Unruly Youth Sports Fans Could be Fined up to $5,000 in Minnesota Soon

Photo: Bill Piotrowski

ST. PAUL, MINN. – There appears to be bipartisan support in the Minnesota House for cracking down on unruly fans who assault sports officials during youth athletic events or otherwise disturb the proceedings.

This week Rep. John Huot (DFL-Rosemount) presented a proposal to the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Finance and Reform Committee to authorize the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission to impose civil penalties on certain individuals who disrupt or physically interfere with a youth athletic event or assault an official, game organizer, player, or coach.

The move comes just weeks after a Detroit Lakes man was charged for allegedly assaulting an official during a high school basketball game.

“The objective is to bring back some civility to our youth sports,” said Rep. Huot. “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.”

The legislation in its current form would impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for assaulting a youth sport official but will be expanded to include all types of interference such as intentionally entering the field of play and disrupting a youth athletic activity, or intentionally causing any object to enter the field of play if that object disrupts a youth.

Rep. Huot’s bill also requires the Minnesota State High School League and any school board to report when they ban an individual for assaulting a sports official and permits officials, game organizers, coaches, or school principals to report other violations.