GunScare @ Albion Cup?

Many years ago when I was our club's representative to the Cal South annual meeting in LA, one of the items up for discussion and vote concerned re-organizing the whole PAD process. The measure passed. After the meeting, I spoke with the former PAD chairwoman and asked her about the background of the issue. She said that some members of the board were upset that some powerful coaches and administrators (that's how she described them - I have no way to verify it) who were friends with the board members had been punished with suspensions and fines by the old PAD. We didn't really have time to get into details, and I took it with a grain of salt. However, over the years, we have seen discussed on this forum many instances where the Cal South BOD said one thing one day and then reversed itself soon after. I don't know why that should happen.

As for the latest tournament issue - it seems to me that the two identified miscreants were associated with the Azteca team, and yet many here are posting opinions that Albion (team, coach, club, parents, etc) should be punished. What am I missing?
morals. ethics. brain cells. common sense. testosterone. That's a decent start
 
In High School Soccer, it is an automatic red for a substitute to leave the bench after a altercation between 2 players takes place. It doesn't matter if they "were just running in to break up the fight". Automatic red.

Even granting the benefit of the doubt to the subs (that they wanted to quell the fight), I agree with the sanction because in every case, having more people run into the melee area just makes things worse. Every parent that left their chair and entered the field deserves to be punished whether or not they wanted to "help". Although the 2 initial perpetrators were from Azteca, we should still be punishing the Albion team as well. It takes two to tango. remove the Albion parents from entering the field (minus the 1 dad of punched kid) and this situation de-escalates much quicker, and every spectator that entered the field removed from the game and the game continued.
 
Many years ago when I was our club's representative to the Cal South annual meeting in LA, one of the items up for discussion and vote concerned re-organizing the whole PAD process. The measure passed. After the meeting, I spoke with the former PAD chairwoman and asked her about the background of the issue. She said that some members of the board were upset that some powerful coaches and administrators (that's how she described them - I have no way to verify it) who were friends with the board members had been punished with suspensions and fines by the old PAD. We didn't really have time to get into details, and I took it with a grain of salt. However, over the years, we have seen discussed on this forum many instances where the Cal South BOD said one thing one day and then reversed itself soon after. I don't know why that should happen.

As for the latest tournament issue - it seems to me that the two identified miscreants were associated with the Azteca team, and yet many here are posting opinions that Albion (team, coach, club, parents, etc) should be punished. What am I missing?

Any parent (Azteca and Albion) that entered the field should be punished for contributing and inciting violence and/or the threat of violence as 3rd party agents. The Albion coach is responsible for his parents, so he should be punished. The Azteca coach is responsible for his parents, so he should be punished. Why? Because the referees and coaches had the situation under control, the entrance of the Azteca juvenile delinquent to the field of play created a situation that was a brief escalation that the Azteca coach was responsible for eliminating. Once the parents entered the field they caused the potential for additional acts of violence, therefore, all that entered should be punished. Punishment in this case for the parents should be a sufficient suspension to cause those parents to modify their behavior in the future and keep theirs asses in their seats and let the coaches and referees quell the dispute.

The appropriate response from the Albion players is (1) don't fight; (2) don't fight; (3) don't fight; and (4) go to the sideline. The appropriate response from the Azteca players is (1) don't fight; and (2) pile on their player's older brother and hold him down to prevent additional acts of violence. All players that engaged in acts of violence including swings and misses should be suspended.
 
In High School Soccer, it is an automatic red for a substitute to leave the bench after a altercation between 2 players takes place. It doesn't matter if they "were just running in to break up the fight". Automatic red.

Even granting the benefit of the doubt to the subs (that they wanted to quell the fight), I agree with the sanction because in every case, having more people run into the melee area just makes things worse. Every parent that left their chair and entered the field deserves to be punished whether or not they wanted to "help". Although the 2 initial perpetrators were from Azteca, we should still be punishing the Albion team as well. It takes two to tango. remove the Albion parents from entering the field (minus the 1 dad of punched kid) and this situation de-escalates much quicker, and every spectator that entered the field removed from the game and the game continued.

