Shouldn't Grade 8 sports be fun?

I attended a Grade 8 boys basketball game at a local high school on Wednesday night, and was sickened by the unsportsmanlike behaviour on display.

The coach of the home team was yelling (standing up, with hands cupped around his mouth, to be exact) at the two women referees for calls he disagreed with. What kind of example does this set for the boys he coaches?

We all know that sometimes the calls are in your favour, sometimes not. Isn't that what we should be teaching our children, that that is part of the game, and referees are human?

Unfortunately, the fans weren't much better. A group of girls watching the game made several inappropriate remarks about the other team and shouted to distract free-throws.

At this level of sports, can't we let the kids have fun while improving their skills and put off the cut-throat tactics for a few years?

TRACY NEVILLE

Kamloops