Thirteen years ago the Spectator began with a focus on youth sports. What started as a “need” to connect families to sports opportunities, our work filming and interviewing had us on the fields every weekend watching the fun and witnessing the culture of our community’s families when they are competing.
Controversy both on and off the fields is not unusual, but a new bill that has been passed in the Florida Senate strives to put an end to ugly behavior from the adult coaches we have sometimes witnessed. This bill applies to all coaches who mentor children who are 12 years old and younger. It would allow for suspension of youth coaches for bad behavior.
Introduced by local Senator Jeremy Ring, he said, “Ninety-nine percent of those who coach and teach young children are caring, loving individuals. Unfortunately, having spent time on the fields, I’ve witnessed many examples of coaches who go overboard. They scream and berate officials for poor calls when they should be teaching children about sportsmanship and showing them how to play a game. I strongly believe these coaches should not be allowed to be on the sidelines. Anyone who has spent time on the field enjoying watching their young children play sports has seen this behavior.” He goes on to emphasize that this legislation is targeted toward those individuals who coach children under the age of 12.
Another local father and coach, Sean Kavanaugh, agrees with the bill’s purpose. “A bad coach on one of my kids’ teams is what got me to start coaching,” he told us. “I’ve coached soccer, basketball, and flag football for years and I am all for the bill. Bad coaches have no idea the influence they have over kids and the impact their negativity brings into their lives.”
Knowing that most coaches are trading their time and comfort for hours sweating on the fields to encourage and teach our younger generations, our props go out to every man and lady who steps into a coaching position. At the same time, we are encouraged that there are now stricter rules in place to ensure that their behavior will only serve to propagate good sportsmanship. There is beauty in the game… and an encouraging coach will help children to see it more clearly.