Years ago when I had more time, I used to coach baseball with five, six, and seven year old kids. After the first year, it was obvious what I had to do. I sent out an email saying that when their child first set foot on my field, until they stepped off, they were my kid, and were treated as such. If I heard negative comments, or yelling, or saw any type of negative physical contact, they were asked to leave. And they wouldn't be welcomed back.
The league backed me up on this, and I would warn parents once, then hold up the game until they left. I had to use this policy twice. As an adult, and one that takes a vested interest in children and their interests, I always thought positive comments and feedback was the best way to capture anyone's attention. You would see these parents say something negative to their kids, and the kids would shut down and lose interest in the sport. That's not what hunting, or baseball for that matter is about. It's about going outside, being active, and having some fun with your friends, your dog, and maybe your parents/aunts/uncles/grandparents/whoever.
Some of the best days I've ever had involved never taking a shot. And some of the best days I've had involved missing each pitch I've swung at.
Sometimes it's not the outcome, but the way you get to that outcome.
The funny thing is, the two parents I asked to leave a game, emailed me the very next day asking if they could come back. I let both of them come back. But they had to stand in the outfield where no one could hear them.
