the game that drove the official to throw a punch.
I have said this before – I have sat on press tables for 30-plus years as a reporter covering a game to being an announcer. The stuff I have heard out of the mouths of adults darn near made me blush.
Sure, student bodies get out of control at times, but these are things stupid high school kids do. I was one, and be sure my behavior at times was, well, stupid.
But when you get parents harassing the officials, it makes me shake my head.
How small of a mind must a person have to chirp at an official not just once but throughout a game, antagonizing an official to the point of doing the unthinkable – throwing a punch.
I have written numerous columns about parents that are over the top, and it appears these parents could be the nail in the coffin of youth sports.
Make no mistake: Verbally abusing parents are the main reason why youth/high school sports are getting close to being on life support.
Across the board we are facing a shortage of officials and incidents like what just happened are not going to increase the numbers of officials.
I used to think coaches were nuts for doing a job for little money that brought dealing with parents front and center. We have seen example after example of vindictive parents running coaches out.
I now put being an official for youth/high school sports right alongside being a coach.
These guys and gals are officiating games for a little bit of cash and must deal with taunting from parents with comments that are way over the top.
Earlier this year I had a story about the lack of younger officials as the kids don’t want to be faced with psychotic parents complaining about every play. It doesn’t matter if it is a 12-year-old kid officiating a 7-year-old soccer game, parents are going to yell at them.
No officials equal no games.
It’s garbage, and it’s time to grow up and be thankful we have officials willing to step forward so we can have these contests.
It’s every sport and every age where we see these acts of lunacy. In my life I have personally broken up a fight between two mothers at an under-6 girls’ soccer game.
I have also asked a parent to leave a 6th grade girls’ basketball game, in a game where there was no score being kept. I also saw a father come out on court to confront an official in a 7th grade boys’ basketball game.
High school? As they would say in “The Sopranos” – fugget about it.
I consider myself a knowledgeable, well-read person, but at some high school contests I have heard some words and phrases that were new to me!
One other thing, and another major issue with the incident at Monte Vista, is if the parent was accosting the ref throughout the game, why wasn’t he tossed by the school administrators?
Seems like that would have eliminated the problem at the end of the game. Of course, that doesn’t mean the jerk wouldn’t have waited in the parking lot for the official — something that has happened several times before.
Earlier this year we had to escort a ref to the car after a middle school basketball game in Pleasanton.
Where is all this taking us?
Let’s look at some possible solutions.
1. Perhaps the parents could just grow up? Well, I think we all know that’s not going to happen, so let’s give up on that one.
2. A zero-tolerance policy at all the schools. The administration must be proactive on this one which would be a big change. One case of berating the officials and the parent is asked to leave the game. They are also banned from attending any games that year. If that is done, obnoxious parents will think twice before hurling insults knowing they will be shown the door next.
3. Ban spectators from all games. Would sure be a buzzkill for the events but it would be better than having no games at all.
4. Play all the games right after school. I remember when I played soccer at Amador Valley, all our games were at 3:15 or 3:30 p.m. The crowds were much bigger than they are right now, especially when it came to student attendance. Soccer games at night during the winter is insane. Put basketball games earlier as well. Playing in the afternoon might also keep some parents from imbibing before the game. If you don’t think that is happening, your head is stuck in the sand.
5. If the officials are enduring taunts and harassment through an athletic contest, they are allowed to abandon the contest and the team with the offending parents is given the loss. The kids get embarrassed when their parents are out of control, just imagine what the level of shame would be if their parents cost the team a game.
6. Eliminate all youth and high school athletic events. A bit extreme? Yep, but we may be headed in that direction already.
The bottom line – something must change. I think my second suggestion is something that can and should be instituted with spring sports this year. I think point five is another viable option.
We are getting to drastic times in youth and high school athletics regarding officials and it’s time for drastic measures.
Perhaps the biggest problem is that some of the offensive loons don’t think they are the ones causing the problem? I have gotten emails from people thanking me for writing a story about this subject, and it was some of those people I was writing about.
I realize yelling at officials is as old as the sport itself, but this has got to change. Let’s hope it does as there are generations of young athletes that could use athletics as a learning tool.
Editor’s note: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports writer for the Pleasanton Weekly. This column originally appeared in Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, a weekly sports e-newsletter published by Embarcadero Media Foundation. To sign up for free, visit https://www.pleasantonweekly.com/express/sports/.
