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GUEST Contributor – Geoffrey Park, Ontario Soccer Association Official since 2006 and tenured teacher for Ridley College.

I was gratified last night to be an Assistant Referee at a Boys Under 18 soccer game. While nobody involved is likely to take part in a World Cup, the caliber was decent. By and large the players had more physical strength and speed than they had skill. Yet this did not lead to confrontations and the game was played and coached with a high level of sportsmanship. In fact, the coaches closest to me were forgiving when I gave a close call against them resulting in a penalty kick.

I was impressed enough that after the game I made a point of praising the coaches for their behavior. Games like this one are notable, unfortunately, because they are so rare. Often, we find ourselves involved in games when players, parents or coaches stain the game. This culture has reached the point where bad behavior is barely noticed anymore. Bad behavior can be directed at officials, players, or coaches; it is all part of the same thing. It is up to all of us who care, to be proactive to ensure that minor sports do not lose their fundamental raison d’être (reason for being).

I suggest there are at least three concrete steps that can be taken:

1. A written code posted at all venues;
2. A form signed by coaches and parents at the start of the season;

and

3. the use of what are known as “field marshals”.

1. Written Code

The Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) in Ontario established a “Code of Sportsmanship” way back in the 1970’s. It states some things that ought to be obvious, but we all know aren’t. They include that winning is desirable, but winning at all costs defeats the purpose of the game. They also cover respect for officials and opponents. Plaques stating this code are posted at gyms and rinks and changing rooms at member schools. It would be naïve to suggest that this code is always adhered to. I have an anecdote to share of it being ignored, but I do believe that stating these principles in writing and in visible places is a helpful reminder. I have heard officials say they like working games in the CISAA because they know the level of sportsmanship will be higher than average.

The counter-example, for your interest, was this. At the end of a senior basketball final in a crowded gym, the officials had to walk through a few spectators to get to their changing room. One of those spectators was a parent of the losing team. He went after them instantly, verbally abusing them and then even following them out into the lobby. I followed, and happened to catch up to them right in front of the Code of Sportsmanship poster. I didn’t raise my voice, but I did point out to this father the line about respecting officials. His response was for me to grow up. It left me wondering how abusing referees was mature.

Anyway, it shows that the existence of a code and adherence to it are not necessarily the same thing, but at least it is a start.If minor sports organizations invested a small amount of time and money into developing a code of sportsmanship, they would likely see an increase in participation. Evidence is telling us that many kids quit sports because they become tired of the negative atmosphere created by the parents or coaches.

70% of kids are quitting all youth sports by the age of 13, see our prior blog that also touches on the importance of bringing sportsmanship back to the game “Poor Sportsmanship – the Other Reasons why kids quit sports”.

2. A Code of conduct for parents and coaches

A similar code was developed recently in Sweden.  “Stop shouting: how Sweden tackled misbehaving parents at kids’ football” is a blog by Marcus Christenson in The Guardian.

It describes how a survey within three of the largest clubs in Stockholm found that one in three kids had considered quitting due to “over-engaged” parents. Over-engaged includes parents’ interactions with children, coaches and officials. In response, the clubs came up with this code of conduct form all had to sign at the beginning of the season:“I, as a parent, will do everything I can to support my child, other children, club staff, referees and parents in training and at games – through a positive involvement.”The response has been positive, including requests to print and publicize the code, and it looks likely to expand throughout Sweden. Wouldn’t it be great if it expanded even more? An additional boost was given by a professional member of one of the senior teams. Imagine if someone with the profile of Ronaldo, Messi, Lebron, Sid, and other superstars put their names behind such an idea.

Hockey Canada has fair play codes for coaches, parents, players and officials like Swedish Soccer has now implemented that all must review and sign prior to the start of every season.  We recommend that all hockey coaches also review in initial meetings with parents, players and fellow coaches to reinforce the importance and treat as standards for your teams, in event have to deal with issues is a means to hold those accountable as they signed a contract to adhere certain codes of conduct.

