New Rules for Spectators After Parent Brawl at Staten Island Youth Basketball Game

Parent Brawl at Youth Basketball Game

• 💥 Video captured two mothers engaging in a physical altercation during a sixth-grade boys basketball game at St. Terresa St. Rita's stream academy on December 20th.
• 📣 The incident occurred between teams from St. Terresa St. Rita's and St. Claire's.

New Rules and Consequences

• 🚫 Staten Island Borough President Veto Facella and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) have implemented new rules for spectators.
• 🚨 A referee-issued removal results in a one-year ban; a second offense leads to a lifetime ban.
• 👊 Any fight or physical altercation results in an immediate lifetime ban from CYO events.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The children of the parents involved in the brawl have been suspended for the remainder of the basketball season, and their families are banned from CYO.

Spectator Code of Conduct

• 🗣️ CYO's code of conduct requires spectators to remain seated, refrain from shouting instructions or criticism at players or coaches, and avoid derogatory comments.
• 👮 Some parents expressed a desire for a police presence at games to deter disruptive behavior.

Goal: Restoring Sportsmanship

• ✨ The new rules aim to restore sportsmanship and keep the focus on the children participating in the sport.
• 📝 Officials will notify coordinators across the region if someone is suspended to track attendance and ensure safety.
• 📈 There has been an observed increase in spectator outbursts at youth sporting events.