"I Know Travel, And That's Travel"

Fri Jan 29 01:30:00 EST 2010 | by Cheryl Baird

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I propose a covenant. How about when our kids are on the floor playing a game we parents agree to the following.....

(1) You are not the center of attention.  Your time to be brilliant on the court has passed.   Your unrequited dreams should not affect my viewing experience.

(2) I looked it up, and spectator means "somebody who watches or observes."  It does not mean someone who tries to influence the game, or who repeatedly blurts instructions.  Your kid has a coach... and it's not you. 

(3) Referees are authority figures.  You may disagree with them but your kids learn life lessons by obeying people. Short circuiting this lesson delays maturity, responsibility, and development and they may live at home until they are 30.

(4) Your kid may be the best shooter who ever lived, but please don't yell at the other kids to pass him the ball.  If he's that good, he'll get his chance....so please just chill.

(5) If you have a need to video the game, tape the whole game, not just when your kid is on the floor.

Recently, a very wise referee stopped my daughter's game and said to a parent "Sir, please sit down in the stands with the rest of those nice people and let your daughters play the game." This highly strung individual was pacing the length of the floor yelling at his twin girls, the refs, the opposing players, and anyone in earshot.  He was the center of attention, and it was quite sad.

Here are my spectator quotes of the year (so far).....

1. "You took the first half off... why don't you play the second half?" (As if the kid tried to underperform in the first half)

2. "That's bull crap" (and we wonder why kids are disrespectful to authorities)

3. "Follow your shot" (your kid has a coach already)

4. "Dribble!!" (your son can actually break the press w/out your help)

5. "Ryan... please don't go back in the game" (Ryan has coaches and a trainer who can probably make that decision on their own)  

And my favorite was from a Grandma who stood up and yelled...

"I know travel and that was travel."  (By far the best statement ever yelled from the stands.. and a Baird family favorite!)

So... parents.... Let the kids play. Drive them to their practices and games. Enter in when asked. Encourage them and say thank you to coaches and referees... and see what happens!!