Here are links to examples each of the forms used by BC Hockey      Parents, Player and Official Fair Play Codes

3. Implementation of Field Marshals

The third and most concrete approach is the use of “field marshals.” I first saw this when watching my nephew play soccer in Georgia. Parents on each team took on the role, on a rotation, of field marshal. Their job was to calmly remind their peers not to yell at players or referees. If the ref felt a parent was out of line, he or she could go through the coach, who would ask the field marshal (identified by a vest) to intervene.

The reality was that the field marshals had little if anything to do, because the system was in place to prevent problems before they started, and the mere existence of the policy was a constant reminder of what everyone already knows is acceptable behaviour.

Many jurisdictions have now adopted this system, including Calgary, Alberta. In some cases field marshals are present at tournaments, and they help with various logistics of the event; management of spectators is only one part of the job. In other places, they are required for all games.

According to the Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA), prior to the implementation of the policy in 2010, 70% of officials quit after their first year. Since the policy came in, attrition has been reduced to 30% as 70% return for a second season.

The CMSA Field Marshall Program

Prior to implementing the Field marshal program Calgary’s attrition rate was more than double the national average of many sports where 33% quit each year (which is still way too high).

Under the policy, each team must designate a field marshal whose name appears on the game sheet. This adult is identified by an arm band.

The stated responsibilities include:

• The Field Marshall is expected to act on behalf of the referee by reminding parents to keep their comments to themselves and refrain from vocalizing their complaints during the game.
• Quickly diffuse potential problems before they arise by either being visible or calmly speaking with the individual(s) involved.
• Deal with, and act on, inappropriate comments, gestures and/or general unsporting behavior directed at referees, players or any other individual by your teams’ spectators or coaches but please avoid getting into a confrontation. If someone is still hostile after being asked to calm down, please gather as much information but do not put yourself in a dangerous position.

For further reading I recommend “Respect Our Referees: A Minnesota State Referee Committee Program. A Guide to Field Marshalling.”

This lays out some excellent advice on how to diffuse situations, at first passively and then, if necessary, actively.

We are all too familiar with problems in minor sports, and something more than hand wringing is called for. If nothing happens sports run the risk of losing their original role in society and will become simply a Spartan, survival of the fittest, race to professional sports, with fewer and fewer participants. There are tangible steps that can be taken, and the longer we wait the harder it will be to turn around.

Geoffrey Park, Official

Ontario Soccer Association

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We would like to thank Geoff for his great contribution and look forward to other insights he may share in future.

Let’s work together to bring the game back to the kids.

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Last year, one of the initiatives in the The Aspen Institutes State of Play 2016 Report in the USA was to incorporate more free play..

This is due largely in part to address the declining participation rates in youth sports the USA and all other countries are experiencing globally, as 70% are quitting all organised sports by the age of 13.

Why ? Because organised sport has become TOO organised. Too much structure and not permitting kids merely to play pickup in practices, throw, kick or catch without fear of criticism from adults (coaches, parents).

The trend, sadly, is continuing where more kids between the ages of 6-12 are dropping out of organized sports.

In 2015, the number of kids participating in youth sports in the USA has dropped to 26.6% vs. 30.2% in 2008 for kids between the ages of 6-12.  Similar trends also between the ages of 13-17, dropped from 42.7% in 2008 to 39.3% in 2015.

The majority of organised sports are in decline in the USA over that same period, the exceptions being gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse and Field Hockey that have seen slight increases in registrations.  Canada youth sports have seen similar trends, but in our article “Why sports participation in Canada is declining” the sport seeing the most attrition in total participation (youth into adult) in Canada was baseball, almost 50% decrease from 1998 to 2005.

The large reason cited for the sports that have seen increases in registrations year over year, is they have invested heavily in coaching certification programs to develop their youth coaches in the areas of skills, tactics but also Basic First Aid, Concussion Management, General Safety and Injury Prevention, Physical conditioning.  According to the research done, the most trained coaches in the USA are in Lacrosse, and thanks to Hockey Canada’s ongoing direction, they continue to set the bar for coaching certification of minor hockey coaches in Canada.

Five different initiatives of bringing free play in the USA that I hope we will see carry over into Canada;

1. More and more social and traditional media have focused on the benefits of Free Play including, the Washington Post, Psychology Today promoting the academic, social and sport performance benefits.

