There is a story apparently circulating around where a coach for a kids baseball team paid a player to injure a 9 year old autistic boy. The coach wanted the boy injured and out of the game because he wasn’t playing as well as the rest of the kids on the team and it was right in the middle of a playoff game.
This happened back in June of 2005 but the story is back out because the Judge just sentenced the coach to “consecutive six-to-36-month sentences for corruption of minors and criminal solicitation to commit simple assault.”
I know parents like to get involved these days, but an angry coach trying to hurt one of his players… AND the boy is an autistic 9 year old?
What type of role models are out there teaching and preaching to our children? Makes you wonder how involved you want your kids these days and if you allow them to participate in sports down at the local school or summer programs, how often do you want to be there on the sidelines paying attention to what’s happening? What are your thoughts?
[...] A group of dads have been preparing for this day to launch this new site. I have been a small part of this and have submitted an article. I plan to be writing more for Dad Center and look forward to it. My first article is called: Getting Your Kids Involved in Sports. My driving force behind this article was initially in response to so many people who have a negative perception regarding school sports. There have been several negative articles that pertain to kid and sports and, in turn, has brought on a fear of allowing kids to participate in sports. [...]
Another symptom of the obsession with sports gripping everyone just a little too hard!
All stories like these make me want to pull back on participation in organized sports and go with general family involvement in the community. Maybe if we get involved more in how people relate rather than compete, we’ll actually solve problems.
Having fun, getting along, and learning some discipline should be the focus at this age. Attacking others that can’t perform is definitely not ok. Sometimes people just get so overcome with the competition.
What goes on in a persons mind to where that option of injuring another player (a kid) is even considered to be OK for the sake of winning a stupid game! The coach really needs profsional help.
Steve I have coached many sports programs in a great variance of ages. Each level of play you as a coach you focus on a different aspect of the game. Your plan changes accordingly. First of all what I get out of the story is these are third? fourth? graders. At this point a coach’s focus needs to be on letting the kids have fun. Building up their foundational skills for playing in later leagues. This coach obviously was not playing with a full team in his head.
Secondly as a dad, I cannot imagine a coach paying someone to intentionally hurt my son. With all these school shootings, coach’s acting like this and parents behaviors these days it almost makes you want to isolate your kids. Then there are certainly the downfalls to that side of the spectrum also.
Let our kids be kids. Let them enjoy the game of sports. Let them learn skills through these organizations that will in return make them a successful businessman, dad, teacher or whatever they set their mind to accomplish. Our kids have enough going against them in today’s society. They should not have to worry about what should be a solid figure in their life doing stupid things.
More from Kristina at Autism Vox.
I can’t even think of an appropriate penalty. I’m having a mad day at my boss today and then reading this on top of it. I’m sure my sentence would not be fair.
Mike, after I read the sentence I didn’t think it was a harsh enough penalty. Just my opinion.
Hi Kerri, that is a good point. My dad coached me in Little League baseball. He got right into and became the commissioner for a few years.
As the father of an autistic son, I will not state my opinions about what should happen to the coach so that they cannot be used against me in a court of law someday.
When possible, be the coach. Especially when the kids are younger and you don’t necessarily have to be an expert in the activity. Gives you more time with the kids, and the opportunity to be the positive influence you want them to see when it comes to sports and such. And, in general, just be there. Don’t use activities as a babysitting service. Be there when you can.