MN Bill Would Penalize Unruly Parents At Youth Sporting Events

ST. PAUL, MN — A bill introduced on the first day of Minnesota's 2023 legislative session would penalize parents or anyone else who disrupts a youth sporting event.

As written, House File 3352 would empower the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission to issue fines of up to $1,000 to individuals "who are disruptive or physically interfere with a game organizer, player, or coach during a youth athletic activity."

Disruptive actions include someone who:

• Intentionally enters the field of play and disrupts a youth athletic activity
• Intentionally causes any object to enter the field of play if that object disrupts a youth athletic activity
• Physically interferes with an official, game organizer, player, or coach involved in a youth athletic activity:
• While the youth athletic activity is taking place
• On the premises or in the parking lot where the youth athletic activity is taking place
• While the official, game organizer, player, or coach is traveling between the premises where the youth athletic activity is taking place and a public transit stop or a motor vehicle

All civil penalties collected under the bill would be deposited into a special "youth officiating account" which would be used to "develop youth officiating programs or award grants to organizations to develop those programs."

The bill was introduced by Rep. John Huot, a Democrat from Rosemount and part-time sports official.

In 2022, when Huot introduced a similar measure, he said: "The objective is to bring back some civility to our youth sports. From little league to high school sports, we have to remember that this is about a positive experience for the players. Respect and safety of the players and officials is a must."

Huot's bill Monday was referred to the State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee.