Vancouver parks board motion calls for bully spectators to do ‘100 pushups’ if they abuse young athletes

Bullies on Vancouver sports fields should be required to do “100 pushups” or donate bags of oranges to the opposing team, says a parks board commissioner.

Constance Barnes said Wednesday she is “fed up” with bullying and wants to see new penalties for abuse yelled from the sidelines.

“If you’re feeling bullied, somebody’s got to bring it forward,” said Barnes, a member of the Vancouver Vision civic party. “Parents have to be held accountable.”

Barnes’s motion would ask staff to ensure that all parks board facilities offer a “safe environment.”

The motion goes to the park commissioners on April 8.

The most controversial part is a paragraph stating that “booing and taunting … will be frowned upon” and “may result in having to perform either 100 pushups or donate bags of oranges for the balance of the season.”

Barnes said the punishments were suggested partly in “fun” and partly “serious.”

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“I’m not saying I’ll be there with an eagle eye in the stands. Maybe I’ll let you do 20 pushups instead of 100,” she said.

Her son, now 25, was victimized as a nine-year-old hockey player.

She is prepared to receive criticism.

“If I get flak, I get flak. But maybe adults will think twice before blurting out something they shouldn’t,” she said.

Critics wondered at her approach.

Paul Mullen, executive director of the B.C. Soccer Association, said rules are already in place to deal with bullying.

“If referees have challenges, they have certain powers to act upon. Appropriate regulations will kick in,” he said.

“Whether the comments were made tongue in cheek or not, some people will take them seriously. Penalties and enforcement would be very difficult to monitor,” he said.

Parks commissioner Melissa De Genova said Barnes’s message was weakened by “the poorly-crafted” way which it was written.

“Motions should be very formal. Unfortunately this is not,” said De Genova, a member of the NPA opposition party.

“We shouldn’t be micro-managing sporting activities. What if someone’s unable to do 100 pushups or is unable to afford bags of oranges?” she said.

“The Parks Board should be taken out of it and parents should police each other,” she said.