Keeping with our (inadvertent) sports theme this week, here’s a nice piece of emotionally intelligent signage that a few folks on Twitter sent our way:
Love it! When I was a Little League official & scorekeeper, I used to recruit a (rookie) spectator parent from each side – one to run the scoreboard, one to run the PA system. This allowed me to help explain things to them about sportsmanship, how kids got rotated into the game, why fouls are called aloud and NOT “fair ball,” etc., and also helped avoid crazy parent syndrome, since one isn’t allow to cheer from the press box. (They’d get to step outside it, of course, when their child was at bat.)
In other words, when you arrive at the field, take stock in your own level of well-being at that moment. If your mood is questionable, then be on gaurd for your behavior. You can’t control your wayward thoughts, but you can hold yourself accountable to not acting on them. What’s great about this sign is that it doesnt dictate behavior; it encourags parents to look inward–toward respect, love, and understanding. From that perspective it’s impossible to go wrong!
As a former police officer that used to be stationed at the ballfields during summer ball because of parent’s getting out of hand, I think we need more of these.
All of the outraged parents felt like they were supporting their children. They were severly misguided by their emotions of the moment.
Parents that have subtle reminders throughout the park may check themselves when they begin to feel angry.
It won’t stop all of them, but I think it will keep a lot of them from starting to heckle the umps, which is where it usually starts.
Love it! When I was a Little League official & scorekeeper, I used to recruit a (rookie) spectator parent from each side – one to run the scoreboard, one to run the PA system. This allowed me to help explain things to them about sportsmanship, how kids got rotated into the game, why fouls are called aloud and NOT “fair ball,” etc., and also helped avoid crazy parent syndrome, since one isn’t allow to cheer from the press box. (They’d get to step outside it, of course, when their child was at bat.)
it’s kind of sad that we live in a world where we need signage like this to remind the parents to act like adults.
In other words, when you arrive at the field, take stock in your own level of well-being at that moment. If your mood is questionable, then be on gaurd for your behavior. You can’t control your wayward thoughts, but you can hold yourself accountable to not acting on them. What’s great about this sign is that it doesnt dictate behavior; it encourags parents to look inward–toward respect, love, and understanding. From that perspective it’s impossible to go wrong!
I would laugh except as a former baseball coach I know how necessary that sign really is.
As a former police officer that used to be stationed at the ballfields during summer ball because of parent’s getting out of hand, I think we need more of these.
All of the outraged parents felt like they were supporting their children. They were severly misguided by their emotions of the moment.
Parents that have subtle reminders throughout the park may check themselves when they begin to feel angry.
It won’t stop all of them, but I think it will keep a lot of them from starting to heckle the umps, which is where it usually starts.
Good idea! Can’t hurt!
This sign should/could be displayed at all times you are with your kids, in any situation. I know microaggressions are even more damaging.
What a simplistically brilliant sign. It works because it’s the opposite of what you expect.
As both a parent and former coach I can tell you that there also needs to be a sign displayed in the dugout directed at the coaches.
Great one! 🙂 Short, simple and direct to remind parents.
Love it! Could do with some of those over here in the UK at the youth football games.