I'll wait for the whole video to come out.
 
You shouldn't make it so obvious that you have nothing constructive to say. Or was that your point?

I'm with you espola. If a kid 40% older than my own whose not even playing ran on the field and sucker punched my kid in the face, I'd have a hard time not running on the field. Our sidelines should not, but the parents should have a right to defend their kids. A good sized 14 year old kid who knows how to throw a punch can damage the hell out of a 10 year old especially when its a sucker punch and undefended. Yeah, highly doubt I sit and watch my kids get assaulted on a soccer field. I give no blame what so ever to the parents defending their kid. ALL OF THE BLAME should be on the individual who performed the assault. Other parents running on the field should not have had to run in unless they needed to protect the victims and other kids on the field, so I'll let the powers that be argue that one. Just my opinions, but I've read about kids being killed in fights where they were defending themselves let alone getting sucker punched.
 
@espola and @way up

The only justifiable time a "parent" should enter the field would be (1) there are no referees or coaches within a reasonable distance; (2) the parent's sole motivation is to remove/shield the victim from violence that the victim cannot adequately defend or runaway from.

This isn't the wild-west.

The only appropriate response for a player that is confronted with violence is to disengage and remove themselves. Defending themselves is running to a coach or parent on the sideline. That is it. So in the rare situation where a player is rendered unable to move and is/will be the victim of violence that cannot be mitigated by the other players, the referees or coaches, then it could be justifiable for a parent to throw them-self between the attacker and the victim and absorb the attacker's blows by shielding the victim. For example, a player goes to the ground and is unable to move, the attacker starts to kick the player in the head, a parent jumps in to protect the head of the victim.

In this case, the referees and other players were in the vicinity of the 3rd party agent / juvenile delinquent, thus, entering the field of play was 100% unwarranted, even if it was your kid.
 
I'm with you espola. If a kid 40% older than my own whose not even playing ran on the field and sucker punched my kid in the face, I'd have a hard time not running on the field. Our sidelines should not, but the parents should have a right to defend their kids. A good sized 14 year old kid who knows how to throw a punch can damage the hell out of a 10 year old especially when its a sucker punch and undefended. Yeah, highly doubt I sit and watch my kids get assaulted on a soccer field. I give no blame what so ever to the parents defending their kid. ALL OF THE BLAME should be on the individual who performed the assault. Other parents running on the field should not have had to run in unless they needed to protect the victims and other kids on the field, so I'll let the powers that be argue that one. Just my opinions, but I've read about kids being killed in fights where they were defending themselves let alone getting sucker punched.

Let's not forget the "man-child pretending to have a gun", or did he? That is what caused the terror! He should definitely be punished!
 
@espola and @way up

The only justifiable time a "parent" should enter the field would be (1) there are no referees or coaches within a reasonable distance; (2) the parent's sole motivation is to remove/shield the victim from violence that the victim cannot adequately defend or runaway from.

This isn't the wild-west.

The only appropriate response for a player that is confronted with violence is to disengage and remove themselves. Defending themselves is running to a coach or parent on the sideline. That is it. So in the rare situation where a player is rendered unable to move and is/will be the victim of violence that cannot be mitigated by the other players, the referees or coaches, then it could be justifiable for a parent to throw them-self between the attacker and the victim and absorb the attacker's blows by shielding the victim. For example, a player goes to the ground and is unable to move, the attacker starts to kick the player in the head, a parent jumps in to protect the head of the victim.

In this case, the referees and other players were in the vicinity of the 3rd party agent / juvenile delinquent, thus, entering the field of play was 100% unwarranted, even if it was your kid.

I'd have to see video. If the assaulting individual was held or pushed off and my kid was protected from the assaulter before I had time to run on the field then I see your argument.

Regarding the wild west, we have a legal right to defend our kids on the field and off. The soccer powers that be can punish us in whatever ways they want, but I personally don't blame a parent who does. I would not say 100% unwarranted as they have a right to check on the safety of their child who is 10 years old and was assaulted by a 14 year old kid. I disagree completely. Life is not black and white sometimes, but there is one thing that is black and white. All of the wheels were set in motion from the assault.

