Youth sports games are supposed to be safe places where kids learn the ropes and hone their skills, focused on fun and camaraderie.

But they can turn into blood sports when the wrong parents get involved.

A California mother who shouted from the stands for her daughter to hit an opponent during a basketball game was ordered this week to write a formal apology and pay more than $9K. The mom yelled, “you better hit her for that” after her daughter and a rival player had an interaction during a game. Moments later, the rival fell to the ground.

Latira Shonty Hunt was charged last December with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and one misdemeanor count of battery.

It’s a grim reminder of how deeply involved some parents get in teaching the wrong lessons: winning at any cost.

While there’s something to be said for teaching kids to win, there has to be a limit – and encouraging your child to strike another child is probably a little over that limit if we’re all being honest.