Can Your Ex Keep Your Child From Playing Sports?

Kids these days are more active than ever before. Between school and various extracurricular activities, it’s amazing how busy and cluttered children’s schedules become. These are vital outlets for exercise, socialization, and plain old fun. Playing sports frequently forms a large piece of this puzzle.

Often these pursuits are so important they wind up as part of the parenting plan after divorce. But what can you do if your ex tries to interfere and stop your child from playing sports?

We use sports as an example, but you can substitute nearly any other activity in reality. Maybe it’s football or soccer, but it can easily be dance class, martial arts, or chess club. Whatever the specific activity, the regulations stay similar.

Parents have all kinds of objections to their children playing sports. It depends on the sport or activity, the child, their age, and many other factors.

• Parents may protest because of the possibility of injury.
• Some worry it takes focus away from academics and education.
• Maybe one parent simply doesn’t want to schlep across town for practice three nights a week.

There are as many reasons to stop your child from playing sports as there are children who play sports. Many are compelling, others not so much.

Related Reading: Fantasy Sports and How They Help Kids 

Parenting Plans & Youth Sports

In many cases, it’s up to the parents to decide whether or not to stop their child from playing sports. Ideally, you and your ex can discuss what’s truly best for your kids. However, some individuals take it upon themselves to make this decision for everyone.

For example, maybe your son plays baseball, but your ex prevents him from participating on visitation weekends.

Parenting plans include clauses for all kinds of things. If an activity is important to your child, you can write in provisions prohibiting either parent from interfering with their ability to participate.

When that’s the case, and your ex tries to stop your child from playing sports, you may have legal recourse.

If there’s a valid, court-approved parenting plan in place, your ex must adhere to the terms. One party or the other can’t simply choose to stop following the order. It may seem extreme, but if your ex continues to violate the parenting plan, you can even file a motion for contempt.

Related Reading: 12 Dos and Don’ts to Protect Custody and Visitation

Motion for Contempt

In short, a motion for contempt is an official request that your ex cooperate with the court order.

When it comes to divorce cases, these often involve child custody, parenting time, child support, or property issues. The goal is to get the other person to adhere to the terms and conditions in the future. Sometimes, just the threat of legal action is enough to get them to play ball.

A motion for contempt may have lasting repercussions, so it’s not to be undertaken lightly. There can be financial penalties or even jail time in severe cases.

You don’t need to call your attorney if your ex makes your son miss one football game. This is more of a last resort after you’ve exhausted all other reasonable options.

Related Reading: How Washington Calculates Child Support

Modifying Parenting Plans

If you no longer agree with the terms and particulars of the parenting plan, it is possible to modify the child custody order. Washington parents seeking to change the terms must file a petition to modify the parenting plan, which identifies the intended alterations.

For the courts to grant this request, you must show a substantial change in circumstances.

Basically, the modification must be a necessary step to protect the best interests of the child.

Unless the change is minor, you’ll likely have to appear at an “adequate cause” hearing. This is where the petitioning parent lays out their case and attempts to show a significant reason to change the parenting plan.

Many factors play into a court’s decision to grant or deny a petition to modify a parenting plan.

A judge may alter a custody order if:

• Both parents agree.
• There’s already been a significant change from the original plan.
• The child is in harm’s way.
• There’s a history of custodial interference.
• The other parent has previously failed to comply with the parenting plan and has been found in contempt.

Hopefully, if your ex tries to stop your child from playing sports—or block them from any court-approved activity—it won’t necessitate legal action.

Ideally, this is best decided with a rational conversation between two adults. However, sometimes that’s easier said than done. Other steps then become necessary.

Related Reading: 4 Types Of Child Custody