Staten Island’s Borough President is giving a stern warning for parents at youth sporting events: behave or get out.
The announcement comes after a group of parents got into a brawl during a youth basketball game last month.
Video obtained by the Staten Island Advance shows two moms at a 6th grade boys basketball game taking shots at each other.
Catholic Youth Organization officials say the violence unfolded at St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy during a game between the school and Saint Clare’s on December 20.
“Instead of being responsible adults, they let it go, let it rip. And I just thought, well enough is enough is enough,” Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said.
In light of what happened, Fossella and the Catholic Youth Organization, which oversees parish-based sports, announced on Tuesday new rules to ensure spectators are no longer acting out of bounds.
“If you’re thrown or remove from a gymnasium from a referee, one year ban happens. Twice, lifetime. And if there’s a fight or physical altercation, the lifetime ban immediately,” Fossella said.
Leaders say up until now, altercations at Catholic Youth Organization games had been handled on a case-by-case basis. Not only have the fighting moms’ children been suspended for the rest of the basketball, but also their families.
“Two families got involved and in the end, their families have been banned from CYO indefinitely,” said Michael Neely of the Catholic Youth Organization.
According to the organization’s code of conduct, spectators are expected to remain seated during the games, and to not shout instruction or criticism to players or coaches, nor make derogatory comments.
Parents who spoke with Eyewitness News, including Jennifer Testa, say they are in support of stronger rules.
“Yes, definitely. You cannot tolerate it at all,” Testa said. “Crazy that our kids go to school and then we have to deal with this with the parents acting up.”
Other parents, including Daniel Goffredo, even think law enforcement should get involved.
“The other thing that we as parents were talking about was, unfortunately, there should be a police presence from time to time,” Goffredo said.
Parents and officials meanwhile say they’ve noticed an uptick in spectator outbursts, and hope the new rules help restore sportsmanship and keep the focus on the kids.
“We hope this is a way to put the focus back where it belongs on young children having a good time, learning a skill, learning a sport,” Fossella said.
If someone is suspended from a Catholic Youth Organization game, coordinators across the region will be notified so they can keep track of who’s going to the games and keep everyone safe.
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