Parents at one Idaho high school were told if they don’t quit cheering for their child basketball players, they’d be sent to the penalty box for a minute.
“They think the only way they can encourage their kids is verbally,” said Justin Brown, the recreation coordinator for Post Falls, in The Coeur d’Alene Press.
Mr. Brown said some basketball events are touted as “Silent Cheer Day,” where parents are allowed to hold up signs to support their children on the court — but are banned from yelling. If they’re caught, they get a red penalty card, which sends them to a designated spot in the gym for a full minute, Fox News reported.
Why?
Cheering can lead to negativity, said Mr. Brown, to the newspaper. But parents and game watchers are puzzled by the policy.
“Nobody had ever heard of this before,” said Lorna Allen, a grandmother who attended one of the games, in Fox News. “I’m going to get thrown out right off the bat.”
Meanwhile, one of the referees who was tasked with watching the fans said he gave out 15 red cards during the test run of the first “Silent Cheer Day” game.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.