Parents, We Need to Chill Out: Setting the Example on the Field

Let me start by saying this—I'm guilty. I've been that parent. The one who gets way too wrapped up in my son's performance, questions the umpire’s calls, or wonders out loud why the coach made a certain decision. It’s easy to fall into that trap when emotions are high and we want the best for our kids. But let’s be honest—we need to chill out.

Yesterday at my son’s tournament, I witnessed something that really struck a chord. A mom shouted at the umpire after the game, saying things like, “You’re terrible! The worst!” Mind you, this was a 12U baseball game. We're not at Yankee Stadium. We're not playing for millions. These are kids, learning and growing—not just in sport, but in life.

And it's not just youth sports. We see the same behavior in professional settings—fans attacking players, leaders dodging accountability, and grown adults throwing tantrums. It's no wonder kids are confused. They're watching us.

We say we want fairness, that we want people to follow the rules. But how can we expect that if we’re not modeling it ourselves? As parents, we have to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Our kids are watching how we respond under pressure. They’re learning whether we take responsibility or just point fingers. They’re absorbing whether we’re victims or leaders.

Are we raising them to succeed beyond their sport? Are we teaching them how to handle stress, how to cope with disappointment, how to control what they can and let go of what they can’t?

Sports are a beautiful training ground for life—but only if we let them be.

No, I’m not saying we can’t challenge a bad call or question decisions. But how we do it matters. There's a big difference between holding someone accountable and publicly humiliating them. One teaches strength, the other teaches spite.

We need to raise kids who understand the phrase, “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” That mindset fosters ownership, not blame. Let’s stop encouraging a victim mentality and start empowering them to lead—with integrity.

Before we call someone else out, maybe we need to ask ourselves: How am I acting? How am I responding?

Take the log out of your own eye before trying to remove the speck from someone else's. The field is a mirror—what are our kids seeing in us?

Let’s do better. Let’s be the adults.

44 Sports Connect LLC