Parents of primary school children have been banned from sporting events after screaming abuse at officials and children.
The Merton School Sport Partnership (MSSP), which runs sporting and physical education activities at more than 40 schools in southwest London, wrote to disappointed parents last week to inform them they would no longer be welcome.
According to the letter, sent to parents and guardians across the borough, which includes the affluent neighbourhoods of Wimbledon, Morden and Mitcham, adults had been seen ‘cutting across finish lines’ to impede youngsters.
They had also been witnessed shouting ‘abuse towards officials and other children’.
Some of the ‘officials’ included young students who were themselves helping out at the events.
Parents had been previously been advised by MSSP not to shout out ‘specific orders’ such as ‘shoot’, ‘pass’ or ‘go faster’ or anything ‘unconstructive’, such as ‘you’re too slow.’
The newly-imposed ban is understood to cover a wide range of activities, including the annual sports day, football and hockey tournaments and gymnastics competitions.
Some parents had also been found to have posted photographs and video onto social media without parental consent.
On its website, MSSP has a lengthy statement relating to ‘Respect’ in which it declares: ‘All children have the right to be able to take part in PE and sport without abuse, in a nurturing, growth mindset environment where they feel confident to make their own decisions and learn from their own ‘marvellous mistakes’.
The ban on parents watching sporting events in south west London schools follows an incident last November when adults were caught brawling at an Under-10s football match in Kent
Last September, police were called to an under-10s Sunday League match to break up a fight between parents in the West Midlands
‘Participants and officials should never be told by spectators and others, what to do and when to do it during their performance or game.’
It adds: ‘Spectators can enjoy watching their friends and family taking part and can make the event much more exciting with positive and encouraging, generic support.
‘Spectators should not call out specific orders or advice (‘shoot’, ‘pass, ‘go faster’), whilst the children are playing their game.
‘Nor should they shout anything unconstructive (‘you’re too slow’), derogatory/abusive comments or actively show and gesture their disappointment when a ‘marvellous mistake’ has been made by a player or official.’
MSSP said it would report any ‘concerning behaviour’ as part of its ‘safeguarding protocol’ to the headteacher.
But the decision has now been taken to ban all parents from any sporting events taking place in public spaces.
Director Nicola Ryan said in the letter that there had been ‘too many concerning behaviours to be able to continue to accommodate spectators,’ The Times reported.
She added that such behaviour created a ‘stressful environment for the participants, with too much pressure around performance and winning at all costs’.
TikTok user themultidad expressed tongue-in-cheek disappointment after his children’s school banned ‘the dad’s race’, which he dubbed ‘a national institution’
Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler said it was ‘deeply disappointing [that] the behaviour of a minority of parents has led to this outcome, which penalises the vast majority who have always behaved responsively and supportively.’
He said: ‘Whilst I understand how disappointed those parents will be, I know they, like me, would not want any child, teacher, or volunteer to ever feel unsafe or threatened at what should be an enjoyable family-friendly event.
‘The focus must always be on creating a positive environment for young people to enjoy sport and develop teamwork and confidence,’ he added.
‘I hope this is a temporary measure to provide the space needed to reset expectations around respect and sportsmanship. With co-operation between the Merton School Sport Partnership, schools and parents, I am confident we can find a solution that addresses unacceptable conduct while allowing families to share in their children’s sporting achievements.’
Reacting to the ban imposed by MSSP, parents said they understood the decision having witnessed ‘uber competitive adults’ and ‘hideous behaviour’ at sports events.
Among them was shameful footage showing parents breaking into a mass brawl at an under-10s match in Kent, last November.
Cameras caught the moment a scrap broke out between players, with one boy being punched in the head by an opponent.
That alarming move caused parents and coaches to stream onto the pitch. Multiple men were seen rushing on to the pitch and scrapping with each other, with one child bowled over from behind.
Mothers could be heard screaming as they shepherded their children out of the way.
In a statement to Mail Sport, the Kent Football Association said it conducted a thorough investigation and sanctions were imposed in line with Football Association regulations.
Police were also called to an under-10s Sunday League match last September to break up a brawl between parents supporting rival teams.
Coaches at Boldmere St Michael’s FC, in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, tried to calm the situation themselves after an on-pitch incident spilled into the stands, but ‘police intervention was required’.
Footage from the scene showed parents attempting to take lumps out of each other as coaches ushered eight and nine-year-olds away and other parents rushed across the pitch to the Harry Peakman stand.
Those seen were slammed on social media and labelled ‘disgusting’ and a ‘disgrace’.
Meanwhile, a parent told Daily Mail their child’s school banned adults years ago from attending sports day after two parents were seen urinating in the bushes while waiting between races.
They said: ‘It was absolutely disgusting and so disappointing. I was there to enjoy watching my daughter on her sports day. We share a field with a private school nearby and they had very kindly allowed us to use their space for the day.
‘I couldn’t believe it when I saw two fathers sneaking off towards the bushes, all because they could not be bothered to use the facilities a short walk away at school.
‘The actions of a few meant we were all punished. It was a shame for us, but also a shame for our children.’
Angry parents also took to social media with their views on the decision, with most agreeing with the ban.
One said: ‘My friends run some kids football in London and it is absolutely disgusting what they have to deal with. 90% of parents seem to be adult children.’
Another said: ‘We have the pleasure of playing some South London teams in my son’s football league.
‘I can wholeheartedly say that for the most part they have the worst parents’ and coaches’ behaviour of any teams we meet. It’s awful.
‘And no surprises the kids on the pitch behave appallingly too. It is disgusting.’
A third wrote: ‘My former work colleague used to do some refereeing at tier 6 outside of work. He was called all sorts of colourful words and been shown all sorts of gestures.
‘Yet his worst memories are with the junior leagues where he’s also been assaulted.’
Meanwhile TikTok user themultidad expressed tongue-in-cheek disappointment after his children’s school banned ‘the dad’s race’, which he dubbed ‘a national institution.’
He said: ‘I think its insurance reasons. I know it’s wrong to sue the school for a torn hamstring but there were some disappointed dads there today. Some in their brand new 5K trainers, fresh from a 5k warm up.
‘There’s nothing wrong with a few dads pulling up with the odd calf injury or you know, a touchline brawl about the photo finish.’
There is no suggestion ‘themultidad’ has been accused of being badly behaved at children’s sporting events.
Elsewhere, a video of Phil Hatfield went viral after he was shown giving his son a ‘helping’ hand at an under-8s match near Aberystwyth.
Budding football Osian was lining up to save a goal – when his father came along and literally pushed him towards the ball to save it from crossing the line, the BBC reported.
The 2018 video has since been watched thousands of times.
Daily Mail has contacted Merton School Sport Partnership for comment.
