VIDEO: Fight Breaks Out at Youth Football Game – What Should Be Done?

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by Lamar Tyler | on September 2nd, 2011 | 6 comments

Youth sports are getting crazy, just check out this video below. In the video you’ll see a fight break out at a youth football game that will include a coach on the field where he has no business, a player tackling the ref and another coach\parent trying to stomp the ref when he’s on the ground.

I wish I could say that I’m surprised but really I’m not. I’ve seen plenty of arguments escalate in youth sports and especially on the football field. The tragic part of this is that when you’re on that sideline you’re not only serving as a coach but you’re serving as a mentor and a role model.

The referee involved chose not to press charges but the city is moving forward regardless and I agree that they should. In my opinion the coaches that were involved should be removed from the team and not allowed to coach youth sports again. Any parents involved should not be allowed to attend future games and if the ref did throw the first punch he should have his job taken. On top of that the prosecutors need to take whatever action they deem necessary. Sidenote: In Florida it’s a felony to attack an athletic official.

From the Herald Tribune:

It started with a disputed call, followed by some disgruntled coaches throwing water bottles at the referees.

What happened next, captured on video and now being investigated by authorities, is shocking: more than a dozen youth football coaches and players attacking at least one referee, including a player in full gear except for his helmet flying into a referee and tackling him to the ground.

Felony charges could follow an investigation into what happened Saturday — and who did what — during the game between the age 13-14 junior teams of the Sarasota Gators and North Port Huskies played at Riverview High School.

We act out anger and violence in front of our kids on simple things like youth sports then wonder why we have flash mobs in Philadelphia or young boys killing each other on the streets of Chicago. As a youth coach your most important job is not grooming the next best running back or track star, it’s grooming the next great young man or woman.

This incident will also be one of the topics on tonight’s Prime News show which airs on HLN at 6PM EST.

Leave a comment below letting us know what you think about this? What should be done to those involved? What do you think about adult behavior at youth sporting events? Have you seen fights at youth league sporting events?

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

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Comments (6)

jbledsoejr Friday - 02 / 09 / 2011 Reply

that's just dumb...smh
- Lamar Tyler Friday - 02 / 09 / 2011 Reply
  
  Totally agreeing with you on that one
Joe Brazier Saturday - 03 / 09 / 2011 Reply

This actually makes me feel sick. Spots can do so many great things for boys, but not when this is what happens!!!
Wellness800 Saturday - 03 / 09 / 2011 Reply

Wow...this is a perfect example of where we have allowed society and the lack of self control and discipline to take us. If we scan other areas of our lives...the classroom, after school programs, church, communities, the bus rides home etc... the same people surrounds us; and the children they are holding charge to raise/discipline/nurture. I believe that the penalty should be a tough one. The school with the coach/player that acted poorly should be removed from the league for a season; the coach should be fined and removed from the opportunity to lead any group of children (I bet he is a deacon at some church)
Cherayg Saturday - 03 / 09 / 2011 Reply

Actually, its the Leaders, in this case that coach, that could have controlled the situation better. Anger attracts anger and the children only display what they have seen. I do hate seeing things like this, but when adults start to act mature, then that will give example for those under us instead of teaching them how to lack self-control. Ugh.... www.holesinthehouse.com
Jaykalkyn Saturday - 03 / 09 / 2011 Reply

This is such a sad display of foolishness that should never happen in a youth football league or in sports period. The coaches who took on this job should have looked at it as an opportunity to mentor and teach these youth the game of football as well as other life lessons. Not how to act like animals when things aren't going their way. Life isn't fair and this was the perfect chance to shown these kids how to deal with this type of situation, which they will face in other areas of their lives. The coaches should be banned from coaching any league forvever and the kid who tackled the ref obviously has not been taught to respect authority, and should be banned from playing at least until high school. This was totally uncalled for and they should be prosecuted.