We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: adults are ruining youth sports. Latest case in point comes to us from Colorado Springs where the father of a teen-aged basketball player was upset over a call made by a referee during a YMCA league game, argued with the official and then punched him in the face several times.

Here’s more from KRDO (link includes video clip):

A Y-M-C-A league basketball game turns violent after a parent punches a referee in the face. The parent, Steven Vaughn, was arrested around noon Saturday for third degree assault. Police say Vaughn was upset over a call made by referee Alvin Miller and punched him in the face multiple times.

Vaughn was asked to leave the game, but a verbal fight continued in the parking lot when the game ended. Vaughn was arrested for third degree assault. Miller suffered minor injuries and didn’t require any medical attention.

Miller has been a youth basketball referee for nine years and said he has only seen an attack on a referee twice. “A few years back a parent jumped on a referee at a game at St. Mary’s,” he said. “I’ve seen it in this town where parents approach officials, pointing in their face, cussing at them, trying to start a fight.”

Miller tells NEWSCHANNEL 13 the player was given two technical cards for cussing and thrown out of the game. Police say that’s when Vaughn approached Miller and punched him several times. “He hit me a few times but I broke free and called police.”