The Telegraph – Javier Espinoza
” Four in 10 children are put off sport by over-competitive parents telling them they are too fat or lazy to run and making them cry in front of team-mates. Parents telling children they are “too heavy” or that they have made a “pathetic mistake” are also factors contributing to children not wanting to play sports, according to a new survey. One of the 1,002 children polled reported witnessing a dad telling a boy on the opposition team he was “rubbish”, while a mother was seen “shouting abuse at a referee”. Many children cried in front of their team-mates as a result of verbal abuse by parents. Other cases of abusive behaviour included children being called “losers” and “cheaters” by parents from the opposite team. A boy was called “stupid” by his dad each time he played. In total, nearly half of the eight to 16-year-olds questioned said the bad behaviour of parents made them feel like they did not want to take part in sport, according to a study by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Chance to Shine charity.”(more)