Difficult Moms

[anginstl]

We have this mom on our team and she's driving everyone insane. During games she likes to move around to the other parents and tell them what they need to work on with their kids. (We're a Squirt A-2 team)

I have two problems with this...

1) It's just rude and no one asked her for her advice.

2) Her kid is one of the bottom two players on our team so she needs to stop telling us what our kids do wrong and start worrying about her own.  Plus, she doesn't really know the game very well and half of what she says is just plain stupid.  

Also, during the game she screams at her kid. She gets in her kids head and rattles him more than the other team does. We've tried talking to her and sitting away from her doesn't help because she moves around the stands during the game to follow us. My husband won't even sit near her any more and several others have told her to just stay away from them.

Have you guys ever had a parent like this and what did you do? This is our third year with her and I don't think I can take another one.

[BostonHockeymom]

I've had issues with other mom's getting too involved. My son plays Junior hockey so it isn't quite as bad as this lady seems to be. But there are times where other parents get involved too much. No one has ever told me anything about how Adam needs to play and if that ever did happen I'd inform them that Adam is 17 years old and knows how to play hockey. That's just crazy, I would of let that mom have it lol. I understand your frustrations. I don't have to worry about other parents really, I know all the parents and every player on the team likes Adam.

[Icecat62]

Be honest and tell her what you posted here and be direct. You don't want her near you and you don't want her opinions so piss off. I know it sounds harsh, but it sounds to me like she may have a mental disorder and doesn't understand how to interact in a group setting.

[D.Mary]

Your team manager needs to be informed, since talking to this mom hasn't worked. 

Unfortunately, sometimes you need to just suffer through a l-o-n-g season with a difficult parent. But it's important that managers and coaches know what you're dealing with on the sidelines. Word gets around in leagues about difficult parents, and if the issue is bad enough, a kid won't be selected by a team or organization if the parent is a problem. It's too bad for the kid, but the parent needs to see that their behavior is affecting the child's hockey options.

[anginstl]

You are SO right. I can name three head coaches in our organization who won't rooster this kid because of the parent.