Something happens to even the most reasonable, responsible and respectful parent when they watch their kids play sports. They lose their sanity. They behave in the most inappropriate ways. They act in the most childish manner. They swear. They use obscene language. They make obscene gestures. They use the most foul vocabulary that you'd hear from someone in their 20's, 30's and up. I saw it today. And that came from a Christian school crowd watching a soccer game.

When parents go to watch their children play sports, whether it is soccer, baseball, football, softball or any other sport at any age level, they seem to lose their minds. They yell, scream, go crazy and lose their sanity. But the saddest part about it? Their kid is more than likely not going to make a living playing that sport. Their kid is not going to get a paycheck to step out onto a ball field, basketball court or anywhere else. Chances are, their kid isn't even going to play a sport beyond high school unless it is a church league softball game on a Thursday (or any other night), a beer league hockey game or some pickup basketball on a court somewhere surrounded by guys and girls with bad knees, big hips and a big ass that can't run anymore without risking a heart attack.

When a child steps out onto a soccer field, a baseball field, basketball court or any other field that involves a sporting evening, parents seem to lose their sanity. They yell at the officials. They yell at the coaches. They even yell at each other. I saw that tonight. I heard a Christian school crowd get so obnoxious, foul-mouthed, and verbally abusive that the public school parents on the sidelines made statements that they must have forgotten what they read in the Bible, must not go to church because that's, "certainly not what they teach in church". For the record, it was a high school soccer match. And I did not see one kid on either team that would even be looked at by a scout. They simply weren't that good.

But the parents on both sides lost their sanity five minutes into the first half of the match. And it didn't get any better from there.

If parents are watching their kids play sports, something happens. They snap. Their brain loses its function. They can't concentrate. They have tunnel vision. They go crazy. They behave in a manner that would get them fired from their job, possibly arrested by law enforcement for disturbing the peace and act in a manner that leaves everyone questioning what in the hell they think they are doing.

When a parent goes to watch their kid play sports, it's never more than a matter of fifteen minutes or a half hour. Someone gets stupid. Someone starts yelling and screaming. Someone says something that gets everyone looking at them. A parent thinks "their kid" is going to be the next big thing. It's the most foolish thing anyone can see. Is this you? Does this describe your behavior? Then I'm here to tell you straight out as an official of multiple sports, you are a dumb ass. Your kid is not going to play professional sports. Your kid is not going to make a living doing whatever they are doing in middle school or high school.

The possibility of anyone's kid making a living out of it are about 1 in a million or some off the wall number. In my officiating career, I have worked with one umpire that has made a living doing professional ball. He is a Major League umpire today. And I have officiated exactly six kids that have made a living off playing professional sports. I've done over 10,000 games. And I've seen six kids out of all of those sports and all of the travel I've done that have made a living doing this.

So you need to take the advice that's being given to you. Get over it. Don't lose your sanity. Don't yell at an official. Don't scream at a coach. Don't yell at anyone when you are anywhere watching your kids play. Keep your mouth shut. Behave. Act like an adult. Enjoy your children playing. Let them be kids.

And don't lose your sanity.

Children playing sports should be fun. It should be exciting. It should be enjoyable. You should look forward to going somewhere to watch them play. You should be excited to see them get excited. You shouldn't yell. You shouldn't scream. You shouldn't act non-Christian as the fools did at the soccer match I officiated tonight. You should keep your mind. You shouldn't lose your sanity. And you should simply do what parents should do. Enjoy watching their children play sports.

Something happens when a parent goes to watch their children play. They lose their sanity. They behave in a manner that is simply not proper. They act like fools. They look like idiots. On occasion, they get thrown out of events by officials like myself. They get tossed out of a venue. They get laughed at by officials after we leave and talk about how dumb the particular parent was. And they get blacklisted from events by the school administration for acting like a moronic idiot.

Do yourself a favor. Don't be that person. Don't lose your sanity. Don't lose your mind. Behave when you go to watch your children play sports. Or you can be the next idiotic asshole who's being laughed at and thrown out when you lose your sanity.