Why do sports stars always get blamed when kids try to copy them? Why do they always put it on the stars? Sure, they are supposed to be role models, but only because of their skill in their field. Sports stars get named as bad examples for everything they do both on and off the field. The camera never stops rolling.

All over youth sports you see the kids trying to be the Michael Jordans and Peles. What they are missing is the respect for the game. Instead, they display poor sportsmanship. How can you blame the stars for the kids’ behavior? Although they may get into quarrels on the field, what the fans aren’t seeing is the reason for their actions: a drive to be their best, and to win.

Millions of people watched the fight in a recent match between some Manchester United and Arsenal players. Of course they must be punished for their actions, but as Seattle Sounders defender Scott Jenkins said, “It shows how much passion they have for the game.” Naturally, the players all get negative media, and no one talks about their devotion to their team, and no one points out how they just got too involved in the intensity of the game. After a hard slide tackle, there may be some pushing, but its all in the spirit of the game.

The same goes for baseball, and much more often. It seems like every other game the manager is thrown off for arguing a call. It comes off as inappropriate, but all he’s doing is trying to get the best results for his team.

Bad examples in sports stars are just like teens misbehaving: there is a lot more attention given to the negative than the positive. The kids see these bad examples and think it’s acceptable to repeat.

“You begin to see kids over-celebrating goals and talking too much [trash],” said Jenkins. “There is way too much hype, and the parents begin to get involved.”

Maybe the kids can tell the difference between devotion and simply being out of control, but when they show the same devotion they get in trouble with their parents, and the finger is immediately pointed at the stars.

The parents need to stop criticizing the athletes for their behavior — their managers can take care of that — and stop blaming them for their kids’ behavior. Giving the stars negative attention won’t change the way they act, it will only give sports less emotion.

If parents want to help, they can make the distinction between an out-of-control rage and high emotions. The most common debate has to do with player salaries. It’s undeniable that professional athletes get paid more than your average Joe, and for kids, every game becomes life or death. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be competitive, but when all they think about is being drafted and the parents just think about the college scholarships, it takes away the real focus of the sport. Both the players and the parents seem to forget why the professionals are paid: they are the best, and they worked hard to get there.

So you have to reconsider your judgments next time you watch a push in a soccer game or a manager thrown from a baseball game. The athletes can’t be blamed for getting caught up in the high level of emotions, and when they get out of line, they are punished. They know when they have taken their feelings too far, and they don’t need the criticism of all the concerned parents who watch their kids trying to copy what they see.

The kids have to realize that the professionals are playing with more emotion and drive, and are only trying to help their team.

“The higher the level you play, the more dedication you have,” said Jenkins. “Its up to the kids to make the distinction between what’s appropriate and what’s not.”