[sparkomatic]

Locker rooms and bathrooms can make for good jokes, but those are ridiculous examples.
Part of the reason I wanted to watch is that I didn't play sports in school. I wanted to get a better feel for what goes on just for my own education.

As answer to a different question. How would I be any more of a distraction than I would be at a game?

[dmz]

The point about practice is to NOT have distractions. You're having trouble letting go of this.

It's not rec council anymore, it's high school.

[Eagle of Liberty]

As answer to a different question. How would I be any more of a distraction than I would be at a game?

Having been a player and now being a parent of a player AND a coach, I can tell you that there are two main reasons that I have closed practices:

1) To get complete attention
2) To go over strategies - nobody but the team should be there

Early in my coaching career, I let parents attend until one particular day. While conducting a tryout, a parent sat one foot off of the sideline and yelled at his son the entire time. Needless to say, the player became frustrated and was not focused on what he should do. I did not take the player as I did not want that distraction in a game.

This was the last time that I allowed parents within earshot of the field. When I am coaching, I want the players to focus on my teachings and the game. If you do not trust the coach, that is a different story, but if this is a good coach, let him do his job.

To answer your second question, Games are a completely different situation, unless you decide to do more than cheer for your child. If you do more than cheer, then you will be a distraction at the games as well. Players understand that gametime is a different environment, but a parent throwing out orders is ALWAYS a distraction. Practices are for learning and Games are for demonstrating their knowledge. Practices need to be controlled. Games are expected to be noisy.