May 6, 2021 / 10:29 PM EST
LEBANON, Ind. (WISH) — Lebanon Little League is fed up with bad fans, and program leaders are promising to ban coaches, spectators and parents for rude behavior.
A message from the Lebanon Little League president said, “We’ve been getting several complaints that coaches, parents, and spectators are being very rude to our umpires.”
Brian Barlow, collegiate soccer referee and founder of the Facebook page Offside, said he applauds the organization for making this move. Offside is a page that features stories from across the country that show bad behavior at youth sporting events.
“There has to be a level of accountability, there has to be. You are going to lose the privilege, it is a privilege, it is a privilege, to get to watch your kid play youth sports in America and if you lose your right because you can’t behave responsibly and appropriately, then yeah I think the punishment should be severe,” said Barlow.