This whole violence is not the answer forgets that people defending themselves or their loved ones never asked to be attacked, but they should all have a right to defend themselves and when a threat is made and is still present, violence may be necessary to put it down. Again, the soccer gods can try the case, but we have legal rights to defend our families and selves and sometimes that means using violence to stop violence.
 
@espola and @way up

The only justifiable time a "parent" should enter the field would be (1) there are no referees or coaches within a reasonable distance; (2) the parent's sole motivation is to remove/shield the victim from violence that the victim cannot adequately defend or runaway from.

This isn't the wild-west.

The only appropriate response for a player that is confronted with violence is to disengage and remove themselves. Defending themselves is running to a coach or parent on the sideline. That is it. So in the rare situation where a player is rendered unable to move and is/will be the victim of violence that cannot be mitigated by the other players, the referees or coaches, then it could be justifiable for a parent to throw them-self between the attacker and the victim and absorb the attacker's blows by shielding the victim. For example, a player goes to the ground and is unable to move, the attacker starts to kick the player in the head, a parent jumps in to protect the head of the victim.

In this case, the referees and other players were in the vicinity of the 3rd party agent / juvenile delinquent, thus, entering the field of play was 100% unwarranted, even if it was your kid.

I wouldn't be going out looking to get in a fistfight. I would be grabbing my kid and getting out off there and hoping to get in and out clean.
 
@way up and @espola, but what the knucklehead on the opposing sideline sees is this spectator adult is now running towards his kid (let's say the instigator) and is now going to do the same thing and then it spirals out of control.
 
I'd have to see video. If the assaulting individual was held or pushed off and my kid was protected from the assaulter before I had time to run on the field then I see your argument.

Regarding the wild west, we have a legal right to defend our kids on the field and off. The soccer powers that be can punish us in whatever ways they want, but I personally don't blame a parent who does. I would not say 100% unwarranted as they have a right to check on the safety of their child who is 10 years old and was assaulted by a 14 year old kid. I disagree completely. Life is not black and white sometimes, but there is one thing that is black and white. All of the wheels were set in motion from the assault.

This whole violence is not the answer forgets that people defending themselves or their loved ones never asked to be attacked, but they should all have a right to defend themselves and when a threat is made and is still present, violence may be necessary to put it down. Again, the soccer gods can try the case, but we have legal rights to defend our families and selves and sometimes that means using violence to stop violence.

In this case, I don't mean for any adult to hit the 14 year old assaulter, but when another kid is throwing a bunch of punches at another kid, turning and running may not be a good option. It takes punching back sometimes to stop the attack. Point is, you have to stand your ground if you're attacked or become a victim sometimes. It's not black and white or maybe sometimes you just have to do what you have to do and let the peanut gallery decide what laws or rules they want.
 
@way up and @espola, but what the knucklehead on the opposing sideline sees is this spectator adult is now running towards his kid (let's say the instigator) and is now going to do the same thing and then it spirals out of control.

The parent is most likely just checking on his kid and/or trying to keep the attacker away. Not saying attack the kid, but civil parents on the other side should have been trying to subdue the threat that came from their side. We have to see the video. I'm just saying it's not black and white and the kid is 40% older. My immediate concern would be my kid's safety not hurting the attacker. No matter how you slice it, this whole circumstance started and ended with Azteca's sideline. From the gun guy to the assaulting kid, that is what most I've talked to seem concerned about.
 
I told you my feelings. Luckily, I have never had to act on them. I wonder how many parents would sit and watch their child be beaten by a larger child.
Added to this is the instruction that referees have certain limited abilities to lay hands on minors. Some of them are stand up people and would do so anyways, but the spectators can't always be sure, which creates doubt in the parent's mind of the ability of the referee to protect the child. Not saying it's ideal. Just that it's the reality of what we are dealing with.

