Lee’s Summit sets punishments for verbal, physical abuse of sports officials
Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation is rolling out a new slate of established penalties for sports competitors and spectators who verbally abuse or make contact with officials, staff and volunteers.
The department’s new “Athletic Staff and Volunteer Abuse Prevention Matrix” establishes a tiered system of consequences for more serious physical acts like bumping, shoving or striking staff and non-physical acts like verbal attacks, harassment, threats or doxing. Punishments can range from suspensions of a single game up to lifetime ban.
A call to law enforcement will result in two-game suspension. The policy also establishes greater consequences for repeat offenders and when incidents involve minors serving in staff or volunteer roles.
“I think we’re trying to send a collective message that this kind of behavior is not gonna be tolerated,” Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Administrator Joe Snook said at the department’s April 22 board meeting. “If you’re gonna engage in this type of behavior, here’s what you can expect.”
The policy will apply to the programs offered by the department as well as teams run by a range of local youth sports organizations at city parks. The department said the new policy was created in collaboration with Sporting Lee’s Summit, the Lee’s Summit Football Association, the Lee’s Summit Girls Softball Association and the Lee’s Summit Baseball Association.
“We’re all going to be on this together,” Snook said. “I think it’s a great message to send. Behavior needs to be appropriate. We’re here to cheer and encourage, not to belittle and threaten and do all those things.
“Does it happen throughout our system? On occasion. Do we have a huge problem with it? I don’t think so. Do other communities have problems? Yeah, I think we all have it in some capacity.”
