Hockey parents sue youth league for $25K after sons are cut

Serious Business Backup 29 replies 1,014 views
tk421's avatar
tk421
Posts: 8,500
Jun 30, 2010 2:14am
parents are the ruin of youth sports.
End of Line's avatar
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Jun 30, 2010 2:24am
Agreed.
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar
ZWICK 4 PREZ
Posts: 7,733
Jun 30, 2010 6:29am
i thought there were only stupid lawsuits in the U.S.
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Jun 30, 2010 7:59am
tk421;406100 wrote:parents are the ruin of sports.

FIXED
S
Swamp Fox
Posts: 2,218
Jun 30, 2010 8:09am
It's not a very creative response to moron parents but the only thing I can think of is....UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!
T
trackandccrunner
Posts: 1,283
Jun 30, 2010 8:50am
Haha loved the quote at then end. But these lawsuits are stupid, these parents are stupid, and the only thing this is going affect is how these kids peers will think of them. They won't know as the kids who couldn't make the team but instead as the pansies who went and cried to daddy and couldn't handle the fact that they weren't very good. I wonder why none of the 55 other parents aren't suing this league because their kids got cut as well.
T
Tiernan
Posts: 13,021
Jun 30, 2010 9:19am
This just in...two kid's, whose parents are suing the local youth hockey league because their son's were cut from the team, have been beat up for the 23rd straight day in a row. Authorities have acknowledged these actions are somewhat justified and do not expect the beatings to cease anytime soon.
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jun 30, 2010 10:09am
This type of stuff makes me sick and I would like to get the kids away from their parents and ask them how much their parents embarrassed them!! Also really don't blame the parents, blame the damn courts for allowing these stupid ass lawsuits through the doors opening the opportunities for anyone to sue anyone for anything!
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Jun 30, 2010 10:15am
Um, as a coach, I can say (first hand) that the kids back their parents a lot. A lot of these kids buy into what their parents are telling them, pretty quick. Granted, you have some kids that don't understand why their parents are making a big deal, but most kids will side with their parents.
Rotinaj's avatar
Rotinaj
Posts: 7,699
Jun 30, 2010 10:29am
"We've all been cut from sports teams at some point in our lives." FALSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jun 30, 2010 10:35am
As a HS sports official, and I am sure those that also officiate any level, know just how bad the parents make us the scapegoat for little Johnny. I can't tell you how many times I have heard a dad or mom tell their kid after they just lost a wrestling match "It's ok, it's not your fault that official cost you the match". I just laugh and move on. No doubt they do the same to coaches in these situations. Ernest I can tell you most of those kids that I am referring to don't believe their parents and when their parents show their ass towards officials or coaches you can see flat out the kids are embarrassed!!
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Jun 30, 2010 11:18am
I officiate basketball too, so I know what you're talking about. I just have had experience (with about 3-5 players) who's parents are complete d-bags, build the kid up, tell them they're awesome, etc... and the kid buys into it. When something goes wrong, it CANNOT be the kid's fault or the parent's fault... ever.
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jun 30, 2010 11:29am
You ain't lying my friend
krambman's avatar
krambman
Posts: 3,606
Jun 30, 2010 11:43am
I highly doubt that anything ever comes of this.

This is a line I found funny: "Their direct actions have caused irreparable psychological damage to Daniel Longo's self esteem as an impressionable teenager and demoralized Daniel as an athlete and team hockey player with his peers." I wonder if this kid will one day sue his parents citing "irreparable psychological damage caused by their actions by filing a lawsuit against a hockey league when I was an impressionable teenager destroyed my social reputation, demoralized me as an individual, ruined my self-esteem, and turned me into a pariah."

