Overview

• In a letter sent last week, the partnership told families parents are no longer welcome at the sports events it delivers during the school day, covering competitions such as football, hockey and gymnastics.
• The decision was attributed to repeated misconduct including adults cutting across finish lines, abusing officials or children, coaching without authorization, challenging rulings and posting photos without consent.
• Event officials at some fixtures are secondary school pupils, a factor cited in the focus on safeguarding and creating a less pressurized environment for participants.
• Parents had previously been barred from watching inside schools but could attend events in parks or other public venues, access that has now been withdrawn.
• Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler called the outcome deeply disappointing for well-behaved families and urged the measure be temporary to reset respect and sportsmanship, while the partnership offered no further comment.