Here is a link to article we posted today on Facebook, brief interviews of various people by Aspen Institute Project Play talking about the reduction in free play happening in the USA

How can we get more kids involved in sports?

3. Major League Baseball and USA Baseball introduced Play Ball – an initiative to encourage participation in all forms of baseball activities including whiffle ball, stickball, skills competitions like Pitch, Hit and Run, Home Run Derby or just playing catch in the backyard. It is being supported by a huge Media Campaign to reinforce all the various elements of the grassroots of baseball … below is an image from one of my favorite movies where kids played baseball for hours on end; Sandlot.

3. New York City introduced Street Games – Bringing back low tech games played in the 60-70’s including street hockey, skateboarding, pogo sticks, ultimate disc among others. When is the last time you saw a pogo stick ? Or kids tossing a frisbee around on a street, beach, park or their front yard ?  Playing Street Hockey for hours on end ?

Here is a short trailer discussing the benefits of bring street games back;

I also recall Sidney Crosby fought his former city council when they were trying to ban street hockey as it was “unsafe and caused damage to vehicles” and the social media fallout from that had city council retreat.

Good for NYC to bring back the low tech games … another low tech option that is making a comeback is board games (Remember Monopoly and Risk Marathons) and good old Vinyl Records.

1. USA Volleyball introducing the concept of letting kids making up their own games playing on various surfaces (dirt, sand or grass) vs. the traditional, drill focused courses in clinics.

Even with these initiatives, literally all youth sports in the USA still experienced decreases in casual play even though many accomplished athletes like Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan to name a few attribute the reasons for their development in their youth was due largely in part to all the pickup games they played.

What was the key to those casual games?

There were no parents, coaches or officials present.  The kids made up their own rules, enforced them, picked their players to make teams.  There also was not expensive uniforms, +$300.00 cleats, bats, sticks, matching helmets, gloves for home and away games, tracksuits, warm-up gear and all the other costly items associated with organized sports.

Kids just went out and PLAYED for hours upon hours at a time.

5. Sandlot Lacrosse

Lacrosse coach, John Doss, shared in a Facebook group I am part of last year as he introduced “Sandlot Lacrosse” Freeplay Camp, in Clermont, IN, USA.

He told parents to drop off their kids and leave, then he would merely be there to supervise his 12 year old players only from the bench (he admitted hardest thing for him was not to Coach) then told them when to come back.

He felt the goalies benefited most as there was no restrictions to make the save as there was no official scoreboard or game sheets and would take more risks coming out of the crease and at times would run down the playing surface to try and score as well.  This I recall all too well watching my brother who converted from player to goalie but would at times run to mid court to take a shot at the opposing goalies in games even though his stick was much, much larger in full goalie gear. I loved to watch him play, now I have the opportunity to do the same watching my niece/nephews as four of his kids play either box or field lacrosse, including my 7 year old niece.

The biggest positive John Doss shared is that all kids had fun, they made their own rules, picked their teams and although he saw a lot of “bad” lacrosse he felt the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks as it was correctable.  The other aspect that he loved to see is how they played fearlessly as there was no one correcting their “mistakes” as they tried to execute skills they would at times in structured games hold back from.  This is the area that youth sports lacks the most, kids need to be safe to fail, make mistakes so they learn and develop creativity without fear of criticism.

He kicked off Sandlot LAX 2017 a couple of weeks back and roster (total number of participants) was filled in one hour.  The boys can again show up, pick teams, enforce their own rules, resolve own conflicts and just play for hours on end with John merely on the bench to supervise (the deal he had to make with parents who dropped kids off and left).

Do any of these examples bring back fond memories of the free play activities you had when you were a kid?  They all do for me, and although we will never get back to the good old days, we need to find a happy medium so kids can enjoy sports strictly “For the Love of the Game” again so they ultimately play well beyond 13 years old.

Huge Kudo’s to John Doss and the other initiatives in the USA to bring free play back to the game, this is so desperately needed if we are going to keep kids in youth sports and it’s time for similar initiatives to happen in Canada.

It is our job as coaches to instill the passion, love and romance into the kids so they not only play, but they ultimately play for many years to come.

Let’s work together to bring the game back to the kids.