Not saying this is what happened at Albion but to paint a scenario: Game goes on and is very physical. Ref is one of the "let em play" refs and isn't calling fouls or handing out cards. Eventually a shoving match develops between 2 players, and one goes on to cold cock another, proceeding to continue to advance and beat on the minor. What are the odds the parent, who has not seen to date the referee protect the minor and has seen the referee let the situation get to that point, will trust the referee to protect their child at that moment? Quite a dilemma.
 
@way up and @espola, but what the knucklehead on the opposing sideline sees is this spectator adult is now running towards his kid (let's say the instigator) and is now going to do the same thing and then it spirals out of control.

Let's break this down though. The assaulter (not instigator) is ran towards, because he attacked a younger player on a soccer field where he never, ever should have been. Now those from his side running on the field are defending and assisting the assaulter. Those on the Albion side are defending the victim. Sure, it does spiral out of control, but one side started the incident, defended the assaulter, and even had an individual that may or may not have had a gun make the incident a travesty by forcing an full soccer complex stampede. The other side is guilty of defending a victim who was 40% younger than the attacker.
 
The parent is most likely just checking on his kid and/or trying to keep the attacker away. Not saying attack the kid, but civil parents on the other side should have been trying to subdue the threat that came from their side. We have to see the video. I'm just saying it's not black and white and the kid is 40% older. My immediate concern would be my kid's safety not hurting the attacker. No matter how you slice it, this whole circumstance started and ended with Azteca's sideline. From the gun guy to the assaulting kid, that is what most I've talked to seem concerned about.

Fine, but the Coach is responsible for the conduct of the players and parents (and the parent's siblings). The Club is responsible for the coach. The club in question is Inter America - Azteca FC 2009, which plays in the Coast Soccer League. It is coached by a guy named Juan Sanchez who is also the Men's Head Coach and Women's interim Head Coach for the Mt. Sac Soccer Programs (note, the email from Azteca FC 2009 and Mt.Sac Soccer coach Sanchez is the same, so same guy.

I don't know if Coach Sanchez was actually coaching his team at this game, but what I do know is every single player and parent on that sideline was there because he allowed them on the team. Assuming he was on the sideline, you would think a college coach with 18+ years of experience would know how to lay down the law with his parents.

What we can conclude from this whole affair is that these were 10 and 11 year old boys playing 9v9 (uLittle soccer) and their parents are idiots.
 
Also note, that his "Azteca" team was not affiliated with any of the Azteca clubs, rather the club was "Inter America":

The issue is the culture of the club "Inter America" is this an anomaly isolated to the Azteca FC 2009 team or systemic within the culture of the club itself?
 
Fine, but the Coach is responsible for the conduct of the players and parents (and the parent's siblings). The Club is responsible for the coach. The club in question is Inter America - Azteca FC 2009, which plays in the Coast Soccer League. It is coached by a guy named Juan Sanchez who is also the Men's Head Coach and Women's interim Head Coach for the Mt. Sac Soccer Programs (note, the email from Azteca FC 2009 and Mt.Sac Soccer coach Sanchez is the same, so same guy.

I don't know if Coach Sanchez was actually coaching his team at this game, but what I do know is every single player and parent on that sideline was there because he allowed them on the team. Assuming he was on the sideline, you would think a college coach with 18+ years of experience would know how to lay down the law with his parents.

What we can conclude from this whole affair is that these were 10 and 11 year old boys playing 9v9 (uLittle soccer) and their parents are idiots.

Interesting.
 
At @espola, stay the "f*$%" off the field. Let the coaches and refs handle it. Once you set foot then another parent will and the ref's lose their ability to control anything. By the time some kid cold-cocks yours, there is nothing you can do. Stay off. PERIOD!!!!

