Kids’ Sports – The Photo That Touched A Nerve and Went Viral

You’ll have to excuse me for a wee minute, I’m in shock.

I posted the photo above on the Hello Sydney Kids Facebook page last Saturday afternoon, and it’s gone totally viral.

Parents’ behaviour at children’s sports has clearly touched a nerve!

The image has been shared almost 12,000 times in less than five days. It’s been seen by over 1.3 million people and there are more than 500 comments so far.

I was down at Harbord, sitting on the sidelines watching the U10s rugby league when I saw the sign. I loved it for that final sentiment:

Before you complain, have you volunteered yet?

Our family’s life has been so enriched by our local rugby league club, and it’s all thanks to the fantastic volunteers, especially the coaches. Man, they are legends.

You’ll find myself and Teen19 and hubby manning the BBQ or serving in the canteen, but those coaches and the managers are the ones who do the real heavy lifting.

Anyway, I have rarely seen bad behaviour in all my 12-years-and-counting on the sidelines. There ae certainly some exuberant parents, yelling advice to the kids… not me, though… I say let the kids get on with it, they’ve got their coach to help them and I don’t want to distract them.

I do the odd wolf whistle after a try , but that’s it.

Most folks behave OK.  Still, this photo has hit a nerve for sure.

Some of the comments on the Facebook post include:

So sad that there even has to even have a sign, humanity is lost.   

Carolyn

Luv this sign! Shld b at every game including the soccer, NRL, AFL, and possibly the golf (undecided on the last one)!!   

Jen

Trouble is the parents that are going off are also illiterate.  

Greg – not sitting on the fence!

Great idea. A substitute for common sense.

Ben

I can never understand why spectators at games constantly yell at the players, telling them what to do.I sometimes think they probably were never able to do it themselves.

Neil

Yeah straight up, when we coached n managed back in Taupo for 4 years man some parents drove us nuts, some parents need to chill.

Nicola

But there are plenty of hopeful comments too:

I use to coach..and a soccer parent over 15 yrs..and a few times there was a parent who was highly offensive..they were isolated and challenged a lot by every parent attending..even as far as each of us apologizing to the opposing team for their behaviour.

Liz

Volunteers of any organisation are awesome.  

Jenni

So, I hope you and your kids have not seen abusive behaviour at sports matches, and I hope that if you are a coach or a referee, you know that you are very much appreciated.

I’m going to be watching Teen16 play rugby union this weekend, and Paul will be at the rugby league U10s match.

And we won’t be yelling!  Nor abusing the ref!

Hope you and the kids enjoy the footy, the netball, the basketball or the soccer – whatever game is played.

And here’s to the volunteers. My kids have gained SO MUCH from your efforts.

Respect to you all.

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