The following article was taken from the Sporting Kid Magazine». Please take time to read this. As parents, coaches and players, we have the responsibility to conduct ourselves properly and to set positive examples for those around us.
OUT OF BOUNDS
As the following stories illustrate, far too many youth sports programs continue to be plagued by horrific incidents that ruin participants’ experiences. The National Alliance for Youth Sports is committed to providing recreation agencies with the training and resources to help reduce the chances of these types of incidents occurring and applauds those who have taken proactive steps to prevent them from ruining their youth sports programming.
Middle school student puts bleach in team’s cooler -
A middle school student in South Carolina was disciplined after he admitted to district officials that he put a small amount of bleach into a cooler containing Gatorade during a basketball game. Students and staff from both schools drank from the cooler, but no one reported being sick from the drink. The student, along with three student witnesses, were disciplined over the incident. The district is covering the cost of doctor’s visits for student who drank from the cooler.
Baseball coach sues former player for injury suffered during celebration -
A Little League baseball coach in California who suffered a torn Achilles tendon is suing one of his former players for throwing his helmet during a game-ending celebration. The 14-year-old allegedly tossed his helmet while scoring the winning run in a game and the equipment struck and tor the coach’s Achilles tendon. The coach is suing Little League Baseball for $500,000 in pain and suffering in addition to $100,000 in lost wages and medical bills. “At first I thought it was a joke,” the boy’s father told Sacramento’s KCRA-TV. “Now, I thinks it’s absurd.” The coach’s attorney told the station: “He is a good guy who was volunteering his time and now he’s in a wheelchair. Who’s the victim here? This wasn’t part of the game. To have someone throw a helmet in that manner, you just don’t do that.”
Two volunteer wrestling coaches removed from duty for fighting -
Two men have been removed as volunteer wrestling coaches after they got into a heated fight after a weekend match in South Carolina. Police said that words may have been exchanged inside; and that while one of the coaches was inside his car h pulled a knife as the other coach approached the car. The knife was not used and neither man was injured in the fight. Both coaches were arrested. One was released on a promissory note to appear and the other was released after he was given a $1,500 unsecured bond.
Police called in youth soccer fight -
A youth soccer game for kids ages 12 to 14 in Florida turned ugly after a player reportedly punched an opposing player repeatedly in the head after he scored a goal during the second half of the game. The player was celebrating his goal when he was allegedly attached from behind by a player from the opposing team, who punched him in the back of the head and continued to do so after taking him to the ground. Parents and coaches from both sides ran onto the field to separate both groups and parents from both sides began arguing. Police were called to the scene to separate the crowd and calm the situation. Units stayed on scene until the crowds dispersed. No arrests were made, and no serious injuries were reported. The player who assaulted the victim was red carded by referees, which automatically results in a three-game suspension.
Dad attacks son’s coach; charged with third-degree assault -
The father of a teen hockey player in New York was arrested after police said he attacked the coach for pulling his son from the game. Officers responded to 911 calls about a fight in the rink where they encountered a large crowd in the parking lot. Officers determined that the 48-year-old dad assaulted the coach, who reportedly suffered a shoulder injury and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was treated and discharged. Shortly after the game ended, the father confronted the coach near the ice, pushed him back and hit him several times. The dad was charted with third-degree assault and taken to the police department, where he was released on an appearance ticket, police said.
Adult fight halts basketball tourney -
A fifth-grade basketball tournament being held at a YMCA in Montana was canceled after police were called to break up a fight involving adults. Police Chief Troy McGee told the Bismarck Tribune that his understanding is that a coach disagreed with an official during a game and the scorekeeper got involved, followed by numerous spectators. The 39-year-old scorekeeper was cited for misdemeanor assault. As a result, the TMCA canceled the rest of the tournament.