I could understand a parent being upset if this was a rec league where everyone was told they would have a spot or if they were required to purchase a bunch of equipment during the trial period and they wanted that money back. But these kids are 17 years old, they already had all the equiptment, and they knew that most kids would be cut from the team. That's life. Also, the fact that these kids are 17 means that they often don't think rationally and say things like "I'll never play this sport again" out of emotion. Then once they cool down, they realize how ridiculous of a statement that was and move on. Just think back to your childhood, how many times were you disappointed and you vowed to never do something again, only to try it again a week later? Or watch how many people get reject at the American idol audition that swear this is their last time trying out, only to come back the very next year.
power i's avatar
power i
Posts: 1,296
Jun 30, 2010 12:20pm
This is our first year without a child in youth league and I forgot how nice it is not dealing with that shit. I only wish the parents who brag about how awesome their kids are could realize how stupid they really sound.
4cards's avatar
4cards
Posts: 2,551
Jun 30, 2010 1:34pm
... I coached Little League baseball for many years and I loved helping the kids learn the sport and value of good sportsmanship. The parents were the worst part of the whole coaching experience.
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jun 30, 2010 1:40pm
I always love it when some pissed off dad gets in my face and tells me how I screwed his kid out of a win. 9 tims out of 10before I throw him out I let him know was it my fault the other kid took your kid down X number of times, put him on his back, reversed him, escaped....? Usually they are dumbfounded!
F
fan_from_texas
Posts: 2,693
Jul 1, 2010 10:27am
I umpired baseball games for awhile. The parents are just amazing, but it gives a certain, ineffable type of joy to get to ring their kid up on strikes. The more annoying the parents were, the more leeway pitchers had for painting the outside corner of the plate.
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jul 1, 2010 10:30am
^really fan? I really can't say I agree with that. You are punishing the kid (batter) for their parents actions by giving more leeway to the strike zone of the pitcher?
B
bartsimpson
Posts: 168
Jul 1, 2010 3:25pm
fan_from_texas;407435 wrote:I umpired baseball games for awhile. The parents are just amazing, but it gives a certain, ineffable type of joy to get to ring their kid up on strikes. The more annoying the parents were, the more leeway pitchers had for painting the outside corner of the plate.

Seriously???? You're just the kind of person who should not be umpiring youth sports!!!!
F
fan_from_texas
Posts: 2,693
Jul 1, 2010 3:41pm
bartsimpson;407816 wrote:Seriously???? You're just the kind of person who should not be umpiring youth sports!!!!

Well, in fairness, it was about a decade ago when I was in high school. From time to time there were parents who would stand directly behind the backstop and critique every single call. I wouldn't intentionally blow calls or stretch things, but there are always judgment calls to be made. If someone is yapping in my ear all night long, I don't think you can help but be less charitable toward them.

I'd say that there were only a handful of games (<5%) where parents were a real problem. Most of the time, people are at least fairly reasonable. But when there are real douches, it tends to ruin the experience for everyone.
Little Danny's avatar
Little Danny
Posts: 4,288
Jul 1, 2010 4:19pm
The parents are suing for much more than the $25k. The amount cited in the complaint is what we call an ad damnum clause. These are generally put in the complaint so that the case is heard in a cetain level of court (Ie. in the Common Pleas or District Court as opposed to small claims). In most jurisdictions, anything less than $15K is heard in Municipal/Small Claims Court). The plaintiff's will likely make a demand at some point for a lot more than $25K. Very rarely does someone put in an actual amount that are praying for in a case.

These types of cases are so frustrating to read about. It is a bunch of BS and people need to suck it up. As Dennis Leary once said, "Life sucks, wear a helmet".
J
jmog
Posts: 6,567
Jul 1, 2010 4:33pm
Fab1b;406429 wrote:I always love it when some pissed off dad gets in my face and tells me how I screwed his kid out of a win. 9 tims out of 10before I throw him out I let him know was it my fault the other kid took your kid down X number of times, put him on his back, reversed him, escaped....? Usually they are dumbfounded!

I grew up playing baseball from 4 yrs old through college.

I played football from 8 years old through HS.

I did wrestle a couple years in HS.

I umpired baseball for about 6 years (little league).

I coached baseball for a couple years (HS).

My 2 boys have been in little league for going on 4 years now and wrestling for 2 years.

I will say this, 100% without a doubt, wrestling parents are 10x worse than in any other sport, ESPECIALLY at "open" tournaments when the dad is the coach not the kids actual team coach.

I know enough about wrestling after doing it for 2 years that I can still help my son (he's 6) out as a "coach". In a couple years he just might surpass my knowledge to be honest. So, I am his "coach" at the open tournaments and there have been times I had to walk away so I didn't punch the other dad/coach for the way he was acting to the referee and his own kid.

There isn't enough money in the world to pay me to be a youth wrestling referee at open tournaments.
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jul 1, 2010 4:48pm
That is why I only ref High School in season and only National level High School out of season, I stay away from the youth stuff anymore!