Some Soccer Parents Just Don’t Get It

Re “Banned AYSO Team Persists,” July 31:

I am an AYSO coach and parent who witnessed the brawl in San Juan Capistrano. Our 14-year-old girls team was attempting to warm up for the championship game when the melee broke out.

Needless to say, they chose to watch police running on the field, “clotheslining” a woman attempting to flee and handcuffing parents and taking them to jail. What a way to end our season.

I agree with the way AYSO has handled the situation. Breaking up the teams is just. But banning these kids from playing in AYSO or any other organization goes against the philosophy of trying to teach these children sportsmanship.

Why punish the children for the immature actions of their parents? Soccer is a great outlet for the children and denying them the ability to play is wrong.

Banning the coaches and offending parents from the instigating team is a just and fair punishment. Hopefully, the D.A.’s office will not forget the effect their actions had on the children of all ages who had to watch this.

Having coached numerous teams, I can tell you one thing: Some parents have been problems since their children first stepped onto a soccer field. It is the responsibility of each coach to manage his team and manage his sideline (the parents).

Those of us who have coached long enough have had to send home a few parents, sometimes for a game, sometimes for a season, for their actions.

The AYSO philosophy is to treat each player and the referees with respect; obviously these parents had no respect for the coaches, the referees, the opposing team, tournament officials and participants and, ultimately, their own children.

The audacity of these parents to think they have any grounds for appeal! I hope to never see these parents on the sideline of a tournament or any soccer game ever again.

John Jacovides

Laguna Niguel