Violence Plagues Youth Sports -- Overbearing Parents Creating Dangerous Situations on the Field

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This post is for parents of young athletes.  I know we can get intense when it comes to rooting for our son or daughter, but beware of getting out of control.  Make the athletic experience an enjoyable memory for your son or daughter. 

Now that my kids are way beyond competing, I now wish I had taken things more lightly.  I think it would have been a benefit to them.

Here's an article you need to read, by Tim Dahlberg of the Associated Press:

LAS VEGAS -- Excitement suddenly turned to fear for the 49ers youth football team as players ran off the field holding their stomachs and began vomiting violently on the sideline.

Parents and coaches helped the eight boys, ages 12 to 14, into cars and headed to the hospital, ending the practice for a championship game a few days later.

No one knew it at the time, but the sick 49ers had been poisoned, casualties in an epidemic of parental rage sweeping through youth sports.

Coaches are being threatened, referees assaulted and kids hurt more than ever by the parents of some of the estimated 30 million young players in organized sports.

From parents brawling at a T-ball game in Florida...

Read full article.