@jpeter, Disagree. Sanctioning an event means that the promoters of the event have assured Cal South that they are (1) members (and in good standing); (2) have adopted and will enforce the US Youth Soccer/Cal South code of conduct and other US Youth Soccer/Cal South rules and regulations; and (3) will employ a referee association approved by Cal South. The tournament pays a whopping $100 (one hundred dollars) and delivers:
  1. Cal South Application for Tournament Sanctioning
  2. Receipt & Affidavit of Compliance
  3. US Youth Soccer Application to Host a Tournament or Games
  4. US Youth Soccer Tournament Hosting Agreement
  5. Sanctioned Tournament Referee Association Certification
  6. $100 Application Fee (club check payable to Cal South or credit card authorization form)
Sanctioning is simply a formality whereby tournaments agree to abide by the rules of US Youth Soccer and its State Association ... Cal South.

There is no review beyond are they in good standing and has the tournament promised to abide by our rules? The $100 is a fair document review fee for the cost of the employee that will take a few hours to review and put the tournament on the website.

The argument that Cal South has any culpability or in your words "...is a big part of the problem" is akin to saying the State of California, DMV, should be held liable for the acts of drivers that break the law. Bullshit. Adults are 100% responsible for their behavior ... 100%.

@watfly, Agree, but that is not what 90% of the posters here believe. They believe that Cal South is some omnipotent entity that can stop this kind of crap from happening with a magical hand of God. What happens next and how Cal South will engage in the review and punishment process under its PAD process is on Cal South's shoulders and so far, it seems that the preliminary suspensions are valid and the process is moving forward under the rules of Cal South and US Youth Soccer.

CAL South is culpable and there responds clearly shows they have known about the potential problems in the past and failed to do anything to prevent them.

They have been lax in many areas and now are trying to make up for the lack of over site.

They haven't be doing spot auditing to assess and ensure compliance with Cal South safety and sportsmanship policies.

They didn't consider or require any On-site security personnel and/or law enforcement to enforce the standards for appropriate conduct, respect, etc.

A “Home and Away” side initiative will be implemented and enforced to separate teams and supporters.

They haven't any enough or any on site Referee Coordinators.

This list goes on and yes they are responsible for the mess just like many others so while the legal mumble jumble is amusing the reality is not so pretty but at least they known things needed to change and where forced to do something about them.
 
Youth Soccer is not the only place where parents & siblings go wild / rouge:

Report: North Carolina father arrested after allegedly tackling son’s HS wrestling opponent
 
CAL South is culpable and there responds clearly shows they have known about the potential problems in the past and failed to do anything to prevent them.

They have been lax in many areas and now are trying to make up for the lack of over site.

They haven't be doing spot auditing to assess and ensure compliance with Cal South safety and sportsmanship policies.

They didn't consider or require any On-site security personnel and/or law enforcement to enforce the standards for appropriate conduct, respect, etc.

A “Home and Away” side initiative will be implemented and enforced to separate teams and supporters.

They haven't any enough or any on site Referee Coordinators.

This list goes on and yes they are responsible for the mess just like many others so while the legal mumble jumble is amusing the reality is not so pretty but at least they known things needed to change and where forced to do something about them.

Go back and read the press release. Cal South's response was here is what we are going to do FOR STATE AND NATIONAL CUP (2 tournaments that ACTUALLY are Cal South events). This was an Albion Tournament NOT a CAL SOUTH event (note, Cal South events are CRL/National League, State and National Cups). Nothing in Cal South's press release said any of this applies to 3rd party sanctioned tournaments WHO REMAIN free to operate their tournaments within the rules of US Youth Soccer and Cal South.

With regard to being Lax, its the tournament operators ... Albion, Southwest, Arsenal, Surf, Slammers, etc. The tournament operators often overrule the referees when it comes to kicking out coaches who cross the line or parents because they don't want teams to avoid their future tournaments. Also appreciate that CAL SOUTH's members are the clubs (not the parents or players). The clubs ultimately dictate what they want/need through their Commissioners. The Executive Team as Cal South is frequently overruled by the Board/Commissioners who all have their own agendas and are beholden to the members (the Clubs), who BTW are the same groups that benefit from operating tournaments.

Why would the Clubs want to expose their coaches and parents to additional rules/regulations and expose their tournaments (Surf, Albion, etc.) to additional costs in the form of security, etc.?
 
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