By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Matt Fetsch, Executive Director of the North Dakota High School Activities Association.
Inappropriate adult behavior at high school athletic events nationwide has reached epidemic proportion.
When more than 2,000 high school athletic directors were asked in a recent national survey what they like least about their job, 62.3% said it was “dealing with aggressive parents and adult fans.”
And the men and women who wear the black and white stripes agree. In fact, almost 80% of officials quit after the first two years on the job, and unruly parents are cited as the reason why. As a result, there is a gradually growing shortage of high school officials here in North Dakota, and in some sports like wrestling, gymnastics, and soccer, the shortage is severe. No officials means no more games.
If you are a parent attending a high school athletic event this fall, you can help by following these six guidelines:
Purchasing a ticket to a high school athletic event does not give you the right to be rude, disrespectful or verbally abusive. Cheer loud and be proud, but be responsible and respectful. The future of high school sports in North Dakota is dependent on you.
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