Fans or Fanatics?  Which One Are You?
By Fred Northup

The word fan is short for fanatic. Most of us like to think we are fans.  Most of us don’t want to think of ourselves as fanatics. Because we know a fanatic is a person who is irrational, emotionally unstable, and out of control. Today, too many fans are fanatics.

In sports, as in life, one of the interesting things is how people will say and do things in the company of others that they would never do by themselves. Somehow in the anonymity of the crowd we hear people yelling things that they would never say if they were the only one there.  Or if their mother was sitting beside them.  It is as if bad behavior is itself becoming a sport, with the fanatics at times being encouraged by those around them.

Parents out of control
In youth sports, of course, the culprit is most often the parents. Parents are generally regarded as the leading problem in youth sports with increasingly numerous ugly incidents in recent years. The reasons have all been well documented, such as living through their youth, having unrealistic expectations, and losing perspective on what is a game.

What can be done?
People must take responsibility and act. When individuals are subjected to behavior that is inappropriate and offensive, others must have the sense of responsibility and duty to report such individuals to security immediately. A visit by a security officer will normally stop the behavior. When there is a pattern of inappropriate behavior, complaints should be filed with the head of the institution or those responsible (athletic directors, principals, college presidents, league officials, stadium officials, etc.). In youth sports coaches must make clear to parents what their expectations are. If the Code for Living is signed by athletes, coaches and parents then it is clear that there should be no “abusive or dehumanizing behavior.” Any yelling or name-calling is therefore out of bounds. In the coach’s meeting with parents and in any written communication, it is important for the coach to emphasize that the game is for the young athletes and that the game is a game. The coach should indicate to parents that a part of their responsibility includes responsibility for other adults who may be at the game. There is nothing more beautiful than watching athletes give their best efforts; we in the stands should do likewise.