Some adults at youth sporting events ‘need to do better’

Wooster Recreation manager Ashley (Brillhart) Hershberger knows all about the intensity and excitement that come with youth sports.

“I grew up in the competitive environment of West Holmes girls basketball,” said Hershberger, who’s a 2003 West Holmes graduate. “There were always high expectations for success from a young age. I love the games, and it’s so much fun. I understand the pressure.”

However, there also are lines that should not be crossed by athletes, coaches, parents or other fans.

The Wooster Rec staff working basketball games at Wooster’s Gault Center encountered the negative side of youth sports on Feb. 8. Local law enforcement had to be called after two adults refused to comply with staff requests to leave the premises.

Hershberger felt compelled to write a press release, which was posted on various social media sites and sent to news media.

“We cannot let this happen here,” wrote Hershberger, who’s in her third year as Wooster Rec manager and 18th with the department. “(Youth athletes) deserve to compete, learn and grow in an environment where respect, positivity and sportsmanship are the standard. As adults, it’s our responsibility to create that environment for you. We need to do better. We need to show up for you in ways that help you thrive, not hold you back.”

Reached by phone and asked to elaborate on the situation that transpired, Hershberger said, “It actually wasn’t just the one incident. We had four or five things happen on Saturday alone that just kind of said to me, ‘Hey, I need to put something out to the public.’ It was just a callout to the community that we need to do better.”

The Wooster Rec girls and boys basketball league has 116 teams, with players ranging from third grade through sixth grade. All the school districts in Wayne and Holmes counties are included.

There are more than 200 volunteer coaches, and games are held each Saturday during the season from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Games are played on the four courts at The Gault, as well as Edgewood Middle School and Cornerstone Elementary.

Referees, scorekeepers and a supervisor at each site do their best to keep things in order. In some cases the referees are in high school, and scorekeepers may be as young as middle school.

“We were short-handed on Saturday due to a shortage of officials and people being sick,” Hershberger said. “I had a supervisor who had to officiate a game because we were short.

“People were told ahead of time, ‘Hey, we’ve got officials that are sick. We’ve got scorekeepers that aren’t going to be able to be here. So we’ve got new people in training, and we need some grace. Please work with us.’”

Unfortunately, in several instances patience was nowhere to be found.

“The things that happened on Saturday after people were upset about calls not being made were not good,” Hershberger said. “People were told, ‘One more word and you’re done.’ And they said one more word, and they were done.

“We had a parent yelling at a 13-year-old scorekeeper who was working their first game. We had another parent approach a 16-year-old official after a game. Any time a parent approaches an official or scorekeeper, it’s scary for us because we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The two men who had the police called were complaining during a third and fourth grade game, and after being ejected, they refused to leave. Only after being told the police were on their way did they exit.

From youth sports up to the OHSAA, shortages of officials have been a widespread problem. After witnessing the behavior of adults, being an official doesn’t look appealing to most kids.

“I think that we have an amazing community with many great people and kids who are eager to step up and officiate these games,” Hershberger said. “Unfortunately, some are discouraged and walk away because the environment becomes too hostile. As adults, we have to do better.”

Asked what she would tell a parent who’s about to blow his or her lid after being upset with a call, Hershberger said, “Perspective is a wonderful thing to have, and not everyone’s perfect. I think that’s a great lesson to teach our kids too. We all make mistakes. People are not always going to get it right, and you’re not always going to get it right in life either.”

Hershberger welcomes conversation on improving youth sports programs, growing the officiating pool across all sports and exploring partnership opportunities. She can be reached at ahershberger@woosteroh.com or 330-263-5211.