By Courtney Burkholder
Guest Columnist

Football season is upon us, and every weekend, parents all over San Antonio are snapping in pads, lacing up cleats, tightening helmets, disinfecting mouthpieces, and saying a quick prayer as their sons (and a few daughters!) take the field for the “Down, Set, Hut!” Then they take their rightful places on the sidelines to cheer their team to victory.

As anyone who grew up in the area can attest, football in Texas is BIG. And it doesn’t seem to matter if it’s first year flag football, 10-and-under pads, or the high school varsity team. San Antonians love their football, and parents are out there in droves, offering Gatorade, encouragement, and their support for their favorite players and teams. And this is all well and good, as long as we remember our manners, folks.

Parents, it is so easy to get caught up in the game and forget the etiquette we stress every day with our children. Last Saturday, while watching my son play football, I noticed the quarterback for the other team calling multiple, delayed “hikes!” This inevitably caused our team to jump off sides over and over again incurring many penalties and lost yardage.

Seeing our boys dejected faces, I was outraged. “Come on, coach!” I yelled at the coach of the other team. “Can’t your team advance down the field on their own???”

Now, this is an example of BAD fan etiquette. I admit it. I’m guilty. As often as I have listened to loud-mouthed, over-zealous parents yelling at coaches, referees, and even players on opposing teams, and as often as I have sworn that I would NEVER do that, here I was, joining the club of “parents behaving badly.”

We’ve all done it. We’ve all been there. So it’s time for a little refresher course on manners. We’ll call this our Football Season Cotillion.

Rule No. 1: “If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.” That’s right. Keep your cheering positive and encouraging. Yelling at coaches, referees, and especially – ESPECIALLY – at the players is completely unacceptable. I don’t care if they were obviously out of bounds, or if their shirt was untucked and covering their flag. I don’t care if they’ve got ten extra players on the field! KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. They have coaches and referees out there for a reason, and believe it or not, they don’t need your help. You are there to support your child and the team in a positive way, and that’s it.

Rule No. 2: Make room for more. The sidelines and stands get crowded with parents, siblings, grandparents and friends, so don’t get too possessive of your space. Be prepared to share, squish together, move and make room for more. We’re all there for the same reason, and there’s no reason opposing teams can’t share a sideline amicably. Right?

Rule No. 3: Win or lose, congratulate all the players and parents on a good game. Maybe the mother of their star player is the most obnoxious person you know in all of San Antonio, congratulate her and her child anyway. You’ll be a better person for it, and you’re showing your child how to be a good sport.

Of course, these rules of etiquette can be applied to most any sport. However, for those of you with children playing fall baseball, an umpire who needs glasses, should probably be told so. Don’t you agree?